Book Presentation

"The Yoga of Patanjali"

by Dr. Ekkirala Krishnamacharya

 

Yoga is the science par excellence of Man. It is the oldest of the real sciences that remain with mankind today. Patanjali's aphorisms are given in the form of  instructions. It was the request of students in the West who had followed Master E.K.'s lectures over a period of several years, to publish such an introductory course in the form of a book that developed into this publication. Each aphorism is given first in Sanskrit, with word-meaning, followed by a commentary and explanation in English. With this study, Master E.K. has made a valuable contribution to the growing awareness and spiritual fusion between East and West which was his chosen mission.

Master E.K. has an Aquarian approach to explain the practical steps relating to Yoga practice for the benefit of the true seekers of truth.

Kulapati Book Trust Visakhapatnam, India, 2001-2.

• Book order information
• About the Author
• We have a few English copies to distribute for free.

 

Sample:

Chapter IV: Obstacles Explained (Sutras from Samadhi Pada)

Word Meaning:

Vyadhi - disease
Styana - rejecting
Samsaya - doubt
Pramada - mistake
Alasya - laziness
Avirathi - indulgence
Bhranti darsana - illusive vision.
Alabdha bhumikatva - not getting the grip
Anavasthitatvani - lack of continuity of purpose
Chitta viksepah - fluctuations of the formed mind
Te - they
Antarayah - impediments


Meaning

Impediments exist in the form of fluctuations of the formed mind. They exist as disease, rejection, doubt, mistake, laziness, indulgence, illusive vision, not having a grip and lack of continuity of purpose.

 
Explanations

Impediments stand in the way of progress to a follower of Yoga. Since the formed mind is the resultant of many forces at work; the equilibrium is distributed by cross-currents that are produced by himself.

They are as follows:

a) Disease is a disturbance from ease. It is the result of ourselves disturbing the routine. When the poise among the items of labour, metabolism, rest and sleep is disturbed it results in disease. Since the effort is to rectify, there will be no continuity of Yoga.

b) Rejection: The human mind is vulnerable to the force of habit. As a result it rejects many things it doesn't like. Instead of ignoring, there is rejecting which involves a negative expenditure of time, energy and consciousness. This forms a strong impediment. The follower of the yogic path is occupied with what he does and he is never bothered of negating what is not needed. Thus he grows all positive to all the philosophies and theories of all people in the world. If' there is something which you do not like, it stands on your way. Emerson says, "There are no bad people in the world. There are only people who behave badly." Such a positive attitude removes impediments.

c) Doubt indicates over-activity of the mind that is not needed. If you are conscious of what you need, you have no time to think what you do not need. Doubt is co-existence of what you need and what you do not need. Instead of thinking if the idea is right or wrong, reject it totally until it comes to you again properly.

d) Mistake means committing a mistake in thought or action. It occurs if you do something before it is needed. If the speed of mind is more than required we commit mistakes. When action controls thought the speed is controlled. When you are waiting for your wife in the railway station to get into the train, the mind feels like running out of the platform to see if she is coming. If you obey the thought you make a mistake. You cannot see her and she cannot see you when she comes to the platform. You allow the thought to pass away and stand on the platform. So you can avoid confusion by avoiding the mistake. It is calmness that makes you a successful journey. Yoga practice makes you free from the reaction to environment.

e) Laziness: When the body does not respond to the speed of the mind, it is physical laziness. When the mind does not respond to the situation it is mental laziness. Both can be avoided by mere awareness to live in the present.

f) Indulgence is allowing the force of habit to continue. The awareness to cut the thread and engraft new habit makes you follow the Yogic path.

g) Illusive vision is only an error in the psychological instrument. The senses and the mind are only instruments and have their own limitation. You can see a rope in darkness to understand it as a snake. Sometimes you may understand a snake as a rope. This is called illusion. It has its own place to serve life, unless you have the illusion that she is your wife you will understand her only as a skeleton with flesh and blood. Allow the illusion to play strictly according to the measure then you are in the Yogic path. If illusion begins to play upon your mind without your acceptance then you have an impediment.

h) Not having a grip over the situation is another impediment. Ignore the situation and give importance to your procedure. To grow as yogi you be occupied with what you are to do, when to do, when to stop. Then you will form a centre of Yoga in yourself. Then nobody, no situation can impede you. When you are the creator of positive situation, there is no place for a negative situation, an impediment.

i) Lack of continuity of purpose is due to the many valuable plans in mind. A plan, however valuable it is, is false before it is put to action. Begin to work out a plan then it becomes true, the rest of the plans recede or progress according to their validity. The environment will be rearranged in yow. favour the moment you begin to act. The environment will be more important than you as lone, as you do not act. Act one thing which you feel correct, the environment will arrange itself into a sequence and there will be no consequence.