Yoga Sutras and Food for Thought
For my 300-hour yoga teacher training, we had an assignment to read the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. As much as I enjoy reading, I have to admit I wasn’t looking forward to the assignment. To make matters worse - we had to read the book, the translations and then write down what that sutra meant to us in our own lives. I was dreading this…
Once I finally broke into the book (it was the last assignment I did - nothing like good old procrastination to make me dread it even more), I had to admit that many of the sutras actually somehow made sense in my own life. I was instantly hooked. I read through each “book” and struggled with only picking 5 sutras that resonated with me. The sutras are freeing - they reminded, showed, and proved that we are all so similar in that this ancient philosophy can still somehow apply to me in such a big, evolving world.
The second I completed the assignment, I instantly felt guilty for having such a bad attitude going in to it. Yet, another way this book humbled me to my core. Now I find myself, late at night in between baby wakings, pulling up my finished assignment and reading the sutras I picked and what they meant to me. I am always amazed in how every time I reread the paper, I am always still connected to the sutra, yet I read, understand, and apply it differently in my life. While I definitely recommend reading this book, I have decided to share my own assignment with you. I feel that if we were all a little more open about my feelings, struggles and emotions, practiced a bit more yoga, and let things go, we’d be a far happier species.
So here goes. I hope you enjoy the read and find that you read, interpret, and apply these sutras in your life similar or vastly differently than me. Feel free to email me with your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you and get your perspective.
With love, light and gratitude,
-E
Book One: Portion on Contemplation
1. Yogaś citta vṛtti nirodhaḥ - The restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff is Yoga.
Perception and attitude is everything. You have total control over how you want to perceive something, regardless of the situation. While life easily throws obstacles your way, what truly matters is how you receive the obstacle. While this is hard to remember, it is amazingly accurate in its reasoning that the mind has control over your entire life perception. If you expect bad, that is what you will receive and vice-versa with the good. Keep an open mind and accept all things - good and bad - as learning experiences and enjoy the journey. Nothing will last forever.
2. Vṛtti sārūpyam itaratra – At other times (the Self appears to) assume the forms of the mental modifications.
As someone who has always struggled with body image issues, this sutra is so powerful to me. The ability to look past any and all labels and insecurities to the deepest depths of just being a spirit WITH a body rather than a body with a spirit is enlightening. The labels we give ourselves only have power over us because we grant them power. But, in the grand scheme, we are all energy, we are not superior over one thing or another, and we are all just one form of energy that uses a mind a body to travel through this plane.
3. Pratyakṣānumānāgamāḥ pramāṇāni – The source of right knowledge are direct perception, inference and scriptural testimony.
While attempting to follow any type of lifestyle, religion, or similar, it is quite easy to get caught up in following ideals blindly. This sutra warns against just that. For me, this reminds you to rely on what I know from experience, knowledge, or instincts and to not fall into the trap of hungry leaders seeking followers. It also advocates for never wasting all of anything. You will always need retention of knowledge, ideas, experiences, etc.
4. Dṛṣṭānuśravika viṣaya vitṛṣṇasya vaśīkāra saṁjñā vairāgyam – The consciousness of self-mastery in one who is free from craving from objects seen or heard about is non-attachment.
Understanding non-attachment as described here is exactly what I needed. I consider myself very specific in what I want, want to accomplish and what I expect out of my life. These expectations have a way of causing quite great disappointments since life happens and not always to my exact mental plan. To be able to practice this non-attachment makes me feel that there would be a great level of freedom from this mindset that I have created for myself. I strive for this type of freedom, accepting what is, how it is and when it is.
5. Tat param Puruṣa khyāter guṇavaitṛṣṇyam. When there is non-thirst for even the guṇas (constituents of Nature) due to the realize of the Puruṣa (true self), that is supreme non-attachment.
This sutra is one of the most powerful. Letting go of your past and accepting the phase you are in now is such a strong sutra to live by. I feel as though, as people, we tend to remember the past as better than it truly was to hold on to times that felt easier. In that mindset, the past will always be better because it’s already done, and you have already experienced those difficulties and come through them. Reflecting on the past and longing to go back slows any and all progress that you are making now in your current state. You miss out on the present and the enjoyment of now by wasting time and attaching yourself to memories of the done and gone moments. While the past is always something to visit, it is not where we should be longing to be.
Book Two: Portion on Practice
1. Te hlāda paritāpa phalāḥ puṇyāpuṇya hetutvāt. The karmas bear fruits of pleasure and pain caused by merit and demerit.
“A happy or unhappy life is your own creation.” This sutra means is so impactful to me and how I am trying to grow my perspective. The rational part of me understands this sura so well and I can feel it in my soul, yet my emotional self, when faced with unseen challenges, struggles to live like this and find this sutra. After growing my own family, I realized by greatest challenge is motherhood. On that same notion, motherhood has challenged me to live by this very idea, to practice unattachment and to go with the flow. It is something I am still working on, but love and believe none the less.
