Sutras

Today we studied Patanjali's yoga sutras with Padma. Wow - Padma just blows my mind with her compassion and wisdom. We spent about two and a half hours going through the first two sutras.

Atha Yoganusasanam

Now yoga is explained. We talked for a long time about now, and yoga as union. And Patanjali's sutras and how to read them. There are so many interpretations of the sutras, like there are of the bible or the koran or any other holy book. According to Padma, people interpret the sutras in different ways according to their culture and experiences and mental state... truth is for everyone to find for themselves. The sutras are threads, they are not meant to be comprehensive instructions to enlightenment - Padma calls them a "teacher's manual", short notes for the teacher that should be used in conjunction with explanation from the guru, and mostly passed on as a verbal tradition.

Yogas Citta Vrtti Nirodhah

This is most often translated as "yoga is the cessation of mental fluctuations" (I think the translation is BKS Iyengar's), but Padma talked for a long time about translating Nirodhah as understanding, not control or cessation. So yoga is understanding [and observing without attachment] the mental fluctuations of the mind, otherwise known as thoughts. I can understand where she's coming from - it makes sense for us that mind can never be totally quietened and that citta vrtti will never be totally ceased. But understanding them without attachment gives one control and freedom. I like that way of interpreting Nirodhah... it suddenly seems like it's achievable in this lifetime.

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