What really Yoga is?

Spirituality
#21

To translate something one does not just look at the literal meaning of a word, because every word will actually have loads of meanings(this is not just peculiar to Sanskrit, it is common in every language) but the meaning that is intended can only be understood by looking at the context of the passage it occurs in, and in the wider context of the text itself. It then becomes clear exactly what Patanjali is intending to mean.

There is no doubt about it, that Patanjali is calling for the total cessation and stoppage of all vrittis. This is clear from his direct reference to gunas, and those of us who know Samkhya philosophy know that the gunas are forces/activities within the substance of prakriti, which are always in incessant activity and have been in such activity since the beginning of time when the first contact between consciousness and primordial matter(Moolaprakriti) took place. At the time of dissolution, the guna activity comes to a halt, matter reverts back to its primordial state and consciousness becomes fully illuminated now that nothing is occluding its vision.

Patanjali makes a direct link between his Yoga psychology and the gunas, thus it is very clear that the guna activity are psychologically experienced as mental activity(This point is also ratified by the Gita) This is actually made clear in Samkhya philosophy itself that the gunas have both objective and subjective effects. The rising of air, or the upwards movement of a flame, or the floating of something is attributed to the principle of buoyancy(sattva) It is also responsible for the subjective feeling of pleasure and higher mental states like inspiration, cognition. Likewise, the principle of activity(rajas) is attributed to intense movement, winds, violent activity. It is also responsible for the subjective feelings of passion, lust, excitement, desire, fear.

It is clear by logical deduction then, that as long as there is any guna activity, consciousness still remains imprisoned and entangled. It is only when it is CEASED that consciousness is liberated. Hence why Patanjali is calling for total CESSATION of the vrittis. This is indeed the correct definition of what Yoga is, and like I said earlier, it gives the game away on what exactly needs to be done.

Of course Asuri can continue to believe in wrong definitions if he wants. Nothing is changed there. Asuri does not have a correct understanding of anything in Indian philosophy. He is intent on distorting everything in Indian philosophy to conform to his Christian beliefs. Anybody that wants to take his views seriously despite exposure to the correct learned view, should be left to their own devices.

#22

I think more meaning can be got by asking some “wh” questions on the verbs in the sloka:
Like,
-Cessation from what? Cessation from where?How to do the cessation “thing”?When to do that?Why to do that?

Answering questions like these will take one to read multiple standard scriptures and to do self-practice. No amount of intellectual jugglery is a substitute to self-practice.

#23

I think we have to give Surya Deva some credit for showing a little restraint. These minor digs here and there are an improvement over what we usually get. He seems to have ignored el gatito, who pointed out that differences of opinion have existed for long time. I think that if he believes in total cessation and stopping of all vrttis, that he should practice what he preaches. I would agree that if you are someone who is seeking to end his material existence and never return to it, then yes total cessation is what you need.

#24

[QUOTE=yaram;71844]Fortunately, Sanskrit is a language where what the original author actually intended is NOT what gets to the users of the works of Sanskrit. It is in the nature of Sanskrit language to give multiple meanings/interpretations to the same slokas(or sutras). One can find examples of this in works of Kalidas and many others. That may be why Sanskrit is known as “language of Gods”.
[/QUOTE]

This is a path that leads to error. English also has lots of words that have multiple shades of meaning, and I’m sure its true of all languages. The skill is to discern the appropriate meaning. No one hands you a book and says, “Here, read this. It can mean whatever you want it to mean.” The author has definite ideas that he wants to communicate. The Yoga Sutras are no different.

#25

@el gatitio

A welcome contribution. Thanks for that.

#26

Perhaps someone will ask “what yoga really has become?” and will use the answers in this thread, and others similar, to form the answer.

#27

[QUOTE=Asuri;71856][B]This is a path that leads to error[/B]. English also has lots of words that have multiple shades of meaning, and I’m sure its true of all languages. The skill is to discern the appropriate meaning. [B]No one hands you a book and says, “Here, read this. It can mean whatever you want it to mean.”[/B] The author has definite ideas that he wants to communicate. The Yoga Sutras are no different.[/QUOTE]

That I think is over-simplification of Sanskrit language and may be Yoga-Sutras as well. By following Sutras there are ‘n’ number of error paths and ‘m’ number of relevant/correct paths. However, Patanajali, when he wrote those slokas might not have intended those ‘m’ or ‘n’ paths. If one still do not believe this(author of slokas is NOT the one who decides the meaning/interpretation), one needs to take some serious study of Sanskrit grammer.

