Book 1
Introduction to Yoga Sutras
The sutras are a thread of wisdom, and we can add beads (insights) to them, expanding infinitely.
Yoga means "union."
"If you can control the rising of the mind into ripples, you will experience yoga."
Yoga as cessation of the fluctuations of the mind: The ultimate goal of yoga is the stilling of the mind’s fluctuations, or vrittis. The sutra "Yogas chitta vritti nirodhah" states that yoga is the practice of quieting these fluctuations.
"Yoga is the stilling of the changing states of the mind."
Nature of the Mind
The mind is composed of three parts:
Ahamkara (ego)
Buddhi (intellect/discriminative faculty)
Manas (desiring part)
Modifications of the mind disturb natural peace, leading to either bondage or liberation.
"As the mind, so the person; bondage or liberation are in your own mind."
Control and Observation of Thoughts
Practice is essential—mere exposition is not enough. We must analyze thoughts and gradually eliminate them.
"The mind creates thoughts, and you are the Seer."
We cannot discard thoughts all at once but must sort and remove them gradually, like composting and recycling.
In practice, patience, devotion, and faith are vital: "Let us not be like the child who sows a seed and digs it up the next day to check the roots."
Non-Attachment and Mind Control
Non-attachment ("colorless" in translation) helps still the mind. When the mind grasps for things, ripples are formed.
"The more you possess, the more restless you become."
True non-attachment brings inner peace and clarity.
The Role of Practice and Detachment (Abhyasa and Vairagya)
The two wings of yoga are disciplined practice (abhyasa) and non-attachment (vairagya). Steady practice without attachment to results helps achieve mastery over the mind.
"Without perseverance and non-attachment, yoga cannot progress."
Yoga Practice and Meditation
Yoga practices concentration and contemplation, moving from gross objects to subtle elements to the self.
"We cannot enter contemplation until we’ve mastered concentration and meditation."
Meditation on OM signifies the beginning, middle, and end, representing God. Repetition of mantra (Japa Yoga) steadies the mind and elevates it.
Dealing with the World: The Four Locks and Keys
The four categories of people and their corresponding attitudes:
Happy: Friendliness
Unhappy: Compassion
Virtuous: Delight
Wicked: Indifference
“The right key with the right person will retain your peace."
Breath Control and Mental Regulation
Control of the breath leads to control of the mind. "When the mind goes, the breath follows."
Concentration techniques allow one to stick to a single object, helping habits wither away by lack of attention.
Obstacles and their Accompaniments
The five main obstacles (ignorance, ego, attachment, hatred, and clinging to life) are often accompanied by suffering, anxiety, restlessness, and disturbances in the breath. These physical and mental signs can indicate when the mind is not aligned with yogic principles.
"The practice of concentration in a single object is the best way to prevent obstacles and their accompaniments."
Silence and the Divine
True wisdom arises only in the silence of the mind.
"In physical and mental silence, wisdom dawns."
Surrender to Divine Will (Ishvara Pranidhana)
The yogi surrenders their will to Ishvara, the pure consciousness, in order to overcome obstacles and move toward the superconscious state.
Book 2
Austerities and Purification
Austerities purify the body and mind, such as straightforwardness, celibacy, and non-injury.
Austerities of speech include speaking what is true and pleasant but never false or unpleasant.
We will be happy to receive pain if we keep in mind its purifying effects."
The Five Obstacles
Ignorance: Misidentifying the impermanent as permanent.
Egotism: Reflecting the self falsely.
Attachment: Seeking pleasure for the ego's selfish desires.
Hatred: Arising when desires are unmet.
Clinging to life: Fear of death and loss.
The Three Gunas (Qualities of Nature)
Sattva: Purity and clarity.
Rajas: Restlessness and activity.
Tamas: Inertia and ignorance.
The interplay of these three gunas dictates our experience of life. Yoga helps cultivate sattva, leading to clarity and inner peace.
Understanding Karma
There are three types of karma:
Those exhausted in this birth.
New karmas created in this birth.
Karmas waiting for future births.
Life is experienced through the mind and body, but the mind's attachment causes pain.
"Even the enjoyment of our present pleasures is usually painful because we fear its loss."
Understanding Change and Loss
“What is it that dies? A lot of wood died to become a few planks...but the basic substance is always there."
“Changes are like flowing water. If you just allow water to flow, it is very pleasant to sit and watch. But if you want to arrest the flow and keep the water for yourself, you will have to construct a dam. The water will resist the dam and try to escape, and there will be a terrible struggle. Although you may stop some of the water, another portion will overflow, so you must allow for spill-out or the dam will certainly break.”
Kriya Yoga (Yoga of Action)
The threefold path of Kriya Yoga includes self-discipline (tapas), self-study (svadhyaya), and surrender to a higher consciousness (Ishvara pranidhana). This path purifies the mind and leads to liberation.
"The practice of Kriya Yoga reduces the obstacles and leads to the state of samadhi."
The Eight Limbs of Yoga
Abstinence: Non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy, and non-greed.
Observance: Cultivating opposite thoughts in negative situations.
Posture Practice (Asana): Cleansing mind and body.
Breath Control (Pranayama): Regulating the breath and mind.
Sense Withdrawal: Detaching from sensory stimuli.
Concentration: Focusing on one object.
Meditation: Prolonged concentration.
Absorption (Samadhi): Superconscious state, where the mind and object become one.
Book 3
Concentration and Control
Concentration is the key to bringing the mind back when it runs. Gradual, consistent practice leads to mastery over the mind’s movements.
The Process of Samadhi
Samadhi is the ultimate goal of concentration and is attained in stages:
Savitarka Samadhi: Focus on gross objects.
Nirvikalpa Samadhi: Complete absorption, without form or thought.
Through perseverance and practice, the mind transcends the object of concentration and enters samadhi."