Patanjali Yoga Sutra
Misconception about Patanjali Sutra
Patanjali has documented all the physical asanas that Yoga institute has been teaching across the world. The mantra that we chant Yogena chittasya is about thanking patanjali rishi for giving us the sutras for serenity of mind, purity of speech and medicine. Physical aspect is in the Hatha yoga pradipika.
Why we should learn Patanjali Sutra
Sutras are like formulas that we can use in our daily lives. If you want to calculate the area of a rectangle its formula is clear. There is no ambiguity.
In Life also, we also need formulas or tools to help you steer into the clear direction.
The whole purpose of Upanishad or these sutras is to understand yourself better or going towards yourself. Most of our lives are outward going, but we dont focus much on how we can improve ourselves.
The 1st chapter of Patanjali sutra is Samadhi Pada : This talks about the goal or the purpose of doing yoga.
Just like any book has a preface and any new project has a "Kick-off" meeting, Patanjali Sutra starts with
"Atha Yoga anushasanam" : that says Its now that the practice of Yoga starts.
Probably, he started off with this to ensure that readers start with this chapter for their practice rather than any other chapter.
Yogas chitta vritti nirodaha
Yoga means training your mind to move away from all the vrittis. Your mind is composed of many thoughts.
Pick up any goal that you set for this winter. I will not fall Sick this Winter. You dont want to set this goal because you know deep inside that you have been comforting yourself with "change in weather" . Yes you cannot change the weather, by why should weather change you. So the weather change is not a vritti but the thought that it will affect your physical being is the vritti.
Once you set the goal, then approach is to consistently practice without a break - be it a Ekadashi , Rain or whatever. you will not miss that practice.
Take out the vrittis one by one. Its a challenge because you have not been trained for it
For a plane to start flying safely, the air controller has to give a go ahead so that it can safely take off. They need to ensure that the weather is right, there is no high tail winds nor heavy rains or fog conditions. No matter how many controls or technology you implement within the plane, you always need a safer environment to take off. All these conditions are vrittis for the plane. once all these vrittis are done, plane takes off from the tarmac and then once stabilitzed its in auto mode.
Similarly the mind too works in a similar way.. For it to be stabilized you need to explicitly remove these distractions from the mind.
What is the Chitta
Everyone thinks "Mind" means "Brain" but that is more physical. But in a subtle way its a combination of 3 elements : Aham(Sense of Me ahamkara), Intellect(Program that is running) and Manas(desire to run)
When you go to a newly opened hotel, the 1st thing you eyes falls on is what different thing is served on others plate.. That is because tongue that is part of "You" is programmed to look for new things, and Manas is so weak that it is desires to eat it.. All three of them are working in tandem without you knowing about it. Its a subtle change.
Different types of Mind
Moodha(Lazy Bugger) : Lazy mind. Cold morning. Always finding the excuse to do something that is outside your comfort zone. does no work always want to eat bucketful of chips on the sofa.
Kshipta(Benefit driven) : Always thinks about the benefits that i get if i do. Student says, let see if i am able to reduce my weight in 2 months.. Rajasic but benefits driven
Vikshipta(Motivated but dependent) : I will do it only because my friend is doing it. Once he leaves then i also leave. No self motivation.
Ekagra(Focussed but not consistent) : Does it for consistently for 3 months but i drop off.
Nirodha(Focussed with intensity) : You are not retreating back.