Sutra 2

Question 1

Sutra 1.23 ISVARAPRANIDHANAD VA

Answer 1

In this sutra, Patanjali shares that we may attain samadhi (meditation) by surrending to Isvara ( Isvara can be translated as “god,” “lord,” “the highest,” “universal consciousness,” “higher power,”
“higher self,” “cosmic truth,” etc.)

Question 2

Sutra 1.27 TASYA VACAKAH PRANAVAH

Answer 2

The word expressive of Isvara is the mystic sound OM.

Question 3

Sutra 1.30

Answer 3

Disease, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, sensuality, false perception, failure to
reach firm ground and slipping from the ground gained – these distractions of the mindstuff are the obstacles [distractions].”

Question 4

Sutra 1.31 D U H K H A - D A U R M A N A S YA - A N G A M E J AYAT VA - Ś V Ā S A P R A Ś V Ā S Ā H
VIKSEPA SAHABHUVAH

Answer 4

Accompaniments (symptoms) to the mental distractions include distress, despair, trembling of the body, and
disturbed breathing.

Question 5

Sutra 1.32 TAT- P R AT I S E D H A - A R T H A M - E K A - TAT T VA - A B H Y Ā S A H

Answer 5

The practice of concentration on a single subject [or use of one technique] is the best way to
prevent the obstacles and their accompaniments.

Question 6

Sutra 1.33 M AT R I K A R U N A M U D I T O P E K S A N A N S U K H A D U K H A
P U N YA P U N YA V I S AYA N A M B H AVA N ATA S C I T TA
PRASADANAM

Answer 6

By cultivating (so called four locks and four keys) attitudes of friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy,
delight in the virtuous, and disregard toward the wicked, the mind stuff retains its undisturbed calmness.

Question 7

Sutras 1.34-1.34 additional tools offered by Patanjali

Answer 7

• Sutra 1.34: Focus on breath
• Sutra 1.35: Focus on subtle sense perceptions
• Sutra 1.36: Focus on light within
• Sutra 1.37: Focus on a great soul (someone who inspires you)
• Sutra 1.38: Focus on an experience you had during sleep/dreaming
• Sutra 1.39: Focus on anything elevating that works!

Question 8

Sutra 2.3 AVIDYA-ASMITA-RAGA-DVESA-ABHINIVESA-KLESAH

Answer 8

“Ignorance, egoism, attachment, hatred, and clinging to bodily life are the five obstacles
Ignorance-Avidya-is the cause of all other obstacles

Question 9

Sutra 2.5

Answer 9

Ignorance is regarding the impermanent as permanent, the impure as pure, the painful as pleasant, and
the non-Self as the Self

Question 10

Sutra 2.6

Answer 10

Egoism is the identification, as it were, of the power of the Seer (Purusha) with that of the instrument of
seeing [body-mind].

Question 11

Sutra 2.7

Answer 11

Attachment is that which follows identification with pleasurable experiences

Question 12

Sutra 2.8

Answer 12

Aversion is that which follows identification with painful experiences

Question 13

Sutra 2.9

Answer 13

Clinging to life, flowing by its own potency [due to past experiences], exists even in the wise