Yoga Sutras and the World of the Human Mind

By Vedanta Society, San FranciscoReligion & Spirituality Spirituality

Yoga Sutras and the World of the Human Mind episodes

February 21, 2019 51 – Problem of Fragmentation of Mind | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda
Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. The lecture begins with a review of the contributions of the Indian Sage Patanjali. Then, the stages of mental concentration are reviewed. In the context of Vibhuti Pada, it is a transition from Sarvarthata, many-pointedness, to Ekagra, one-pointedness, and finally to Nirodha, transcendence. The distinction between deep sleep and Nirodha is a question of being aware of your experience. Verses: III.11, III.12, III.9
59 min
February 20, 2019 50 – Prajna: Attaining the Light of Pure Awareness | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda
Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Shankaracharya’s enormous accomplishments stemmed in part from his single-pointed focus. In Ashtanga Yoga, we get disciplined in Yamas and Niyamas, moral excellence, then at the physical level you are able to exert tremendous energy without strain, and Samyama gives mental equilibrium. As a result, we develop a new perspective, which is not based on practical benefit. We gain Prajna, a clear stream of thought which is not obstructed. It is knowledge established in pure awareness. Through Samprajnata Samadhi we can concentrate on different planes of spiritual experience. Later, there is Samadhi without any Vritti at all. Through these practices, you begin to develop a reduction in mental distractions and strengthening of one-pointedness. Verses: III.5, III.6, III.7, III.8, III.11
58 min
February 20, 2019 49 – Yearning For Freedom and Spiritual Transformation | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda
Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Higher concentration can intensify evil tendencies. Our real level of evolution can be judged by the natural characteristics of the mind. Yamas and Niyamas prepare us for spontaneous effortlessness. The stages of Samyama correspond to different stages of effort, with Samadhi being effortless. The desire for transcendence, Mumukshutvam or love for a higher ideal naturally brings Yamas and Niyamas. Verses: III.4, I.23
59 min
February 20, 2019 48 – A Genius’s Natural Concentration Versus a Yogi’s Free Concentration | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda
Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. A genius has a natural concentration in one area of specialization. A yogi has control over his concentration. He can concentrate on any topic he chooses. With both, there is effortlessness, but a Yogi has complete alertness and control of his will. A yogi has freedom. In ordinary natural concentration, there is slavery to the object of concentration. The difference comes from the foundation of Yamas, Niyamas, and Vairagya. Dharana and Dhyana can transform our lives through the mastery of the senses. The unit of Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi together are called Samyama. Whatever symbol, Pratyaya, we concentrate on is used as a tool to reach the all-pervading transcendental reality. Verse: III.4
1 hr 4 min
February 20, 2019 47 – The Language of Samadhi is Silence | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda
Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. The importance of Yamas as an ethical foundation and Niyamas as a way of conserving energy is reviewed. Without them, the practice of advanced Asanas and Pranayamas can be dangerous. Pratyahara is reviewed and Swami expands on the notion that the mental power to restrain the senses must be greater than the restlessness of the body energy. The topic of Samadhi is defined as the transcendental dimension of Dhyana, meditation. There, the subject, object, and meditation process merge. The language of Samadhi is silence. Sri Ramakrishna said knowledge merges in the Vedas, the Vedas in Gayatri, Gayatri in Om and Om in silence. Verse: III.3
56 min
February 20, 2019 46 – Fixing the Mind on One Point | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda
Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. The distinction between Dharana, attempting to fix the mind on one thought, and Dhyana, the continuous uninterrupted fixing of the mind on one point is made. Dharana is also called Manana, continuous contemplation around a single idea or sutra in the context of Vedanta practice. The levels of Mantra practice are reviewed in this context. At the highest level of concentration, subject, object, and the process of knowing merge. A review of Sankhya philosophy’s 23 cosmic evolutes is given. The important philosophical distinction between Parinama, real transformation, and Vivarta, transfiguration is introduced. Verses: III.1, III.2
58 min
February 20, 2019 45 – The Mind Becomes Your Inner Guide | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda
Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Turning the mind inward and away from the senses forces us to confront our tendencies and impressions. These have been accumulated from innumerable life cycles. When we are able to be fully established in Pratyahara, the mind then becomes our spiritual guide. In ordinary contemplation, we provide a counterfocus for the mind. In Dharana, the mind is held at a point such as the lotus of the heart. Shankara gives a practical suggestion for beginners. Meditate with eyes half-open as if looking at the tip of the nose to avoid falling asleep but not so wide as to let visual objects distract you. Verses: II.54, II.55, III.1
1 hr 3 min
February 20, 2019 44 – Pratyahara: Turning the Mind Inward | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda
Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Pranayama practiced with Yamas, Niyamas, and detachment lead to concentration. Otherwise, it leads to excitement and restlessness. Pratyahara is the ability to withdraw the mind from the senses. When that happens, we are no longer enslaved by the senses. Instead, our mind flows in the opposite direction. One result is we have the ability to concentrate because sense distractions cannot take our mind away. With this kind of concentration on ideas and the corresponding sounds and words, scriptures can be memorized. Verses: II.51, II.52, II.53, II.54
1 hr 12 min
February 20, 2019 43 – Stages of Pranayama: Harmonization of Breath and Energy | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda
Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. With the perfection of Yamas, Niyamas, and Asanas one becomes qualified to practice pranayama, breath control. Four stages of pranayama are discussed. An example from the life of Sri Ramakrishna of the highest stage of Pranayama is given. It can be very dangerous to practice such techniques without a teacher and requisite Yamas and Niyamas. Verses: II.49, II.50, II.51
1 hr 1 min
February 20, 2019 42 – Deep Contemplation: Perfect Study and Effortless Posture | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda
Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Self-study, Svadhyaya, can be interpreted as mantra repetition, Japa. The four stages of mantra experience from the gross verbal level to the highest experience are explained. Perfect surrender to God yields the highest perfection in Samadhi, concentration. At this stage of studying the sutras, we start to gain a deeper understanding of the previous sutras. Asana, posture, becomes steady and effortless when the mind concentrates steadily on a transcendental idea through Yamas and Niyamas. Pranayama, breath control, is briefly explained. All practices must come as part of a natural progression. Verses: II.44, II.45, II.46, II.47, II.48, II.49, II.50
1 hr 5 min

