The Yoga Sutras Of Patanjali 1-4: Definition Of Yoga

In this episode, Syama and I speak about the first four yoga-sutras of Patanjali.

The definition of yoga then follows: “Yoga is the controlling and stilling the movements of the mind.” When this stilling is achieved, we rest in our own being. If we do not take the trouble to do this, we will continue identifying with the fluctuations of the subconscious. These movements of the mind will be elaborated in the following sutras that we will discuss next time.

Transcript

Hello Yogi! Welcome to my podcast. I'm Aiko and on this show we explore ways to put spiritual theory into sustainable practice. So welcome, Ciao. Thank you. Happy to be here. Happy you're here in our new series of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. So last time we just introduced this sacred book, The edition that we are studying and why it is important for Yogis to study the book and at least to know what the book is about. So today we're going to speak about the first four sutras which they explain what is yoga and why. Yes, Like why to practice yoga. May I just give like a brief overview of the verses and then we can go into them one by one. Yeah, Sure. But it's like very logical. So the first one is simply says that now the teachings of yoga. So it's just an introduction to the whole book. It's simply saying like, Now we're going to study yoga. And then the three first verses or texts like number two gives the definition of yoga. Then it kind of elaborates on that in two verses. So the definition of yoga is that yoga is distilling of the movements of the mind. And then the third verse says that kind of implying that when that has happened, Like when the movements of the mind are stilled, Then our very being is resting in its own being, Like we rest in our own being. And then the fourth verse says that, And if we don't do that, Basically the state that we're in right now where we are not resting in our own being, Then we are identifying with those movements of the mind. So yoga is distilling of the movements of the mind. When that is done, We are resting in our own being. And if we don't do that, Then we are identifying with the fluctuations of the mind. Yeah, Very beautiful explain. And I really like how you give a real clear meaning of this first part. Thank you. Yeah, I'm very impressed. Like reading this, It's very just helpful the way the author, The way Patanjali has structured everything. Yeah. Yeah. So let's get into the first sutra. Yes. So there are different types of sutras. Sutras means like one sutra is just a few words. It can sometimes be only one word or two words or three words. It's usually not even like a sentence. It is kind of like a seed. So you have these kind of potent few words and from that you can elaborate so much. So we have all these commentaries. There are several like classical commentaries and then there are many, Many, Many like modern commentaries also because so much can be said about these few words. So the first sutra says, Ata yoga nushasanam. That's it. So it simply says now the study of yoga. I was hearing from, Now I don't remember his name, But a very, Very interesting guy. And next time I will have his name. And he was saying, He's a Sanskrit scholar. He was saying that the meaning is and now meaning like this time the now. And then he says the self-discipline of yoga. So he says that here it's important to say that because it's a self-discipline like meaning that at the end of the day what is yoga is not a philosophy or an idea, But it's the self-discipline that you create in your daily life towards the entire day. So it's not on the mat. It's everywhere. Of course also on the mat, But everywhere. So he was really much emphasizing on this self-discipline in this first sutra. Yeah. Yes. I believe that's the ending there. Shasanam. That's the discipline part. Yeah. Self-discipline. It's not just discipline. Yes. That is. Yes. And the Ata is what means now. Many other collections of sutras begin with that. Ata. Like there's the Vedanta Sutras. They begin Ata Brahma Yajas. That's the first sutra of the Vedanta Sutra. Simply means like now we are going to study about Brahman, Like about spirit. And here Ata now we're going to. . . Like Shasanam means both study and discipline. It means study, But in the context of discipline. Like discipline study and the study of discipline. It's interrelated. So here we're going to. . . You could say like now the discipline of yoga. So then there can be different ideas about what now means. For example, When it comes to the Vedanta Sutra, Then now means like now that we have understood that material life is not going to satisfy us. We're like, We have actually kind of reached perfection in material life, Like in that context. But we know that even if you reach perfection in material life, Even that is not satisfying. So now we're going to inquire into the spirit. So here in this context, Here with yoga, It is said by the commentators that it doesn't have a prerequisite like that, That you have to kind of have understood everything else like about Dharma and so on. Yoga is for everyone. And one commentator nicely pointed out that now means that it is only now that we can practice yoga. So we shouldn't wait until later or think it's too late. And also to kind of. . . Like you were saying, It's not just a philosophy that we're going to sit and think about this and what we're going to do. It's something that starts right now. So don't put it off until later. And also we only have now because