Patanjali Yoga Sutra - II - 50

Watching the breath within and without

Bahyaabhyantara stambhavrittirdesha kala sankhyabhihi paridrishto deergha sukshmaha|

Sri Patanjali speaks about the process of Pranayama here. He says, pranayama is the process of observing the breath as it travels in from out and out from within and stays still and moves too as it is directed to a particular place in the body for a regulated period of time (counts). It is also long, deep and subtle. Practice of Pranayama increases the prana. This Prana in turn energises the mind and increases awareness. In a heightened state of awareness, the mind becomes subtle and the intellect sharp, emotions stable and the body health.

- Text and Pix: Swahilya Shambhavi.

Patanjali Yoga Sutra - II - 49

When the breath in meets the breath out

Tasmin Sati Shwasa Prashwasayoho Gativicchedaha Pranayamaha|

Once established in the right yogic posture of asana, the focus can now be shifted to the Prana or life force. The Sutras begin with Yama and Niyama which purify and move on to steadying the physical body with asana and a focus on the inhalation and exhalation of the breath.

Breath is like a container for Prana which is subtle life energy. By regulating the inhalation and exhalation, Prana is regulated.

This Sutra speaks of stopping the flow of Prana or rather making it so quiet and steady that there is no inhalation and exhalation. There is a state of fullness and stillness of the breath. This reflects in a stillness in the state of mind too.

(Participants at a yoga event in Chennai's Jiva Park, organised by the Bharatiya Yog Sansthan on Gandhi Jayanthi. - Pix. Swahilya Shambhavi.)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra - 48

Transcending the primordial disease

Tato Dwandwa Anabhigataha|

Perfection and practice of Asana turns the mind inward to the presence of one truth. When the mind is turned outward, there is duality or dwandwa - day-night, heat-cold, high-low, rich-poor, happy and sad. But when the mind is turned inward - there is only the seer of every action, word and thought. This seer is the same in everyone. Practice of a steady and comfortable posture helps you to transcend duality. Duality is the Adi Vyadhi or the primordial disease of the sense of separatedness from the rest of the Universe. - Swahilya Shambhavi (Pic. Teachers at Vasantham Home for Special Children doing the Surya Namaskar.)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra - II - 47

No gain without pain

Prayathna Shaithilya Ananta Samapattibhyam|

Once seated in a steady and comfortable posture, there should be a loosening of all effort. In this state of a yoga asana of the body, breath and mind, the mind enters into an infinite state of unity with the cosmic consciousness. (Pix. and Text by Swahilya Shambhavi. Workers breaking stones to lay a proper pathway for pilgrims enroute Tungnath, the mountain in the Himalayas which has a Shiva temple at the highest elevation in India.)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra - II - 46

Steady and comfortable

Sthira Sukham Aasanam|

Asana is seat. It means posture. It is from the root word As - means to Be. It is from this word that Asti or Is in Sanskrit is derived. Asana is the posture that helps to keep the body, breath, mind and intellect in a state of being. This state is naturally calm, tranquil and quiet. Today we have people recommending Asanas for this disease or that. Ultimately, all that the Asana or meditative posture does is to keep the body and mind still and steady in a meditative state. In that state, all healing happens. The Yoga Sutra states the only meaning for Asana here as a posture of way of keeping yourself steady yet comfortable all the time. (Pix: Teachers at the Vasantham Home for Special Children being in Prashanthasana or Shavasana, befor the beginning of the other asana practices. Text and Pix by Swahilya Shambhavi.)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra - II - 44

Surrender to the supreme

Samadhi Siddhihi Ishwara Pranidhanaath|

When you surrender or offer yourself totally to God, you attain a state of samadhi, or the merger of your mind and intellect, with the cosmic awareness and the supreme self. Just as a handful of water taken out of the river looks apparently different, is offered back to the river and it merges, the mind is only an apparent individual wave in the ocean. In the state of samadhi, the wave forgets it is a wave and revels in its oceanic self.

- Swahilya Shambhavi.

