My Daily Thread

In Patanjali's Yoga Sutras , Verse 1:35 takes us into an intriguing realm of heightened perception. The verse in Sanskrit is: विषयवती वा प्रवृत्तिरुत्पन्ना मनसः स्थितिनिबन्धिनी। Viṣayavatī vā pravṛttirutpannā manasaḥ sthitinibandhinī. This sutra suggests that focusing on heightened or extraordinary sensory perceptions can help stabilize the mind. Commentaries often discuss supernormal sensory expe...

Patanjali, the great sage who authored the Yoga Sutras around 200 CE , offers profound insights into the transformative power of breath in Verse 1:34 , where pranayama is introduced. Pranayama, the extension or control of the breath ( prana meaning life force and ayama meaning expansion or regulation), is highlighted here not merely as a physical practice but as a gateway to well-being and balance...

In Verse 1:34 of the Yoga Sutras , Patanjali emphasizes the power of the breath to stabilize the mind and cultivate focus. This teaching, timeless in its wisdom, connects directly to the modern understanding of how breath influences the nervous system. Jeff recalls a vivid moment during his time as a paramedic—the "Everybody stop!" episode in the ambulance. This dramatic experience highlighted the...

In Chapter 1:34 of the Yoga Sutras , Patanjali introduces breathwork as a tool for calming the mind and cultivating focus. This teaching resonates deeply in today's world, where breathwork has become a global phenomenon. Whether used in trauma recovery, by military snipers for precision and focus, or through the popular Wim Hof Method , breathwork is recognized for its transformative power. Wim Ho...

In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali , Sutra 1:34 offers profound insight into the use of breathwork as a means to steady the mind. The sutra emphasizes the power of working with the breath, particularly focusing on exhalation and retention, to cultivate concentration and inner calm. While the term prachardhana references exhalation and vidhāraṇa retention, this may not necessarily mean literal breath...

In Yoga Sutras 1:33 to 1:39 , Patanjali provides a range of practical approaches to help us concentrate the mind and cultivate greater clarity. These techniques offer tools for navigating obstacles, aligning with the overarching goal of citta vritti nirodhah —stilling the fluctuations of the mind. Concentrating on a "tattva," or principle, creates focus and stability in our practice. This section...

Start by finding comfortable seat. Make a distinct change in your posture.  A change that encourages a kind and attentive focus. Repeat the following metta phrases quietly in your mind. These phrases will be directed to you, someone you love, a neutral person, someone you have complicated relations with, a group (or the world), and then back to yourself. "May I(they) be filled with love and kindne...

Springing from Yoga Sutra 1:33 , which encourages us to cultivate positive attitudes like friendliness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, we find a parallel in the practice of Metta Meditation or Loving-Kindness Meditation . This practice, with roots in both Buddhist tradition and modern psychology, has been extensively studied for its profound effects on mental and emotional health. Dr. Barbara Fr...

In our exploration of the Yoga Sutras for Patanjali's wisdom, Sutra 1:33 offers us a clear path for handling relationships and life's challenges with equanimity and peace. This verse lays out four essential "keys" that help us maintain a balanced mind and foster harmony both within ourselves and in our interactions with others. The sutra reads: "मैत्री-करुणा-मुदितोपेक्षाणां सुख-दुःख-पुण्यापुण्य-वि...

In Yoga Sutra I.33 , Patanjali presents a powerful formula for achieving a peaceful and balanced mind. The sutra reads: "maitrī-karuṇā-muditopekṣāṇāṁ sukha-duḥkha-puṇyāpuṇya-viṣayāṇāṁ bhāvanātaś citta-prasādanam" or, in translation: "By cultivating attitudes of friendliness (maitrī) toward those who are happy, compassion (karuṇā) for those who are suffering, joy (muditā) toward those who are virtu...

IN REMEMBRANCE. R. Sharath Jois.

We've been delving into Sutra 1:33 of the Yoga Sutras , exploring its timeless insights on cultivating friendliness, compassion, joy, and equanimity to bring clarity and steadiness to the mind. Jeff shared a personal story that highlighted another essential lesson embedded within yoga practice: the importance of avoiding pramada —carelessness. Jeff admitted that, while chanting this sutra from mem...

In Yoga Sutra 1:33 , Patanjali offers us a universal method to cultivate inner peace and mental clarity by adopting specific attitudes toward different situations. This sutra, expressed in Sanskrit as: "Maitrī-karuṇā-muditā-upekṣāṇāṁ sukha-dukha-puṇya-apuṇya-viṣayāṇāṁ bhāvanātaḥ citta-prasādanam" translates to: "By cultivating attitudes of maitrī (friendliness) toward those who are happy, karuṇā (...

