Sunday Afternoon Sutras

I was reading through the Yoga Sutras this afternoon, comparing two translations while listening to Jayashree chant.

With me, too, is a copy of Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now. He makes no reference to yoga and yet his words ring familiar, a good complement to yogic studies.

We are gifted, if we have faith, with prayers, words, salutations and teachings. The Truth within Scriptures, or as revealed by those ahead in this path, is universal, encompassing the structures we've created to unite (and divide) us. Let nothing divide us anymore.

This one is for Patanjali and the beautiful Yoga Sutras.

Yogena cittasya padena vacam

malam sarirasya ca vaidyakena

yo' pakarottam pravaram muninam

patanjalim Pranjaliranato'smi

iYoga

We belong to our times. It is where we are. Even as we connect with ancient teachings and respect the age-old wisdom we may not have conceived today, we are here now, virtually connected now.

As a modern yogi, we guard against being "vata-deranged" (we try). At our fingertips, we have the information made visual and tactile and portable. Billions of servers containing information made available in mobile devices, billions of apps downloadable in seconds...

I have my own favorite yogic apps for the iPhone/iTouch, for instance. Here are my Top 7.

1 Patanjali Yog Sutra ($4.99) - the sutras in english and sanskrit (I also have Bon Giovanni's version in English). It's another way to start Ataha yoganushasanam
2 Bowls (Tibetan Singing Bowls)($1.99) - I mentioned this in my earlier post. 7 bowls, a bell, gong, chimes at your fingertips, the vibrations all beautifully rendered.
3 Pranayama ($2.99)- I use this for audio cues for inhaling, retaining and breathing. Settings can be easily configured (how many breaths, ratios, animation and ambient sounds...). I was initially just looking for the tick tock sounds but chanced upon this one. Pretty useful and non-intrusive.
4 Gita (FREE) - the whole Bhagavad Gita, chapter by chapter (in sanskrit and english) so we always have a copy.
5 Autobiography of a Yogi (FREE) - The entire book and all the photos for your reading and re-reading pleasure
6 iMantra Lite (FREE) - your virtual mala (choose how many beads you want and the types of mantras you want recited (buddhist, kundalini, hindu, hindu with kabir, universal, planetary) and there are mantras under each of these categories.
7 iEphemeris Lite (FREE) - to know your moon phases

I also have two Reiki Apps
1 iReiki ($1.99) - Explanation of Reiki, different treatments, Reiki hand positions...
2 21 Power Tools of Reiki ($2.99)- Tools for maximizing reiki (attitude, meditation, verbal, physical, intentions...)

More apps are created everyday and certainly there are apps for "coaching" yoga practices, good for free flowing hatha yogis.

We have so much. Sometimes, maybe too much. One word for us, though - aparigraha. Especially as we google or make our way through the app store. This is just for the small "i" afterall. :)


Photo Source: http://www.mohammedibraheem.co.uk/vis_comwebsite/Assets/ipodcult.jpg

Pre-Course Assignment # 10 : The Yoga Sutras

The Yoga Sutras has re-enforced my beliefs on giving and surrender to God, has echoed humility and service. In its beautiful threads, I found compassion even as I struggle to be liberated. I love how the advocacies of the sacred scriptures are interwoven, with the promise of freedom, heaven, meeting God, Self, becoming One. This is the true essence of our practice - a prayer in motion, the yoga mala. I am most willing to put this in my own practice. It is not always easy, even with the "handbooks" already written for us, teaching the ways to be truly happy and free, even with the willingness. I guess this is what it means by "1% theory, 99% practice" As in one of the stories in Greek mythology, maybe we need to be hold on to these threads, these Words, these sutras to help us navigate through our own labyrinth. All the while enjoying the playfulness of this journey, full of hope that liberation is indeed a beautiful possibility.

Near the Beginning

It is Sunday. The last day of the long weekend. I finally have all my books with me and I have reset my studies of the Sutras. I bought a copy of The Secret Power of Yoga by Nischala Joy Devi some months back. Nischala Devi is a student of Swami Satchidananda and she has written this version for women, a gentler interpretation that pulled me from the bookshelf. I thought to get a copy while I was waiting for her master's version to arrive. Now I have both. And I am reading them in parallel. I believe there is meaning in studying this juxtaposition of texts. From the same Sutras, I will find what unifies the understanding between Master and Student, male and female.

Yoga is Union afterall.

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.