Patanjali Yoga Sutra: II: 44

Study your self

Swadhyayadishtadevatasamprayogaha|

By Swadhyaya - contemplating on the essence of your being, you achieve union with the deity you worship. Swadhyaya means many things, but everything leads to the same essence. It means study of the self. The Upanishads are books that speak of the self. Studying the Upanishads is Swadhyaya. Meditation in silence is also Swadhyaya as in meditation you get to know who you are. Studying your thoughts, your emotions, your physical body and all its components - so deeply that from whichever way you go, you arrive at yourself, which is the self in all. You come to that space in you where you, me and it vanishes. - Swahilya Shambhavi
(Pic: Swahilya Shambhavi - Gangaji at Rudraprayag.)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra: II: 48

Austerity purifies

Kaya Indriya Siddhihi Ashuddhikshayath Tapasaha|

Tapas means austere practices. It emerges from the root word Thap, meaning to burn. Any austerity practiced or endured through the body, breath, speech and mind is Tapas. It is the yoga of plain acceptance. As Manikkavasagar, a Tamil saint says in Tiruvasagam - Uninai Urukki Ulloli Perukki Ulappila Aananda Aaya - when the body is melted through that heat of tapasya, the light within shines more and more. This heat of cheerful endurance makes the body and sense organs adept and skillful and destroys impurities. Many forms of tapasya include yoga asanas, pranayama, concentration on a point, symbol, mantra or person of noble qualities or a god, even enduring harsh words and pain is a form of tapasya. The secret of this yoga of tapas is - accept and grow. - Swahilya Shambhavi. (Pic. Swahilya Shambhavi. Students of the Vasantham Home for Special Children doing Surya Namaskar.)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra - II - 42

Unparalleled joy

Santoshathuttama Sukhalabhaha|

Santosha means contentment or happiness within. What one is and has in the present moment, with the practice of Santosha, one attains to unparalleled gain of happiness and comfort says Sri Patanjali. When there is Santosha, the mind is not hankering for this or that. It is totally content with what you have - the clothes, the food, the house, the footwear, the vehicles or the knowledge. When the mind is at rest with Santosha, it is totally present to the Presence, which is the source of all joy, happiness and comfort. - Swahilya Shambhavi. (Picture: Happy faces in Kali Shila, Uttarakhand, Himalayas. Pic. Swahilya Shambhavi.)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra : II - 40

Cleanliness reveals God
----------------------------

Shauchath Svangajugupsaparaih Asamsargaha|
Satvashuddhir Saumanasya Ekagrya Indriyajaya Atmadarshan Yogyatvani Cha|

Shaucha is cleanliness. Why is it next to Godliness? Cleanliness leaves no distortion. Truth shines through without getting lost in unnecessary distractions. Truth is like the light in a bulb. A glass bulb that is sparkling clean and does not have dust covering it, offers its light totally. If there is dust anywhere, it not just hides the light, but also distorts its path of flow.
Cleanliness is not about cleaning things up - your home, office draw or the mind. Do it if you must, though! Shaucha is about identifying yourself with that permanently clean part of your being called consciousness - when you realise that you are that consciousness which is unchanging, your identification with the constantly changing and modifying stuff of your body, mind and intellect ceases. You even begin to dissociate with this body of yours and other bodies around you.
Moreover, material and spiritual cleanliness that happens through the practice of the 10 yamas and niyamas result in the purification of the mind, making it calm. It makes the mind one-pointed in its pursuit of truth. It aids in the mastery of the senses. Once you identify yourself with the awareness that witnesses the play of the sense organs, you are no longer carried away by the game of the senses. You are a settled witness. That shaucha helps you to have a glimpse of yourself. With no impurity or mental modification to distort your vision, you see yourself as the essentially pure truth. The practice of shaucha makes your body, mind and intellect a fit instrument for allowing the expression of truth. (Bare mountains near Kailash in Tibet. A clean place is not just a feast for the breath, but of the soul too. Pic. Swahilya Shambhavi.)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra II: 39

Relax your hold....

