The yoga sutra-s are
considered the most authoritative of yoga texts. Authored by Patanjali,
this work presents all the concepts of yoga in 195 aphorisms. Such is
the respect given to this work that all great yogi-s acknowledged this
work when they presented their own teaching. There is a popular saying
that "what is not mentioned in the yoga sutra-s is either not yoga,
or probably not important at all". An understanding of the yoga sutra-s
is necessary for any serious student of yoga. To help the many yoga
enthusiasts of the modern world, we would like to share the teachings
of the yoga sutra through this section. In this section we offer one
sutra every week (updated every Saturday), with its translation by TKV
Deskachar. The section will also feature an audio recital of the yoga
sutra by Mekhala Desikachar.
Chapter IV.15
But are the characteristics
that appear to one observer, the real characteristics?
The characteristics of an object appear
differently, depending upon the different mental states of the observer.
This applies to one observer with various states of mind at different
times , as well as various observers with different states of mind
observing the object at the same time.
Thus, a Hindu temple is a place of worship to a devoted, believer, an
artistic monument to a tourist, a place of solicitation to a beggar and
even a place of ridicule to an atheist.
The yoga sutra-s are
considered the most authoritative of yoga texts. Authored by Patanjali,
this work presents all the concepts of yoga in 195 aphorisms. Such is
the respect given to this work that all great yogi-s acknowledged this
work when they presented their own teaching. There is a popular saying
that "what is not mentioned in the yoga sutra-s is either not yoga,
or probably not important at all". An understanding of the yoga sutra-s
is necessary for any serious student of yoga. To help the many yoga
enthusiasts of the modern world, we would like to share the teachings
of the yoga sutra through this section. In this section we offer one
sutra every week (updated every Saturday), with its translation by TKV
Deskachar. The section will also feature an audio recital of the yoga
sutra by Mekhala Desikachar. 