May 1 – Yoga Sutra Sangha
“The practices of the limbs of Yoga remove impurities. Yoga practices do not bring anything new; they remove what is unwanted or unnecessary. As the impurities dwindle, wisdom emerges, indicating that wisdom is already within.” The Reverend Jaganath Carrera, Inside the Yoga Sutras, commentary on Sutra II.28
In our next meeting of the region-wide Yoga Sutra Sangha, we will be looking at the first two limbs of the 8 limbs of yoga, the Yamas and Niyamas.
READING in the SECOND CHAPTER, Sadhana Pada – Yoga Sutras 28-45.
YAMAS : Moral Precepts and Universal Vows
- Ahimsa : Non-Violation or Non-Interference
- Satya : Truthfulness
- Asteya : Non-Stealing
- Brahmacarya : Containment
- Aparigraha : Non-Grasping
NIYAMAS : Personal Observances
- Saucha : Cleanliness
- Santosha : Contentment in ALL things
- Tapas : Self-discipline
- Svadhyaya : Self-study
- Isvara Pranidhana : surrender to a higher power
If you happen to have missed any of the previous meetings of this group, NOW is another great time to join in! This meeting will include a quick recap of previous pertinent information, but the study of the Yamas and Niyamas gives a practical and clear place to begin to support your practice of yoga through reading of The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. if you want to see where we have been in our previous discussion, you can always look back at previous blogs for more details.
Questions for Contemplation and Discussion:
- Yoga is a discipline and practice. What keeps you motivated to practice, and when facing a challenge with some Yama or Niyama how do you “cultivate the opposite” intention? What tools have your yoga practice given you to observe and respond to both positive and negative traits within your Nature?
- The Yamas are the “Universal Vows unconditioned by place, time, and class”. We are challenged to look at these moral precepts from our most gross outer actions in the world to our most subtle internal sensitivities. Have you identitied or uncovered certain Yamas at any level that are more easily or more difficult to follow in your current place, time, or class?
- Niyamas are our personal observances. Like the Yamas, we cannot get caught up at the surface of their meanings, but dig deep into the layers of our experience to “remove impurities” and gain wisdom. What are the Niyamas that have posed challenges or have been supports to your practice of yoga and/or discrimination between purusa and Prakrti?
- How do you see the Yamas and Niyamas as foundations to and supports for how you approach your practice of Asana?
- Each Yama and Niyama has a “result” if “perfected”. How have any efforts through yoga, to change the way you are in the world or in the ways you relate to yourself, resulted in some transformation that was expected or unexpected?
As always this group is FREE, but please donate to your local region if you are able.
Our last meeting of this more general series will be June 5th. Please connect with me at jennie@yogalacrosse.com if you are interested in a more detailed and comprehensive study and discussion group on The Yoga Sutras in the future.
