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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.
This lesson is primarily instructing a student on how to get to center, or
soul. 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.
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The Philosophy of Yoga (Yoga
Sutra 1.23 - 1.26)
These sutras (lessons) present the identity of Isvara (God) and man’s
identity in relation to God. They define purusa (soul) as omniscient,
omnipresent and omnipotent.
1.23 Iśvara pranidhănăt vă
The citta (consciousness) may be restrained by profound meditation upon God
and total surrender to him.
To contemplate on God, to surrender one’s self to Him, is to bring
everything face to face with God. Pranidhana is the surrender of one’s ego,
all good and virtuous actions, pains and pleasures, joys and sorrows,
elations and miseries to the Universal Soul. Through surrender the
aspirants’ ego is effaced and the grace of the Lord pours down upon him like
rain.
1.24 Kleśa karma vipāka āśayaih apăramrstah purusaviśesah Īśvarah
Isvara is the Supreme Soul, the Lord of all. He is untouched by klesas
(afflictions), unaffected by the fruits of actions, abiding undisturbed in
His own Being. He is eternally free and always sovereign.
Humans experience pain before reaching emancipation, while God is detached
from pain, pleasure, sorrow and joy, dejection and elation. God is ever free
while man has to wash away his subliminal impressions before realizing
freedom (also see III.36).
There is a difference between purusa (individual soul) and purusa visesa
(Universal Soul). As God is distinct from the individual soul, he is called
Isvara.
1.25 Tatra niratiśayam sarvajńabijam
God is the unexcelled seed of all knowledge, where as the yogi attains
infinite knowledge but not the seed of that knowledge. In God rests all
creation. He is eternal and one.
1.26 Sa esah pũresăm api guruh kălena anavacchedăt.
God is the first, foremost and absolute guru (teacher) unconditioned by
time.
Paraphrased from:
Light on the Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali
By 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
Current Yoga Sutra
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