With whatever little study I have done with Sanskrit, I can conclude that most of the times one can conclude/deduce whatever meaning/interpretation one wants out of the Sanskrit works. Whether that meaning/interpretation is good, bad or ugly is entirely another matter…!! That is where “a real Guru” is supposed to help the seeker.

#28

[QUOTE=FutureHumanDestiny;71863]Perhaps someone will ask “what yoga really has become?” and will use the answers in this thread, and others similar, to form the answer.[/QUOTE]

Yoga has become an imprint in the streaming momentary manifestation of expanding human consciousness and seems it will always be there.

#29

[QUOTE=yaram;71852]I think more meaning can be got by asking some “wh” questions on the verbs in the sloka:
Like,
-Cessation from what? Cessation from where?How to do the cessation “thing”?When to do that?Why to do that?

Answering questions like these will take one to read multiple standard scriptures and to do self-practice. No amount of intellectual jugglery is a substitute to self-practice.[/QUOTE]

Not cessation from, but cessation of. Cessation of the vrittis. It is done through the practices Patanjali gives Abhyassa and Vairagaya. He defines a more direct practice ashtanga yoga in order to achieve this. When to do it? The first sutra answers, “Now(having covered the basics), Yoga practice can begin” The practice can only begin when you have fully understood the basic theory of Samkhya and need to end the ignorance of the purusha" Why do it? Liberation. Freedom from pain and suffering.

#30

what is yoga ? dont know… all that i know is that the less i think about it… the more i discover.

#31

Many here have commented that yoga is about Union as discussed by Patanjali. I would like to add that, according to my research, in addition to Union, Yoga refers to [B]disciplines [/B]to reach enlightenment (which is how it was used prior in ancient writings prior to Patanjali)

#32

[QUOTE=YogiMoni;72373]Many here have commented that yoga is about Union as discussed by Patanjali. I would like to add that, according to my research, in addition to Union, Yoga refers to [B]disciplines [/B]to reach enlightenment (which is how it was used prior in ancient writings prior to Patanjali)[/QUOTE]

Perhaps what some refer to as ?enlightenment? is union from that which one has never been separate “true inner nature” lifting the veils of maya, allowing clarity to view reality.

#33

I like Swami Rama’s definition. “Yoga is Samadhi” which basically means that Yoga is Self Realization or in other words yoga is to be really our Self. Simple and to the point. Yoga is union of the self with the Self. Samadhi is attained when there is no duality but only unity, when the object of meditation, the meditator and the act of meditation becomes one. And that can only be achieved when the vrittis or modification of the mind has been stilled.

I also like Swami Sivananda’s commentary on the Gita: “Samatvam is Yoga, Equanimity is Yoga”. http://path2yoga.blogspot.com/2011/07/samatvam-is-yoga-equanimity-is-yoga.html Samatvam is to be able to maintain one’s balance of mind under any circumstances.

#34

[QUOTE=YogiMoni;72373]Many here have commented that yoga is about Union as discussed by Patanjali. I would like to add that, according to my research, in addition to Union, Yoga refers to [B]disciplines [/B]to reach enlightenment (which is how it was used prior in ancient writings prior to Patanjali)[/QUOTE]

One of the meanings of the root word yuj is 'to yoke", which implies discipline. I’ve done some reading recently in which the author points out that the emphasis on the use of disciplines to reach enlightenment is one of the things that differentiates yoga from some other schools of thought. So I think your point is right on the mark.

#35

The following is a quote from Dakini Teachings, a Buddhist practice text, considered important by some.

SHRAVAKA’S STATE OF CESSATION

In the context of Mahayana or Vajrayana practice, this state is used in a derogatory sense and is renowned as being a severe sidetrack from the path of the enlightenment of the buddhas. The mistake comes from regarding meditation practice as being the act of cultivating and fixating on a state in which sensations and thoughts are absent.