2. Pariṇāma tāpa saṁskāra duḥkhair guṇa vṛtti virodhāc ca duḥkham eva sarvaṁ vivekinaḥ. To one of discrimination, everything is painful indeed, due to its consequences: he anxiety and fear over ;psing what is gained; the resulting impressions left in the mind to create renewed cravings; and the constant conflict among the three guṇas, which control the mind.
The sutra reminds me to gratefully accept what life gives me, but to also feel equally grateful to let it go when the time comes. Nothing lasts forever; enjoying what you have in the moment and being able to let it go entirely without longing for it is part of life and its constantly evolving dynamics. This is my reminder to live in my present moment without feeling anxious for what may be and steering clear of longing for what once was. The grass is not always greener on the other side and we tend to remember the past as better than it actually was.
3. Draṣṭŗ dŗśyayoḥ saṁyogo heya hetuḥ. The cause of that avoidable pain is the union of the Seer and the Seen.
This sutra speaks to realizing that I am more than a body, a career, and what I have. All those things are not eternal to me, but simply to this life. Everything in this life can be changed: body, weight, finances, careers, experiences, etc., but who I am beyond that and as my true self cannot. Loses do not make you any less just like gains do not make you more. Regardless of those two, you will always be wholly, eternally you.
4. Prakāśa kriyā sthitiśīlaṁ bhūten-dryātmakaṁ bhogāpavargārthaṁ dŗśyam. The seen is of the nature of the gunas: illumination, activity and inertia; and consists of the elements and sense organs, whose purpose is to provide both experiences and liberation to the Puruṣa.
In my perspective, this sutra means that nothing can be completely and totally controlled. We are constantly changing, growing, evolving and there is no way to stop nature from doing what it will do. We are constantly fighting ourselves and nature to hold on to ideologies that no longer serve us, such as trying to appear younger with surgeries and anti-aging serums. If we can accept ourselves, the stages we are in, whether it’s the maiden, mother or wise one, then we can allow ourselves to be free from self-imposed pressures and tensions. We can let ourselves stay in peace rather than fighting it and allow life to do as life will do.
5. Kŗtārtham prati naṣṭam apyanaṣṭam tad anya sādhāraṇatvāt. Although destroyed for one who has attained liberation, it (the seen) still exists for others, being common to them.
Nothing lasts forever and regardless of status, things can change in an instant and nothing is permanent. The only way to succeed in life and to find peace is to face, understand and solve our own problems when they arise. If we continue to hide and pretend that things are not happening or that we have more time, time will run out and the solution may not be so easy to get. We must conquer our problems and challenges to master the skills needed to continue forward.
Book Three: Portion on Accomplishments
1. Baleṣu hasti balādīni. By saṁyama on the strength of the elephants and other such animals, their strength is obtained.
What you focus on is what you derive your strength from. If you surround yourself with certain people, ideas, ideologies, you will acquire those traits. Having friends who are more successful than you, will help you to be more successful. Just like having friends who party and drink all weekend, will probably have you following the same. By focusing on surrounding yourself and manifesting certain traits and ideas, you will become those traits and ideas. This is a beautiful reminder in that you control your own life, behavior, happiness, etc. No one else can make you do anything you do not want to. You hold the key to the lock of your world.
2. Tadvairāgyādapi doṣabījakṣaye kaivalyam. By non-attachment even to that (siddihis), the seed of bondage is destroyed and thus follows kaivalya (independence).
As humans, we have been taught that we must do more, be more, and that the more we have the better we appear to others. Everyone wants to be the envy of the next. This sutra is the peaceful reminder that chasing these intangible items will do nothing but cloud your mind, your heart and cause you pain in the end. While wanting to do more, being more, and feeling good about yourself is in fact a wonderful thing, you are reminded to let opportunities come to you rather than chasing them down. When you accept who you are without needing to feed your ego, all of the things you desire will come to you and you will be able to handle yourself for the good rather than for yourself and your personal ego.
3. Sthānyupanimatraṇe sangasmayākaraṇam punaraniṣṭa prasaṅgāt. The Yogi should neither accept nor smile with pride at the admiration of even the celestial beings, as there is the possibility of getting caught again in the undesirable.
Stay humble. While it is easy to allow admiration to go straight to your head, heart and ego, one must always remain humbled even through the most endearing admiration. If you allow yourself to accept admiration from those who you feel are the already the best, then you allow yourself to be open to putting yourself on a pedestal. This goes against the yogic lifestyle of remaining humble and pure. Nothing lasts forever and practicing non-attachment leads to peace. Be graceful and accept praise as nothing but praise.
4. Sattva puruṣayoḥ śuddhi sāṁye kaivalyam. When the tranquil mind attains purity equal to that of the Self, there is Absoluteness.
