
I attempted to read the Yoga Sutras years ago as part of a 3 month Ashtanga immersion at our shala. They not resonate with me. The language seemed too dense and odd (ie colored impressions), but I had bought the book and it remained on my shelf.
There was no grand plan earlier this year to begin studying the sutras. Newly sober, I was as scattered as I can ever remember being in life. I was caught in a tornado of figuring myself out and barely understood myself from moment to moment. One night in June, I was extremely restless and indecisive. I’d pick up a book only to start a movie then I would tire of it and surf new television shows to stream. I flipped open Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and randomly read:
3.11 sarvarthata ekagratayoh ksaya udayau cittasya samadhiparinamah
The weakening of scattered attention and the rise of one-pointed attention in the citta is the transformation towards samadhi.
You should know I am fascinated with Jung’s concept of synchronicity. Hole. Lee. Shit. I was scatterbrained as hell, and I find this. I started writing. The passage continued to make me think and inspired the chemist in me to relate it to quantum mechanics. As I focused and wrote more about how inconsistent I was being in life I began to calm, and in that peace I caught a glimpse of what might be going on. I now had some awareness.
I started reading the sutras regularly and recently been reflecting on these two:
2.1 tapah svadhyaya Isvarapranidhanani kriyayogah
Burning zeal in practice, self-study and study of scriptures, and surrender to God are the acts of yoga.
2.2 samahdi bhavanarthah klesa tanukaranarthasca
The practice of yoga reduces afflictions and leads to samadhi.
This has been my experience with yoga. The self discipline of practice led me to examine myself and even though I understand more than ever about myself, the things I have not yet been able to address, I try to surrender to the universe and have faith it will work out as long as I continue to take proper action.
Kriyayogah is the yoga of action. I’ll see you on the mat.
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