Yoga Sutra – Samadhi Pada

Sūtra 1:

अथ योगानुशासनम् ॥१॥
atha yoga-anu-śāsanam ||1||

Now instruction in yoga.

atha (adv.) now
yoga (m.) union, connection, joining; from √yuj
anuśāsanam (n.nom. sg.) instruction, direction, teaching: anu (after, with) + śāsana, from √śās (chastise, correct, restrain, teach)

Sūtra 2:

योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः ॥२॥
yogaḥ citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ ||2||

Yoga is the restraint of fluctuations of the mind.

yogaḥ (m. nom. sg.) union, connection, joining; from √yuj
citta (n.)
mind, reason, intelligence; from √cit (perceive, observe, know)
vṛtti
(f.) modification, turning, fluctuations; from √vṛi (turn, revolved, roll, move) [end of TP6 cpd.]
nirodhaḥ (m. nom. sg.) restraint, control, suppression; ni (down, into) +rodh, from √rudh (obstruct, arrest, avert) [end of TP6 cpd.]

Sūtra 3:

तदा द्रष्टुः स्वरूपेऽवस्थानम् ॥३॥
tadā draṣṭuḥ svarūpe-avasthānam ||3||

Then there is abiding in the seer’s own form.

tadā (ind.) then
draṣṭuḥ (m. gen. sg.) of the seer; from √dṛṣ (see, perceive, understand)
svarūpe (n. loc. sg.) in own form; sva (own, self) + rūpa (form, shape, figure)
avasthānam (n. nom. sg.) abiding, standing, dwelling; ava (off, away) +sthāna, from √sthā (stand, endure, continue)

Sūtra 4:

वृत्तिसारूप्यमितरत्र ॥४॥
vṛtti-sārūpyam-itaratra ||4||

At other times it takes the form of the fluctuations.

vṛtti (f.) modification, turning, fluctuations; from √vṛi (turn, revolved, roll, move)
sārūpyam
(n. nom. sg.) with the form, likeness, similarity of form; (with) +rūpya (stamped, impressions in the possession of), from rūp (form, shape, figure)
itaratra
(ind.) at other times, otherwise

Sūtra 5:

वृत्तयः पञ्चतय्यः क्लिष्टाक्लिष्टाः ॥५॥
vṛttayaḥ pañcatayyaḥ kliṣṭa-akliṣṭāḥ ||5||

The fluctuations are fivefold: afflicted and nonaflicted.

vṛttayaḥ (f. nom. pl.) 
pañcatayyaḥ
(m. nom. sg) fivefold, having five parts; from pañca (five)
kliṣṭa
(m.) afflicted, painful, troubling; from √kliś (torment, distress)
akliṣṭāḥ
(m. or f. nom. pl.) not afflicted, untroubled, undisturbed; a (not) +kliṣṭā (see above)

Sūtra 6:

प्रमाणविपर्ययविकल्पनिद्रास्मृतयः ॥६॥
pramāṇa-viparyaya-vikalpa-nidrā-smṛtayaḥ ||6||

Valid cognition, error, conceptualization, sleep, and memory.

pramāṇa (n.) valid cognition, correct notion, right perception; pra (before, forward) + māṇa (means of proof, demonstrating) from √(measure, prepare, display)
viparyaya
(m.) misconception, error, misapprehension; vi (asunder,away)+ pari (around) + aya, from √i (go,flow)
vikalpa (m.) conceptualization, imagination; vi (asunder, away)kalpa, fromkip (correspond, in accordance with, suitable to)
nidrā
(f.) sleep, slumber, ni (down, into) + √drā (sleep)
smṛtayaḥ
(m. nom. pl.) memory; from √smṛ (remember) [end DV epd.]

Sūtra 7:

प्रत्यक्षानुमानागमाः प्रमाणानि ॥७॥
pratyakṣa-anumāna-āgamāḥ pramāṇāni ||7||

Valid cognitions are perception, inference, and valid testimony.

pratyakṣa
anumāna
āgamāḥ
pramāṇāni

Sūtra 8:

विपर्ययः मिथ्याज्ञानमतद्रूपप्रतिष्ठम् ॥८॥
viparyayaḥ mithyā-jñānam-atadrūpa-pratiṣṭham ||8||

Error is false knowledge, without foundation.

viparyayaḥ
mithyā
jñānam
atadrūpa
pratiṣṭham

Sūtra 9:

शब्दज्ञानानुपाती वस्तुशून्योविकल्पः ॥९॥
śabda-jñāna-anupātī vastu-śūnyaḥ vikalpaḥ ||9||

Conceptualization is the result of words and ideas empty of object.

