Patanjali's Yogasutra | Dr. Kausthub Desikachar | YS I.48 & I.49 | 28 January 2017

Invocation

The video begins with an invocation.

Invocation

• The speaker greets the audience and announces the date.

• They start with an invocation by saying "Namaste" and chanting "Hoon!"

Introduction to Patanjali's Yoga Sutras

The speaker introduces Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.

Patanjali's Yoga Sutras

• The speaker recites verses in Sanskrit, invoking various deities.

• They mention Patanjali and his work, the Yoga Sutras.

• The speaker pays homage to Patanjali and recites a prayer.

Recap of Previous Class

The speaker provides a recap of the previous class.

Recap of Previous Class

• The previous class discussed the sutra "Nirvichara, Vahichara, Dhyadhyatma, Prasadha."

• This sutra talks about developing skill in Nirvichara Samadhi and experiencing self-revelation.

• The meaning of this sutra was explored in detail.

Skill in Nirvichara Samadhi

The speaker discusses the skill required for Nirvichara Samadhi.

Skill in Nirvichara Samadhi

• Developing skill in Nirvichara Samadhi leads to self-revelation.

• This state involves focusing on subtle objects of meditation.

• When one attains this state, there is clarity and self-presentation.

Ritambhara Pragyan - Clarity Enveloped with Ritambh

The speaker explains the concept of Ritambhara Pragyan.

Ritambhara Pragyan - Clarity Enveloped with Ritambh

• In the state of skillful Nirvichara Samadhi, there is clarity enveloped with Ritambh.

• "Ritambh" means covering or enveloping.

• This enveloping is related to clarity and light.

Enveloping with Ritambh

The speaker delves deeper into the concept of enveloping with Ritambh.

Enveloping with Ritambh

• Bhara means being covered or enveloped.

• Patanjali uses the term "Ritambhara" to describe this envelopment.

• It signifies being surrounded by clarity and light.

Clouded Perception due to Bias

The speaker discusses how bias can cloud our perception.

Clouded Perception due to Bias

• Our normal perception is clouded by darkness, confusion, aversion, desire, fear, and anxieties.

• Bias can prevent us from seeing things clearly.

• Love can also create a biased perception where we overlook flaws or only see positives.

Not Seeing Positives in Others

The speaker talks about how biases can prevent us from seeing positives in others.

Not Seeing Positives in Others

• Biases can lead us to not see the positives in people we don't like.

• A saying in Tamil illustrates this idea using crows and their golden-colored babies.

• Our biases limit our ability to perceive reality accurately.

Bias in Cricket

The speaker discusses their bias as a passionate supporter of Indian cricket and how it affected their perception of opposing teams. They acknowledge that the Indian team has improved over the years, leading to a more balanced perspective.

• The speaker admits to being biased against teams that consistently won against India in the past.

• They attribute this bias to emotions such as Raga (attachment), Dvesha (aversion), and fear.

• Fear can cloud our judgment and lead us to see things incorrectly.

• The metaphorical "cloud" represents the cover of darkness that prevents us from seeing the truth.

Overcoming Bias through Samadhi

The speaker explains how practicing samadhi helps transcend biases and gain clarity of perception.

• Fear and biases prevent us from seeing clearly, creating a clouded mind.

• Through deepening one's practice of samadhi, the cloud of darkness is replaced by a cloud of light and clarity.

• During samadhi, perception arises from the heart rather than biases or attachments.

• This heightened perception is referred to as "Rhythm Bharat atra pragnya," where "pragnya" signifies illuminating knowledge.

Understanding Rhythm

The speaker delves into the concept of rhythm and its connection with perceiving reality.

• Rhythm is associated with illumination and clarity, represented by the prefix "pra" meaning light in Sanskrit.

• It signifies a shift from a clouded mind to one filled with light and understanding.

• In contrast, sattym represents expressing truth in a kind manner consistent with ahimsa (non-violence).

• Perception may not always align with kindness but can reveal shocking truths.

Perception vs Expression of Truth

The speaker explores the difference between perception and expression of truth, emphasizing that perception can be shocking while expression should be kind.

• Perception is not necessarily kind and can reveal shocking truths.

• Expression of truth should be done in a kind manner, considering ahimsa.

• Many people worldwide experience shock when confronted with harsh realities.

• The story of an astrologer highlights the contrast between perception and expression of truth.

The Astrologer's Truth

The speaker shares a story about an astrologer who faces consequences for revealing a shocking truth to a king.

• An astrologer predicts that the king's family will die before him, which angers the king due to his bias and love for his family.

• The astrologer is imprisoned but explains the truth to a wise minister who understands the importance of staying true to tradition.

• To save the astrologer, they devise a plan where he requests to read the king's chart as his last wish before execution.

Timestamps are provided in seconds (s) format.

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The astrologer is given two days to make his calculations and returns to the king with good news about his chart.

Astrologer's Calculation

• The astrologer requests two days to make his calculations and returns to his prison.

• He acts as if he is recalculating everything, as he is known for never making mistakes.

• After two days, he informs the guards that he is ready to present his findings to the king.

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The astrologer admits his mistake but delivers good news about the king's long life.

Admitting Mistake

• The astrologer apologizes to the king, admitting that he made a mistake in his previous prediction.

• However, he assures the king that he has good news this time.

Good News for the King

• The astrologer tells the king that according to his chart, he will have the longest life among all members of his family.

• This prediction aligns with Ahimsa, which emphasizes non-violence and consistency.

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Satyam (truth) and Ahimsa (non-violence) are interconnected in expressing and perceiving truth.

