Great Throughts Treasury

"The real object of Asana is control of the muscular system, conscious and unconscious, so that no messages from the body can reach the mind. Asana is concerned with the static aspect of the body. Pranayama is really the control of the dynamic aspect of the body."

"The repetition of Om should be made with an understanding of its meaning."

"The removal of the habitual thought patterns is similar to that of the afflictions already described."

"The province of the subtle terminates with pure matter that has no pattern or distinguishing mark."

"The purpose of the coming together of the Purusa and Prakrti is gaining by the Purusa of the awareness of his true nature and the unfoldment of powers inherent in him and Prakrti."

"The reservoir of Karmas which are rooted in Klesas brings all kinds of experiences in the present and future lives."

"The same (contemplation) when there is consciousness only of the object of meditation and not of itself (the mind) is Samadhi."

"The results and mastery of Asana are of use not only in the course of attainment of Yoga, but in the most ordinary affairs of life. At any time when fatigued, you have only to assume your Asana, and you are completely rested. It is as if the attainment of the mastery has worn down all those possibilities of physical pain which are inherent in that particular position. The teachings of physiology are not contradictory to this hypothesis. The conquest of Asana makes for endurance. If you keep in constant practice, you ought to find that about 10 minutes in the posture will rest you as much as a good night's sleep!"

"The Seen (objective side of manifestation) consists of the elements and sense-organs, is of the nature of cognition, activity and stability (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas) and has for its purpose (providing the Purusa with) experience and liberation."

"The seen exists only for the sake of the Seer."

"The Seer is consciousness only; even though pure, he cognizes ideas by imitation."

"The Siddhis (supernormal powers) are the result of birth, drugs, Mantras, austerities or Samadhi."

"The Seer is pure consciousness but though pure, appears to see through the mind."

"The significant aspect is the union of the mind with the moment of absorption, when the outgoing thought disappears and the absorptive experience appears."

"The substratum is that in which the properties - latent, active or unmanifest - inhere."

"The subtle Klesas are forsaken (i.e. destroyed) by the cessation of productivity (i.e. disappearance) of the mind."

"The success of Yogis differs according as the means they adopt are mild, medium, or intense."

"The sequence of mutation occurs in every second, yet is comprehensible only at the end of a series."

"The Self says ?I AM??as in the very grand sayings of Christ, especially in the Gospel of John, in which he says in the state of onenenss with Yahweh (which in Hebrew means ?I AM?), I AM is the way and the truth and the life?but the ego says ?I am this? or ?I am that,? thus attaching itself only to a small portion of the Vastness."

"The sound, the meaning (behind it) and the idea (which is present in the mind at the time) are present together in a confused state. By performing Samyama (on the sound) they are resolved and there arises comprehension of the meaning of sounds uttered by any living being."

"The sound of a word, the idea behind the word, and the object the idea signfies are often taken as being one thing and may be mistaken for one another. By self-control over their distinctions, understanding of all languages of all creatures arises."

"The stages of the attributes effecting the experienced world are the specialized and the unspecialized, the differentiated and the undifferentiated."

"The state of sorrowless Light."

"The stages of the Gunas are the particular, the universal, the differentiated and the undifferentiated."

"The three appearing together are self-control."

"The three Gunas having fulfilled their object the process of change (in the Gunas) comes to an end."

"The succession of these changes in that entity is the cause of its modification."

"The three are more efficacious than the restraints."

"The vehicle of actions has its origin in afflictions, and is experienced in visible and invisible births."

"The transformation from one species or kind into another is by the overflow of natural tendencies or potentialities."

"The thought-streams are five-fold, painful and not painful."

"The three are internal in relation to the preceding ones."

"The uninterrupted practice of the awareness of the Real is the means of dispersion of ignorance (of Avidya)."

"The three taken together constitute Samyama."

"The very existence of the seen is for the sake of the seer."

"The wisdom obtained in the higher states of consciousness is different from that obtained by inference and testimony as it refers to particulars."

"The very being of the Seen is for his sake (i.e., Prakrti exists only for his sake)."

"Their active afflictions are to be destroyed by meditation."

"The Yoga system of Patanjali is known as the Eightfold Path. 1. Yama (moral conduct), - Yama is fulfilled by noninjury to others, truthfulness, nonstealing, continence, and non-covetousness. 2. Niyama (religious observances). The niyama prescripts are purity of body and mind, contentment in all circumstances, self-discipline, self-study (contemplation), and devotion to God and guru. 3. Asana (right posture); the spinal column must be held straight, and the body firm in a comfortable position for meditation; 4. Pranayama (control of prana, subtle life currents); and 5. Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses from external objects). The last steps are forms of yoga proper: 6. Dharana (concentration), holding the mind to one thought; 7. Dhyana (meditation); and 8. Samadhi (superconscious experience). This Eightfold Path of Yoga leads to the final goal of Kaivalya (Absoluteness), in which the yogi realizes the Truth beyond all intellectual apprehension. [paraphrased]"

"Their active modifications are destroyed by meditation."

"The word Yoga means Union, from the same Sanskrit root as the Greek word Zeugma, the Latin word Jugum, and the English word yoke. (Yeung: to join)"

"Their active modifications are to be suppressed by meditation."

"Their suppression (is brought about) by persistent practice and non-attachment."

"Then follows supreme mastery over the senses."

"Then the awareness begins to discriminate, and gravitates towards liberation."

"Then the seer dwells in his own nature."

"Then the Seer is established in his own essential and fundamental nature."

"Then, again, the condition of the mind in which the `object' (in the mind) which subsides is always exactly similar to the `object' which rises (in the next moment) is called Ekagrata-Parinama."

"Then the sequence of change in the three attributes comes to an end, for they have fulfilled their function."

"Then, in consequence of the removal of all obscuration and impurities, that which can be known (through the mind) is but little in comparison with the infinity of knowledge (obtained in Enlightenment)."