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Yoga
Sutras Discussion Class
Yoga Sutras
Discussion
Time: 7:00-8:30 pm
Location: Swami J's; Fort Walton Beach,
Florida
Dates: Generally the first Friday of each month
(See Calendar for exact dates)
(Contact me if you have any questions)
Ongoing class: This is an
ongoing study of the practical
philosophy and psychology of the Yoga
Sutras, generally on the 1st
Friday of each month (may change some months), as well as
integrating the Upanishads, books by Swami Rama and articles from
SwamiJ.com. The Yoga Sutras
is one of the most profound and respected of the ancient texts on
authentic Yoga.
Everyone is welcome:
There is no requirement for you to have any prior knowledge or
preparation to come to this class. If there is anything resembling a
requirement, it is that you are interested in this. Each time we get
together we briefly review the first four (of 196) sutras so that we stay
grounded in the basics, as we also advance through the studies. In this
way, you can join in at any time. We try to keep it light, lively, and
humorous as well, which helps us go through these profound teachings
without feeling intimidated.
Related articles: See also these
articles for a greater understanding of authentic Yoga:
Foundation for the other yogas:
The tradition of the Himalayan masters
encompasses all of the aspects of yoga, including jnana, karma, bhakti, raja,
laya, kundalini, kriya, and tantra yoga practices. However, the
practices of raja yoga (royal yoga), codified in the Yoga
Sutras, are
the foundation for these other yoga practices.
Meditation before: You may want to come for the regular, daily
meditation time, which is 6:00-6:30 pm, though it is not
necessary.
Tea and food: Between the 6:30 meditation and
the start of the Yoga Sutras Discussion Class at 7:00, there is time for tea and/or
snacks.
Daily meditations: Participants
in the Yoga Sutras Classes are encouraged to visit the Daily
Meditations from time to time, as your schedule permits. This is a
great time (before and after) to talk about questions on the Yoga
Sutras, or about your personal meditation practice.
Books: Here are recommendations
on Yoga Sutras books.
Gist of the Yoga Sutras:
In the Yoga
Sutras, Patanjali describes the art and science of Yoga in 196 pithy
phrases or sutras (literally, threads). The gist of Yoga is
summarized in the first few sutras of the Yoga Sutras:
Sutra
1:
-
Sanskrit: Atha
yoga anushasanam
-
English: Now,
at this auspicious time, and after having done previous preparation,
begins the study and practice of yoga.
Sutra
2:
-
Sanskrit:
Yogash chitta vritti nirodhah
-
English: Yoga,
or union is the mastery and integration of the activities of the
mind-field.
Sutra
3:
-
Sanskrit: Tada
drashtuh svarupe vasthanam
-
English: Then,
resulting from that mastery and integration, the seer, the Self
rests in its true nature.
Sutra
4:
-
Sanskrit:
Vritti sarupyam itaratra
-
English: At
other times, when that mastery and integration is not present, the
seer or Self appears to take on the forms of the thought patterns in
the mind-field.
Sutra
5:
-
Sanskrit:
Vrittayah pancatayah klishta aklishta
-
English: Those
interfering thought patterns are one of five
kinds (correct, incorrect, fantasy, sleep, or memory), and are
either colored or
not-colored (colored with five
colorings: clouding over of truth, I-am-ness, attachment,
aversion, and/or fear).
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This site is devoted to
presenting the ancient Self-Realization path of
the Tradition of the Himalayan masters
in simple, understandable and beneficial ways, while not compromising
quality or depth. The goal of our sadhana or practices is the highest
Joy that comes from the Realization in direct experience of the
center of consciousness, the Self, the Atman or Purusha, which is
one and the same with the Absolute Reality.
This Self-Realization comes through Yoga meditation of the Yoga
Sutras, the contemplative insight of Advaita Vedanta, and the
intense devotion of Samaya Sri Vidya Tantra, the three of which
complement one another like fingers on a hand.
We employ the classical approaches of Raja, Jnana, Karma, and Bhakti
Yoga, as well as Hatha, Kriya, Kundalini, Laya, Mantra, Nada, Siddha,
and Tantra Yoga. Meditation, contemplation, mantra and prayer
finally converge into a unified force directed towards the final
stage, piercing the pearl of wisdom called bindu, leading to the
Absolute.
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