Can a drop of water hold the entire universe?
Centuries later, the knowledge of yoga from many millennia ago still exists. The practice has changed hands, names, brands, styles but the sutra or the thread remains the same. The knowledge compiled by Sage Patanjali—now how should one refer to him? Definitely a venerated sage, but also much more, a yogi-scientist, sanskrit scholar, logician, perhaps even a poet as is evident from his poetically flowing yogasutras—serves as the quintessence of discriminative wisdom.
There is no single descriptor that can adequately bear testimony to his genius, except the palm leaves, inscribed with the yogasutras, a yoga knowledge which has transcended more than two thousand years of history, to remain one of the most exquisitely logical 195 aphorisms, containing the whole truth of life on this earth. A small piece of technology that can fit into our palms is backed by a large infrastructure. What must have been the expanse of the sage’s understanding for him to have served it to us so simply? He brought bliss within reach.
Can a single step contain an entire journey?
The eight-fold path or the Human Positioning System (HPS) rolled out by Patanjali aeons ago is a powerful formula of alchemy. It is breathtaking in its simplicity, directness, precision and above all, absolute contemporariness and relevance to human life. Either we take the HPS or we go the longer route which may take centuries for us to discover. So, let’s dive straight into this unfaltering eight-step path. Actually, each step on this path is a complete universe. Lived in its entirety, it can lead you to your essential nature.
Yoganganushthanadasuddhiksaye jnanadiptiravivekakhyateh
- Sutra 2.28
The above sutra tells us clearly that practicing the different limbs of yoga destroys all the impurities and illuminates the intellect with knowledge of reality. In this lies the aim of yoga or human life. Patanjali gave us eight limbs, for the unimpeded movement of our yogic journey, towards bliss or union.
Yamaniyamasanapranayamapratyaharadharanadhyanasamadhayoshtavangani
- Sutra 2.29
Yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahar, dharana, dhyan and samadhi are the eight limbs on the Ashtanga Yoga path, that lead a practitioner closer to the goals of human life. I don't think we can apply chronology to these steps as they are a pervasive awareness with which we lead our lives. At least, that is how I experienced this revelatory journey.
I am starting this dialogue with the simplest explanations, enough for a practice to have a foundation. The seed lies in the practice, the roots grow as we practice, the tree flourishes from the practice. Then comes the fruit, also a result of our long, uninterrupted, dedicated but dispassionate practice. There is a universe waiting to be experienced, discovered, uncovered and unfurled from abhyasa (practice).
Can a vow become the whole voyage?
In the journey of the eight-fold path, yama and niyama appear first, listing the duties unto others and oneself. Upon contemplation, recitation and application, they unfurl as a complete universe in our lives. If we pick even one quality from the five given under yama and niyama each, we would probably live our whole lives there, drowning in its embrace, divining its depths.
The word yama comes from the root word yam (to hold or to rule). It implies a boundary or ethical code prescribed for peaceful and harmonious living in society; rules that keep our interactions with the outside world conflict free, so that we can progress on the path of yoga.
Ahimsasatyasteyabrahmacharyaparigraha yamah
- Sutra 2.30
"Non-violence, truth, non-stealing, godliness and non-hoarding are the five yama."
While taking up the yama, there are essential boundaries to be respected that the flow of life remains unhindered:
- Non-violence: To not hurt others with our thoughts, words and actions.
- Truth: To maintain pristine integrity to the truth in all our interactions.
- Non-stealing: To not covet what belongs to another.
- Godliness: To be discerning and compassionate in our conduct with others.
- Non-hoarding: To be non-grasping and secure in what we have.
Jatideshakalasamayanvicchinnah sarvabhauma mahavratam
- Sutra 2.31
"The practice of the five yama is akin to a great vow when followed unconditionally."
Can a rule be the repository of the consciousness?
The more we live by these principles, the more they embed themselves into our consciousness, guiding us in our day-to-day life, revealing a depth yet to be divined.
Niyama are the 'necessary actions', or the 'dos'. Niyama means 'rules'; they are disciplines of self-conduct. These rules are for us to follow, in order to free ourselves from the negativity and hindrances that can be impediments on the path of yoga.
Sauchasantosatapahsvadhyayesvarapranidhanani niyamah
- Sutra 2.32
"Cleanliness, contentment, austerity, self-study, surrender to God are the five niyama."
The practice of niyama has to be so sincere that it is internalized deeply, and living by them becomes second nature:
- Cleanliness: keep our physical, emotional and mental space clean.
- Contentment: remain equanimous towards our possessions.
- Austerity: keep the hard work going.
- Self-study: maintain a keen observation of oneself.
- Surrender to God: cultivate acceptance of the present and surrender to the moment to keep the flow of consciousness unimpeded.
Can one moment hold an eternity?
Patanjali was a visionary who knew each move of the human mind and all the little grooves that it could get stuck into. Yama and niyama work perfectly as an eviction plan to move out of tough spots, but they are not escape routes. They are timely reminders that can, in an instant, have us melt and flow cheerfully in a state of ease. They keep us wired to the moment, responding to its essence. In this eternally flowing state, the practice moves smoothly towards asana and pranayama, soothing the mind and body. Having healed, the practice inevitably becomes effortless and untethered from external distractions in pratyahar. It turns inward to become single-pointed in dharana, meditative in dhyan, and eventually a moment of clarity gives us glimpses of samadhi, eternal bliss.