The goal for this spiritual journey is to achieve eternal peace and happiness. While on this journey, there will be very many tempting things that will give you bits and pieces, moments, of peace and happiness. We must not fall for these traps as they are only distractions. It is easy to fall into the temptation because they are available and easy to achieve, however, we must keep our eye on the prize and go for eternal peace and happiness, not just small meager pieces of that eternalness. The journey will be hard, but if you stay on course, it will all be worth it in the end. Do not give up the big picture for small meager moments.
5. Rūpa lāvaṇyabalavajrasaṁhananatvāni kāyasaṁpat. Beauty, grace, strength, adamantine hardness and robustness constitute bodily perfection.
Bodily perfection is more than just a shape, weight, size, but goes into how you treat yourself and appreciate your body. Being mindful and healthy is what makes a body beautiful. By being strong and healthy, by practicing yoga to give yourself grace, you get the beauty. We are taught that all of these traits are only attainable if you weigh a certain amount, with a certain height and look. It's quite the contrary. Being kind to yourself, staying healthy, making better choices is what grants you all this.
Book Four: Portion on Absoluteness
1. Karmāśuklākṛṣṇam yoginastrividhamitareṣām. The actions of the Yogi are neither white [good] nor black [bad]; but the actions of others are of three kinds: good, bad and mixed.
The attachment to feelings and motives doesn't exist anymore. Every action, every thought process is done because it simply must be done. There is no attachment to these actions such as ego, envy, vengeance, etc. You eat because you need to for survival. There is no other attachment than that. There is no good or bad, just is what it is. Focus on not using outside sources to help you find peace in a painful moment, for example, do not overeat because you’ve had a rough day at work and do not turn to alcohol to try and mend your broken heart. Avoid and let go of these unhealthy attachments as they lead to nothing but more pain.
2. Atītānāgatam svarūpato’styadhvabhedāddharmāṇām. The past and future exist in the real form of objects which manifest due to differences in the conditions of their characteristics.
The past and future do not really exist as one is already done and the other hasn't happened yet, but as the holder of memories, plans, and desires, we make them real. Sometimes we remember the past as better than it really was because we were able to conquer the tough times. We bring the past to the present, giving it life once again rather than letting it go. We long for the “good old days” rather than being in the present moment and living through what we have now. Remember, that today, one day, will be the good old days. We make decisions and plans for the future giving them real life-time rather than allowing things to happen as they will. Now all these plans, ideas, feelings, and memories, are constantly changing based on how we are doing in the present moment. If we are overwhelmed with work, bills, life, high school was the best time of our lives even if it was a rough time. All of this is because of attachments to what was and what will be. Planning the future can be good when trying to look for attainable goals, but we must also give grace to ourselves and life realizing that our future may not be exactly how we pictured it. And, that is ok.
3. Vastusāmye citta bhedāt tayorvibhaktḥ panthāḥ. Due to differences in various minds, perception of even the same object may vary.
This is one of my favorite sutras. There are two sides to every coin, two sides to every story, one man's garbage is another man's treasure. This is such a powerful thought as it is so very true. Everyone processes information differently- colors, sounds, lights, memories, moments, everything. What we need to remember in our Yogi lifestyle is that everything has beauty to it regardless of what it is. There is life and matter all around us and we shouldn't take any of it for granted. We all perceive things differently and we all need to stay humble to the fact that we are all different and carrying different views and ideas and NONE of them are wrong.
4. Na tat svābāsam dṛśyatvāt. The mind-stuff is not self-luminous because it is an object of perception by the Puruṣa.
Nature will continue to trick you into repeating your past mistakes. When you allow attachment and ego into your mind, you will continue to do unhealthy behaviuors or make poor choices believing the concept that things will be better or different. Practicing yoga reminds you to keep past experiences present in the way that keeps you from repeating past "wrongs". We often find excuses for doing things that are not right or hurting others, yet when it is done to us, we do not extend those same excuses. We need to remember to be humble and most importantly, self-aware. Keep your Puruṣa present and bring it back each time it slips. If you have experienced a toxic relationship before, you must remember that experience to keep it from happening again. Do not accept behavior that takes away from your own peace and happiness.
5. Cittāntara dṛśye buddhibuddheratiprasaṅgḥ smṛtisaṁkaraśca. If the perception of one mind by another mind be postulated, we would have to assume an endless number of them and the result would be confusion of memory.
Because everyone has a different perception, it is impossible to assume you know how one mind perceives. If you were able to, you would be clouded by so many other perceptions that may be nothing like your own. That would just muddle your own perception, leaving you lost and confused about what your perception even was in the first place. Do not assume you know what or how someone else perceives as there are endless options. Assumptions will only lead to more confusion especially when you are incorrect. You may believe your new hairstyle doesn’t look good on you, but to others, you may give them the inspiration for that exact same style or to style their own hair differently because they like the way it looks. Do not immediately assume that you’re own negative or positive perceptions are reality or the same perceptions of those around you.
