mkat

Yoga Sutras 1:1 - 1:4

Posted on 04/03/08, 07:56 am

Yoga Sutras... Portion One
Concentration or Samadhi Pada
Threads 1-4

This first chapter describes yoga, the five kinds of thought, clearing the mind, practice and non-attachment, stages of concentration, commitments and efforts, obstacles and solutions, and how we can stablize the mind.


1:1 ATHA YOGANUSASANAM
Now the exposition of yoga is being made

Basically means we decided to make changes for ourselves and to learn.

1:2 YOGAS CITTA VRTTI NIRODHAH
The restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff is Yoga.

The outside world of our minds brings forth mental modifications (we get distracted). Our environment triggers different thought processes and how we view what we see, smell, taste, touch, and hear. This is the first acknowledgement that we want control of how we think and how everything effects us.

1:3 TADA DRASTRUH SVARUPE 'VASTHANAM
The Seer [Self] abides in his own nature.

You need to see your true self. The true YOU is always the same, but the Seer appears to be distorted. We look at ourselves differntly through the actions and thoughts that we have- brought on by our environment. When you mind is finally clean and uncluttered, you start to become You again in your reflection.

1:4 VRTTI SARUPYAM ITARATRA
At other times [the Self appears to] assume the forms of the mental modifications.

The mental modifications are the "mind junk" that blurs our original identity. We become what we are based on what the environment says we are... like "woman" "man" "mom" "manager" etc... With self-reformation, self-sontrol, and self-adjustment, we can see who we are for what we really are; not what we are told we are through our environment or role.

• Reply #1 04/03/08  8:05am
  
  mkat
  I love threads 1:3 and 1:4
  
  It is so true that we are cluttered by what other people say and other people do. We make decisions against our true thoughts to either please others or because we think we need to.
  
  Like... parents are great at this. Instead of going into some studies I wanted when I was in high school, I perceived that my environment told me I shouldn't because I was not as good as I thought and that something else was suited for me. That was a mistake and has haunted me my whole life. I didn't pursue my true dreams because instead of listening to myself, I listened to others...I doubted myself.
  
  I have also acted in certain roles.. forgetting I am complex and a human.. not a role. Like "mom".. that has so many environment ideas attached.. like giving up things I love to do.
  
  I think this happens to many people who are consumed in their jobs. They can't get out of the role when the time clock stops.
  
  1:3.. I remember "TADA" as in "hey- a clue" tada.. I am me... not some idea placed on me for acts that I can or cannot do. I am an individual with my own thoughts... so why do I allow the mind crap to enter? How do I control how I feel about what other people say and do to me?
  
  Satchidananda uses the example about being in the moment, then smelling something from the kitchen. The smell enters our mind and takes over for a second. We wonder what the smell is, and it leads us to other thoughts. Are we in control of those thoughts? Did we really want to think about cheese at that moment?
• Reply #2 04/03/08  9:29am
  
  mkat
  so... "TADA" we realize we enable ourselves to be affected by what is around us...
  
  What does this mean? what does this keep us from accomplishing?
  
  
• Reply #3 06/04/08  5:28pm
  
  mkat
  my daughter says Tada...
  
  like peekaboo... when she has her eyes closed.. then suddenly opens them and pulls her hands away and can see us and we can see her...
  
  i think that is so true...
  Tada.. it is clear, and i can see now.
• Reply #4 06/04/08  5:42pm
  
  Olismom
  the genius of children!
• Reply #5 06/04/08  9:36pm
  
  AnneL
  Sutra 1:2 is the one that I am consistently applying over and over. I have trained myself to be hypercritical of myself and I can actually consider myself 'Laurie's public enemy #1'. I'm trying to rid myself of the 'mind-stuff'.
  Anyone want a brain?
• Reply #6 06/05/08  7:53am
  
  mkat
  1:2 is probably one of the hardest for me too.
  
  I am constantly reminding myself of it and trying to "work it"
  It is difficult.
  and so many people bring it on themselves with all the high tech gadgets... with cell phones glued to their ears and blackberries, and constant imput of technology and info from the outside world.
  I think it is fine to be informed, but don't chain yourself to it.
  
  How many people can actually ignore the phone if it rings?
  I see so many people who can't even drive without using the phone or texting or what not. What ever happened to peace and quite?
  
  Do we get in a habit of constantly having to have noise that we forget about quiet... so when nothing is around us that is noisy, we make up for it by still hearing it in our heads... like the songs that get stuck for days.
• Reply #7 06/05/08  8:52am
  
  Olismom
  you have found the main practice in all yoga with the statement.
  
  The thing about the Patanjali Sutras is there are statements that are mental mala, a way to do japa if you will, but there are many interpretations especially in the past few decades that help our age of seekers to develop the Mind of Yoga.
  
  In the 80's I had to come to terms with the chatter and learn the practice that yoga is. Not do the practice but allow the practice to evolve and become. the art is in watching the experience and applying the method to continue the momentum, and staying the course.
  
  It is a long story and I am very busy with a huge meeting at the public school to get Oli's FAPE which is another chapter in Raja Yoga, I'll tell more when I am past that today..
  
  Wish me luck!
  
  
  
• Reply #8 06/09/08  8:47am
  
  mkat
  Oh wow... total Aha yesterday.
  
  I was on DS for way too long... over 6 hours too long and had no idea why... then I figured it out.
  
  I had some thoughts embedded deep within that I needed to release to my conscious so that I could deal with them properly and let them go. I was here just cruising and thinking... and then once I started expressing what i was feeling more and more.. it popped out like a jack in the box!!
  
  I was able to get to that thought that was pushed down deep... why was it pushed deep?... I think because it was not "normal" to what I needed in my day according to the schedule and the environment... but I personally needed to take the time to care for my inner self before I could even get to my outer duties.
  I had to go against practicality for my betterment.
  
  It seemed as though I was procrastinating and had some sort of block.
  I was in a way.. I wasn't taking care of anything because I was mixed and unbalanced. It was driving me up a wall and I finally sat here thinking.. "what is blocking me? what is it that I am supposed to think about and get past before I can move forward?"
  
  Then it came to me!! It was even in my dream!
  
  So I sat and meditated on the thoughts and ideas in my head... I focused on what my mind and body were telling me... until I felt a small bit of personal enlightenment....
  then I did a 180 on my outer duties... I was able to get things done and able to focus past the inner thoughts and blockages!
  
  It was really awesome.. I thought of these sutras when I realized it.
  
  so... next time I feel procrastination or an inability to move forward in environmental tasks... I think I will look inside and ask myself what is holding me back... what do I need to do or think about in the present to be able to move forward. :)

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