Gita: A Mantra for Success

Episode 11: Patanjali Yoga Sutras - Part 1

Deepti & Vinod Season 1 Episode 11

Let's go back to the basic philosophy of Yoga and learn Patanjali Yoga Sutras. You must have heard about the ‘Eight Limbs of Yoga‘ – that philosophy is ‘just one’ part of Patanjali Yoga Sutras. And can you believe that Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras has nothing to do with asanas? He does not speak about those Yoga poses that we are aware of. His entire verses focus on mind and how Yoga can regulate our minds.
 
In this episode we discuss 

  1. Who was Patanjali and what is Patanjali Yoga Sutras?
  2. Five different mindsets 
    1. Good thoughts and true knowledge (pramana)
    2. Bad thoughts and wrong understanding (viparyaya)
    3. Confusion (vikalpa)
    4. Sleep when mind is still active (nidra)
    5. Memory or sensual encounter of any object based on smell, sight, feel, flavor (smriti).
  3. We will discuss different lifestyle choices we can make to bring serenity in mind, for example, we have to choose to show;
    • Friendship towards those who are happy
    • Compassion for those who suffer
    • Delight towards the righteous
    • Indifference towards the wicked people.

You can read more about the Patanjali Sutras here
His Sutras is influenced by the Samkhya Philosophy, which we have explained in detail here.