39th Sutra Chapter 2 One who perseveres on the path of non-possessiveness, gains deep understanding of the meaning of life. The power of clairvoyance is developed, helping one to plan one’s future lives from this present life. —————————————————— अपरिग्रहस्थैर्ये जन्मकथंतासंबोधः aparigrahasthairye janmakathantasanbodhah • aparigraha - non-receiving • sthairye - steadfast • janma - incarnation • kathanta - how and from where • sanbodhah - complete knowledge of -----------------------------

38th Sutra Chapter 2 When the Sadhak is firmly established in Brahmcharya, knowledge, vigour, valour and energy flow to him. —————————————————— ब्रह्मचर्यप्रतिष्ठायां वीर्यलाभः brahmacharyapratishthayam viryalabhah ·       brahmacharya - channelising energies towards ultimate goal ·       pratishthayam - established ·       virya - energy, strength ·       labhah - gained. -----------------------------

37th Sutra Chapter 2 When one is established in refrainment from stealing, precious jewels manifest. Upon the man who does not take what does not belong to him, all riches are showered. Being without desire, he effortlessly attracts what is precious, materially and figuratively, including the gem of all jewels, virtue. ————————————— अस्तेयप्रतिष्ठायां सर्वरत्नोपस्थानम् asteyapratishthayam sarvaratnopasthanam ·       asteya - non-stealing ·       pratishtha - firmly established ·      ...

36th Sutra Chapter 2 On being firmly established in truthfulness the Yogi gets the power of attaining for himself and others the fruits of work without the work. When the sadhaka is firmly established in the practice of truth, his words become so potent that whatever he says comes to realization.   The yogi achieves unity with truth. Whatever he says is the truth. Or becomes the truth. ——————————————— सत्यप्रतिष्ठायां क्रियाफलाश्रयत्वम् satyapratishthayam kriyafalashrayatvam ·       satya...

35th Sutra Chapter 2 Around one who is solidly established in non-violence, all beings cease to be hostile. Love and warmth radiate from his being. Fear and discord vanish in his presence. By his example, he inspires people to give up enmity. —————————————— अहिंसाप्रतिष्ठायां तत्सन्निधौ वैरत्यागः ahimsapratishthayam tatsannidhau vairatyagah • ahimsa - non-violence • pratishthayam - firmly established • tat - that • sannidhau - coming near • vaira: animosity, hostility • tyagah: forsaking,...

34th Sutra Chapter 2 The obstacles to yoga - such as acts of violence and untruth or any of the acts contrary to the yama and niyam: - may be directly committed by oneself, performed on one’s behalf by another, or condoned of by oneself; either through greed, anger, or infatuation; whether mild, moderate, or intense, result in innumerable ignorances and miseries. Reflecting thus is also pratipaksha bhavana, the method of thinking of the contrary. The second facet of pratipaksha bhavana is...

33rd Sutra Chapter 2 When harassed by doubt, cultivate the opposite mental attitude. Everything is creative twice. First in mind, and then in reality. So when our thoughts have so much power in our daily life, then why not make that reality a positive one. See the effects of changing your negative thoughts into positive ones and changing the reality. —————————————— वितर्कबाधने प्रतिपक्षभावनम् vitarkabadhane pratipakshabhavanam * vitarka - negative thoughts * badhane - inhibited by *...

32nd Sutra Ch 2: 5th Niyama: Isvara Pranidhana With lsvara pranidhana, self surrender to the divine, comes total surrender of the ego-sense. As the ego dissolves, the fears, the doubts, the worries, the expectations dissolve. If there is lsvara pranidhdna, one is in constant samadhi. —————————————————— शौचसंतोषतपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि नियमाः shauchasantoshatapahsvadhyayeshvarapranidhanani niyamah ·       shaucha - internal and external purification ·       santosha -...

32nd Sutra Ch 2: 4th Niyama: Svadhyaya Self Study, ie., Svadhyaya reminds us that to fulfil the journey to Samadhi, we cannot be halfhearted in our efforts to look at ourselves, to look inside. If we know we are love and light, then we can never be tainted by the world around us. —————————————————— शौचसंतोषतपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि नियमाः shauchasantoshatapahsvadhyayeshvarapranidhanani niyamah ·       shaucha - internal and external purification ·       santosha - contentment ·      ...

