1.1 अथ मोगानशसनभ
Atha Yoga Anushasanam
Here, now, is the teaching of yoga.
The first of Patanjali's yoga sutras sets the scene for the subsequent sutras and thus for the purpose of this blog.
Through this blog, I will explore the path to inner peace and harmony, as set out in the oldest text on yogic philosophy.
It is my hope that you, the reader, will come on this journey with me. The best part about the journey is that you don't have to do a single thing, other than pack an open heart and an open mind.
We are so used to working hard to achieve goals, that my invitation might seem too good to be true. Where is the multi-step program? Where are the agenda items?, you might ask.
The truth is that all the tools we need to find inner peace are already inside of us. We have merely forgotten how to use them.
This is where the sutras come in. The word "sutra" literally means "string" in Sanskrit. Thus, Patanjali's yoga sutras represent individual threads that, when woven together, spell out the key to inner peace.
The first of the sutras is vitally important, because it reminds us that yoga is not just something that we practice on our mats. Physical poses, meditation and breath work are wonderful aids to calming the mind. However, these activities are all a dress rehearsal for day to day life.
When we can bring peace and equanimity to all areas of our lives, then we have truly reached enlightenment. Most of us will not reach that point within our lifetime and that is ok. But every moment that we remember to breathe and let go, we are one step closer to making our journey through this life a lot more enjoyable. In this way, we can not only change our own lives, but we create a positive ripple effect that spreads to everyone around us.
If this sounds at all like something you would like to experiment with, please stick around for my take on sutra number 1.2!
Atha Yoga Anushasanam
Here, now, is the teaching of yoga.
Through this blog, I will explore the path to inner peace and harmony, as set out in the oldest text on yogic philosophy.
It is my hope that you, the reader, will come on this journey with me. The best part about the journey is that you don't have to do a single thing, other than pack an open heart and an open mind.
We are so used to working hard to achieve goals, that my invitation might seem too good to be true. Where is the multi-step program? Where are the agenda items?, you might ask.
The truth is that all the tools we need to find inner peace are already inside of us. We have merely forgotten how to use them.
This is where the sutras come in. The word "sutra" literally means "string" in Sanskrit. Thus, Patanjali's yoga sutras represent individual threads that, when woven together, spell out the key to inner peace.
The first of the sutras is vitally important, because it reminds us that yoga is not just something that we practice on our mats. Physical poses, meditation and breath work are wonderful aids to calming the mind. However, these activities are all a dress rehearsal for day to day life.
When we can bring peace and equanimity to all areas of our lives, then we have truly reached enlightenment. Most of us will not reach that point within our lifetime and that is ok. But every moment that we remember to breathe and let go, we are one step closer to making our journey through this life a lot more enjoyable. In this way, we can not only change our own lives, but we create a positive ripple effect that spreads to everyone around us.
If this sounds at all like something you would like to experiment with, please stick around for my take on sutra number 1.2!
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