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali , written around 200 CE, continue to offer us timeless guidance on finding peace and steadiness within ourselves. In Sutra 1:33  Patanjali emphasizes the value of cultivating Maitrī (मैत्री) , an attitude of friendliness toward those who are happy. This simple yet powerful practice encourages us to meet others' joy with warmth and genuine kindness, transforming how we...

In Yoga Sutra 1:33 , Patanjali offers us a profound piece of wisdom that transcends any single tradition or belief system. This verse, expressed with the beauty of the Sanskrit language, begins a series of practices from Sutra 1:33 to Sutra 1:39 that are designed to guide us toward citta vritti nirodhah (चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः) , the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind. Patanjali's practices here...

As we continue discussing the nine Antarayas (obstacles) from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras , it's essential to remember that yoga is ultimately about taking action . Patanjali tells us that the path to achieving yoga is through abhyāsa (अभ्यास) —consistent practice—and vairāgya (वैराग्य) , or non-attachment. Together, these two pillars help us overcome obstacles, guiding us toward inner peace. The prac...

In our study of the Yoga Sutras , we arrive today at Sutra 1:32 as we continue the exploration of Pranidhana (dedicated practice) and the Antarayas (obstacles). After introducing the nine obstacles in Sutra 1:30 and the physical and mental challenges that can accompany them in 1:31, Patanjali now guides us toward a path out of these struggles. Sutra 1:32 emphasizes the practice of "eka tattva abhy...

In this episode of the My Daily Thread Podcast , we continue exploring ways to add peace and calm to our everyday moments. As another week passes, we pause to bring more insight into our daily lives, cultivating mindfulness and connection to the present. With the completion of our study on Patanjali's Yoga Sutra 1:31 , we're moving forward with new practices and reflections aimed at grounding us i...

In Patanjali's Yoga Sutras , Sutra 1:31 enhances our understanding of the nine Antarayas (obstacles) by describing the symptoms that often accompany them: duḥkha (दुःख) , daurmanasya (दौरमनस्य) , aṅgamejayatva (अङ्गमेजयत्व) , and svāsa-praśvāsa (स्वास-प्रश्वास) . These manifestations are significant, as they reveal the physical and mental impact of encountering these obstacles on our yogic path. D...

In our ongoing study of the Antarayas (the nine obstacles described by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras), we come to the final one: Anavasthitatvāni (अनवस्थितत्वानि) , or instability . The respected scholar Edwin Bryant defines   Anavasthitatvāni as the inability to maintain any state one might have attained, especially Samādhi (the profound state of meditation and union in yoga). This wavering of sta...

Continuing our exploration of Antarayas (obstacles) from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras , particularly Sutra 1:30 , we've reviewed the first seven obstacles and their unique challenges. Today, we consider Alabdhabhūmikatva (अलब्धभूमिकत्व) , the eighth obstacle, which, along with the ninth, is particularly dangerous because if left unaddressed, it can lead us to abandon our practice entirely. The Sanskrit...

In exploring the obstacles to our practice, we often uncover deep layers of our own history, including past traumas that shape much of our current experience. Trauma can have a profound influence on our lives, often leading us to react in ways that are automatic, even unconscious. For Jeff, part of this involves what he calls his "edgy ex-medic" side—a part of him that can be brash or blunt, a sid...

Continuing with Yoga Sutra 1:30 , we arrive at Bhranti-Darshana (भ्रान्ति-दर्शन) , one of the nine Antarayas or obstacles in the path of yoga. Bhranti-Darshana refers to delusion, specifically a false understanding of reality. According to the Yoga Kosa from Kaivalyadhama, it is defined as "a delusion about the nature of reality or one's own achievements." Essentially, it represents a distorted or...

The Antarayas (obstacles) in the practice of yoga can create significant disturbances in both mind and body. These nine obstacles, introduced by Patanjali, are challenges we all face at various stages of our journey. Among them, Avirati (अविरति) —the attachment to sensory pleasures—can be particularly challenging. One of the remedies Jeff offers to address Avirati and other Antarayas is the practi...

In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, after the section on Ishwara Pranidhana (surrender to a higher power), the Antarayas (अन्तरायाः) , or nine obstacles, are introduced. These obstacles can disrupt the practice of yoga, both physically and mentally, and prevent us from moving forward in our spiritual journey. The nine obstacles are: Vyadhi (व्याधि) – Illness or physical disease. Styana (स्त्यान) – Me...