About Yoga Sutras and the World of the Human Mind

From the publisher's feed

Swami Tattwamayananda’s exposition of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras was given at the Vedanta Society of Northern California, San Francisco (founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1900) from October 10, 2014 to…

December 21, 2018 in a series of 111 lectures. These lectures include a mixture of philosophy both Eastern and Western, history, psychology, comparative theology, mysticism, classical parables, and simple everyday examples.

Patanjali was a great Indian sage who wrote major treatises on Ayurveda, Sanskrit grammar and Yoga. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali contain 195 sutras organized into four chapters. It gives a complete analysis of the mental system, how to transcend mental conflicts by linking the mind to a transcendental spiritual reality and how to become established in our true nature.

The classes are given from the viewpoint of Vedanta, one of the oldest philosophies of the world, which constitute the universal spiritual essence of the Vedas, the foundational scriptures of Hinduism. During the exposition, the Swami has drawn extensively from authentic Sanskrit commentaries and interpretative works like ‘Yoga-Bhasya’ of Vyasa, ‘Tattwa-Vaisharadi” of Vachaspati Mishra, ‘Yoga-Varttika’ of Vijnana Bhikshu, ‘Raja-Martanda’ of Bhoja Raja, ‘Yoga-Sudhakara’ of Sadashivendra Saraswati, with occasional references from ‘Yoga-Maniprabha’ of Ramananda Yati, ‘Patanjala-Yogashastra-Vivarana’ of Sri Shankara, and interpretations of Yoga-aphorisms by Swami Vivekananda and Swami Hariharananda Aranya.

“By the Vedas no books are meant. They mean the accumulated treasury of spiritual laws discovered by different persons in different times.” “The moral, ethical, and spiritual relations between soul and soul and between individual spirits and the Father of all spirits, were there before their discovery, and would remain even if we forgot them." (Paper on Hinduism, Swami Vivekananda, World's Parliament of Religions 1893)

According to this series of classes, the Yoga system of Patanjali reaches its ultimate fulfillment in the conclusions of Vedanta, that there is one all-pervading, immanent, eternal spiritual reality, which is our own true nature.

In the original text of Patanjali the order is 1. Samadhipada 2. Sadhanapada 3. Vibhutipada 4. Kaivalyapada. But in this exposition of the Yoga-sutra the speaker has followed a different order, which seems to be more logical from the standpoint of actual Yoga-sadhana, i.e., 1. Sadhanapada 2. Vibhutipada 3. Samadhipada 4. Kaivalyapada. To help beginners in the study of Yoga philosophy, the basic definitions from the first few aphorisms of Samadhipada are explained at the beginning.

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