Aparigrahasthairye Janma Kathamtha Sambodhaha|

When one stands firmly rooted in the Yama of Aparigraha or not holding on to anything material or non-material - this includes objects, people, emotions, thoughts and ideas - then the process of life is revealed. This process is the knowledge of how we came into the world in the first place and how many times we have been coming and going. This leads to the effort in the direction of putting an end to this coming and going by simply being in the presence of the one awareness. - Swahilya Shambhavi. (The art of letting go...perfected by babies! : In Pic. Baby Akshara by Swahilya Shambhavi.)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra - II - 38

Rooted in Brahman

Brahmacharya Prathishtayam Veeryalabhaha|

For the one who is rooted in Brahmacharya - he/she gains a lot of vital energy force. The common understanding of Brahmacharya is sexual abstinence. The word, when split gives the clear meaning Brahma - the divine self and charya - to walk the path. Clearly it means, through the roads of the five sense organs, one has to train the mind on the path of god.
When actions are done in this frame of mind - i.e. while seeing it is the divine you see, while hearing, smelling, touching, tasting and thinking you are aware of the divine essence that runs through everything and thought in the world, then you are rooted in Brahmacharya.
For such people who see the one divine in everything, there is an immense gain in prana shakti which is not dissipated in a wrong and illusory understanding of duality. - Swahilya Shambhavi. (Pic: Trekker walking up to the Kali Para near the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Neyyar Dam, Kerala. - Swasham.)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra - II - 37

The source of all wealth

Asteya Pratishtayam Sarva Rathnopasthanam|

For the one who practices non-stealing of what does not belong to one - all the jewels and riches of the world will come a seeking. The logic is simple. Wealth and riches are Maya Shakti. The more you chase her, the more she slips out of hand. But for the one who cares not about riches and wealth, it comes seeking them. The answer is in simply being with one's own self. Everything one needs to live in the world comes and falls in place. - Swahilya Shambhavi.

Patanjali Yoga Sutra - II: 36

When they say it should rain, it rains!

Satya Pratishtayam Kriyaphala Aashrayathwam|

Speaking the truth means, the speech happens with integrity of body, mind, intellect, words and being totally in the present moment. When one practices speaking with such integrity, then the person gets deeply rooted in Satya or consciousness, the essence of being. Whatever that person says will happen. The results of actions are in accordance with the will of such people who are rooted in the truth of being.
This is a Siddhi or an accomplishment of practising the Yama of Satya or integrity of communication. Sri Rama was a Satya Vakya or one who always spoke the truth. It is for this reason that all the kings of the Raghuvamsha never spoke much, because they practised this vrata or austerity of speaking only the truth. - Swahilya Shambhavi.

Patanjali Yoga Sutra - 35

Where tigers and deer play together

Ahimsa Pratishthyavam Tatsannidhau Vairathyagaha|

In the presence of one firmly rooted in the quality of Ahimsa, all enemities cease. You might have heard stories of how animals with naturally inimical qualities like a tiger and deer, peacock and snake sport and co-exist harmoniously in the ashram of a rishi. In a being where Ahimsa is expressed, the vibrations of the Anahata Chakra or the heart centre is very subtle and it enters and influences the hearts of all around. All enmity and anger is dissolved in the presence of such a person. - Swahilya Shambhavi.
(Caption: Words of The Buddha inscribed on a plaque at Sarnath where he gave his first sermon after enlightenment. Pic. by Swahilya Shambhavi.)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra - II: 34

Beware of the consequences!

Vitarka Himsadayah Kritakritanumodita Lobha Krodha Moha murvaka Mridumadhyadhimatra duhkhagnanantaphala iti pratipaksha bhavanam||

At times thoughts like, "I hate that person and I wish he were....," etc or other thoughts such as speaking untruth, stealing, not seeing the divine in all, a desire to possess undue material wealth, uncleanliness, discontentment, laziness to know the true self and god can occur. These thoughts may be preceded by greed, anger and delusion. One might even mildly, moderately or very intensely think about acting on those thoughts, instigate others to act or silently support others in such actions.
Here the whistle-blower Patanjali Mharishi warns us. Even if slightly, moderately or intensely, such thoughts happen in the mind, think deeply for a moment that the result of such thoughts are endless sorrow and ignorance. When one is aware of this, then they automatically refrain from thinking such thoughts. - Swahilya Shambhavi.

