The Yoga Sutras: Book II

Sadhana Pada

(Sutras 1-16)

Discipline, self-study, and surrender to the Unknown constitute the practice of Yoga. It alleviates suffering and brings about samadhi.

The afflictions which cause suffering are:

1. Ignorance
2. Egoism
3. Attraction
4. Aversion
5. Fear of death

Ignorance is the root cause of all the other afflictions which follow it, whether they be latent, weak, suppressed or aggravated. Ignorance mistakes the perishable for the imperishable, the impure for the pure, the painful for the good, and the non-Self for the Self. Egoism is the identification of the Seer with the instrument of seeing. Attraction is the contemplation of pleasure. Aversion is the avoidance of pain.  Fear of death is the continuous desire to live, which is rooted even in the minds of the wise.

The subtle forms of the pain-bearing afflictions can be avoided through meditation. Karma, whether worked out in this life, or in future lives, has its roots in the pain-bearing afflictions. As long as the root remains the Karma must be fulfilled.

Karma results in various social circumstances, lifespans, and experiences. Karma has pleasure or pain as its fruit depending on the nature of the cause. To those who are discriminating every action brings pain due to anticipation of loss, new desires, or conflicts arising out of the interaction between the mind and the three modes of Nature: inertia, activity, and equilibrium.

The misery which has not yet manifested should be avoided.

(Sutras 17-25)

The cause of future Karma is the identification of the experiencer with the object that is being experienced.

The Universe is experienced because of the interaction between the elements and the perceptions of the senses.  The Universe is composed of the three modes of Nature and exists solely for the purpose of experience and enlightenment.

The Universe is experienced in four states, or stages:

1. Unmanifest
2. Manifest
3. Fine
4. Gross

The Seer appears to see through the mind, though in truth the Seer is consciousness only. The very existence of the Seen is for the Seer. Even though Nature ceases to exist for those who have fulfilled its purpose, it continues to exist for others – for it is common to all.

The purpose of the union of the Self and Nature is that the former gains awareness and realizes the powers latent in Nature. The cause of this union is Ignorance. With the elimination of Ignorance comes the disappearance of the association of the Self with Nature, and thus the Seer is liberated from false perception.

(Sutras 26-39)

The means of destroying Ignorance is unbroken discrimination. Enlightenment is reached through seven steps. By practicing these steps of Yoga, impurities are destroyed and illumination arises. This illumination develops into an awareness of unbroken discernment.

The eight limbs of Yoga are:

1. Self-restraint (Yama)
2. Poise (Niyama)
3. Posture (Asana)
4. Breath Regulation (Pranayama)
5. Sensory Withdrawal (Pratyahara)
6. Concentration (Dharana)
7. Meditation (Dhyana)
8. Samadhi

Yama consists of non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, continence, non-possessiveness. These abstentions are not limited by social structure, location, time or circumstance, and they constitute the Universal Vow. Niyama consists of cleanliness, contentment, austerity, self-study, and self-surrender.

Negative thoughts and emotions – whether committed, abetted, or caused through greed, anger or delusion, and whether present in mild, medium, or great intensity – result in endless pain and ignorance. Thus there is the necessity for pondering over the opposite thoughts and emotions.

Peace comes to those firmly established in non-violence. Power comes to those firmly established in honesty. Wealth comes to those firmly established in non-stealing. Vitality comes to those firmly established in continence. An understanding of the purpose of birth comes to those firmly established in non-possessiveness.

(Sutras 40-55)

From cleanliness and purification comes disgust for one’s own body and a disinclination to come into physical contact with others. From purification also comes clarity of mind, cheerfulness, one-pointedness, control of the senses and fitness for realization of the Self.

From the practice of contentment comes supreme happiness. The destruction of impurities through austerities brings power to the body and the senses.  Through study that leads to knowledge of the Self comes union with the highest mental conception of the Self. From surrender to the Self comes the accomplishment of attaining samadhi.

Asana, or posture, should be steady and comfortable. Posture is mastered by releasing tension and meditating on Infinity.  From that mastery of posture comes balance and transcendence of duality.

The next step is gaining control of the breath. Pranayama is control of the inhalation, exhalation, and retention of the breath. The breath should be regulated by place, time and number, and become progressively prolonged and subtle. There is a fourth type of pranayama that goes beyond the sphere of inhalation and exhalation.  That pranayama unveils the Self and makes the mind fit for concentration.

Pratyahara is the withdrawal of the mind from the senses and their objects. From that separation comes the highest mastery over the senses.

END OF BOOK

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References

Satchidananda, Sri S. (1978). The Yoga Sutras. Virginia: Integral Yoga Publications

Feuerstein, Georg (1979). The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Vermont: Inner Traditions International

Vishnu-devananda, S. (2006). Meditation and Mantras. Delhi: Montilal Banarsidass Publishers

Images used in this Post

Old Pages photo courtesy of Flickr user Brittany G published under the CC license.

Close up of The Thinker photo courtesy of Flickr user Brian Hillegas published under the CC license.