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An overview by Praveen GuptaEmail: rugbymeditation@yahoo.co.uk

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Patanjali’s Yoga sutras were the answers given bySaga Patanjali to his students over a period of time inaround 600 BC. These 196 answers in the form ofsutras (aphorisms) creating a step by step guidance toachieve “Samadhi”. The above 196 sutras werecompiled in four chapters as below.

Chapter 1 - Aims of Yoga – 51 Sutras Chapter 2 - Practice of Yoga - 55 Sutras Chapter 3 - Power through Yoga - 56 Sutras Chapter 4 - Liberation through Yoga- 34 Sutras

Preface

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We do not know the exact questions ofstudents but we have tried to formulate theprobable questions in the following slides,based on the answers given by Patanjali.Numbers indicated in bracket are Yoga Sutranumbers which provide answers to thosequestions.

Introduction

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1 - Aims of Yoga: (51 sutras)What is the definition of Yoga ? (2-4)What are the colouring of mind (5-11)How to get rid of these colourings ? (12-16)Types of initial Samadhi? (17-18)How long with it take to achieve? (19-22)Is there an easier route? (23)Elaborate the easier route ? (24-29)Obstacles and solutions (30-32)Different methods to stabilize the mind? (33-39)Further states of Samadhi (40-51)

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2 - Practice of Yoga: (55 sutras)What is practical Yoga (1-2)What are the causes of misery? (3-9)How are they destroyed ? (10-11)Why they should be destroyed ? (12-15)Can future miseries be avoided ? (16)What is the fundamental cause ? ( 17)What is Seer and Seen ? (18-22)Why are they(seer and seen) brought together (23)How are they brought together? (24)How can they be separated ? (25-28)What is Astanga Yoga? (29-55)

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3 – Spiritual Power gained through Yoga: (56 sutras)Astanga Yoga – contd ? (1-3)Concept of Samyama (4-8)Powers gained through Samyama (9-37)What to do with these powers? (38)Other supernatural powers through Samyama(39-49)Gaining higher knowledge (50-56)

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4 - Liberation through Yoga: (34)Ways of getting subtler experiences (1)Fundamental laws of creation (2-3)Emergence of mind (4-6)Actions and Impressions (7-11)Theory of mental perception (12-23)Limitation and struggle in final stages (24-29)Consequences of attaining Liberation(30-34)

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1.1 Atha yoga anushasnam (Now is the discipline of Yoga)

1.2 Yogas citta vritti nirodah (Yoga is the cessation of mind)

1.12 Abhyasa-vairagyam tan-nirodhah (Cessation of mind can be brought about by consistent practice and non-attachment)

1.23 Isvara-pranidhanad va (Success is also attained by those who surrender to God)

My favorites – Chapter 1

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My favorites – Chapter 22.3 Avidya asmita raga dvesha abhinivesha pancha klesha (Miseries are caused by : Lack of awareness, Egoism, Attractions, Repulsions and fear of death)

2.15 Parinama tapa samskara duhkhaih guna vrittih virodhat cha duhkham eva sarvam vivekinah (The wise person realizes that everything leads to misery because of change, anxiety, past experience and the conflicts that arise between the three attributes and the five modifications of the mind)

2.16 heyam duhkham anagatam (Future misery can be avoided)

2.17 drashtri drishyayoh samyogah heya hetuh (The link between seer and seen that creates misery is to be broken)

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My favorites – Chapter 2…2.28 yoga anga anusthanad ashuddhi kshaye jnana diptih a viveka khyateh (By practising the different steps of yoga for the destruction of impurity, there arises spiritual illumination which develops into awareness of reality)

2.29 yama niyama asana pranayama pratyahara dharana dhyana samadhi ashtau angani (The eight steps of yoga are : Self Restraint, Fixed Observance, Posture, Breath Regulation, Abstraction, Concentration, Meditation and Self Realisation)

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My favorite - Chapter 2..

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My favorite - Chapter 33.38 te samadhau upasargah vyutthane siddhayah (These are the powers which are achievement but obstacles on the path of ultimate liberation)

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My favorite - Chapter 44.1 Janma osadhi mantra tapah samadhi jah siddhyayah (The powers are revealed at Birth or acquired through drugs, repeating sacred words, Austerities or Samadhi)

4.7 Karma ashukla akrisnam yoginah trividham itaresam (The Yogi’s karmas are neither pure nor impure – but all other’s are threefold: Pure, impure and mixed)

4.25 Vishesa darshinah atma bhava bhavana vinivrittih (For one who has experienced this distinction between seer and this mind even the curiosity about the nature of one's own self come to an end)

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An overview by Praveen GuptaContact : rugbymeditation@yahoo.co.uk