Patanjali Yoga Sutra - II : 33

Try doing the opposite thing

Vitarka Badhane Pratipaksha Bhavanam

When you are facing trouble in the path of practising the 10 yamas and niyamas, due to the strength of latent tendencies, try taking the opposite stance. When confronted by the thought of hurting - himsa, wilfully practise non-hurting - Ahimsa. When you catch yourself in unclean surroundings at home, city or country - ashaucha, instead of complaining about the state of affairs and energising the situation consciously, take the opposite stand and focus on how the place would be if it were clean and beautiful. Do your bit to make that vision happen.
There is a Hawaaiin meditation technique called Hooponoopono. It says that all the disharmony you see is actually within you. Hence to fix any problem, the technique says, keep your hands in front of your heart, open in blessing posture and visualise the person or situation where there is disharmony and repeat - "Im sorry, I love you, I thank you." This is a magic healing method especially for getting free of bad relationships. - Swahilya Shambhavi

Patanjali Yoga Sutra II - 32

Five attitudes to Yoga
------------------------

Shaucha Santosha Tapas Swadhyaya Ishwara Pranidhanani Niyamaha||

Yama and Niyamas are the foundation of Yoga. Even after taking strides in the other steps of Pranayama, Asana, Dharana or Dhyana, it is important to continue the observation of Yamas or the five personal disciplines and the Niyamas or five attitudes of the mind.
The five Niyamas are Shaucha - Cleanliness of the mind and body, Santosha - Contentment, Tapas - Austerity, Swadhyaya - studying about the self which can specifically refer to the scriptures and the Upanishads. It also means to study directly about the self within - the nature of the thoughts and the essence behind the thoughts. The last Niyama is Ishwara Pranidhana or surrendering to the supreme consciousness that is the essential stuff of this expanding universe. Practice of any or all of these Niyamas constitutes Yoga by itself. - Swahilya Shambhavi.
(Picture: Pilgrims climbing the rocky Chaturagiri near Vaithirappu off Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Undertaking such arduous treks is a form of austerity or Tapasya of the body and mind.)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra - 32

Universal Vows

Jati Desha Kala Samaya Anavacchinna Saarva Bhauma Mahavratam||
The five Yamas of Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya and Aparigrahaha - enumerated in the earlier Sutra is a universal penance. It is non-negotiable and has to be followed without any compromise whatsoever, irrespective of the community, country, period, circumstance and situation we find ourselves in. How do these affect the Yamas? Well, if you are born into or are living with a family of hunters, then practice of non-injury becomes difficult. Yet, that is not an excuse.
If the whole society refuses to speak the truth, there is no excuse for the yogi who must practice Satya. If everyone is stealing audios and video CDs, then that does not exonerate the yogi from doing it.
These practices are difficult and are hence called Mahavratam or a great austerity. This is the beginning step of Yoga and these practices purify the mind. At any point of spiritual growth, there is no excuse from swerving from the Yamas.
It is a common happening in society to see someone rise to fame as a master in spirituality, wielding tremendous power in the minds of people. But, however high up on the pedestal they may be, one small action of theirs, walking away from the path of the Yamas is enough to send them hurtling down to the abyss of ignominy and ill repute. - Swahilya Shambhavi

Patanjali Yoga Sutra - 30

Five attitudes towards the world

Ahimsa Satya Asteya Brahmacharya Aparigrahaha Yamaha|

The five attitudes towards the external world are Ahimsa - non-injury to people, other creatures and material objects - by thought, word and deed and an active practice of compassion, Satya or speaking the truth as it is, in a way that it does not hurt or harm others as it should be in tune with Ahimsa, Asteya - not stealing or taking something that does not belong to you, integrity in using only that which belongs to you, Brahmacharya - treading the path of the Brahman or consciousness in all thoughts, words and action and Aparigrahaha - not acquiring excessive material possessions, more than what you may need.
These five qualities help to purify the mind and make it a fit vehicle to grasp the truth of consciousness. - Swahilya Shambhavi.

