True wisdom always elevates – lifts up the consciousness. Such is the power of the commentary on the Patanjali Yoga Sutras by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. It is highly recommended that these commentaries are watched in a group to contemplate and introspect jointly. Recently a group of us watched the commentary of the Patanjali Yoga Sutras over 10 consecutive days, braving an early morning rise on consecutive mornings before work. The lightness we felt notwithstanding longer days during these two weeks was incredible and even those watching a re-run found new perspectives that left us refreshed, invigorated and inspired.
The Patanjali Yoga Sutras begins with the Sutra – Atha Yoga Anushanam – Let the discipline of Yoga begin. Why is it called a discipline? Because it is something you impose on yourself. Just as one who has diabetes has to impose the discipline of avoiding sugar, we have to impose the discipline of Yoga because our mind usually is caught in one of the 5 modulations listed below and our consciousness is scattered
These 5 modulations are Pramana (wanting proof), Viparyaya (wrong logic), Vikalpa (fantasies), Smruti (Memories) or Nidra (Sleep)
When we are caught in these modulations the consciousness is scattered. The purpose of Yoga is unite all these loose ends and unite with the self. When the circumference unites with the centre, then there is infinity. The scattered mind or consciousness becomes one with the Lord
What is the Lord? Not something or someone high up in heaven. The Lord is devoid of misery, devoid of Karma, devoid of the fruits of Karma (Vipaka) and devoid of latent tendencies (Asheya). The 5 types of misery are Avidya (Ignorance), Asmita (Caught up in the ‘I’), Raaga (Cravings), Dvesha (Aversions) & Abhinivesha (Fear)
The practice of Yoga takes us deep within ourselves, beyond these miseries to deep within each one of us, where the ‘Self’ is unblemished. That is the Lord. And there is no difference between God, Guru and the Self. The Guru is the one who opens the window to our own Self.
So how does one achieve this unity? Through Abhyaasa (Practice) & Vairagya (Dispassion). The path is long and takes repeated practice. And yet the goal is in every moment – the feeling of peace and joy when we are totally dispassionate and yet totally involved in the moment. Letting go while putting effort.
We may get caught up in one or more of the 9 obstacles on the path of Yoga
(1) Vyaadi (Illness in the body)
(2) Styana (Illness in the mind)
(3) Samshaya (Doubts)
(4) Pramada (Knowingly doing what is not conducive )
(5) Alasya (Laziness)
(6) Avirathi (Being engaged in sense objects and not being able to disengage)
(7) Bhranthidarshan (Delusion)
(8) Alabdhabhumitattva (feeling of no progress / non-attainment of peace or tranquility)
(9) Anavastitattva (Experience of any kind doesn’t last for long)
How do you know you are stuck in one of these obstacles?
If you feel one of the following
(a) Dukha (Sorrow)
(b) Daurmanasya (Bitterness)
(c) Angamejayatva (inability to control the body or the organs)
(d) Swashaprashvasa (irregular breathing)
(e) Bhrantidarshan (Delusional)
The only way out is Abhyasa & Vairagya. And Patanjali reveals the 8 limbs of Yoga that we need to practice with dispassion to overcome the impurities, the aforementioned symptoms and obstacles that cause these symptoms
These 8 limbs are the
(1) 5 Yamas – The 5 Yamas are Ahimsa (Non-Violence), Satya (Truth), Bhramacharya (moving beyond the body in the awareness of the greater consciousness), Asteya (Non-Stealing), Aparigraha (Non-Accumulation)
(2) 5 Niyamas – The 5 Niyamas are Shaucha (Hygiene), Santosha (Contentment), Tapas (Willingly going through the opposites), Swadhyaya (Self-Study), Ishwarapranidhana (Devotion)
(3) Asanas (The postures)
(4) Pranayama (Consciously changing the rhythm of the breath)
(5) Pratyahara (Taking the senses inward)
(6) Dharana (Focus)
(7) Dhyaana (Meditation)
(8) Samadhi (Relaxation)
When we practice Ahimsa, violence drops in our very presence. When we practice Truth, our actions bear fruit effortlessly. When we practice Brahmacharya, we gain great strength physically and mentally. When we practice Asteya, all the wealth in the world comes to us and Aparigraha leads to knowledge of past lives
Shaucha takes us beyond body consciousness. Santosha brings incomparable happiness. Tapas eliminates impurities. Swadhyaya allows us to become a channel for the divine. Ishwarapranidhana takes us to Samadhi
The other 6 limbs happen through our daily practice of Sadhana. Asanas eliminate confusion. Pranayamas make us feel light. Pratyahara makes your senses listen to you. The mind gets the ability to stay at one point.
Practice of the 8 limbs of Yoga brings Adhyatma Prasadam – knowledge that cannot be expressed.
All of us cannot wait to recreate this magic through one more of the spiritual commentary series of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
Shailesh Venkatesh 
Fantastic summation of the knowledge Shailesh
Fantastic Shailesh. I will be following your blog.
Adhyatma prasadam is a fascinating expression. Abstracting to highest philosophy
the expression “adhyatma prasadam” is the gateway to absolute knowledge. Do you
know of Sri Krishna’s use of the expression adhyatma? I think it is interesting to translate it
as the In-Itself. This expression is the real puzzle of philosophy. The In-Itself is very strange concept which is approach either as “the Thing-In-Itself” or its opposite “the Self-In-Itself”
then one can grasp the meaning of the expression “In-Itself” which is a peculiar expression with peculiar meaning. Peace.
🙏