Yoga Sutras

Question 1

Brahman

Answer 1

The ultimate underlying reality underpinning the external world. Understood as either a supreme being or a supreme impersonal consciousness

Question 2

Eight limbs of yoga

Answer 2

Yama - abstentions, moral restraints
Niyama - ethical observances
Asana - posture
Pranayama - breath control
Pratyahara - sense withdrawal
Dharana - concentration
Dhyana - meditation
Samadhi - final absorption in the self

Question 3

Purusa

Answer 3

The innermost conscious self (everything else is a part of Prakti)

Question 4

Atman

Answer 4

The innermost self or soul (upanisadic term similar to purusa)

Question 5

Three qualities of prakti

Answer 5

Sattva (lucidity)
Rajas (action)
Tamas (inertia)

Question 6

Asamprajnata-samadhi

Answer 6

The final goal of yoga and of human existence. The ultimate state of awareness in which nothing can be discerned except the pure self

Question 7

Citta

Answer 7

The mind. Made up of buddhi (intelligence), ahankara (ego), and manas (mind)

Question 8

Vrttis

Answer 8

Any permutation or activity of the mind. The goal of yoga is to quiet these

Question 9

What are the five klesas (impediments to the practice of yoga)?

Answer 9

Ignorance
Ego
Attachment
Aversion
Clinging to life

Question 10

What are the five vrttis?

Answer 10

Right knowledge
Error
Imagination
Sleep
Memory

Question 11

Nirodha

Answer 11

Restraint, control, cessation. When all thoughts have been stilled

Question 12

Pratyaya

Answer 12

The image of an object imprinted on the mind. Several pratyayas can make up a vrtti. This impression is formed by the sense organs

Question 13

Alambana

Answer 13

The support for the mind. Refers to any object upon which the yogi has chosen to fix or concentrate the mind

Question 14

What are the five yamas of the first limb of yoga?

Answer 14

Non-violence
Truthfulness
Refraining from stealing
Celibacy
Refraining from coveting

Question 15

What are the five niyamas of the second limb of yoga?

Answer 15

Cleanliness
Contentment
Austerity
Study of scripture
Devotion to god

Question 16

Samskara

Answer 16

The Pratyaya that remains embedded in the mind as a latent imprint even after the mind moves on to other things

Question 17

Vasana

Answer 17

Latent samskara from a past life

Question 18

Japa

Answer 18

The recitation of om

Question 19

Antarayas

Answer 19

Disturbances (distractions for the mind). These are much less permanent than the klesas (obstacles to yoga)

Question 20

What are the 9 disturbances (antarayas)?

Answer 20

Disease
Idleness
Doubt
Carelessness
Sloth
Lack of detachment
Misapprehension
Failure to attain a base for concentration
Instability

Question 21

What are the 4 practices one should follow for lucidity to arise in the mind?

Answer 21

Friendship toward those who are happy
Compassion toward those in distress
Joy toward those who are virtuous
Equanimity toward those who are nonvirtuous

Question 22

What are the four mental stages of samadhi?

Answer 22

Vitarka - absorption with physical awareness
Vicara - absorption with subtle awareness
Ananda - absorption with bliss
Asmita - absorption with the sense of I-ness

Question 23

Ananda

Answer 23

Absorption with bliss (third stage of samadhi)

Question 24

Vitarka

Answer 24

Absorption with physical awareness (first stage of samadhi)

Question 25

Vicara

Answer 25

Absorption with subtle awareness (second stage of samadhi)

Question 26

Asmita

Answer 26

Absorption with the sense of I-ness (fourth and final stage of samadhi)