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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 of yoga.

The Philosophy of Yoga (Yoga Sutra 1.47 - 1.49)
by Bonnie C. Allan

Yoga Sutra 1.47 - Nirvicara Vaisaradye Adhyatmaprasadah

From proficiency in reflection without seeds (the type of meditation) comes purity. The luminosity (sattva) flows undisturbed, kindling the spiritual light of the self.
The vehicles of the soul; the anatomical body, the organs of action, the senses of perception, the mind, intelligence and consciousness-are illuminated.

Yoga Sutra 1.48 - Rtambhara Tatra Prajna

Rtambhara is a state of seasoned intelligence or mature wisdom accompanied with intense insight. When consciousness dwells in wisdom, a truth-bearing state of direct spiritual perception dawns.

Yoga Sutra 1.49 - Sruta Anumana Prajnabhyam Anyavisaya Visesarthatvat

This truth-bearing knowledge is distinct from and beyond the knowledge gleaned from books, testimony or influence. Truth-bearing knowledge is first- hand intuitive knowledge gained from insight. It is a special direct knowledge arising from the soul, not from the senses or intellect: One “listens to the inner voice”.

Note: Earlier in Sutra 1.7, Pantanjali said perceptions should be refined by logic and measured by traditional and spiritual lore. But now at the end of the chapter, the student is judged to be more mature and cultured with judgments having an independent validity requiring no verification.

The enlightened student, having left duality behind, experiences his own will which transcends the hesitations of choice.




Paraphrased from:
Light on the Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali
B.K.S Iyengar
 

 


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