 
 

śabda
jñāna
anupātī
vastu
śūnyaḥ
vikalpaḥ

Sūtra 10:

भावप्रत्ययालम्बना तमोवृत्तिर्निद्र ॥१०॥
abhāva-pratyaya-ālambanā tamaḥ vṛttiḥ nidrā ||10||

The sleep fluctuation is based on the intention of nonbecoming.

 
 

abhāva
pratyaya
ālambanā
tamaḥ
vṛttiḥ
nidrā

Sūtra 11:

अनुभूतविषयासंप्रमोषः स्मृतिः ॥११॥
anubhūta-viṣaya-asaṃpramoṣaḥ smṛtiḥ ||11||

Memory is the recollection of an experienced condition.

 

anubhūta
viṣaya
asaṃpramoṣaḥ
smṛtiḥ

Sūtra 12:

अभ्यासवैराग्याभ्यां तन्निरोधः ॥१२॥
abhyāsa-vairāgyābhyāṃ tat-nirodhaḥ
||12||

Through practice and dispassion arises restraint.

 
 

abhyāsa
vairāgyābhyāṃ
tat
nirodhaḥ

Sūtra 13:

तत्र स्थितौ यत्नोऽभ्यासः ॥१३॥
tatra sthitau yatnaḥ abhyāsaḥ ||13||

Effort in remaining there is practice.

 
 

tatra
sthitau
yatnaḥ
abhyāsaḥ

Sūtra 14:

स तु दीर्घकालनैरन्तर्यसत्कारादरासेवितो दृढभूमिः ॥१४॥
saḥ tu dīrgha-kāla-nairantarya-satkāra-ādarā-āsevitaḥ dṛḍha-bhūmiḥ ||14||

But that is firmly situated when carefully attended to for a long time without interruption.

 

saḥ
tu
dīrgha
kāla
nairantarya
satkāra
ādarā
āsevitaḥ
dṛḍha
bhūmiḥ

Sūtra 15:

दृष्टानुश्रविकविषयवितृष्णस्य वशीकारसंज्णावैराग्यम् ॥१५॥
dṛṣṭa-anu-śravika-viṣaya-vitṛṣṇasya vaśīkāra-saṃjñā-vairãgyam ||15||

Dispassion is the knowledge of mastery in one who thirsts not for conditions seen or heard.

dṛṣṭa
anu
śravika
viṣaya
vitṛṣṇasya
vaśīkāra
saṃjñā
vairãgyam

Sūtra 16:

तत्परं पुरुषख्यातेः गुणवैतृष्ण्यम् ॥१६॥
tat-paraṃ puruṣa-khyāteḥ guṇa-vaitṛṣṇyam ||16||

That highest (dispassion) – thirstlessness for the gunas – [proceeds] from the discernment of purusa.

 
 

tat
araṃ
puruṣa
khyāteḥ
guṇa
vaitṛṣṇyam

Sūtra 17:

वितर्कविचारानन्दास्मितारुपानुगमात्संप्रज्ञातः ॥१७॥
vitarka-vicāra-ānanda-asmitā-rūpa-anugamāt-saṃprajñātaḥ ||17||

Samprajnata [arises] from association with discursive thought, reflection, bliss, and I-am-ness.
 

vitarka
icāra
ānanda
asmitā
rūpa
anugamāt
saṃprajñātaḥ

Sūtra 18:

विरामप्रत्ययाभ्यासपूर्वः संस्कारशेषोऽन्यः ॥१८॥
virāma-pratyaya-abhyāsa-pūrvaḥ saṃskāra-śeṣaḥ anyaḥ ||18||

The other (state) has samskara only and is proceded by practice and the intention of cessation.

virāma-
pratyaya
abhyāsa
pūrvaḥ
saṃskāra
śeṣaḥ
anyaḥ

Sūtra 19:

भवप्रत्ययो विदेहप्रकृतिलयानम् ॥१९॥
bhava-pratyayaḥ videha-prakṛti-layānām ||19||

Of the one who are absorbed in prakriti and discarnate, [there is] an intention of becoming.

