IMPORTANT SUTRAS FOR BEGINNING STUDENTS
Definiton of yoga
1.2 yogah cittavritti nirodhah
Yoga is the cessation of the movements of consciousness
1.3 tada drastuh svarupe avasthanam
Then, the seer dwells in her/his own true splendour
1.4 vrtti svarupyam itaratra
At other times the seer identifies with the fluctuating consciousness.
Defintion of practice and non attachment
1.12 abhyasa vairagyabhyam tannirodhah
Practice and detachment are the means to still the movements of consciousness
1.13 tatra sthitau yatnah abhyasah
Practice is the steadfast effort to still the fluctuations in the consciousness
1.14 sa tu dirghakala nairantarya satkara asevitah drdhabhumih
Long, uninterrupted, alert practice is the firm foundation for restraining the fluctuations
The eight limbs of yoga
2. 29 yama niyama asana pranayama pratyahara dharana dhyana samadhayah astau angani
Moral injunctions ( yama), fixed observances (niyama), posture ( asana), regulation of breath (pranayama), internalization of the senses toward their source ( pratyahara), concentration (dharana), meditation (dhyana) and absorption of consciousness in the self (samadhi), are the eight constituents of yoga.
Definition of asana
2.46 sthira sukham asanam
Asana is perfect firmness of body, steadiness of intelligence and benevolence of spirit.
2.47 prayatna saithiyla ananta samapattibhyam
Perfection in asana is reached only when the effort to perform it becomes effortless and the infinite being is reached.
2.48 tatah dvandvah anabhigatah
From then on the sadhaka is undisturbed by dualities
Obstacles to practice
1.30 vyadhi styana samsaya pramada alasya avirati bhrantidarsana alabhdhabhumihkatva
anavasthitstvani cittaviksepah te antarayah
Thes obstacles are disease, inertia, doubt heedlessness, laziness, indiscipline of the senses, erroneous views, lack of perseverance and backsliding
Causes of human suffering
3.3 avidya asmita raga dvesha abhinevesha klesha
The five afflictions which disturb the equalibrium of consciouness are: ignorance or lack of wisdom, ego, pride of the ego or the sense of “I”, attachment to pleasure, aversion to painm fear of death and clinging to life
