In the past, I have explained the yoga sutras or aphorisms on postures, breath regulation and the mind. Patanjali who compiled these sutras has also written books on Sanskrit grammar, his language is refined and very precise. Like mathematical tables, my teacher used to make us repeatedly chant the sutras, without explaining them. That is how one needs to begin. The first yoga sutra establishes the whole purpose, definition and journey of yoga.
Atha yoganushasanam
Atha means now. Yoga comes from the word yuj, which means union. Anushasanam means inner discipline.
It literally means “now the discipline of yoga”. This is a simple yet profound statement. Each word has to be understood, only then can the meaning be absorbed.
Yogis have emphasised on the “now”, which has no age, no past or future. In it lies the solution, the power of the soul, the power to understand and the power to be. “Now” does not retire nor does it take a sabbatical. It does not rest because when it moves, it is the future, and if one gets out of it, one goes to the past. This whole journey of this spiritual movement within you is just “now”. There are lot of books written on the “power of now” but that does not change people. They either go to the past or the future.
Two definitions of yoga
Yuj yoga which means yoga is unification. Every detail, every secret in nature is unified and the moment we are aware of this consciousness, it is yoga.
Viyoga yoga which means yoga is also separation. Anything that allows one to awaken, be aware and be a witness to or just to be, is yoga. Yoga is for people who are tired, who have understood that that there is no solution but to turn inwards. It is a jump into the unknown. It allows one to risk his whole being.
Yoga is a science of doing; it is filled with experiments and practice. That is why the yogis say abhyasa and vairagya is the path of yoga. Abhyasa means practice; vairagya, which means detachment, can also be interpreted as attachment to God.
In Sanskrit, anushasanam is the word for discipline. The word anu means atomic, the most tiny and subtle (like the nature of an atom, invisible yet potent) and shasanam means to rule over or to govern. So, the concept of discipline in yoga is a process in which one learns to govern the subtlest aspect, the unknown aspect of the self.
The purpose of discipline is simply to be able to guide the expressions of the mind.
Some speakers say atha is auspicious or the beginning, which is incorrect. This science belongs to classical understanding of a student and a teacher. Thus, there is an established understanding between the teacher and student, and then the teacher says, “Now, you do yoga, now the discipline of yoga is bestowed upon you.”
I will explain the teacher-student tradition next week.
Practice of the week
Repeat or chant the yoga sutra to understand its depth.
Parivritta Janu Sirsasana
Next week: Understanding yogic teacher-student tradition
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