 

bhava
pratyayaḥ
videha
prakṛti
layānām

Sūtra 20:

श्रद्धावीर्यस्मृतिसमाधिप्रज्ञापूर्वक इतरेषाम् ॥२०॥
śraddhā-vīrya-smṛti-samādhi-prajñā-pūrvakaḥ itareśām ||20||

Of the others it is proceded by faith, energy, mindfulness, samadhi, and wisdom.

śraddhā
vīrya
smṛti
samādhi
prajñā
pūrvakaḥ
itareśām

Sūtra 21:

तीव्रसंवेगानामासन्नः ॥२१॥
tīvra-saṃvegānām-āsannaḥ ||21||

The strongly intense ones are near.

 
 

tīvra
saṃvegānām
āsannaḥ

Sūtra 22:

मृदुमध्याधिमात्रत्वात्ततोऽपि विशेषः ॥२२॥
mṛdu-madhya-adhimātratvāt-tataḥ api viśeṣaḥ ||22||

Hence the distinctions of mild, moderate, and ardent.

 
 
 

mṛdu
madhya
adhimātratvāt
tataḥ
api
viśeṣaḥ

Sūtra 23:

ईश्वरप्रणिधानाद्वा ॥२३॥
īśvara-praṇidhānāt-vā ||23||

Or from dedication to Isvara.

 
 

īśvara
praṇidhānāt

Sūtra 24:

क्लेशकर्मविपाकाशयैःपरामृष्टः पुरुषविशेष ईश्वरः ॥२४॥
kleśa-karma-vipāka-āśayaiḥ aparāmṛṣṭaḥ puruṣa-viśeṣa īśvaraḥ ||24||

Isvara is a distinct purusa untouched by afflictions, actions, fruitions, or their residue.
 

kleśa
karma
vipāka
āśayaiḥ
aparāmṛṣṭaḥ
puruṣa
viśeṣa
īśvaraḥ

Sūtra 25:

तत्र निरतिशयं सर्वज्ञबीजम् ॥२५॥
tatra niratiśayaṃ sarva-jña-bījam ||25||

There the seed of omnisccience is unsurpassed.
 

tatra
niratiśayaṃ
sarva
jña
bījam

Sūtra 26:

स एष पूर्वेषामपि गुरुः कालेनानवच्छेदात् ॥२६॥
sa eṣa pūrveṣām-api guruḥ kālena-anavacchedāt ||26||

Due to its being unlimited by time, it is the teacher of the prior ones.
 

sa
eṣa
pūrveṣām
api
guruḥ
kālena
anavacchedāt

Sūtra 27:

तस्य वाचकः प्रणवः ॥२७॥
tasya vācakaḥ praṇavaḥ ||27||

Its expression is pranava (OM).

 
 

tasya
vācakaḥ
praṇavaḥ

Sūtra 28:

तज्जपः तदर्थभावनम् ॥२८॥
tat-japaḥ tat-artha-bhāvanam ||28||

Repetition of it and realization of its purpose [should be made].

tat
japaḥ
tat
arth
bhāvanam

Sūtra 29:

ततः प्रत्यक्चेतनाधिगमोऽप्यन्तरायाभवश्च ॥२९॥
tataḥ pratyak-cetanā-adhigamaḥ-api-antarāya-abhāvaḥ ca ||29||

Thus inward consciousness is attained and obstacles do not arise.

tataḥ
pratyak
cetanā
adhigamaḥ
api
antarāya
abhāvaḥ
ca

Sūtra 30:

व्याधिस्त्यानसंशयप्रमादालस्याविरतिभ्रान्तिदर्शनालब्धभूमिकत्वानवस्थितत्वानि चित्तविक्षेपास्तेऽन्तरायाः ॥३०॥
vyādhi-styāna-saṃśaya-pramāda-ālasya-avirati-bhrānti-darśana-alabdha-bhūmikatva-anavasthitatvāni citta-vikṣepāḥ te-antarāyāḥ ||30||

