As we know, the goal of yoga practice is to attain the highest state of inner peace. Patanjali, in his Yoga Sutras, calls this the Asamprajnata Samadhi (seedless samadhi). This samadhi finally leads to the state of "Kaivalya" which can be translated as self-realization.
In this connection, Patanjali, in yoga sutra 1.20 provides us a great insight into the kind of endeavor needed to attain this state of seedless samadhi:
"For those (who are willing to follow the path of prescribed effort), this Asamprajnata Samadhi is attained through faith (shraddha), energy (virya), memory (smriti), contemplation (samadhi) and discernment (prajna)."
You can think of these five steps as the rungs of a ladder. Most commentators depict these as successive steps, one leading to the next. Thus shraddha (faith) leads to virya (energy) and so on, until we reach the state of prajna (discriminative wisdom). Prajna has been identified elsewhere in the sutras as the state leading to "seedless samadhi" (sutras 1.48 – 1.51).
Let us take a closer look at these five endeavors.
Shraddha (faith)
Shraddha is usually translated as faith. However, faith can sometime mean blind faith which is not what is intended here. For example, one can have a blind faith in the religion they belong to or in the scriptures that they study. In that sense a more appropriate translation of shraddha would be "trust". Here we are talking of trust that is built on proper reasoning and analysis, not blind faith. Since our goal is to attain self-realization through the path of yoga, we are now talking about our total trust and devotion to the eight limbs of yoga, the path prescribed by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras.These eights limbs are: 5 yamas, 5 niyamas (yamas and niyamas are social, moral and ethical guidelines), asana (physical posture), pranayama (breathing techniques), pratyahara (sense withdrawal), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (absorption). Through this trust and faith, we are totally committing ourselves to the practice of these eight limbs of yoga.
Virya (energy)
The unwavering trust (shraddha) in our endeavor gives us the will-power, courage and determination to follow the prescribed path until our goad is reached. One of the meanings of the Sanskrit word "virya" is "semen". So, some commentators have equated virya with the practice of Brahmacharya (celibacy) which is listed by Patanjali as one of the five yamas. I think when you are totally committed to the path of yoga as an endeavor to reach self-realization, you are more likely than not to automatically follow brahmacharya. Virya thus implies the indomitable courage and will to follow the path of yoga. This determination will bring us back on the path of yoga when the mind is distracted by the sensual objects.
Smriti (memory)
The most common meaning of Smriti is memory. So the question arises "memory of what?". In the current context, I think memory simply means that the only thing we try to remember is our goal and how we plan to attain that goal. Virya or courage that I mentioned earlier will help us stay focused and help us remember only our chosen goal. Memory of other mundane experiences can obviously lead us astray and take us away from our chosen endeavor. For example, when we practice "Ishwara Pranidhana" (surrender to God, which is one of the five niyamas) by repeatedly chanting the AUM sound, it brings the mind to a peaceful state. By keeping the memory of that experience, we can continue on the same path without distraction.
Samadhi (contemplation)
Samadhi, in this context means that the mind has attained a state where it is not distracted by stray thoughts or by the five senses. When we are able to maintain the memory of our goal constantly, the mind is less likely to be driven to objects of the senses. When the mind becomes free of distractions, it attains the state of samadhi which can be understood to mean a mind free of polarity (duality) and conflicts.
Prajna (discriminative wisdom)
The constant practice of samadhi can lead us to the state of discriminative wisdom. In this state, avidya (ignorance) which has been mentioned as the root cause of all kleshas (afflictions) (sutra 2.3) is removed and we are no more under the negative influence of the ego. The mind becomes pure and is able to discriminate between real and unreal. As mentioned in sutras 1.48-51, prajna finally leads us to the state of "seedless samadhi" which is the goal of our yoga practice.
Thus, from shraddha (faith) to prajna (discernment) are the means of attaining the ultimate state of yoga – seedless samadhi.
is a variation of the more commonly practiced Uttanasana (standing forward bending pose). In most of the classes that I teach, we practice the Uttanasana as a part of the Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) sequence. The Prasarita-Padottanasana can be practiced either as a part of the Surya Namaskar sequence (from Warrior 2) or as an independent pose as one of the standing poses. It is a nice pose for stretching the legs, hips, inner thighs and the spine.
