Patanjali's Yogasutra | Dr. Kausthub Desikachar | YS II.2 | 25 Feb 2017

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This section introduces the significance of Mahashivaratri, a day to honor Lord Shiva. It is believed that on this day, Shiva performed the cosmic dance and gave Sanskrit language to humanity.

Introduction to Mahashivaratri

• Mahashivaratri is an auspicious day or night dedicated to honoring Lord Shiva.

• One of the mythologies surrounding this day is that Shiva performed the great cosmic dance, which is why he is called Nataraja, the King of Dance.

• At the end of his dance, Shiva created Sanskrit language by beating his drum, leading to the existence of Vedic chanting and Vedas.

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The session begins with a chant dedicated to Lord Shiva followed by an invocation to the Sutra class.

Chanting and Invocation

• The session starts with a chant dedicated to Lord Shiva as it is a special occasion to chant about him.

• An invocation is then made for the Sutra class, paying respects to Patanjali and other revered figures.

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The Sutra class begins with reciting verses from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.

Recitation of Yoga Sutras

• Verses from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras are recited as part of the Sutra class.

• These verses include references to Patanjali himself, Ananta Nagaraja (the serpent deity), and various aspects related to yoga practice.

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The second chapter of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, called "Sadhana Pada" or "Chapter on Practice," is introduced. It focuses on Astanga Yoga as a holistic path.

Introduction to Sadhana Pada

• The second chapter of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras is known as Sadhana Pada, which means the chapter on practice.

• It presents Astanga Yoga as a holistic path that encompasses various aspects of life, including lifestyle, attitudes, body, breathing, senses, mind, and emotions.

• The chapter emphasizes the importance of integrating yoga into all aspects of one's existence.

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Sadhana Pada (Chapter on Practice) is discussed further. Patanjali's approach to addressing disturbed or agitated minds is introduced.

Understanding Disturbed Minds

• Sadhana Pada is particularly relevant for individuals with disturbed or agitated minds.

• Patanjali acknowledges that most people are not in a state of calmness but rather experience daily life challenges and distractions.

• He offers a comprehensive path called Kriya Yoga to address these disturbances by integrating specific attitudes into one's life.

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The concept of Kriya Yoga and its significance in dealing with disturbed minds is explained.

Kriya Yoga for Disturbed Minds

• Kriya Yoga involves integrating three key attitudes into one's life: Tapa (austerity), Swadhyaya (self-study), and Ishwarapranidhana (surrender to the divine).

• By practicing Kriya Yoga, actions become yogic and rooted in yoga philosophy.

• Patanjali recognizes that when someone is highly disturbed, it may be challenging to immediately adopt an extensive practice. Hence, he starts with a small dose through Kriya Yoga.

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The benefits of practicing Kriya Yoga are discussed as a response to the natural question of "Why should I do this?"

Benefits of Kriya Yoga

• Patanjali acknowledges that people often seek benefits when engaging in practices like Kriya Yoga.

• He presents the benefits of practicing Kriya Yoga to address the question of why one should engage in these practices.

• The video does not provide specific details about the benefits mentioned by Patanjali.

What are the Benefits of Samadhi Bhawana?

In this section, the speaker discusses the benefits of Samadhi Bhawana and the importance of choosing positive actions.

The Two Benefits

• Samadhi Bhawana is described as a clever person who made a difference between two benefits.

• Choosing positive actions leads to gaining something, while negative actions result in losing something.

Importance of Positive Actions

• Implementing Samadhi Bhawana helps in letting go of negative emotions and deep issues.

• It may be challenging to let go of bad habits or traumas, but starting with positive actions can lead to progress.

• Even if one doesn't achieve full Samadhi, moving closer towards it is still beneficial.

Embarking on a Spiritual Path

• Going closer to Samadhi means embarking on a spiritual path and getting closer to its destination.

• Tapa Swadhyaya and Ishwara Pranidhana play important roles in making Samadhi more accessible.

Letting Go of Control

• Ishwara Pranidhana, surrendering to a higher force, involves letting go of control and ego.

• We cannot control everything in life, including ourselves and other people's behavior.

• Surrendering control allows for spiritual growth and success in achieving Samadhi.

Conclusion

• Trying to control others or circumstances will not help reach the state of Samadhi.

Samaadi Bhavana and the Path of Transformation

In this section, the speaker discusses the concept of Samaadi Bhavana and how it relates to the path of transformation. The importance of starting with a mild dose before progressing to stronger practices is emphasized.