These obstacles, distractions of the mind, are: sickness, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, sense addiction, false view, non-attainment of a stage, and instability.
 

vyādhi-
styāna
saṃśaya
pramāda
ālasya
avirati
bhrānti
darśana
alabdha
bhūmikatva
anavasthitatvāni
citta
vikṣepāḥ
te
antarāyāḥ

Sūtra 31:

दुःखदौर्मनस्याङ्गमेजयत्वश्वासप्रश्वासाः विक्षेपसहभुवः ॥३१॥
duḥkha-daurmanasya-aṅgam-ejayatva-śvāsa-praśvāsāḥ vikṣepa-sahabhuvaḥ ||31||

A dissatisfied, despairing body and unsteady inhalation and exhalation accompany the distractions.
 

duḥkha
daurmanasya
aṅgam
ejayatva
śvāsa
praśvāsāḥ
vikṣepa
sahabhuvaḥ

Sūtra 32:

तत्प्रतिषेधार्थमेकतत्त्वाभ्यासः ॥३२॥
tat-pratiṣedha-artham-eka-tattva-abhyāsaḥ ||32||

For the purpose of countering them, [there is] the practice of one thing (eka-tattva).
 

tat
pratiṣedha
artham
eka
tattva
abhyāsaḥ

Sūtra 33:

मैत्रीकरुणामुदितोपेक्षाणां सुखदुःखपुण्यापुण्यविषयाणां भावनातः चित्तप्रसादनम् ॥३३॥
maitrī-karuṇā-muditā-upekṣānāṃ sukha-duḥkha-puṇya-apuṇya-viṣayāṇāṃ bhāvanātaḥ citta-prasādanam ||33||

Clarification of the mind [results] from the cultivation of friendliness, compassion, happiness, and equanimity in conditions of pleasure, dissatisfaction, merit, and absence of merit, respectively.
 

maitrī
karuṇā
muditā
upekṣānāṃ
sukha
duḥkha
puṇya
apuṇya
viṣayāṇāṃ
bhāvanātaḥ
citta
prasādanam

Sūtra 34:

प्रच्छर्दनविधारणाभ्यां वा प्राणस्य ॥३४॥pracchardana-vidhāraṇābhyāṃ vā prāṇasya ||34||

Or by expulsion and retention of breath.
 

pracchardana
vidhāraṇābhyāṃ

prāṇasya

Sūtra 35:

विषयवती वा प्रवृत्तिरुत्पन्ना मनसः स्थितिनिबन्धिनी ॥३५॥
viṣayavatī vā pravṛttiḥ utpannā manasaḥ sthiti-nibandhinī ||35||

Or steady binding of the mind-organ arises in activity of involvement with a condition.
 

viṣayavatī

pravṛttiḥ
utpannā
manasaḥ
sthiti
nibandhinī

Sūtra 36:

विशोका वा ज्योतिष्मती ॥३६॥
viśokā vā jyotiśmatī ||36||

Or having sorrowless illumination.
 

viśokā

jyotiśmatī

Sūtra 37:

वीतरागविषयम् वा चित्तम् ॥३७॥
vīta-rāga-viṣayaṃ vā cittam ||37||

Or [on a] mind in a condition free from attachment.
 

yathā
abhimata
dhyānāt

Sūtra 38:

स्वप्ननिद्राज्ञानालम्बनमं वा ॥३८॥
svapna-nidrā-jñāna-ālambanaṃ vā ||38||

Or resting on knowledge [derived] from dream or sleep.

