54th Sutra Chapter 2 When consciousness gets centered within by uncoupling from external objects, the senses do likewise; this is called withdrawal of the senses, Pratyahara. Pratyahara, or withdrawal of the senses and moving them inwards, away from external stimuli, is equated with a turtle pulling its limbs into its shell. Pratyahara is the fifth limb of Maharishi Patanjali’s ashtanga yoga, the eightfold path of Yoga - and it serves as a foundation for meditation, self realization and...

53rd Sutra Chapter 2 And, the mind attains the ability to concentrate, to focus its attention. Pranayama is not only an instrument to steady and purify the mind to experience the prakash of the buddhi, the dawn of wisdom, as detailed in the last Sutra, but also the gateway to concentration, Dharana. Dharana is the sixth limb of AshtangaYoga, the eight limbed Yoga; but Maharishi Patanjali introduces it before the fifth limb, Pratyahara, withdrawal of the senses. Maybe so because Dharana is...

52nd Sutra Chapter 2 Pranayama removes the veil covering the inner light of knowledge and heralds the dawn of wisdom. In essence, if we observe from the bottom of the sea floor, there are many a veils we would encounter. Firstly, the deposit on the sea floor, which could be linked with the Samskara deposit of Karma. Secondly, the muddied waters of the sea, which could be related with the Rajas and Tamas particles of the mind. Thirdly the waves on the surface of the sea, like the disturbance...

51st Sutra Chapter 2: b The second fundamental quality of the fourth Pranayama is that it ends Dualities. Non Duality is being undisturbed by Dualistic thinking. Being untouched by the crests and troughs of the thought waves disturbing the mind. Non Duality is becoming one with our inner self, the witness consciousness, the soul, the Purush within. Becoming one with our Atma. Leading to becoming one with Paramatma. One with God, One with the...

51st Sutra Chapter 2: b The first essential aspect of the fourth Pranayama is that it is effortless. Progressing from Doing the action to Being the action. As the effort starts becoming effortless, we start to align and merge with the infinite. Leading to a stable body, a blissful mind and actualisation of our infinite potential. ——————————————-   बाह्याभ्यन्तरविषयाक्षेपी चतुर्थः ॥२.५१॥ bāhya-ābhyantara viṣaya-akṣepī caturthaḥ ॥2.51॥   ·       bahya - external ·       abhyantara -...

51st Sutra Chapter 2: a The fourth Pranayama transcends the external and internal operations, and appears effortless and non-deliberate. The long and subtle movement of breath starts functioning without one’s effort. And a state of pause is experienced, in both the breath and the mind. The science and art of breath begins and ends with Pranayama. Everything in the middle is technique and preparation for awareness. ——————————————-   बाह्याभ्यन्तरविषयाक्षेपी चतुर्थः ॥२.५१॥ bāhya-ābhyantara...

50th Sutra Chapter 2: f Benefits of Pranayama are innumerable. Starting from the beneficial effects of Pranayama pose to the phenomenal effects of Basic Yogic breathing and Advanced Yogic breathing, all directly impacting our physical, mental and emotional health. Increasing the vitality, longevity and life force of the body, prompting the body to rest, rejuvenate and regenerate efficiently. However, a Yogi considers the Spiritual benefit of Pranayama as the supreme benefit, that...

50th Sutra Chapter 2: e Advanced Yogic Breathing involves first understanding our breath, and then slowing down the process of this breath. Our breath does not involve only inhalation and exhalation, but their are gaps between the two. Our breath has four stages: Inhalation, stoppage of breath, exhalation and stoppage of breath. Our Yogis realised that once we have mastered our breath, we could master our mind, and hence master our life. To master our breath, we have to consciously...

Yoga Sutra 2.50 d: Yogic Breathing: How to make our breath long and subtle through Desha, Kala and Samkhya 50th Sutra Chapter 2: d How to make our breath long and subtle regulated through Desha, Kala and Samkhya, ie through Space, Time and Number. The basic form of Pranayama, Yogic Breathing works on all these three aspects to fulfil two purposes. Firstly to utilise the full capacity of the lungs Secondly to mimic the slow breathing pattern when we are very calm. Practicing Yogic...

50th Sutra Chapter 2: c The phases of Pranayama are exhalation, inhalation, and suspension. Observing them in space, time and number, one is able to render breathing more harmonious in duration and subtlety. As per Patanjali, where the attention goes, Pran flows. ———————————— बाह्याभ्यन्तरस्तम्भवृत्तिर्देशकालसंख्याभिः परिदृष्टो दीर्घसूक्ष्मः॥५०॥ bāhya-ābhyantara-sthambha vr̥ttiḥ deśa-kāla-sankhyābhiḥ paridr̥ṣṭo dīrgha-sūkṣmaḥ ॥50॥   bāhya = external ābhyantara = internal sthambha =...

50th Sutra Chapter 2: b The modifications of breath in exhalation, inhalation, and retention regulated by Desh (place), Kala (time) and Sankhya (number) leads to long and subtle breathing. Regulation by Desha means the location where the breath is directed, and how to regulate, observe and measure this aspect. ———————————— बाह्याभ्यन्तरस्तम्भवृत्तिर्देशकालसंख्याभिः परिदृष्टो दीर्घसूक्ष्मः॥५०॥ bāhya-ābhyantara-sthambha vr̥ttiḥ deśa-kāla-sankhyābhiḥ paridr̥ṣṭo dīrgha-sūkṣmaḥ ॥50॥   bāhya =...

50th Sutra Chapter 2 Pranayama has three movements: out-breath, in-breath and breath suspension, that are harmoniously regulated with precision, to become progressively long and subtle, when observed by means of location, time, and number. As we control our breath, we control our thoughts.   And as we observe our breath, we get to observe our thoughts and emotions, losing their grip on us. ———————————— बाह्याभ्यन्तरस्तम्भवृत्तिर्देशकालसंख्याभिः परिदृष्टो...

