My Daily Thread

Kriyā Yoga is yoga in the active life—a practice that integrates discipline, effort, and surrender into daily living. One way to cultivate this is through Eka Tattva Abhyāsa , a one-pointed practice that helps establish consistency. Just as Patañjali's Kriyā Yoga encourages steady, intentional effort, this method allows us to build momentum in our personal practice. A key element of this process i...

Second chapter, verse one introduces the components of Kriyā Yoga , the yoga of action. Yesterday, we explored tapas —self-discipline and effort. Today, we focus on tapas in daily life and how it applies to our everyday actions. Cultivating tapas means developing sturdy self-discipline, the ability to endure short-term discomfort for a greater goal. It is the willingness to push through moments of...

Patañjali's Yoga Sūtras guide us through the path of yoga, offering a framework for both understanding and practice. We have now begun exploring Sādhana Pāda , the chapter that shifts focus from philosophy to disciplined action. At the heart of this chapter is Kriyā Yoga , which is yoga in the active life. It is not reserved for ascetics, monks, or nuns—it is yoga for all of us, woven into daily l...

My Daily Thread continues to seek out snippets of wisdom from the Yoga Sūtras , uncovering timeless insights for daily life. In Yoga Sūtra 2:1, Patañjali introduces Kriyā Yoga , the yoga of action, which consists of three essential elements: Tapaḥ ( tapas ) – discipline, the willingness to endure challenges for inner growth. It is the fire that burns away impurities and strengthens resolve. Svādhy...

Sādhana Pāda: The Path of Practice The second chapter of the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali is called Sādhana Pāda . The word sādhana means "practice," emphasizing the importance of disciplined effort on the yogic path. Patañjali's framework consistently introduces a concept and then provides a detailed explanation, allowing for progressive understanding. Sādhana Pāda helps us take a more pragmatic appr...

As we are between Chapters on the Yoga Sutras, we bring a beautiful in-between episode and introduction to Andrea Ziegler.  Andrea will host us at Casa Ziggy in San Pancho, Mexico, for our first annual "Yoga and Sunsets" retreat. Andrea had a long and healthy career as a professional dancer, and she recounts her life in dance and gives us some practical insights into moving gracefully into a life...

Welcome to 2025. As we usher out the 2024, choose a word to represent. As we welcome 2025, choose a word to usher in an abundant, prosperous year. Happy New Year!  J  

Pete Helfrich and Martin Reuter were the best men at my wedding, both playing pivotal roles in my life. Pete, a long-time yoga practitioner and paramedic, has been an unwavering source of support and encouragement. Years ago, he inspired me to start my podcast, a project that has become a powerfully significant part of my yoga journey. Pete's involvement goes beyond inspiration; he has been integr...

Patañjali concludes the first chapter of the Yoga Sūtras , the Samādhi Pāda , with the profound teaching of nirbīja samādhi , or seedless absorption. The final verse, Yoga Sūtra 1.51 , encapsulates the essence of transcending the mind entirely: "Tasyaapi nirodhe sarva-nirodhān nirbījah samādhih" "When even these impressions are restrained, seedless samādhi is attained." This sutra marks the culmin...

We have now completed Sutra 1.50 of the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali , a profound teaching that introduces us to the transformative power of saṃskāras —the deeply embedded patterns of thought and behavior that influence our lives. Patañjali states: "Tajjaḥ saṃskāro'nya-saṃskāra-pratibandhī" (Yoga Sūtra 1.50) "The impressions produced by this state (samādhi) counteract all other impressions." This sutr...

As we continue our exploration of Patanjali's Yoga Sūtras in My Daily Thread , we approach the conclusion of the Samādhi Pāda . Today, we focus on Sutra 1.50. Before diving into this sutra, let us reflect briefly on the profound teaching of 1.49: "śruta-anumāna-prajñābhyām anya-viṣayā viśeṣārthatvāt" This verse reminds us that clarity and understanding over the vṛttis (mental fluctuations) arise n...

Continuing our journey through the Samādhi Pāda , we now turn our focus to Yoga Sutra 1.49. The Sanskrit for this verse is: "śruta-anumāna-prajñābhyām anya-viṣayā viśeṣārthatvāt" This translates to: "This special truth is distinct from knowledge derived from scripture or inference because it pertains to a unique object." Swami Satchidananda comments on this sutra, emphasizing, "This special truth...

Each weekday on My Daily Thread , we explore the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, seeking a nugget of wisdom to carry into our day. Today, our focus is on Sutra 1.46, which marks a pivotal point in understanding the progression of meditation. The Sanskrit for 1.46 reads: "ta eva sabījaḥ samādhiḥ" This translates to: "These (samadhis previously mentioned) are with seed." Samadhi with seed, or sabīja samād...

