1.5/1.6 Vrittayah pancatayah klishta aklishta pramana viparyaya vikalpa nidra smritayah

There are five kinds of thought patterns, some hurtful and others benign.
Right knowledge, wrong knowledge, fancy, sleep, and memory

This daily journey is unfolding in my reality that even my most mundane circumstances give meaning to the sutras. I am learning to un-color and un-pain these thoughts. I am learning the word "untainted". I am learning the meaning of "purity".

1.4 Vrtti sarupyamitarata

At the earlier part of the trip to Pundaquit, I gave in to the feelings of discontent and exhaustion. The feeling of always being exhausted, hating yet relishing the exhaustion. I almost missed the beauty of being with my two best friends - my husband and my son.

I must let this love permeate into remembrance so that I always feel joy washing over us in waves or scattered abundantly like shells.


Otherwise, he is of the same form as the thought streams

1.3 Tada drastuh swarupeavasthanam

Nischala Joy Devi interprets it this way - United in the heart, consciousness is steadied, then we abide in our true nature -- joy.

I will keep a space of silence here because when I feel joyful, I am at peace. Or when I am at peace, I am joyful, brimming in an explicable happy and thankful silence.

1.2 Yogaschitta vrtti nirodha

I woke up at 3 am, visited by a thunderstorm of thoughts. Thoughts of everything that needed to get done today. Reading, writing and arithmetic. Leftover work. My schedule, deliverables, dental appointment, meetings, my committed practice, Koh Samui, travelling alone. Flashback to 2005, 2006. On plane rides, along hotel hallways, beneath the dizzying spinning of stars. My head cracks open from this mental assault. Thunder, lightning, rain.

Then finally, thoughts of love. Love, my gentle muse, hushing the thoughts to silence, to sleep.

Yogaschitta vrtti nirodha.

(July 20)

1.1 Ataha yoganushasanam

I am getting ready to make an old dream become real. I am approaching the coming months gently. While waiting for my body to heal, I have been given a list of books to read, some of which I own, while others are versions - translations of a different author. I will be adding more to this library...

My practice is on hold until the end of August, possibly, no, hopefully, sooner. I will be drinking in the words and silence for now.

There are three translations in my books...
Now, the discipline of Yoga
Now, instruction in Union
With humility, we embrace the sacred study of Yoga

Finally, I yield.

Ataha yoganushasanam

(July 19)

Samadhi Pada

At the moment of commitment, the universe conspires to assist you” (Goethe)

So begins this journey. In four months, I will be in what to me is a dream come true. I have separated this journal from others for my own reflection and for those with whom I share this path.

Pre-Course #1 - Day 1

Today is July 21. Tuesday. I received the assignments last Friday and found John Scott's book last Sunday after bookstore hopping. I am ready to go through the Autobiography again. The rest have been ordered except the Science of Breath. I will work on it this coming weekend. For now, I am in the company of alternative materials - pranayama beyond the fundamentals, yoga anatomy, and the secret power of yoga (my gentle journey through the Yoga Sutras) plus two more versions. I am reflecting.

I will have to do another round of the first assignment. The surgery from three weeks ago prevents me from full practice till end of August, but I note the following -

My practice is usually in the evening, after work at 830 pm and lasts for about an hour and a half
My last practice was working on Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana and deepening my twists. Jump throughs have yet to, well, jump through...

Breath work and meditation started yesterday morning at 5.30 a.m. and lasted for about twenty minutes I slept at 10 p.m. the night before.

Today, I woke up at 6 a.m. and will finish this entry before 11 p.m.

I had my milk tea and breakfast banana at 6.30 (as I usually do) and lunch did not happen today but snacks did, fried banana in egg wrapper (I must like the fruit).

In separate entries, I will share my reflections on the Yoga Sutras.