32nd Sutra Ch 2: 3rd Niyama: Tapas Tapas ie., Self Discipline, is embracing pain as a friend and teacher. We can never change our life if we do not move out of the safe confines of our comfort zone. Change begins at the end of our comfort zone.   —————————————————— शौचसंतोषतपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि नियमाः shauchasantoshatapahsvadhyayeshvarapranidhanani niyamah ·       shaucha - internal and external purification ·       santosha - contentment ·       tapah - self-discipline ·      ...

32nd Sutra Ch 2: 2nd Niyama: Santosha Santosha, ie., Contentment is developing the faith that steadies the mind. And is enough to take us to Self-realization. Put simply, the first two Niyams can be stated as follows: Eat clean. Get fit. Be content.   We lack nothing. We only have to use what the Divine has already given us.   —————————————————— शौचसंतोषतपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि नियमाः shauchasantoshatapahsvadhyayeshvarapranidhanani niyamah ·       shaucha - internal and external...

32nd Sutra Ch 2: 1st Niyama: Shaucha To achieve long term purity, we need to regulate what is allowed into our bodies as well as into our minds.   Cleanliness is not only keeping our surroundings and environment clean, but it embraces and encompasses the whole being. A pure Body, mind, heart, and soul. ——————————————— शौचसंतोषतपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि नियमाः   shauchasantoshatapahsvadhyayeshvarapranidhanani niyamah ·       shaucha - internal and external purification ·       santosha -...

32nd Sutra Chapter 2 Who we are beyond the body in asana, and beyond the mind in meditation is where the Niyamas gently lead us. Without them, samadhi would be an impossible dream.     The five internal principles of Niyam governing spiritual growth include, Shaucha (Purity), Santosha (Contentment), Tapah (Self-discipline), Svadhyaye (Self-study), Ishvarapranidhanani (Self-surrender). ——————————————— शौचसंतोषतपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि...

31st Sutra Chapter 2 Yamas are the great, mighty, universal vows, not limited by class, place, time, or circumstance.   Nonviolence and the other yamas must be practiced at all times, in all conditions, everywhere, irrespective of any considerations whatsoever. ——————————————— जातिदेशकालसमयानवच्छिन्नाः सार्वभौमा महाव्रतम्   jatideshakalasamayanavachchhinnah sarvabhauma mahavratam • jati - class • desha - place • kala - time • samaya - circumstance • anavachchhinnah - universal •...

30th Sutra Ch 2: 5th Yama: Aparigraha Aparigraha stands for “Learning to let go.” When we embrace Aparigraha, we become like the fledgling bird. We were not born to stay clinging to a branch. We were born to soar, and in that moment we take flight. ——————————————— अहिंसासत्यास्तेयब्रह्मचर्यापरिग्रहा यमाः ahimsasatyasteyabrahmacharyaparigraha yamah ·       ahimsa - non-violence ·       satya - truth fulness ·       asteya - non-stealing ·       brahmacharya - continence ·      ...

30th Sutra Chapter 2: 4th Yama: Brahmcharya Brahmcharya means finding out which desires come from our hearts, and which, are “mind made.” To discern which desires come from our own divinity, and which come from our restless minds.   It means searching for the desire of the soul. What is it that we truly want? To answer such a question requires great courage.   It means channelising our energies, our body, mind and soul towards our ultimate...

30th Sutra Chapter 2: 3rd Yama: Asteya The third of the yama is Asteya - a synthesis of contentment, simplicity, and charity. When there is this inner light, one manifests in himself the virtue of non-stealing. And that the key to abundance lies in giving.   ——————————————— अहिंसासत्यास्तेयब्रह्मचर्यापरिग्रहा यमाः ahimsasatyasteyabrahmacharyaparigraha yamah ·       ahimsa - non-violence ·       satya - truth fulness ·       asteya - non-stealing ·       brahmacharya - continence ·      ...