 
 

svapna-
nidrā
jñāna
ālambanaṃ

Sūtra 39:

यथाभिमतध्यानाद्वा ॥३९॥
yathā-abhimata-dhyānāt-vā ||39||

Or from meditation as desired.

yathā
abhimata
dhyānāt

Sūtra 40:

परमाणुपरममहत्त्वान्तोऽस्य वशीकारः ॥४०॥
parama-aṇu-parama-mahattva-antaḥ asya vaśīkāraḥ ||40||

Mastery of it [extends] from the smallest to the greatest.

parama
aṇu
parama
mahattva
antaḥ
asya
vaśīkāraḥ

Sūtra 41:

क्षीणवृत्तेरभिजातस्येव मणेर्ग्रहीतृग्रहणग्राह्येषु तत्स्थतदञ्जनता समापत्तिः ॥४१॥
kṣīṇa-vṛtteḥ abhijātasya-iva maṇeḥ grahītṛ-grahaṇa-grāhyeṣu tat-stha-tat-añjanatā samāpattiḥ ||41||

[The accomplished mind] of diminished fluctuations, like a precious (or clear) jewel assuming the color of any near object, has unity among grasper, grasping, and grasped.

kṣīṇa
vṛtteḥ
abhijātasya
iva
maṇeḥ
grahītṛ
grahaṇa
grāhyeṣu
tat
stha
tat
añjanatā
samāpattiḥ

Sūtra 42:

तत्र शब्दार्थज्ञानविकल्पैः संकीर्णा सवितर्का समापत्तिः ॥४२॥
tatra śabda-artha-jñāna-vikalpaiḥ saṃkīrṇā savitarkā samāpattiḥ ||42||

Svatikara unity is the commingling by conceptualization of word, purpose, and knowledge.

tatra
śabda
artha
jñāna
vikalpaiḥ
saṃkīrṇā
savitarkā
samāpattiḥ

Sūtra 43:

स्मृतिपरिशुद्धौ स्वरूपशून्येवार्थमात्रनिर्भासा निर्वितर्का ॥४३॥
smṛti-pariśuddhau sva-rūpa-śūnya-iva-artha-mātra-nirbhāsā nirvitarkā ||43||

Nirvitarka is when memory is purified, as if emptied of its own form, and the object alone shines forth.

smṛti
pariśuddhau
sva
rūpa
śūnya
iva
artha
mātra
nirbhāsā
nirvitarkā

Sūtra 44:

एतयैव सविचारा निर्विचारा च सूक्ष्मविषय व्याख्याता ॥४४॥
etayā-eva savicārā nirvicārā ca sūkṣma-viṣayā vyākhyātā ||44||

Similarly explained are sarvicara and nirvicara which are subtle conditions.

etayā
eva
savicārā
nirvicārā
ca
sūkṣma
viṣayā
vyākhyātā

Sūtra 45:

सूक्ष्मविषयत्वमं चालिङ्गपर्यवसानम् ॥४५॥
sūkṣma-viṣayatvaṃ ca-aliṅga-paryavasānam ||45||

And the subtle condition terminates in the undesignated.

sūkṣma
viṣayatvaṃ
ca
aliṅga
paryavasānam

Sūtra 46

ता एव सबीजस्समाधिः ॥४६॥
tāḥ eva sabījaḥ samādhiḥ ||46||

These are samadhi with seed.

tāḥ
eva
sabījaḥ
samādhiḥ

Sūtra 47:

निर्विचारवैशारद्येऽध्यात्मप्रसादः ॥४७॥
nirvicāra-vaiśāradye-adhyātma-prasādaḥ ||47||

In skill with nirvicara, clarity of authentic self arises.

nirvicāra
vaiśāradye
adhyātma
prasādaḥ

Sūtra 48:

ऋतंभरा तत्र प्रज्ञा ॥४८॥
ṛtaṃbharā tatra prajñā ||48||

There the wisdom is rtam-bearing (or truth-bearing).

ṛtaṃbharā
tatra
prajñā

Sūtra 49:

श्रुतानुमानप्रज्ञाभ्यामन्यविषया विशेषार्थत्वात् ॥४९॥
śruta-anumāna-prajñābhyām-anya-viṣayā viśeṣa-arthatvāt ||49||
 
Its condition is different from heard or inferred knowledge because of its distinct purpose.