In exploring the wisdom of the Samādhi Pāda of the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali, we come to a nuanced understanding of the four types of samādhi that guide us deeper into meditative absorption. These represent a progression of mental clarity and subtlety, laying the groundwork for the next chapter, the Sādhana Pāda —the chapter on practice. Patañjali outlines these four types of samādhi , each providi...

The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali, specifically 1:44 and 1:45 , provide profound insights into the progression of samādhi —the practice of deep meditative absorption. These sūtras describe a journey that mirrors the evolution of our practice, moving from gross, external focus to subtle, internal awareness. Yoga Sūtra 1.44 states: सूक्ष्मविषयत्वं चालिङ्गपर्यवसानम्। Sūkṣma-viṣayatvaṁ cāliṅga-paryavasānam...

We are reaching the  Samadhi Pada' s culmination, the  Yoga Sutras' first chapter . Today, we explore  John Grimes's definitions of  Samadhi  in his book A Concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy . These definitions provide profound insights into this ultimate state described by Patanjali. Grimes offers several interpretations of Samadhi , which include: One-pointedness : A singular focus where di...

As we close the week, we turn to Yoga Sutra 1:43 , exploring its profound teachings on the path to inner stillness and clarity. Drawing from How to Know God: The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood, we consider their illustrative example of a desk. When we look at a desk, our mind engages with its name , its qualities , and the knowledge we associate with i...

We are back, seeking the wisdom of Patanjali, continuing through the first chapter of the Yoga Sutras , the Samadhi Pada , which focuses on contemplation. As we near the end of this profound chapter, we look closely at Yoga Sutra 1:42 and its teachings. Sanskrit: 1:42 – tattra shabda-artha-jnana-vikalpaih sankirna savitarka samapattih Translation: "When the memory is mixed with word, meaning, and...

Today, we turn to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali for guidance on the spiritual journey, seeking to live the best life we can. Patanjali offers profound insights into the resolution of our citta vrittis —the restless fluctuations of the mind. He identifies samādhi , the state of meditative absorption, as the ultimate practice for transcending these disturbances. In samādhi , the mind becomes like a f...

Today, we turn to Yoga Sutra 1:41 from the Samādhi Pāda , continuing our exploration of Patanjali's teachings on concentration and meditation. This verse offers profound insight into the nature of meditative absorption and the subtle interplay between the observer, the observation process, and the object being observed. 1:41 "Kṣīṇa-vṛtter abhijātasyeva maṇer grahītṛ-grahaṇa-grahyeṣu tatstha-tadañj...

Today, we take a brief detour into Sāṅkhya Philosophy to better understand the foundation of Patanjali's Yoga Sutra 1:40 . The Yoga Sutras are deeply rooted in this philosophical system, which provides the conceptual framework for many of the teachings in the text. A light review of Sāṅkhya helps us appreciate the nuances of the Samādhi Pāda , or the "Chapter on Absorption," where Patanjali lays o...

The wisdom for today comes from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras , focusing on the insightful section from 1:33 to 1:39 . These sutras collectively offer tools to cultivate stillness, concentration, and clarity in the mind. As we progress through this section, it's natural to develop favorites. For many, 1:33 and 1:34 stand out for their immediate practicality and impact. 1:33 provides the keys— Maitrī (fr...

In our study of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali , verses 1:33 to 1:39 provide a rich toolbox of methods for calming the mind and cultivating stillness. Each sutra offers a unique approach, and today we explore Sutra 1:38 , which introduces a fascinating concept—drawing wisdom and clarity from dreams. 1:38 in Sanskrit reads: स्वप्ननिद्राज्ञानालम्बनं वा। Svapna-nidrā-jñānālambanam vā. This translates t...

In our continued exploration of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali , we turn to Sutra 1:37 , which offers another practical approach to stilling the mind. 1:37 in Sanskrit reads: वीतरागविषयं वा चित्तम्। Vītarāga-viṣayaṁ vā cittam. This translates to: "Or, by concentrating the mind on a great soul who is totally free from attachment to the senses." Swami Satchidananda interprets this as directing the min...

In our exploration of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali , we continue to find timeless wisdom that guides us toward inner stability and peace. Let's review some recent verses before delving into Sutra 1:36 . 1:33 reminds us of the power of cultivating maitrī (friendliness), karuṇā (compassion), muditā (joy), and upekṣā (equanimity). These practices transform our relationships and help purify the mind....