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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 1.43)
by Bonnie Allan
1.43 - Smrtiparisuddhau svarupasunya iva arthamatranirirbhasa nirvitarka.
"In
nirvitarka samapatti, the difference between memory and intellectual
illumination is disclosed; memory is cleansed and consciousness shines
without reflection. When memory is completely cleansed and purified,
mind too is purified. Both cease to function as distinct entities: a
no-mind state is experienced, and pure consciousness alone manifests itself,
shining unblemished without reflection of external objects. This is called
niritarka samapatti."
"Memory is the recollection of past thoughts and experiences. It is the
storehouse of past impressions. Its knowledge is reflected knowledge."
When one practices yoga, he/she encounters many new experiences. By
concentrating intently on all of the details of each specific asana, the
person momentarily thinks of nothing else. "These new experiences,
free from the memories of the past are fresh, direct and subjective; they
expunge what is remembered. Then memory ceases to function as a
separate entity." Through persistent practice, he/she "cleanses the
mind" while his/her whole body moves in a certain manner and actually
creates a memory in the present, rather than as memory is usually perceived
as in the past. "It is not for recollecting pleasure, but for
establishing a fund of experience as a basis for further correct action and
perception".
"In asana, for example, we start with trial and error. The fruits of
these experiments are graded by the discriminating intelligence and stored
in the memory. As we progress, trial and error decreases, and correct
perception increases." This takes us back to niritarka samapatti,
which states "memory is cleansed and consciousness shines without
reflection". Our body and our minds are working together in unison
(yoga), flowing as one toward the goal of all asanas: Liberation.
It takes a self-motivated individual to aspire to liberation. So much
is absorbed along the way in our memory. "The mechanical brain
questions only the external phenomena, bringing objective knowledge.
The creative brain calls into question the inner and outer, bringing
subjective and spiritual knowledge. In asana, understanding begins with the
inner skin; in pranayama, with the inner membrane of the nose. These are the
starting points of the spiritual quest in asana and pranayama."
Paraphrased from:
Light on the Yoga Sutras of
Pantanjali
B.K.S Iyengar
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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
Current Yoga Sutra
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