śruta
anumāna
prajñābhyām
anya
viṣayā
viśeṣa
arthatvāt

Sūtra 50:

तज्जः संस्कारोऽन्यसंस्कारप्रतिबन्धी ॥५०॥
tat-jaḥ saṃskāra-anya-saṃskāra-pratibandhī ||50||
 
The samskara born of it obstructs other samskaras.

tat
jaḥ
saṃskāra
anya
saṃskāra
pratibandhī

Sūtra 51:

तस्यापि निरोधे सर्वनिरोधान्निर्बीजः समाधिः ॥५१॥
tasya-api nirodhe sarva-nirodhāt-nirbījaḥ samādhiḥ ||51||
 
With even that restricted, everything is restricted and that is seedless samadhi.

tasya
api
nirodhe
sarva
nirodhāt
nirbījaḥ
samādhiḥ

About Sunday morning
Contemplation

Sunday Morning Contemplation is informed by Eastern and Western contemplative traditions. The first, lectio divina has its origins in 6th century Europe. It unfolds in four steps or stages: reading (lectio), reflecting (meditatio), responding (oratio), and silent abiding (contemplatio). Our Eastern inspiration come from the Indian Upanishads (800-200 BCE), where contemplative practice consists of three steps or stages: listening (śravana), reflecting (manana), and meditating (nididhyāsana or dhyāna). Our contemplative practice on Sundays embraces both approaches, and each contemplation will be based on a reading from either tradition.

The texts and teachers I have chosen played a significant role in my life and I believe have much to offer. I will read presellected texts, slowly, with pauses between verses or quotes. The readings will be accompanied by soothing background music. To lessen distraction, I suggest participants close their eyes and listen. However, the screen will display the text so that people can choose to read along or mute the sound and read on their own. If there is time remaining after the contemplative period, participants can choose to either leave or stay for a short discussion.

As a preface to the reading, I will provide a 10-15 minute introduction to the text. When relevant, I’ll review facts about the author/teacher’s life. I will also present a brief explanation of the terms and language encountered in the reading.

Finally, when the contemplation is over, all texts read will be available online to read and/or download at any time on the website.

What I mean by
The Symbolic Life

This website makes liberal use of classical Indian visual art and refers mostly to traditional Indian texts (for example, the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and Yoga Sutras) in the courses, seminars, and discussions on offer. However, I am not presenting lessons in Hinduism; in fact, teaching mainstream Hinduism is neither my area of interest nor expertise. Rather, my interest in Yoga and Tantra is grounded in the concrete situation in which we find ourselves, in the places where we arrive and from which we depart. Beginning in the here and now, we will explore the underlying meaning of the symbols, stories, images, philosophies, and techniques found in Indian philosophical texts and practice, in light of our world and our current circumstance. We will excavate the meaning of the aphorisms and teaching stories; the symbolic figures of gods, people, and nature; and the sometimes terse, sometimes poetic, philosophy of the texts. Thus, in referring to the Symbolic Life of Yoga and Tantra, I mean not just the symbols themselves, but the rich explication of life that the symbols represent.

Our lived, concrete situation is wonderfully captured in the Sanskrit word loka, whose ancient meaning is “the world.”  The root meaning of both the Sanskrit loka and the English locate (and local, locale, and location) is identical. In the ancient Indian mind, the world is where we are located, in our current circumstance. Thus, the meaning of the symbols of Yoga and Tantra can occur only in the now, in the places where we find ourselves, and not in any imagined ancient and/or foreign world.

To emphasize our place of origin and return, I use the terms “archetypal” and “symbolic” quite frequently. Archetypal meaning is associated with the universal and collective aspects of human experience—what we intimately share with all others regardless of culture or era or epoch—while symbolic language forms a bridge between the realms of the universal with the culturally specific and local. Symbols are the scaffolding upon which human beings build a world and imbue it with meaning.

Think for a moment of pain and pleasure, sorrow and joy, hatred and love, and greed and generosity—universal experiences that ancient Indian thinkers called the dvandva-s. This Sanskrit term is a combination of two words, or rather, one word spoken twice: the word dva (meaning the same as the English “two”) duplicated. Dvandva is commonly translated as “the pair of opposites” or literally “the two-twos” (dvadva). The ancients who coined this compact symbol gave voice to an archetypal human experience that can be further unpacked to reveal deep insights into the human condition. Once we gain an understanding of the various symbols of Yoga and Tantra, we can further excavate their meaning and the archetypes they convey, and thus gain access to, in a practical and meaningful way, the vision of life experienced by the sages. These insights are available to us and are still relevant today, as are the resilient and adaptable techniques and forms of practice that can help us lead richer and more fulfilling lives