Yoga Sutras and the World of the Human Mind

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. The eight limbs of Patanjali’s Yoga completely remove the impure inherited tendencies of the mind. First, one practices ethical disciplines and then acquires a good posture for meditation. Then, one is able to obtain an effortless and free yogic concentration. This concentration leads to spiritual insight and the power to break through all bondages of the mind. Verse: II.28

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. This lecture constitutes a review of the process by which Yoga leads us beyond mental conflicts and to inner contentment. Mental conflicts come from hidden inherited tendencies from past lives - Samskaras. This idea is Patanjali’s major contribution to psychology. By taking care of these samskaras, we can transcend the conflict between intellect and the accumulated habits and memories.

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. The mind is not the real I, the real I is Purusha. Reason has its limits but this instinctive wisdom goes beyond this. That’s why great prophets could do things and say things whose meaning only become apparent after a long time. They had special insight. They found the whole foundation of truth within themselves. By not using such power for selfish purposes, we are able to prevent a fall. Then only Prarabdha Karma remains. Verses: IV.28, IV.29, IV.30

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. This lecture contains a detailed analysis of the nature of the real seer, Purusha or Atman, according to multiple approaches. Verses: IV.17, IV.18, IV.19, IV.20

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Vivarta Satkaryavada in Advaita Vedanta is reviewed. Nominalism of Buddhism is also explained. Advaita, according to Shankaracharya, is a combination of Absolute Idealism and Realism. Verses: IV.15, IV.16, IV.17, IV.18

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. A comparison is made between Buddhist schools of philosophy and Yoga on the question of the relationship between minds and objects. Verses: IV.14, IV.15

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Our tendencies from previous life cycles are re-expressed when put into an appropriate environment. When we suddenly feel at home with a profound philosophical idea, it means we have some previous acquaintance. This allows us to continue our spiritual evolution. Verses: IV.9, IV.10, IV.11

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. There are good, bad, and mixed actions. These actions lead to tendencies that will manifest when the appropriate environment is available. Even though there is a separation in time and place, these manifestations form a continuous link. The different kinds of karmas are discussed in this context. These tendencies are without beginning. However, they come to end when we identify ourselves with our transcendental nature. Verses: IV.7, IV.8, IV.9, IV.10

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. All power is already within us. We remove the obstacles to manifest the divinity within us. Verses: IV.1, IV.2, IV.3, IV.4, IV.5, IV.6

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Kaivalyam, liberation means liberation from ourselves. We are trapped in a cycle of actions, mental impressions, tendencies, and then repeated action. By changing our identification we begin to evolve. Our obstacles are in the form of Klesas, obsessive likes and dislikes. This creates a conflict between what the intellect wants to do and what the mind allows us to do. The root is a wrong identification of who we are. To overcome this, the first step is the practice of friendliness, compassion, admiration, and indifference towards the happy, unhappy, virtuous, and negative. The higher powers mentioned in the Vibhuti-pada can be obtained by birth, herbs, mantras, austerities, and concentration. The only safe ones to practice are mantras and concentration practiced with ethical disciplines - Yamas and Niyamas. Verse: IV.1