49th Sutra Chapter 2: c Pranayama is mastery of Pran, the universal life force, through the breath. Pranayama is considered in our Scriptures as Param Tapa that is the highest form of Tapa practice, that purifies all impurities in the body. —————————————— तस्मिन् सति श्वासप्रश्वासयोर्गतिविच्छेदः प्राणायामः tasmin: on this sati: being accomplished shvaasa: inhalation prashvaasayoh: exhalation gati: movement vichChedaH: regulation; prana: cosmic energy ayama: churning praaNaayaamaH:...

49th Sutra Chapter 2: b The cosmic energy is churned together through inhalation and exhalation for the production of the nectar of life. This is called Pranayama. —————————————— तस्मिन् सति श्वासप्रश्वासयोर्गतिविच्छेदः प्राणायामः tasmin: on this sati: being accomplished shvaasa: inhalation prashvaasayoh: exhalation gati: movement vichChedaH: regulation; prana: cosmic energy ayama: churning praaNaayaamaH: regulation of breath ---------------------------

49th Sutra Chapter 2: a That Asana having been perfected, regulation of the flow of inhalation and exhalation, is Pranayama. —————————————— तस्मिन् सति श्वासप्रश्वासयोर्गतिविच्छेदः प्राणायामः tasmin: on this sati: being accomplished shvaasa: inhalation prashvaasayoh: exhalation gati: movement vichChedaH: regulation; prana: cosmic energy ayama: churning praaNaayaamaH: regulation of breath ---------------------------

48th Sutra Chapter 2 From then on, the sadhaka is undisturbed by the dualities of the pairs of inseparable opposites. Like pain and pleasure, heat and cold, success and failure, honor and dishonour... His whole life is transformed. —————————————— ततो द्वन्द्वानभिघातः tatah: consequently, then, at this point dvandva: by the opposites, opposing pair, duality, dualism anabhighaataH: not afflicted, undisturbed, invulnerability ---------------------------

47th Sutra Chapter 2 By relaxation of effort and absorption in the infinite, the posture is mastered. —————————————— प्रयत्नशैथिल्यानन्त्यसमापत्तिभ्याम्॥ prayatna-shaithilya-anantya-samaapattibhyaam prayatna: effort shaithilya: relaxation ananta: the infinite samaapattibhyaam: absorption of mind ---------------------------

45th Sutra Chapter 2 The posture of the body, as also the posture of the mind, or attitude to life, should be firm and pleasant. Through the Asans, as we develop the requisite strength, flexibility, endurance, balance, ease and comfort in the physical body, so do the same get developed in the mind, psychologically and emotionally.   As the body gets toned, the mind gets tuned. —————————————— स्थिरसुखमासनम्॥४६॥ sthira-sukham-āsanam ॥46॥ sthira = steady, stable sukham = happiness...

45th Sutra Chapter 2 By complete self surrender to God, perfection in Samadhi is attained. To realise our infinite self, we need to transcend our limitation, that is the ego. Surrender to God is the easiest way to overcome this obstacle, to reach the ultimate. —————————————— समाधिसिद्धिरीश्वरप्रणिधानात् samaadhisiddhirIshvarapraNidhaanaat   samaadhi: ultimate meditative state siddhih: perfection Ishvara:the Lord, God praNidhaanaat: from submission, total...

44th Sutra Chapter 2 Union with knowledge leads to union with the Divine. Union with the chosen divinity comes from the study of self through the sacred texts. —————————————— स्वाध्यायादिष्टदेवतासंप्रयोगः svaadhyaayaa-diShTa-devataa-saMprayogaH svaadhyaayaat: from study of self through study of sacred scriptures, iShTa: desired, preferred devataa: with the deity, the divine saMprayogaH = connection ---------------------------

Sutra 2.43 Through the inner fire of self-discipline, impurities of body and senses are destroyed and supernatural powers gained. —————————————— कायेन्द्रियसिद्धिरशुद्धिक्षयात्तपसः kaayendriyasiddhirashuddhikShayaattapasaH kaaya: the body indriya: senses siddhih: perfection, supernatural powers ashuddhi: impurities kShayaat: destroyed tapasaH: inner fire of self-discipline ---------------------------

42nd Sutra Chapter 2 Contentment brings supreme happiness. Eat clean Keep fit Be content The supreme secret to happiness! —————————————— संतोषादनुत्तमसुखलाभः santoshad anuttamah sukhalabhah santosha - contentment anuttamah - supreme sukha - happiness labhah - gained. ---------------------------

41st Sutra Chapter 2 Upon the purification of the mind, one attains cheerfulness, one pointedness, sense control and fitness, for the realisation of the Self. The first sign that we are becoming spiritual, is that we are becoming cheerful. When this comes, know that we are progressing in Yoga. —————————————— सत्त्वशुद्धिसौमनस्यैकाग्र्येन्द्रियजयात्मदर्शनयोग्यत्वानि च॥ sattvashuddhisaumanasyaikagryendriyajayatmadars hanayojnatvani cha sattva - purest of subtle essence shuddhi -...

40th Sutra Chapter 2 Purity and cleanliness guides us to protect and maintain our body like a temple, for the soul to reside within.   We learn to see and appreciate the Cosmic beauty, rather than the cosmetic beauty, in ourselves as well as others. —————————————— शौचात् स्वाङ्गजुगुप्सा परैरसंसर्गः //2.40// shauchat svanggajugupsa parairasansargah//2.40// ·       shauchat - cleanliness ·       sva-angga - one's own body ·       jugupsa - aversion, gaurd, protect ·       parair - and with...