This obstacles are disease, idleness, doubt, heedlessness, sloth, lack of detachment, erroneous conception, not attaining any yogic stage, and instability to stay in a yogic stage. They are the distractions of the mind. (more…)
The pursuit of Yoga requires a journey to go inward, which helps overcome the obstacles.
The importance of Iśvara has been explored in the last 6 sutras I.23, I.24, I.25, I.26, I.27, I.28. The previous sutra wraps the topic of Iśvara for now. We are discussing the first chapter out of four chapters in Yoga Sutras. Patañjali is explaining what is Yoga, what is not Yoga and how to achieve Yoga. Iśvara is one of the pathways that one can achieve the State of Yoga.
Iśvara is someone like god and that he is a special being, quite extraordinary. He is untouched by delusion, agitations, actions, afflictions, consequences and time. He represents past, present and future. He knows everything that is to be known. He is simply the teacher of all the teachers. He is addressed by a special symbol Pranava that specifies the qualities of Iśvara . By meditating on Iśvara, one can realize oneself (or go nearer). By meditating on an object, one imbibes the qualities of the object. How can meditating on Iśvara make oneself realize themselves? Iśvara is within all of us and one needs to be able to see for themselves. Iśvara is part and parcel of all of us.
You can read all the sutras that have been discussed on this blog.
[Yogins having understood the relationship between pranava (om) and the thing expressed will ] repeat it and contemplate upon its meaning. (more…)
Here’s one man who has impressed me so much. Nobody knows who he was or much details about him. His work is compiled under a pseudonym. His work on Yoga is what I consider the best and many others do. When there is a such brilliant piece of work written by someone, the natural tendency for people many centuries ago was to associate this person with some divine powers. Hence Patañjali was known as reincarnation of Adisesa, the serpent used by Vishnu during meditation. Adisesa provides sthiram and sukham. Vishnu also has Garuda the eagle to take him anywhere he wants. The serpent and the eagle are such opposite forces, but they coexist here for Vishnu. The reasoning why Adisesa was chosen for Vishnu’s support for meditation was that Adisesa was associated with a mature personality who has gone through a lot in life. Adisesa is also supporting the Earth on his head and taking care of Vishnu, who has an important job to perform as the Preserver of the Universe. Vishnu needs a strong support and wisdom as a guide in Adisesa. A lot of stories are symbolic in Hinduism. Kausthub Desikachar writes Patañjali Unplugged, an interesting article on Patañjali .
[Īśvara] was also the teacher of the former [teachers], because with him there is no limitation by time. (more…)
Untouched by taints or karma-s or their fruition or their latent stocks is the Lord, who is a special kind of Puruṣa.
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