Reflections on Sutra 1.5

1.5 vŗttayah pańcatayyah klișțāklișțāh
There are five activities of the mind. Each of them can be beneficial and each can cause problems

I think its interesting that my 'Reflections on Sutras' project stalled at 1.4, being all about a disturbed mind's inability to follow a certain direction. A great deal has happened in my life since February when I last posted about the Sutras and recent yoga training and workshops has helped bring my focus back to them.

Sutra 1.5 really is a bit of a cliff hanger isn't it, what are the five activities? Before delving into them I think its good to recognise that regardless, each has a potentially positive and negative effect. Some one once said to me that "A negative is only a positive taken to the extreme" and I have observed this myself on many occasions. One piece of chocolate cake or a modest yarn purchase, or even a moderate yoga practise can be of benefit in the way it fosters contentment. Yet too much of those things can result in an unhealthy body, debt and/or clutter or a form of escapism.

So I'll sit with this thought for a moderate amount of time before exploring 1.6...

Reflections on a Sutra - 1.4

1.4 vŗttisārūpyamitaratra
The ability to understand the object is simply replaced by the mind’s conception of that object or by a total lack of comprehension

Just when I thought I was getting this pattern, I wasn’t…and then I did…and then I had to put it down again…then I came back to it with renewed vigour and I would like to think, greater understanding.

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...

Reflections on a Sutra - 1.1

1.1 Atha Yoganusanum - Here begins the Authoritative Instruction on Yoga
When I decided to work my way through all 195 of the Yoga Sutras, I hadn't realised just how profound my timing would be. The week after i noted Sutra 1.1 I resigned from my full time job in Human Resources to pursue my passion of practising and teaching yoga. There will of course be some knitting in the mix too and other creative pursuits that have long been on hold.
So here goes...