My Daily Thread

We continue with My Daily Thread as we explore the Yoga Sūtras for snippets of wisdom we can apply in our everyday lives. Yesterday, we reflected on Yoga Sūtra 2.22 , which speaks of the diminishing role of the external world— prakṛti —for the one who has attained complete liberation. The sutra, kṛtārthaṁ prati naṣṭam apy anaṣṭaṁ tad anya sādhāraṇatvāt , suggests that for the liberated being, the...

We continue today with our exploration of the Sādhana Pāda , diving into Yoga Sūtra 2.22: kṛtārthaṁ prati naṣṭam api anāṣṭam tad anya sādhāraṇatvāt Translation: Though the seen ( dṛśya ) has ceased to exist for one who has attained liberation ( kṛtārtham ), it still exists for others, because it is common to all. We begin with Swami Satchidananda's commentary on this sūtra. He essentially reminds...

We've been working with the Sādhana Pāda of the Yoga Sūtras , and this week our focus has been on a powerful verse— Yoga Sūtra 2.21: tad-arthaḥ eva dṛśyasya ātmā Translation: The very existence of the seen ( dṛśya ) is solely for the sake of the Seer ( dṛṣṭṛ ). This teaching reminds us that everything in the external world exists to serve the evolution of our inner awareness. But that doesn't mean...

Today we move into Yoga Sūtra 2.21 , a verse that expands our understanding of the relationship between the Seer ( puruṣa ) and the Seen ( dṛśya ). The sūtra states: tad-artha eva dṛśyasya ātmā Translation: The nature of the seen exists solely for the sake of the Seer. This is a profound teaching. At first glance, it might seem to suggest a kind of self-centered worldview—that everything exists pu...

Welcome back to the show, and welcome to a brand-new week of reflection, presence, and practice. Today, Jeff takes a moment to revisit how My Daily Thread came to be—a project born not just from an idea, but from lived experience, spiritual curiosity, and a deep yearning for integration. The story begins in 2003, on Jeff's second trip to India. He travelled to Mysore, a city known worldwide as a h...

This week we've been in deep reflection on relationships , exploring how the teachings of the Yoga Sūtras —particularly Yoga Sūtra 2.20 —can guide us toward more conscious, connected, and compassionate ways of relating. Each day has brought a new lens through which to understand ourselves and those closest to us, always returning to the question: how can we see more clearly? On day one , we began...

This week on My Daily Thread , we've been deep in the world of relationships , inspired by the wisdom of Yoga Sūtra 2.20 . This pivotal sutra introduces the idea that the  Seer —the dṛṣṭā , or pure consciousness—can only see the world through the lens of the mind, shaped by impressions, thoughts, and conditioning. dṛṣṭā dṛśi-mātraḥ śuddho 'pi pratyayānupaśyaḥ "The Seer is pure seeing; although pur...

As we continue our exploration of Yoga Sūtra 2.20 , we return to the central insight it offers: that there is a part of us—the dṛṣṭā , the Seer —that is capable of seeing clearly, as it is, without distortion. The sutra states: dṛṣṭā dṛśi-mātraḥ śuddho 'pi pratyayānupaśyaḥ Translation: The Seer is pure seeing; although pure, it appears to see through the lens of the mental impressions. This dṛṣṭā...

Welcome back to My Daily Thread , where we continue to explore the richness of the Yoga Sūtras and how they offer deep, practical insight into our everyday lives—especially our relationships. Today, we reflect on how our connections with others can be powerful mirrors and teachers, ultimately strengthening all aspects of our health and well-being. Yoga isn't just about what happens on the mat—it's...

Welcome to the week. While we're taking a short pause from our usual sessions, we're still holding space for reflection and gentle integration. Last week, we focused on Yoga Sūtra 2.20 , which points us to the Seer — dṛṣṭā —and its relationship with the mind. The sutra reminds us that even though the Seer, or Puruṣa , is ever-present, we often confuse it with the mind and its movements. This confu...

Yoga Sutra 2.20 teaches that the Seer (dṛṣṭā) is nothing but pure seeing. Although inherently pure, it appears to perceive the world through the modifications of the mind. This fundamental misperception causes suffering, as we confuse our thoughts, emotions, and experiences with our true nature. In Sāṅkhya philosophy, this Seer is Puruṣa—unchanging, pure consciousness—while everything it observes,...

Patanjali's Yoga Sutra 2.20 brings us deeper into the discussion of the Seer and the way we experience the world. The sutra states: dṛṣṭā dṛśimātraḥ śuddho 'pi pratyayānupaśyaḥ dṛṣṭā – the Seer, the witness, the one who sees dṛśi-mātraḥ – pure seeing, awareness itself śuddhaḥ api – even though it is pure pratyaya-anupaśyaḥ – appears to see through the mental modifications ( pratyaya ) This verse i...

