Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras are an important source for our practice. My first teacher David Life referred to it as a “handbook for life”. Presented in 4 chapters or “padas” the author (more appropriately, “compiler” as he didn’t so much originate the material as codify long existing orally transmitted teachings) leads us through a concise journey through what yoga is, how it’s to be practiced, pitfalls, opportunities and strengths that may develop as a result, and finally how it can reveal the ultimate truth of things, aka, enlightenment.
It kick off with the following sutra:
1.1 atha yoga-anuśāsanam
Now, here is yoga.
“Atha” means now; yoga is yoga - the fully concentrated/one-pointed state of mind; “anu” means continuation of and “śasanam” means teachings.
There are at least two ways to consider this sutra. The first being straightforward - simply setting the stage with a statement acknowledging that henceforth we are to be given a treatise on yoga. He’s offering education, which is quite fitting considering that a definition of education is “an enlightening experience” -- the heart of yoga. The second involves a bit of play on words. Atha means “now” and one way of describing the state of yoga is that it is to let go of past and future and allow oneself to BE in the present - NOW!
From an inspirational point of view (and as long time practitioners one finds inspiration wherever one can!) this NOW is not your run-of-the-mill word, it’s rather auspicious – special, in other words – because it reminds us of the importance of shedding biases and prejudices and dropping into our direct experience as-it-is. If we can do that, if we can stay neutral to the push and pull of the material forces of like and dislike, attachment and aversion, then we have a shot at holding our mind in a state of yoga. This place of naturalness that allows us to move through the world with greater ease, happiness and less suffering.
A key term here is EQUANIMITY. Equanimity is this evenness of mind. It is a quality that Patanjali does discuss later in the sutras; however, if we turn to the teachings of the Buddha and in particular, later adepts of Mahayana Buddhism, we can undertake a deep dive into the philosophy and practice of equanimity as a stabilizing force to be cultivated in our everyday lives.
One pertinent example of this comes through a seminal teaching of Buddhism known as “the four immeasurables” – commitment to cultivated boundless qualities of loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity. And wonderfully, these commitments are captured by Patanjali as well in the 33rd sutra of the first pada when he writes “maitri karuna mudita pekshanam sukha dukha punya apunya vishayanam bhavanatash citta prasadanam” - the yogi can maintain a sweet disposition (citta pradhanam) by cultivating happiness for those who are happy, compassion for those who suffer, joy for those who are virtuous, and even mindedness for those who are non-virtuous. Fortunately, for those of us that want to jump into this aspect of practice head/heart first, there are numerous inspiring texts that can support us in doing just that, one of my favorites being “Cultivating True Compassion - Bodhichitta and the Bodhisattva Vow” by the recently departed, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche.
So, how does all this relate to asana – our postural practice on the mat? Well, I propose that one way is this: staying on the count and accepting graciously what comes. Meaning, commit to the systemic breath and movement system that is Ashtanga Yoga (a counted method) and watch your mind – being alert to the arising of negative self talk and/or dissatisfaction to the resulting shapes that come. Using that alertness to thwart the hindering mind, keep moving, stay focused on breath and allow your practice to be AS-IT-IS. This is a valuable form of equanimity-based practice.
Enjoy your practice! ;-)
*And join us every other Saturday for Led Primary Plus where Cory we will continue our exploration of the Yoga Sutras!