30th Sutra Chapter 2: 2nd Yama: Satya Truthfulness should be observed in thought, word, and deed. Though even truthful words, if they cause harm to another, should not be spoken. Satya is not merely to speak the truth, but a constant search for the truth, recognising the distinction between fact and fiction, truth and opinion. There is a realisation that all that the mind conceives of and expresses is untrue, false opinion. ——————————————— अहिंसासत्यास्तेयब्रह्मचर्यापरिग्रहा...

30th Sutra Chapter 2: First Yama: Ahimsa Non-violence is a subtle inner adventure leading to self-knowledge. Is it possible to lead one’s life never hurting another, yet also never being hurt oneself? ——————————————— अहिंसासत्यास्तेयब्रह्मचर्यापरिग्रहा यमाः ahimsasatyasteyabrahmacharyaparigraha yamah ·       ahimsa - non-violence ·       satya - truth fulness ·       asteya - non-stealing ·       brahmacharya - continence ·       aparigraha - non-possessiveness, non-greed ·       yamah -...

30th Sutra Chapter 2 The five external disciplines of Yama include: Ahinsa (Non violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (Non-stealing), Brahmcharya (constant search for Brahman), Aparigraha (total absence of greed). When all hopes, aspirations, fears, anxieties, and motivations drop dead, what survives is this tremendous intelligence - you may call it the God within. What happens in the light of that intelligence is Yama. Fear brings out the worst in us. If we want to bring out the best in...

27th Sutra Chapter 2 The yogi’s true insights has seven ultimate stages. We require none else to make us happy, for we are happiness itself.   We come to know we are ever blessed, ever perfect, almighty. One’s integration in the final stage is sevenfold. In the last state, the yogi will become peaceful and calm, never to feel any more pain, never to be again deluded, never to touch misery. —————————————————— तस्य सप्तधा प्रान्तभूमिः प्रज्ञा tasya saptadhaa prantabhoomih prajna * tasya...

26th Sutra Chapter 2 The means of destruction of ignorance is unbroken practice of discrimination, viveka-khyatihr Viveka is the shifting of awareness from the object of perception to the power of perception itself ie Purusha.   Ultimately it is pure consciousness knowing itself, as distinct from any object or experience. ——————————————————— विवेकख्यातिरविप्लवा हानोपायः vivekakhyatiraviplava hanopayah • viveka-khyatih – discrimination-discernment (discriminative knowledge) • aviplava –...

25th Sutra Chapter 2 When ignorance vanishes, so does union of our soul with nature, through the orchestration of the mind. This brings liberation for the seer. Our mind turns more readily to the world’s pleasures than to the vision of the soul. Our mind is a secret enemy, and a treacherous friend. ————————————————— तदभावात् संयोगाभावो हानं तद् दृशेः कैवल्यम् tadabhavat sanyogabhavo hanan taddrisheh kaivalyam • tad - it's • abhavat - absence • sanyog - union • abhavo - absence,...

24th Sutra Chapter 2 Lack of spiritual understanding (avidya) is the cause of the false identification of the seer with the seen. Pure understanding begins the process of disownment and detachment, which releases us from the shackles of possessing and being possessed. ——————————————————— तस्य हेतुरविद्या tasya heturavidya * tasya - of that * hetuh - the cause * avidya - ignorance -----------------------------   तस्य हेतुरविद्या॥२.२४॥ तस्य , हेतुः , अविद्या ॥ • तस्य - उस (संयोग का) •...

23rd Sutra Chapter 2 The connection of the seer with the seen, experiencer with the experience, gets him to discover his own true nature. ————————————————— स्वस्वामिशक्त्योः स्वरूपोपलब्धिहेतुः संयोगः svasvamishaktyoh svaroopopalabdhihetuh samyogah * sva - owned(Prakrti) * svami - owner(Purusha) * shaktyoh - of the powers * svaroopa - own nature * upalabdhi - recognition * hetuh - the cause * samyogah - union, connection ----------------------------- Can I begin to see that each...