Reflections on a Sutra - 1.3

1.3 Tadā drașțuh svarūpe ‘vasthānum
Then the ability to understand the object fully and correctly is apparent

After a few rows of the Madeira pattern in the Shipwreck shawl I started to get the feel of the pattern and see when I was either about to make a mistake or had done so and could correct it. I find this applies to more than just knitting and it sometimes takes me a period of focusing my attention on something or experiencing it first hand before I develop an understanding of how it works. Then I am better placed to anticipate potential pitfalls and make adjustments accordingly.

Reflections on a Sutra - 1.2

1.2 Yogaśgcittavŗttinirodhah

Yoga is the ability to direct the mind exclusively toward an object and sustain that direction without any distraction

Knitting the Shipwreck shawl is shaping up to be an exercise in focusing my mind exclusively on the pattern so as not to get distracted and stuff it up! I'm not sure this is what Patanjali had in mind when he wrote this sutra but that's what it means for me this week. After all sutra is Sanskrit for thread...