Starting with a Mild Dose

• The practice of Kriya Yoga is compared to a mild dose that initiates the process of transformation.

• Just like in medicine, where a mild dose is given initially to check the body's response, starting with a gentle practice allows us to observe how our body reacts.

• Patanjali presents tapas (austerity), swadhyaya (self-study), and ishwarapranidhana (surrender to God) as a mild dose for spiritual transformation.

Progressing on the Path

• As we get closer to experiencing Samaadi (deep meditative absorption), we naturally start seeking what comes next.

• Some people may question why longer durations or more intensive practices are necessary during seminars or training programs.

• The initial exposure creates an interest and desire to learn more, leading individuals to engage further in their spiritual journey.

Gradual Expansion

• After completing teacher training or initial stages, practitioners often realize that there is much more knowledge and depth in the yoga tradition than they initially anticipated.

• Spiritual transformation is not a quick fix but rather a long-term process that requires time and dedication.

• Patanjali provides us with clues and samples along the way, allowing us to experience some benefits that change our attitude and inspire us to explore further.

The Role of Practice Duration

This section explores the significance of practice duration in achieving desired results. A story about prescribing a five-minute practice highlights how even small efforts can lead to greater commitment over time.

The Five-Minute Practice

• A story is shared about a busy businessman seeking yoga therapy and being prescribed a five-minute practice by the therapist.

• Initially, the short duration seemed insufficient to make any significant impact.

• However, the intention behind prescribing a brief practice was to ensure that the individual would actually commit to it regularly.

Gradual Progression

• By starting with a manageable five-minute practice, the businessman experienced some improvement and became motivated to continue.

• Over time, his commitment grew, and he eventually started practicing for forty-five minutes daily.

• The initial small dose served as an incentive for him to recognize his need for more help and invest more time in his practice.

Reducing Klesha through Practice

This section delves into the concept of Klesha (suffering) and how practicing Kriya Yoga can gradually reduce its impact. The importance of understanding suffering as a motivation for spiritual growth is highlighted.

Understanding Klesha

• Patanjali introduces the term "Klesha" in this sutra, defining it as something that hurts or causes suffering.

• Practitioners are reminded that suffering is universal, which is why they are on the path of yoga.

Reducing Klesha

• Through consistent practice of tapas (austerity), swadhyaya (self-study), and ishwarapranidhana (surrender to God), one's experience of suffering gradually diminishes.

• Patanjali emphasizes that while Klesha may not completely disappear, it will be reduced through dedicated practice.

By following these practices and gradually increasing our commitment, we can experience transformation and alleviate suffering along our spiritual journey.

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In this section, the speaker discusses the concept of Klesha and its reduction through Kriya Yoga.

The Reduction of Klesha

• The speaker explains that Klesha, which refers to mental afflictions or disturbances, will be reduced to a minimum level through the practice of Kriya Yoga.

• By practicing Kriya Yoga, Klesha will become dormant rather than completely eliminated.

• Accepting that one has Klesha is the first step towards reducing it. It indicates an acknowledgment of personal flaws and sources of suffering.

The Role of Mind in Suffering

• According to Patanjali's perspective, all suffering originates from the mind. Even physiological pain can be traced back to mental aspects.

• If one does not allow physical pain to disturb them, it ceases to be perceived as pain.

• Many physiological problems are believed to have psychosomatic causes, highlighting the mind's ability to create issues for the body.

Cleaning Process Analogy

• The speaker uses an analogy of cleaning a dirty window to explain the process of reducing Klesha through practice.

• Initially, cleaning with water and a sponge removes some dirt but does not provide complete clarity.

• Stronger intervention is required for stubborn dirt, similar to how ashtanga yoga assists in deeper cleansing.

Delayed Cleaning and Accumulated Trauma

• Postponing the cleaning process allows garbage (trauma) to accumulate in our minds and psychological structures.

• Sometimes, we become experts in helping others clean their problems while neglecting our own.

• Accumulated problems may remain hidden until we start peeling the layers and addressing them.

Overcoming Challenges

• The accumulation of Klesha makes the cleaning process challenging, as there is a significant amount to address.

• The effort required for cleaning can seem overwhelming, leading to further delay.

The transcript provided does not specify the language used in the video. Therefore, the summary is written in English as per the instructions given.