the past and the future don't really exist. They only exist that exists. The only time that exists is now. And if we don't do it now, We're never going to do it. I mean, Of course we shouldn't, As I say, Ever think it's too late either. And then the yoga word, Because yoga can also have. . . The word yoga also has different meanings. And one is like to unite. We unite ourself with the higher self, For example. But here in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, He is not really defining it like that, But more that yoga is like a method for not for uniting, But for separating yourself from the movements of the mind. And when you have done that, You're simply resting in your own being. Although it is also part of the practice to kind of devote yourself to the higher self also. But the word yoga itself doesn't have that meaning here in this context. So let's go to the second sutra. So the second sutra is Yogas Chitta Vritti Nirodha. So yoga means the stilling of the movements of the mind. So in our mind, There is always noise and talk going on. It is really like normally we really only have a still mind when we are in deep sleep. But that doesn't last very long. Then we wake up and the movements begin again. Sometimes after some intense practice, One can kind of experience this kind of silence of the mind. You can be out walking and after this intense absorption, You can hear that there are many sounds in the environment and things are happening. But still, Somehow it feels quiet. Everything seems very quiet. And you may wonder what that is, But the mind is silenced. Yeah. So this sutra says that yoga is control because nirodha means control, Right? Or stopping. It's control over the compulsive cyclical actions of one's mind. And all these actions like in the mind is the chitta. Is that correct? The chitta is the mind. Vritti are these movements. Yeah. And yeah, Like nirodha can be translated as stilling, But also every Sanskrit word have many definitions. So yeah, To control is also totally makes sense in this context. And in the third sutra, It is explained what happens when the movements of the mind have been controlled and stilled, Then we are resting in our own being. And one commentator nicely said that it is like, If you kind of turn off all kind of artificial noise so that you can hear the kind of natural sound, Just like sounds in nature. So because if you think of this like stilling the movements of the mind, You may think that you just become like a stone or something. But it's actually something very beautiful and peaceful. And like living. It's not something dead. It's it's actually the life that you can't really access when when there is so much like noise in the mind. The third sutra says that then we rest, Then we are resting in our own being. Like the seer rests in his own being it's called like the self is referred to as the seer, Because Patanjali sees the soul as as a witness. So it's kind of answering the question why we are doing yoga. We are doing yoga to achieve this kind of state of where the chitta vritti is not like influencing us, But we are kind of our mind is still. Yes, Then yeah, And then we are resting in our own being. Very beautiful. So then we have the fourth sutra. Yes. So then it's simply like, Looking at it from the other side, Like if we don't do that, If we don't still the movements of the mind, So that we can rest in our own being, Then our being is invested in these movements of the mind is it's identifying with these movements of the mind as if it's us, But it's it's just actually artificial influences. Yeah, We talked about it also when we made the podcast about the Bhagavad Gita, How we identify ourselves with what we are doing. Like, I'm a teacher, I'm a wife, I'm a this, I'm a that. But at the end of the day, Like, I'm not that. I'm, Of course, Like, Doing these things. And these are part of me. That's for sure. But I am not that I'm just influenced by the circumstances. That's why I'm saying I'm that. Yes, Yes, We're identifying with kind of temporary designations of things we are for the moment. But there is something that we are all the time. That doesn't change when all these other things change, Like our like great kind of core being. So what happens if we don't steal our mind? It is simply that like, That's, That's the answer it gives if we don't steal our mind, Then we will simply float on the waves of the of our of our mind. Yeah, Waves. Yeah, Actually, The next five sutras will explain more this fourth sutra. So from five to 11. So we're gonna go more deep into that the next time. Yes. Because he has this fourth sutra kind of brings up the question, Like, What are these movements of the mind? So then, Like you said, Those following verses are elaborating on that. Yeah, So to Yeah, So to wrap up, Recap, Repeat. Now we are going to study this discipline. And the discipline is meant to still the waves of the subconscious. And when that is achieved, We will rest in our own being. And if we do not achieve that, We will simply continue as we always have to float on these waves of the subconscious and identify with temporary designations. And next, We will kind of elaborate more on what these Chitta Vritti is this waves of the subconscious, What they are like what they are. Very beautiful. Thank you so much. So yeah, We pretty much introduce also the next, What we're going to speak next. So I guess that's it for today. Thank you so much. Yes, Short and sweet. Thank you. See you soon. See you. 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