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The Philosophy of Yoga
At Susquehanna Yoga, we believe that
understanding and studying the ancient philosophy behind the practice of
Yoga helps our students get the most benefit out of their class time. For
this reason, we include the ‘Philosophy of Yoga’ Lessons in
sequential order in our newsletter. All lessons are also
archived for reference and are
available on this page.
Yoga is prescriptive - IF you do this, then that will happen. Yoga teachers sometimes describe to their students how certain poses should
feel, or what happens to their body in a particular posture. But students
must learn to listen to their own body and find their own way.
Classic Yoga instruction takes out the descriptive and is solely
prescriptive, and is therefore the most direct route to the center. The
Sutras are the text that first presented the Art, Science and Philosophy of
Yoga. |
The Philosophy of Yoga (Yoga
Sutra 1.50 - 1.51)
1.50 tajjah saṃskarah anyasamskara
pratibandhi
A new life begins with this truth-bearing light. Previous impressions are
left behind and new ones are prevented.
New samskaras (seeds) continue to emerge due to the oscillations of the mind
and these impede real knowledge. When the mental impressions are superseded
by discrimination, then the doubts dissolve. When the doubts are cleared,
the student has to then discard even this discriminative knowledge. In this
way can the truth-bearing wisdom shine forth from within.
1.51 tasyapi nirodha sarvanirod hat nirbija samadhih
When that new light is also relinquished, seedless samadhi (meditation)
occurs.
This state of seedless meditation (nirbija samadhih) is where enlightenment
arises and all illusions and delusions terminate. This is the state of
absolute identity, with the seer. As all invading thoughts are brought to an
end by practice and detachment, the soul is freed from the shackles of the
body, its senses, the mind, the intellect and the consciousness. In this
state, all residual impressions, the thinking faculty and the feeling of “I”
are extinguished without trace and become universal. The soul is without
form and is positive in its clarity.
END OF 1st pada (chapter) of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras |
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Philosophy of Yoga Archives:
Invocation Chant
Yoga Sutra 1.13
Yoga Sutra 1.15
Yoga Sutra 1.16
Yoga Sutra 1.17
Yoga Sutra 1.18
Yoga Sutra 1.19
Yoga Sutra 1.21 & 1.22
Yoga Sutra 1.23 - 1.26
Yoga Sutra 1.27
Yoga Sutra 1.28
Yoga Sutra 1.29 & 1.30
Yoga Sutra 1.31
Yoga Sutra 1.33
Yoga Sutra 1.35 & 1.36
Yoga Sutra 1.37
Yoga Sutra 1.39
Yoga Sutra 1.40
Yoga Sutra 1.41 & 1.42
Yoga Sutra 1.43
Yoga Sutra 1.44
Yoga Sutra 1.45
Yoga Sutra 1.46
Yoga Sutra 1.47 - 1.49
Current Yoga Sutra
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