It is interesting that they have actualized the difference between nirodha variants in scope of classical Yoga; for instance the Sandilya Upanishad that in terms of significance I consider to be commensurate with the text of Yoga Sutras states that: 41. For the destruction [1] of the Chitta, there are two ways – Yoga and… Continue reading Some Words on the Subject taken from Sandilya Upanishad
Month: December 2012
Sutra 1.2. Nirodha (continuation). The Problem of Motivation to Practice
The problem of emotional content of words cannot be ignored as an insignificant one, and even if we no longer lose our sleep over nirodhait will still come before us in all its charm as we start to comprehend the two fundamental concepts of yoga and the Indian philosophy as a whole – the moksha… Continue reading Sutra 1.2. Nirodha (continuation). The Problem of Motivation to Practice
Sutra 1.2. Nirodha. The problem of emotional content of the practice
Probably the fewest discrepancies and variant readings have been caused by the dictionary translations of the word nirodha (निरोध). 1) curb; 2) confinement; 3) encirclement; 4) holdback, hindrance; 5) difficulty, obstruction; 6) suppression, quench; 7) destruction. Some translators also used the terms “cessation”, “obedience”, “retention”, “containment”, “oppression”. It would seem that they all speak about… Continue reading Sutra 1.2. Nirodha. The problem of emotional content of the practice
Chitta Vritti Nirodha
As I have already mentioned earlier, this line of YS has a conceptual significance for the whole subsequent understanding of the text, as well as the practice of yoga in general, so I have decided to dedicate to it not one article (I guess so far there are three J apart from those already written)… Continue reading Chitta Vritti Nirodha
Sutra 1.2. Vritti (continuation)
So let us come back to reflections about the category of vritti. We have finished at trying to figure out what was that common between the categories of vritti listed by Patanjali and what was the purpose of the phase about vritti being of klesha and non-klesha type. Let us try to answer the first… Continue reading Sutra 1.2. Vritti (continuation)
Definitions of Yoga. Sutra 1-2
Frankly speaking, when I was starting this blog I did not want to deal here with analysis and comparison of existing translation variants, let alone their criticism, leaving the criticism to those who enjoys doing it J. What I intended to do was to accompany the reader on the way of understanding Patanjali, so to… Continue reading Definitions of Yoga. Sutra 1-2
The Logic of Yoga Sutras Composition
The composition of Yoga Sutras is quite organic. Neither of sections of this work can be deleted without causing detriment to the whole work since they are interlinked not only by sequence of presentation but also by means of numerous cross-references. The YS sections are arranged in compliance with linear-hierarchical principle, i.e. on the one… Continue reading The Logic of Yoga Sutras Composition
Some traps on the way of classical texts interpretation
I was surprised and pleased to see so many people interested in the subject. So I will thus without delay publish the next section. Some traps on the way of classical texts interpretation The trap of religiosity In terms of almost verbatim reading of Patanjali’a Yoga Sutras one may clearly see that it… Continue reading Some traps on the way of classical texts interpretation
The Fundamentals of Sanskrit Grammar
Whenever someone suggests that you translate Yoga-Sutras using only a dictionary and without knowing enough about Sanskrit grammar – don’t fall for it! This person is either not aware of what he is talking about and has never been doing it himself, or it is no further than the third or fourth line of the… Continue reading The Fundamentals of Sanskrit Grammar
The Value of Yoga Sutras
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by no means comes as the most famous and the most quoted primary source on Yoga. I know about 20 translations of Yoga Sutra into Russian and ca. 50 into English (those who want to see the list may refer to Schedules 1 and 2). The exact dating of YS is… Continue reading The Value of Yoga Sutras
The Relevance of New Translation and Commentaries on Yoga Sutra
It’s been ca. two thousand years since Yoga Sutras was written. Within this period the work has been translated into a good number of various languages, while the number of commentaries on it is countless. It was India alone – ancient and medieval – that provided for at least a dozen of very detailed (to… Continue reading The Relevance of New Translation and Commentaries on Yoga Sutra