Sutra Thursdays: Sutra 1,1

Yoga Sutra 1,1


Atha Yoganusasanam

Atha  =  now
Yoga = of yoga; anusasanum = direction or instruction


And now, the study of yoga

• Atha may be more closely translated "and now," and was traditionally used to signify the beginning of an authoritative treatise.  
• The word yoga can be derived from two Sanskrit roots. From one, it can mean "union," as in uniting mind, breath and body; or uniting oneself with deeper, underlying reality. Derived from a second root, yoga can mean contemplation or absorption. In this sense, yoga indicates a process by which a clouded mind can be cleared.
• Anusasanam refers to exposition or instruction, rather than theory or philosophy. Thus, in his 196 aphorisms, Pantanjali aims to present a concise package of real-life instruction.

JJ - "And Now" - mp3 download (right click)

Sources:
Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy (Maehle)
Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (Iyengar)
The Essential Yoga Sutra: Ancient Wisdom for Your Yoga (Roach, McNally)

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: With Great Respect and Love  (Stiles)
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Commentary on the Raja Yoga Sutras by Sri Swami Satchidananda (Satchidananda)

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