A Sutra a Day: Sutra I-1 Blessings on a Beginning

May 14, 2012 | Yoga practices, Being a writer, Philosophy, Wisdom, XSutras, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali | 3 comments

- A Sutra a Day: Sutra I-1 Blessings on a Beginning

Patanjali

If Patanjali were alive during this age of the internet, would he have succumbed to blogging?
And, if so, would he have ended up being as pithy in his writing?
Would readers want to spend days/weeks/months unraveling each of his sutra?
Or, would readers, sensing it would be hard work, just want to move on to a YouTube video or MP3 file?
These questions are uppermost in my mind because today I am introducing a new format into “Yoga with Eve Grzybowski”: a look at The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali.
Perhaps I can be like blogger Julie Powell of “Julie and Julia” fame, who took up the challenge of cooking over 500 of Julia Child’s recipes in 365 days. Instead I will present 195 sutra over the next year to the best of my abilities, in a way that relates to the real world, is accessible, and honours Patanjali.
Do I feel somewhat daunted? Yes, and I’ve been thinking about this for sometime so now it’s time to take action.
It’s fitting to begin with the beginning:
Atha Yoga-Anusasanam = Now, instruction in yoga*
Or, more prettily put – A blessing to those seeking instruction on joining (Yoga) with the Supreme Spirit**
*Patanjali’s Meditation Yoga translation and commentary by Vyn Bailey
**The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, translation by Chester Messenger

3 Comments

  1. Hi Eve, good luck with the sutras, I would love to be in your class for that. I started the sutras with one of my classes this term and it is a lot harder than I thought it would be, but rewarding (I think). I started with 1.1 and am just working through them a few at a time. Sometimes I have no idea if the students are enjoying it or even understanding it, but at other times they to have thoughtful questions and it is clear that they have been contemplating them. I usually tell them in advance which sutras we are doing the following week so they can read up first if they want too. I think it is worth it even if just one person enjoys. I would love to hear more from you in a few weeks about how you feel your students are going with them.
    With Love
    Gina

    Reply
    • Hi Gina,
      I haven’t done much about introducing the Sutra as class discussion topics. I thought I’d just cut my teeth on the blog site.
      I do keep a black board in the yoga studio where I write quotes or Sutra or inspiration and sometimes I refer to it.
      I think the heart of yoga is the meditation yoga of Patanjali, and I’m just getting around to studying, a long-term project, God-willing 🙂

      Reply
  2. Wonderful concept! Blessings on your beginning 🙂

    Reply

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