Satyam and Ahimsa

• In Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, Ahimsa is presented before Satyam because when expressing truth, one must respect non-violence.

• However, in perception of truth (Pragyai), there may not always be non-violence. Sometimes perceiving truth can be painful or hurtful.

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Perception of truth can be painful and inconsistent with non-violence.

Hurting Truth

• Sometimes the truth can be hurtful, such as when witnessing a friend betraying or losing a World Cup final.

• It is not consistent with Ahimsa to express these truths in a nice manner.

Bias and Perception

• Clarity of perception does not necessarily mean perceiving only nice things.

• Perceiving only nice things can be due to bias, which often stems from personal traumas or past hurts.

• Trauma can influence how one perceives others, leading to biased perceptions.

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Clarity of perception comes from going inward and seeing things without confusion or doubt.

Clear Perception

• Going inward as far as possible allows for perceiving from the heart, which is light and clear.

• Clarity of perception does not mean perceiving only pleasant things; it means seeing things without confusion or doubt.

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Everyone is eligible for clarity and illumination according to Patanjali's yoga philosophy.

Eligibility for Illumination

• Patanjali's theory states that all individuals are eligible for clarity and illumination.

• Yoga philosophy does not exclude anyone based on certain criteria; it is non-dogmatic.

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The gift of the Self (Adhyavna) is given to all individuals equally by Ishwarah.

Gift of the Self

• Patanjali emphasizes that everyone has been given the gift of the Self (Adhyavna).

• This gift is bestowed upon all individuals equally by Ishwarah, the Divine Creator.

• It is not for us to decide whether this gift is useful or not; it is a generous gift from Ishwarah.

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Patanjali's philosophy does not exclude anyone and emphasizes the concept of gifts.

Inclusive Philosophy

• Unlike certain other philosophies, Patanjali's yoga philosophy does not exclude anyone.

• Yoga philosophy is non-dogmatic and does not state that only those who follow it can attain illumination.

• The previous sutra uses the word "Prasadha" (gift), highlighting the concept of giving and receiving gifts.

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Gifts may be given but not necessarily used or valued.

Unused Gifts

• Sometimes we offer gifts to others or receive gifts ourselves, but they may go unused or unvalued.

• Just because a gift is given does not mean it will be used or appreciated.

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The analogy of unused gifts relates to the gift of the Self (Adhyavna) given by Ishwarah.

Unused Gift of the Self

• Similarly, we have all been given the gift of the Self (Adhyavna) by Ishwarah.

• Whether this gift is useful or valued depends on our perception and understanding.

• We cannot steal this gift from Ishwarah; it has been generously bestowed upon us.

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The Jeevatma (individual soul) is equal in all individuals, regardless of their differences.

Equality in Jeevatma

• The Jeevatma, the individual soul, is the same in all individuals.

• Regardless of differences in gender, physical appearance, or social status, we are all equal at the level of the Jeevatma.

• Ishwarah has given us this gift equally because the constitution of Jeevatma is the same for everyone.

The Philosophy of Yoga and Equality

In this section, the speaker discusses the philosophy of Yoga and emphasizes the concept of equality in Yoga practice.

The Remarkable Philosophy of Yoga

• Yoga recognizes that nobody is special in this domain except for Ishwarah (Purusha Viseya).

• There is no hierarchy of class in Yoga; all practitioners are equal.

• While we are not superior or inferior to others, we are not the same as others due to the combination of Purusha and Prakriti.

• Finding a balance between our sameness at the Purusha level and our differences at the Prakriti level is essential.

Clarity through Samadhi

• Engaging in samadhi leads to realizing a light full of clarity.

• With clarity comes the disappearance of confusion and darkness.

• Patanjali uses metaphors like removing clouds to describe this process.

• Through practices like Pranayama, the cloud that covers darkness is removed, making way for a cloud filled with light.

Clouds of Virtue

• In samadhi state, there is no cloud of darkness or confusion but rather a cloud of virtue.

• This cloud represents auspicious qualities and dispels negativity.

• Enlightenment or clarity is accessible to anyone willing to put effort into their spiritual practice.

Capacity for Enlightenment

• Enlightenment is not reserved only for selected individuals; it depends on efforts, shraddha (faith), and sadhana (practice).

• Examples from mythology and history demonstrate that enlightenment can be attained by all beings, including animals.

Universal Consciousness

• Animals possess consciousness and knowledge, allowing them to survive and adapt.

• Yoga removes hierarchical barriers and makes it accessible to everyone.

• The gift of inner consciousness is given to all; nobody is excluded.

• All individuals are considered equal in the eyes of the Divine.

The summary has been created using content from the transcript provided.

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This section discusses the concept of illumination and the different types of knowledge.

Understanding Illumination

• The effort we put in determines the concept of illumination.

• The sutra is connected to Shruta, Anumana, Pragyam, which are different forms of knowledge.

• Knowledge can come from what people tell us (Aadama Pragyam), our own experiences (Anubhavagnyanam), or inference (Anumana).

• The focus of illumination is on subtle objects, not usual objects.

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This section emphasizes the importance of personal experience and experiential knowledge.

Importance of Personal Experience

• Knowledge gained through personal experience is different from what others say or infer.

• Experiential knowledge (Anubhavagnyanam) comes from direct experience, not hearsay or inference.

• Each person's experience may be different even for the same thing.

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This section highlights the need to respect and acknowledge individual experiences.

Respecting Individual Experiences

• Personal experiences vary for both gross and subtle experiences.

• The experience of illumination or self-realization will be unique for each individual.

• It is important to respect and honor these differences in experiences.