In our search for wisdom, the My Daily Thread Podcast encourages us to find pearls of insight from within ourselves—those moments of inner awareness that we can integrate into our daily lives. Today, we turn to Yoga Sūtra 2.20 for guidance. Yoga Sūtra 2.20: draṣṭā dṛśyamāṇaśuddho'pi pratyayānupaśyah Translation: "The Seer is but pure consciousness; though pure, it perceives through the mind." This...

Yoga Sūtra 2.19 begins to delve into the finer points of Sāṅkhya philosophy, which, as Jeff admits, isn't his favorite topic. Sāṅkhya, meaning "enumeration" or "counting," can feel highly analytical, almost as if it was designed for those with an engineering mindset who enjoy the intricate details of how reality is categorized. The next few sutras go deep into this theoretical framework, and while...

We continue seeking a small but powerful snippet of wisdom from the Yoga Sūtras. Yoga Sūtra 2.18: prakāśa-kriyā-sthiti-śīlaṁ bhūtendriyātmakaṁ bhogāpavargārthaṁ dṛśyam English Translation: "The seen is of the nature of illumination, activity, and inertia. It is composed of the elements and the senses, and it exists for the purpose of experience and liberation." Patañjali reminds us that we are som...

Yoga Sūtra 2.18  prakāśa-kriyā-sthiti-śīlaṁ bhūta-indriya-ātmakaṁ bhoga-apavarga-arthaṁ dṛśyaṁ Translation: "The seen (dṛśya) consists of the qualities of illumination (prakāśa), activity (kriyā), and inertia (sthiti-śīla). It is composed of the elements (bhūta) and the senses (indriya), and its purpose is to provide experience (bhoga) and liberation (apavarga)." To fully understand this sūtra, le...

Yoga Sūtra 2.17 teaches us that we mistake the true Self —the capital "S" Self , or Puruṣa —for something external, rather than recognizing what resides within. We become attached to our roles, identities, and possessions, believing they define us. This confusion is at the root of suffering because anything external is subject to change, decay, or loss. True freedom comes when we recognize that ou...

We continue our reflection on Yoga Sūtra 2.17 today. We were prepared to move on, but something kept pulling us back to take another look. There's a deep-rooted tendency within us— a misidentification of the seer (drashtṛ) with the seen (dṛśya) —that deserves more attention. In Sāṅkhya philosophy , this confusion manifests as mistaking Prakṛti (the material world, the ever-changing reality) for Pu...

We continue our exploration of Yoga Sūtra 2.17 , which speaks to the root cause of suffering— misidentification with what is not our true self. draṣṭṛ-dṛśyayoḥ saṁyogo heya-hetuḥ English Translation: "The cause of suffering is the association (or identification) of the seer with the seen." In essence, suffering arises because we confuse the seer (draṣṭṛ, the pure awareness, the true self) with the...

Yoga Sūtra 2.17: draṣṭṛ-dṛśyayoḥ saṁyogo heya-hetuḥ English Translation: "The cause of suffering is the association of the seer with the seen." To truly understand this sūtra, we need to break down its key Sanskrit terms. Draṣṭṛ (द्रष्टृ) means "the seer"—pure awareness, or Puruṣa , the unchanging Self. Dṛśya (दृश्य) means "the seen"—everything that is perceived, including thoughts, emotions, and...

We have been exploring the kleshas and the nature of karma. Karma (from the Sanskrit root kṛ meaning "to act" or "to do") refers to the principle of cause and effect—our actions create consequences, shaping our future experiences. It is an essential concept in the Yoga Sūtras, illustrating how our past and present choices influence our spiritual journey. Yoga Sūtra 2.16: heyaṁ duḥkham anāgatam Eng...

Reviewing Yoga Sūtra 2.14 , we see that puṇya (virtue) leads to virtuous conclusions, while apuṇya (non-virtue) leads to suffering. This is karma theory in a nutshell. Whether or not one believes in reincarnation, it is difficult to deny the reality of cause and effect in our lives. Our thoughts shape our actions, and our actions shape our experiences. If we dwell on negativity, we often manifest...

Yoga Sūtra 2.14 expands on the workings of karma, emphasizing that virtuous actions (puṇya) bring pleasure, while non-virtuous actions (apuṇya) lead to suffering. Whether or not we subscribe to the concept of reincarnation, it is difficult to deny the reality of cause and effect in our lives. Every action, thought, and intention leaves an imprint that shapes our experiences. If our thoughts are ne...

Continuing with our discussion of Yoga Sūtra 2.14 , we explore how our actions contribute to our daily struggles, general life, and spiritual journey . The teachings of karma encourage us to view our experiences not as random occurrences but as the natural unfolding of past actions and mental patterns . This perspective can help us navigate life with greater awareness and responsibility. A karmic...

Continuing with the Sādhana Pāda of the Patañjali Yoga Sūtras , we delve deeper into the importance of practice. While Patañjali primarily speaks of a meditation practice , the wisdom contained in these teachings is applicable to any discipline we undertake. The principles remain the same whether it's yoga, music, writing, athletics, or any other form of dedicated practice.  Discipline, consistenc...