My Daily Thread

Continuing with the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali , we seek out a small but profound piece of wisdom—a thread to carry into our day. This is the essence of My Daily Thread Podcast : distilling ancient teachings into something we can live by, something we can work with. Right now, our focus remains on the kleśas (क्लेशाः) —the mental afflictions that cloud our perception and drive our suffering. The kle...

As we continue our journey through the Sādhana Pāda , we search for that daily insight—that snippet of wisdom. Yesterday, we explored Yoga Sūtra 2:7 , where we examined rāga (राग) —attachment to pleasure. Today, we move forward, but before diving into our next sutra, let's take a step back and revisit the foundation of all kleśas: avidyā (अविद्या). Avidyā is often translated as "ignorance" or "mis...

As we continue our journey through Chapter 2 of the Yoga Sūtras, we remain within the framework of the kleśas, the mental afflictions that cloud our perception and keep us bound in patterns of suffering. The two we have explored in depth so far are avidyā and asmitā. Avidyā (अविद्या) is misperception or ignorance—it is the fundamental misunderstanding of reality. It causes us to mistake the imperm...

Finding our way through the Sādhana Pāda, we continue our exploration of the kleśas, the deep-seated afflictions that shape our perception and keep us caught in cycles of suffering. As we move through Yoga Sūtra 2:3 and beyond, we see that avidyā—ignorance or misperception—is not just another affliction but the very root from which all the others arise. Avidyā is described as the "field" in which...

Welcome back to the show! Yesterday, we explored Yoga Sūtra 2:5, where Patañjali defines avidyā— the fundamental misunderstanding that gives rise to suffering. Avidyā manifests through four key misperceptions that distort our view of reality: We mistake the impermanent (anitya) for the permanent (nitya). We cling to things—relationships, status, even our physical bodies—as if they will last foreve...

The "Snip the Snippet" Challenge is still on! If you have a better word for our daily drop of wisdom , send it in—our community will choose the best one, and the winner will get some My Daily Thread swag. Let's find a word that truly reflects what we seek in these discussions. Jeff recalls a moment with his chanting teacher , a scene filled with momentum and enthusiasm . The group, caught up in th...

We've just wrapped up Sūtra 2:4 , focusing on avidyā (अविद्या) —the fundamental misunderstanding that serves as the root of all kleśas (क्लेशाः) , or mental afflictions. Patañjali tells us that avidyā is the kṣetram (क्षेत्रम्), the "field" in which all other kleśas take root and grow. It is the misperception that leads us to see the impermanent as permanent, the impure as pure, the painful as ple...

Don't forget—the Snippet Challenge is still on! If you've got a better word for the kind of wisdom we're chasing here, send it my way, and you might just win some My Daily Thread swag. We're still deep in the Sādhana Pāda (साधनपाद) , exploring the path of practice that Patañjali lays out in the Yoga Sūtras . We've reviewed Kriyā Yoga (क्रिया योग) —the yoga of action, and the concept of bhāvanā (भा...

Don't forget—the Snip the Snippet Challenge is still on! If you send me a better word than "snippet," you could win some My Daily Thread swag. It's a fun way to play with language and refine our expression. Today, we return to Yoga Sūtra 2:2 : "Samādhi-bhāvanārthaḥ kleśa-tanūkaraṇārthaś ca" ( The purpose of practice is to cultivate samādhi and weaken the kleśas. ) We've already explored bhāvanā (भ...

Some days, the nuggets of wisdom don't come easily. It's like trying to grab onto smoke—just when you think you have something profound, it slips through your fingers. So today, let's start the "Snip the Snippet Challenge." If you can suggest a better word than "snippet," I'll send you some My Daily Thread swag. After all, language shapes our experience, and finding the right words can be its own...

Happy to have you joining me as we continue working through the Sādhana Pāda , the second chapter of the Yoga Sūtras , authored by Patañjali around 200 CE. His wisdom is what we are searching for—not just as an intellectual pursuit, but as a practical guide for living with greater awareness, clarity, and ease. Today, we turn to Yoga Sūtra 2:2 , which reminds us of the deeper purpose of yoga. As Da...

Sometimes, wisdom doesn't just arrive effortlessly—we have to panhandle for it , searching for insights in ancient texts, personal experiences, and even unexpected places. Yoga Sūtra 2:1 reminds us that Kriyā Yoga , the yoga of action, offers a structured way to cultivate wisdom through tapas (discipline), svādhyāya (self-study), and Īśvara praṇidhāna (surrender). Swami Satchidānanda's commentary...

I know we said we would move on, but as I was reading Swami Satchidānanda's commentary on the Yoga Sūtras , I was reminded of something Krishna said to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gītā . Krishna breaks tapas into three categories—physical, verbal, and mental. Today, let's take a deeper look at physical tapas . In the Gītā , Krishna describes worship as a form of physical tapas . This may not align with...

Yoga Sūtra 2:1, Kriyā Yoga , the yoga of action—a practice that moves beyond theory into direct experience. We've explored tapas (self-discipline) and svādhyāya (self-study), and now we turn to the final principle: Īśvara Praṇidhāna , often translated as "surrender to a higher power." Patañjali emphasizes this concept repeatedly throughout the Sūtras , signaling its profound importance. However, t...

Welcome back to My Daily Thread podcast. Jeff is still glowing from two incredible weeks in San Pancho, where he co-hosted a Yoga & Sunsets retreat with the amazing Andrea Ziegler. If you've been listening, you might remember when we introduced "Ziggy" to the show a couple of weeks back. Now, as we settle back in, we return to Yoga Sūtra 2:1 and the exploration of Kriyā Yoga . Today, we focus on s...

My Daily Thread draws inspiration from Patañjali's Yoga Sūtras , using them as a foundation for deeper exploration. While rooted in these ancient teachings, we also find parallels in modern thought. Yesterday, we referred to James Clear's insights from Atomic Habits and Dr. Rangan Chatterjee's approach in Make Change That Lasts . Their ideas on behaviour change and habit formation align closely wi...

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...