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Yoga
Sutras - 7 Keys to Practice
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| 1 | Make choices that lead to stable tranquility: In yoga, one of the central principles against which all decisions in life are made is the question of what will bring you in the direction of a stable tranquility (1.13). This is the meaning of the word abhyasa, which means practices. Cultivating and training yourself in this art of decision making will consistently lead you in the direction of inner peace and Self-realization. Repeatedly ask yourself, "Is this useful or not useful? Will this lead me in the right direction or the wrong direction?" Then, you can move in that direction with conviction, and in a spirit of non-attachment (1.15). |
| 2 | Reaffirm your conviction regularly: Of the core attitudes to develop and reaffirm, none is more important that virya, which means the energy of conviction and persistence (1.20). Often we seek the emergence of kundalini shakti, the spiritual awakening, but the first form of that to emerge is sankalpa shakti, the shakti of determination. It says, in a strong voice, "I can do it; I will do it; I have to do it!" Perpetually having this attitude as a companion will keep you going when the path seems to be filled with obstacles. With this attitude, the same ego that is seen as an obstacle becomes a best friend. Paradoxically, determination goes hand-in-hand with letting go, surrender. |
| 3 | Be
vigilant of the coloring of thoughts: The joy of deeper
meditation comes through uncoloring (1.5)
the mental obstacles (1.4)
that veil the true Self (1.3).
This process of cultivating uncolored (aklishta)
versus colored (klishta)
thought patterns permeates the Yoga Sutras and is a core principle
of the practices. It involves minimizing the gross colorings (2.1-2.9)
and then dealing with the subtler colorings (2.10-2.11),
so that the alliance with karma can be broken (2.12-2.25).
It is extremely useful to be ever mindful (1.20) of these
colorings, particularly as they apply to attractions, aversions,
and fears (2.3).
By being gently, lovingly mindful of the colorings both in daily
life and at meditation time, they can gradually be attenuated (2.4).
This increasingly thins the veil over the true Self (1.3).
Some of the related sutras: |
| 4 | Use 1 simple solution for 27 forms of negativity: There are many positive suggestions in the Yoga Sutras for actions, speech, and thoughts, including the five Yamas of non-harming, truthfulness, non-stealing, remembering the creative force, and non-acquisitiveness (2.30-2.34). However, we often are not able to completely live up to these high standards. Whenever our actions, speech, or thoughts are contrary to these principles, they may be accompanied by anger, greed, or delusion. They may be mild, medium, or intense. Thus, there are 27 combinations of these three triads (2.34). Though we may never have counted the combinations in this way, we are all familiar with the diverse way in which negative emotions can cause problems. However, there is a single principle in dealing with these that is elegantly simple (though certainly taking a great deal of effort). That is, retrain the mind by repeatedly reminding it that this is going in the wrong direction, and will bring you nothing but unending misery (2.33, 2.34). While this can sound so simple as to be of little use, it really is extremely effective in clearing the mind, and is well worth studying closely and practicing every day. It opens the door for subtler meditation. |
| 5 | Train your mind to be one-pointed: There are several predictable obstacles on the inner journey, according to Patanjali. These include illness, dullness, doubt, negligence, laziness, cravings, misperceptions, failure, and instability (1.30-1.32). However, there is a single antidote that deals extremely effectively with these, and that is to train the mind to be one-pointed (1.32). Whether the means of one-pointedness is mantra, a short prayer, a remembered principle, or being focused in the work you do, this seemingly simple practice is profoundly useful. It must be practiced and experienced to be fully appreciated. |
| 6 | Witness everything:
There is a single process that threads its way throughout the Yoga
Sutras. That is to systematically observe, explore, set aside with
non-attachment (1.12-1.16), and
go beyond each of the levels of reality and our own being. The
meaning of witnessing is a simple formula:
Witnessing = Observation + Non-attachment To witness everything involves systematically disentangling from the thought patterns (1.4), witnessing thoughts (1.6-1.11), cultivating remembrance or mindfulness (1.20), moving through the levels of awareness (1.17), and dealing with the gross (2.1-2.9), the subtle (2.10-2.11), and the subtler (3.9-3.16). (See also the article, Witnessing Your Thoughts) Some of the related sutras: |
| 7 | Discriminate at all levels: The
entire science of Self-realization of Yoga rests on discrimination
(viveka). Discrimination is used to make choices that bring stable
tranquility (1.13).
The purpose of the eight rungs of Yoga is discrimination (2.26-2.29).
Razor-like discrimination (3.4-3.6)
is used to separate the seer and the seen (2.17),
so as to break the alliance of karma (2.12-2.25),
and to get past the four mistakes of ignorance, or avidya (2.5).
The subtler discriminations involve many subtle experiences (3.17-3.37,
3.39-3.49), as well
as mind and consciousness (3.50-3.52,
3.53-3.56), with the
highest discrimination leading to absolute liberation (4.22-4.26). Ask yourself: One of the most simple, straightforward, and useful ways to practice discrimination is to reflect on your actions, speech, and thoughts, and ask yourself, "Is this useful or not useful? Helpful or not helpful? Is this taking me in the right direction or the wrong direction? Is it better that I do this or do that?" Measure your responses on the basis of what brings you closer or further to Self-realization. Ask yourself questions such as these, and answers will definitely come through discrimination. Some of the related sutras: |
------- 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.
