The Philosophy of Yoga: The Yoga Sutras

There are many different philosophical teachings on yoga, however for the purpose of this essay I will focus on one important text: The Sage Patenjali's Yoga Sutras.

A Quick Overview of the Patenjali Sutras

According to Sri Swami Satchidananda, an expert on the Yoga Sutras,

"Within the space of these 200 short Sutras, the entire science of Yoga is clearly delineated: its aim, the necessary practices, the obstacles you may meet along the path, their removal, and the precise descriptions of the results that will be obtained from such practices."

Although Patenjali's Yoga Sutras is one of the most highly respected and well read texts on yoga today, very little is known about the man himself. Patenjali is thought to have lived somewhere between the 2nd and 3rd century C.E. Historians have been unable to agree on his birthplace and the only stories we have of his birth are surrounded in legends and myths.

The Philosophy of The Sutras

Regardless of Pantenjali's history, the Yoga Sutras are an important part of Yoga Philosophy. The 196 sutras, or threads, are divided into four sections:

Samadhi Pada or Contemplation - explains the aim of yoga in a theoretical way, this aim being to attain a constant state of Samadhi or enlightenment.Sadhana Pada or Spiritual Practice - explains methods of practice to attain the yogic goal of Samadhi. Here, Pantenjali outlines the eight limbs of yoga discussed below.Vibhuti Pada or Accomplishments - explains the 6th, 7th and 8th limbs of yogaKaivalya Pada or Absoluteness - explains mind construction and how it masks the inner self.

The Eight Limbs Of Yoga

Book Two, Sadhana Pada, of the Yoga Sutras discusses an idea called the Eight Limbs of Yoga. According to the sutras,

By practice of the limbs of Yoga, impurities dwindle away and there dawns the light of wisdom, leading to discriminative discernment.

The eight limbs are:

Yama or abstinence: Not causing pain. Pain can be caused through words (including lies), actions, or even thoughts.
Niyama or observance: purity, contentment, accepting but not causing pain, study of spiritual books and worship of God.
Asana or posture: Asana means to sit in a posture that brings comfort and steadiness. The purpose of sitting still for long periods of time is to meditate. This is easier said than done, the yogis decided. As a result, the asanas transformed into various poses, all with different purposes. Some poses help squeeze toxins from the body, while others help stretch the muscles to make them more supple. It's important to remember, when practicing yoga asanas, that the originally goal of these exercises was to be able to sit still and meditate without pain or discomfort. They were a means to an end, not an end to a means.
Pranayama or breath control: Once the asana posture has been mastered, next we must master breath control or pranayama. Prana means breath. Without prana, we would die. Mastering our breath is a very important element in attaining Samadhi. (note: ALWAYS use caution when practicing pranayama exercises as these can be dangerous if not done properly).
Pratyahara or sense withdrawal: Not allowing our senses to be satisfied by pleasurable yet unnecessary things.
Dharana or concentration: Dharana is the binding of the mind to one object, place or idea. It is the ability to meditate by concentrating on only one thing.
Dhyana or meditation: Dhyana is the continuous flow of cognition towards that object. When the Dharana, or concentration, is fixed and flowing uninterrupted, this is mediation.
Samadhi or contemplation, super-conscious state, enlightenment. The sutras describe it as such: "the same meditation when there is the shining of an object alone, as if devoid of form."

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The Yoga Sutras Relationship to Yoga Today

Yogic philosophy had its beginnings within early Vedic civilization. This was a very advanced civilization that inhabited the regions now known as India and Pakistan. Their Sanskrit scriptures, known as "The Vedas", were heavily linked to the Hindu religion and gave rise to the texts on which modern-day Yoga philosophy is based.

Although written records of Yogic philosophy exist, many of the traditions were passed down orally from teachers to students over thousands of years. Hatha Yoga - the style from which modern practices arise - is largely based on Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, a text in which he explains the eight limbs of Yoga still recognized today. Vedic sages started with the first step and progressively practiced each one for years before reaching the culmination of all eight: Self-realization.

1. Yama - social conduct

2. Niyama - individual conduct

3. Asana - physical poses

4. Pranayama - breathing techniques

5. Pratyahara - withdrawal of the senses

6. Dharana - concentration

7. Dhyana - meditation

8. Samadhi - ultimate state of super consciousness, or enlightenment

Patanjali also described nine obstacles to the practice of Yoga that are just as relevant in the 21st century as they were thousands of years ago:

• Illness

• Self-doubt

• Lack of attention

• Lack of mental effort

• Lack of perseverance

• Over-indulgence

• Misunderstanding or false knowledge

• Laziness

Toward the end of the 1800s, Swami Vivekananda taught Patanjali's principles under the name of Raja Yoga. While Patanjali's Sutras were the major scriptures in the development of Yoga, other texts were also important:

• Upanishads - metaphysical concepts leading to ultimate truth about reincarnation and karma

• Bhagavad Gita - philosophy of Yoga in Hindu epic poem meaning "song of the blessed one"

• Gorraksha Paddhati - description of energy centers and explanation of chanting "OM"

• Hatha Yoga Pradipika - dissertation on the union of Hatha and Raja Yoga

Although the poses of Yoga date back before the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, they were not widely practiced by the public in India until the early 20th century. In 1946, Paramahansa Yogananda introduced the Kriya style of Yoga in his book, "Autobiography of a Yogi". In 1948, Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga was introduced and became the system from which many Hatha Yoga systems in the United States were patterned during the 1960s.

Final Summary

Although the philosophy of authentic Yoga is about a way of living, Yoga today is often used to describe the physical practice of poses for the sole purpose of exercising and improving health. To reap the true benefits of the practice, practitioners would need to find a class that embraces the original teachings of the ancient Vedic texts - along with asana, pranayama, and meditation.

Let's be honest with ourselves. Most practitioners are too busy for the traditional Yoga teacher training. Going through long apprenticeships and levels of dedication as a formal student within a specific lineage with one Guru is a thing of the past. Do you have 10 years to leave your family and live in a monastery or an ashram? Can you leave your job behind?

For these reasons, Yoga will continue to grow with online education and Internet networking. It is up to us as Yoga teachers and practitioners to look deep into the Yoga Sutra, Vedas, and writings of the past. In this way, we can pass the torch to the next generations of teachers, who will surely be more advanced in their ability to absorb the Yogic teachings of the past.

© Copyright 2011 - Aura Wellness Center - Publications Division

Faye Martins, is a Yoga teacher and a graduate of the Yoga teacher training program at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/

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