Patanjali Yoga Sutra 2: 29

Eight steps to liberation

Yama Niyama Asana Pranayama Pratyahara Dharana Dhyana Samadhayoshtavangani||

The eight limbs or parts of yoga are yama or self-restraints, niyamas or following certain regulations, asana or a steady posture, pranayama or regulation of the flow of prana by regulating the breathing pattern, Pratyahara or withdrawing the sense organs of smell, touch, taste, hearing, vision and the mind from going outwardly into objects of the world and turning within towards the supreme consciousness, dharana or the one-pointed concentration as an uplifting symbol, person or thought, dhyana or meditation. The eighth part, Samadhi is a natural outcome or the terrace space of emptiness after you climb the other seven steps. Of these eight parts, practice of the first five constitute Bahiranga Sadhana or outward practice while the last three amount to internal practice or Antaranga Sadhana. This can happen well within the mind unknown to other onlookers.
- Swahilya Shambhavi. (Pic. by Swahilya Shambhavi taken of a step farming in Ukhimath, Himalayas.)

Practice

Practice maketh a man perfect

Yoganganushtanath Ashuddhikshaye Gnana Dipthihi Avivekakhyateh
There is a lot of talk these days on the benefits of yoga. Yoga can make you fit, healthy, trim, smart, give you concentration, peace of mind, help attain Siddhis - so many many more are just the side effects of yoga.
In this Sutra, Sri Patanjali gives as one aphorism, the supreme benefit of the practice of many parts of yoga. By practising the different parts of yoga, the impurities of the mind, speech and body are destroyed. Impurity here has nothing to do with pollution, contamination or any virus as we commonly understand. Any thought, word or action that can disturb the equillibrium of your mind and take it away from being anchored in the essence of your being, truth or consciousness is an impurity. Yoga removes such disturbances. Due to that, the mind becomes still. It stops deflecting awareness in a million thoughts as it is wont to always. Because of this state of stillness, the light of awareness shines through the mind in its fullest glory. - Swahilya Shambhavi.

Patanjali Yoga Sutra: 2 - 27

The seven steps

Tasya Saptadha Prantha Bhumihi Pragnya

Once in touch with awareness, the individual transcends seven steps to reach total awareness. The seven steps are described by many different masters in many ways. It could also be through the seven layers of consciousness, chakras or vortices of energy - the muladhara or earth, swadhishtana - water and vital energy, manipura - fire and mind, anahata - air and intellect, vishuddhi - space and bliss, agnya - sound and cosmic vibrations and sahasrara - the empty vast and cosmic awareness.
The more and more purity happens, through Tapas - austerity, swadhyaya - studying your own self and Ishwara Pranidhana - surrendering to the divine, the light of awareness present in all our states of existence begins to shine through. As it shines through each frontier of our being, that aspect of our life becomes known to us.
Awareness is like a torch. In darkness, all we need to reveal the different objects is to direct the torch at it and it becomes known. - Swahilya Shambhavi.

Patanjali Yoga Sutra - 2-26

The light is you

Vivekakhyatihi Aviplava Hanopayaha|

The means of removing that Avidya or attachments to the people, things and happenings in life that are transient and come and go - is by identifying oneself with the ever- present awareness that helps you to discriminate between what is temporary and what is permanent. Awareness is like a floodlight on a football field. The light illuminates the field. Players come. Some win, some lose,some retire hurt, some abuse, audience cheer or swear. The light does not take part in all this. It just throws itself on what's happening. When the match is over, the ground becomes empty again and the light continues to reveal the empty ground. Similarly our awareness is theinner light that helps us to be aware of what we see, hear, taste, touch, smell and think during our waking hours, watch our dreams during the dream state and realise the next morning that we slept well in the deep sleep state. Identifying always with this awareness is the only way to come out of the ignorance of clinging on to the transcient things and fretting or getting excited about it. - Swahilya Shambhavi.
(Pic. Lamps lit by members of the Gayatri Parivar, chanting the Gayatri Mantra. - SS)