Philosophy - Patanjali's Sutras Flashcards
Eight-fold limbs of Raja Yoga
Yama Niyama Asana Pranayama Pratyahara Dharana Dyana Samadhi
Yama
Moral restraints
Ethical standards and sense of integrity, focusing on our behavior and how we conduct ourselves in life.
Guiding our actions, speech, and thoughts in relation to the external world effecting our relationship with others.
- Ahimsa
- Satya
- Asteya
- Brahmacharya
- Aparigraha
Ahimsa
Non-violence, kindness
Satya
Non-lying, truthfulness
Asteya
Non-stealing
Brahmacharya
Non-excess, moderation
Aparigraha
Non-greed, generosity
Niyama
Observances, attitudes
Self-discipline and spiritual observances. Attitudes we should cultivate in ourselves.
- Saucha
- Santosha
- Tapas
- Svadhyaya
- Isvara pranidhana
Saucha
Cleanliness, purity
Santosha
Contentment
Tapas
Discipline, effort, heat, spiritual purifications, austerity
Svadhyaya
Study of the sacred scriptures and of one’s self
Isvara pranidhana
Surrender to Higher Self
Asana
Physical postures
Positions of the body, connecting the mind and spirit to create strength, flexibility, balance and focus.
> Through the practice of Asana, we develop the habit of discipline and the ability to concentrate, both of which are necessary for meditation.
- meditative postures
- relaxing postures
- cultural postures
Pranayama
Regulation of Breath
Mindful breathing
Control of the breath
> The regulation of breath gives body lightness and turning away of the senses from material objects.
Pratyahara
Abstraction of Senses
Turning inward
Withdrawal of the senses to the mind
> This withdrawal allows us to objectively observe our cravings.
Dharana
Concentration
Attention and focussing on a single point/object
> Slowing down the thinking process
Dhyana
Meditation
Observation and reflection
Uninterrupted flow of concentration
> To not produce thoughts at all
Samadhi
Self-realization, Absorption, pure bliss, ecstasy.
> to merges with the point of focus and transcends the Self altogether. Realization of a profound connection to the Divine, an interconnectedness with all living things. With this realization comes the experience of bliss and being at one with the Universe.
The ultimate tool of yoga, not the ultimate goal of yoga.
Purusha
Spirit
The Seer
Soul, true being, pure consciousness
Prakriti
Universal energy
Matter
The Seen
That which is created
Karma
Actions stemming from Samskaras & reactions
The spiritual principle of cause and effect where intent & actions of a person (cause) influence the future of that person (effect)
Samsara
Wandering
Cycle of deaths and rebirths, karmic cycle
Moksha
Freedom
State of liberation from Samsara, freedom from ignorance
Kaivalya
Detachment
Absolute freedom, liberating knowledge of one’s self, self-realization, self-actualization.
Isolation of Purusha - now standing alone. Realizing our essential nature by differentiating Purusha (pure consciousness) from Prakriti (matter); Purusha shines forth in its own pure luminous state.
Vrtti
Fluctuations of the mind, activities of thoughts, changing mind states
Klesa
Obstacles obstructing the mind (colouring)
Samskara
Imprints on the mind
Generalized patterns, individual impressions, ideas or actions, taken together, our Samskaras make up our conditioning
5 types of Vrttis (states of minds / fluctuations we can find ourselves in)
1. correct knowledge sense perception / inference / verbal testimony 2. error / incorrect knowledge 3. imagination 4. deep dreamless state 5. memory
coloured mind waves
selfish: obstacles
uncoloured mind waves
selfless: sattvic in nature
How to still the vrttis?
- Practice of 8 limbs
2. Non-Attachment (indifference to Prakriti & without personal desire)
Solution to disturbances that occur with vrtti
One-pointedness.
If the mind is focused, then it is less likely to get entangled and lost in delusions from these obstacles.
Kriya Yoga
Path of Action
- Self-discipline (tapas)
- Studying yourself in context of teaching (Svadhyaya)
- Surrender actions to the Absolute Truth (Isvara-pranidhana)
5 Klesas (possible obstacles (colourings) on the mind)
- Ignorance (lack of knowledge)
- Ego (false identification)
- Attraction (memory of good)
- Aversion (memory of bad)
- Clinging to life (fear of death from past lives)
How to deal with the colourings of the mind?
Kriya Yoga & 8 limbs practice
How to weaken the Klesas?
By performing Kriya, the Klesas are weakened / not present / burnt.
Why practice 8 limbs?
- Develop attention as tool for discriminative knowledge
- art & science of Yoga: systematically described in 8 limbs
- using razor-like attention to discriminate between the Seer (Purusha) and the Seen (Prakriti)
- First 5 limbs sharpen the razor
- Finer, sharpened 3 limbs to break Karma alliance
Disturbances that occur with Vrtti
- Carelessness
- Disease
- Dullness
- Doubt
- Distractions
- Instability
- Lack of detachment
- Lethargy
- Misperception
4 Pada’s of Patanjali’s Sutras
- Samadhi Pada: contemplation, focusing on concentration and meditation
- Sadhana Pada: practice & discipline
- Vibhuti Pada:
experiences & manifestations - Kaivalya Pada:
absolute freedom, liberation
5 types of Attitudes to cultivate the process of stilling the vrttis
- Faith
- Vigor
- Memory
- Contemplation
- Discernment
How to break the Alliance of Karma?
> By practicing Kriya Yoga, the Klesas are weakened / burnt
This produces non-coloured Vrttis, or a Sattvic state of mind
This causes good action & good reaction (Karma)
This teminates Samskara: pure & Sattvic imprints born uncoloured
Now you start the clear the mirror and discernment between Seer & Seen can be seen
Then you are no longer bound to Samsara (birth & death cycle) = liberation
Samyama
3 limbs - Dharana, Dhyana & Samadhi - for subtler practice
- Through Samyama, object is seen clearly
- Set aside with non-attachment
- In this process, subtler obstacles (Klesas)
are weakened
Alliance of Karma
> Karma: colored actions & colored reactions
Samskara: colored imprints on Citta
Klesa: obstacles affecting Vrttis
Vrtti: colored changing mind states
= keep influencing each other & keep you bound in Samsara birth & death cycle.
