Lesson (10 min) – sutra III.10
In this section of the poem, Patanjali describes the experience of meditating; this sutra expands upon the one before it that introduced the notion of thought suppression. The essence of this sutra is that practice makes perfect!
Paraphrasing from Edwyn Bryant’s “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali”:
[FYI – there are six traditional interpreters of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, referred to commentators: Vyasa, Vacaspati Misra, Sankara, Bhoja Raja, Vijnanabhiksu, and Hariharananda]
“Vyasa notes that the nature of the mind is to be scattered and roaming about anywhere and everywhere and thinking all manner of random things. Normally, the mind is restless and thinking about sensory objects, the past and future, worrying about this and that, etc. However, the mind also has the inherent potential of being one-pointed, or fixed on one object. When the latter propensity is developed to its highest potential, you become profoundly self-aware or enlightened.
Vacaspati Misra reminds us that nothing is ever destroyed – when one of these propensities of the mind arises, the other retires. Vijnanabhiksu, adds that changing the nature of the mind is a gradual process; it does not occur instantly, as anyone who’s ever tried to meditate knows!”
Passive stretch (30 min)
The lesson was followed by 30 minutes of passive stretching: a series of supported poses (using bolsters, chairs) each held for 1-3 minutes – allowing gravity and body weight to do most of the work – stretching, opening, expanding – facilitating energy and blood flow.
Seated mindful abdominal breathing (15 min)
Seated concentration; today we used a candle (5 min)
From this heart to yours. 😉