I am pleased to announce the next 21-day Yoga Immersion program. The past programs have been very well received by all the participants. For most of them, it has been truly a life-transforming experience. I invite you to join me on this exciting and deeply rewarding 21-day yoga journey. Here are the particulars:
I invite you to join me for a discussion on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali wherein I will introduce some of the key concepts of the sutras. We will also discuss how an understanding of the sutras can profoundly impact our day-to-day life in a positive way.
What: An Introduction to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
When: First Saturday of the month
Next Session: Saturday, February 7, 2015
Focus: Eight Limbs of Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga)
(see below for more details)
TIME: 1:30 – 3:30 PM [please note the earlier start time this month]
LOCATION: Integral Yoga Studio, 4000 Bearcat Way, Suite 104, Morrisville, NC 27560
Come and join me for this life-transforming experience where you will learn two of the most important aspects of a complete, integrated yoga practice – pranayama (breathing techniques) and meditation. In this program you will be introduced to many of the breathing techniques that are mentioned in our ancient yogic texts. You will also learn the concepts and techniques of meditation.
No prior pranayama or meditation experience is required.
When: Monday, February 2 – Sunday, February 15, 2015
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 AM
Location: 4000 Bearcat Way, Suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560
Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation), in some form or another, is an integral part of most styles of yoga that are practiced today. Integral Yoga (the style that I practice and teach), Shivananda, Kripalu, Power yoga, Vinyasa, Flow yoga, hot yoga … to name just a few of the more commonly practiced styles today – all include some variation of Surya Namaskar as a part of their yoga routine. As we know, most yoga practices have their origins in the ancient yoga texts related to the philosophy and practice of yoga. The two most commonly referenced texts for the practice of Hatha Yoga are the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and the Gheranda Samhita. However, when you look at these two texts, you will find that no mention has been made of the practice of Surya Namaskar. So the question that comes to mind is "how come Surya Namaskar is such a common component of all Hatha Yoga practices today when it not even mentioned in any of the ancient yoga texts?".
If you haven’t tried the pose before and you look at a picture of the pose, the Agni-stambhasana [audio:http://www.integralyogastudio.com/sounds/agni-stambha.mp3] may seem deceptively simple. However, if you have tightness in the hips, knees or the ankles, this pose can become quite challenging. The word agni-stambha (अग्नि-स्तम्भ) is a composite of two Sanskrit words – Agni means fire and stambha can mean a pillar, a support or just a log. So this name is usually translated as the fire-log pose. In the final position, the position of legs in the pose gives the impression of a couple of fire logs stacked one on top of the other. When you practice the pose, it may actually give you a burning sensation in your hips or knees.
The simple answer is – Every Day! Yes, to get the full benefit of your yoga practice, it is important to establish an ongoing daily practice. Remember the definition of "practice (abhyasa)" as per Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras, "Practice becomes firmly grounded when well attended to for a long time, without break and in all earnestness." (Sutra 1.14).
As you know, most of my classes are 1.5 hours in duration. However, for your personal home practice, it is not necessary that you allocate a full 1.5 hour session. Even if you can build a regular practice for, let us say, half an hour each day, it will go a long way in filling your day with energy, vitality and keep your mind calm and focused. Depending upon how much time you can allocate for your yoga practice, I’d be happy to recommend a routine that you can fit into that schedule.
If, however, your work and/or family situation is not conducive to a daily yoga schedule, you may try to practice as often as you can during the week. When you start practicing on a regular basis, you will start seeing the benefits of the practice. This will hopefully motivate you to deepen your practice even further by adding some additional time for the practice.
I am pleased to announce the next 21-day Yoga Challenge program. The past programs have been very well received by all the participants. For most of them, it has been truly a life-transforming experience. I invite you to join me on this exciting and deeply rewarding 21-day yoga journey. Here are the particulars:
Chronic pain affects 100 million of us in the United States, which can be debilitating, impacting on everything from your sleep to your employment. While you may leave a visit to your doctor’s office with a prescription for stronger painkillers, if you are keen to explore more natural options for pain relief, research shows that yoga is an effective way to alleviate discomfort. While the benefit of yoga for easing back pain is fairly well-known, you may not realize that it can help with a range of other painful conditions. If you suffer from arthritis, migraines, fibromyalgia, peripheral neuropathy or multiple sclerosis, here we take a look at how making yoga part of your regular routine can ease your discomfort.
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