Descent into the Subconscious Mind

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of starting with surface-level work before delving deeper into the subconscious mind. They explain that our emotional structures and experiences from various dimensions impact us, even if we are not consciously aware of them. The speaker emphasizes the need to let go of control and embrace a different approach where action precedes complete knowledge.

Understanding the Depths of Our Subconscious

• It is essential to start working on the surface before attempting to address deeper problems in our subconscious mind.

• By working on the surface, we gain insights into how deep we need to go.

• Our subconscious structures are influenced by our own experiences as well as those of our parents, grandparents, and siblings.

• Enmeshment occurs when a child cannot separate itself from its environment, making environmental traumas affect them indirectly.

Uncovering Hidden Impressions

• Our impressions come from various dimensions and can be challenging to identify.

• Patanjali suggests letting go of control because we cannot know or control everything.

• Modern science promotes knowing everything before taking action, while traditional sciences like yoga advocate for doing first and then gaining knowledge.

• Yoga helps us perceive changes in klesha (afflictions) through practicing kriya yoga.

Benefits of Kriya Yoga

• Kriya yoga brings us closer to samadhi (a state of deep meditation) while reducing klesha.

• Samadhi becomes more accessible through kriya yoga practice.

• Satva guna (clarity and wisdom) increases with kriya yoga practice.

• The mind starts reflecting on spiritual focuses rather than material ones.

Simultaneous Progression in Samadhi and Reduction in Klesha

• Samadhi and klesha have an inverse relationship, like a seesaw.

• When samadhi increases, klesha decreases, and vice versa.

• Patanjali implies that high levels of klesha hinder progress towards liberation from suffering.

Liberation from Suffering through Kriya Yoga

• Acharya Krishna-Vacharya emphasizes that only through Kriya Yoga can one be liberated from dukha (suffering).

• Tapaswad-Jaya (attitude of discipline) and Vishwara Pranidhana (dedication to the divine) are essential components of Kriya Yoga.

• Interventions like medicine cannot provide the same liberation as Kriya Yoga.

Timestamps provided in the transcript have been used to associate bullet points with specific parts of the video.

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In this section, the speaker discusses the limitations of surgery and medicine in removing suffering (Dukha) and emphasizes the importance of personal practice, specifically Kriya Yoga, in finding relief.

Surgery and Medicine Cannot Remove Dukha

• The speaker mentions that surgery and medicine are often used to address physical concerns, such as changing one's appearance through nose or ear transplants.

• However, these interventions do not provide a solution for inner suffering (Dukha).

• Kalyukasheksham, which refers to modern science and medicine, cannot save individuals when their bodies are weak or depleted.

• Life does not conform to scientific theories or formulas.

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The speaker highlights the limitations of relying solely on science and formulas for solutions in life. They emphasize the need to explore ancient sciences like Kriya Yoga for long-term freedom from suffering.

Life Does Not Behave According to Formulas

• When a formula is applied to life situations, people expect specific results.

• However, life is mysterious and does not adhere to scientific formulas.

• The speaker encourages returning to ancient sciences rather than relying solely on modern interventions like medicine.

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The speaker explains that Kriya Yoga and Aashthanga Yoga are effective practices for overcoming suffering (Dukha), while external interventions like medicine have limited long-term impact.

Personal Practice Over External Interventions

• Kriya Yoga and Aashthanga Yoga are emphasized as practices that can help individuals overcome suffering.

• External interventions like medicine may provide temporary solutions but do not offer long-term freedom from Dukha.

• Historical examples are given where people attempted altered states through herbs but found lasting relief only through personal practice.

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The speaker shares a personal anecdote about their grandfather, who exemplified the power of personal practice and self-empowerment in overcoming physical challenges.

Personal Example of Self-Empowerment

• The speaker's grandfather, Krishna Macharya, broke his hip in his 90s.

• Medical doctors suggested surgery, but he refused external interventions.

• Instead, he demonstrated his ability to perform asanas (yoga postures) even with a broken hip.

• The grandfather's independence and belief in yoga showcased the effectiveness of personal practice.

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The speaker emphasizes the benefits of Kriya Yoga and its ability to reduce suffering (klesha) and enhance access to samadhi states.

Benefits of Kriya Yoga

• Implementing Kriya Yoga gradually reduces suffering (klesha).

• As Kriya Yoga is practiced, individuals gain increased access to samadhi states.

• Patanjali's second Sutra highlights the positive effects of Kriya Yoga on reducing suffering and deepening spiritual experiences.