Transformation

 

 

 

Change leads to disappointment

if it is not sustained.

Transformation is sustained change,

and it is achieved through practice.

-B.K.S. Iyengar

 

Namaste.

Pamela Nelson

www.plnyoga.blogspot.com



Yoga: A Gem for Women - Threefold Quest

 

Yoga: A Gem for Women - Threefold Quest

 

The threefold quest consists of the external quest (bahiranga sadhana, inner quest (antaranga sadhana) and the spiritual quest (antaratma sadhana).  Geeta has a nice chart in her book to show this.

 

The chart displays how the External Quest is made up of the moral (Yama and Niyama) and Physical (Asana and Pranayama).

The Inner Quest is made up of the mental (Pranayama and Pratyahara).

The Spiritual Quest is the spiritual (Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi)

 

These are the 8-limbs Patanjali writes about in the Yoga Sutras.

 

 

She explains the threefold quest further though.

 

 

Geeta writes about Bahiranga Sadhana that the body is the temple of the Soul. "Just as a clean temple evokes pure thoughts, a clean body leads to a pure mind and is thus a fit abode for the Self."

The first step towards Self-Realization, she says is to keep the body pure and free from disease.

 

Antaranga Sadhaha - the inner quest comes after attaining the purity of body.  To do this Geeta explains that one needs to understand how the mind functions.  Controlling the mind and senses helps one to do this.

"The mind desires, and the senses follow the mind for their gratification; thus the mind is caught up in the gratification of desires."

Also affecting the mind, Geeta writes is the six enemies: lust, anger, greed, temptation, pride and jealousy.

Breath control and control of the senses is a way to help conquer these enemies.

 

Geeta quotes the Hathayoga Pradipika - II, 2

"A disturbed breath leads to a disturbed mind; a steady breath leads to a steady mind.  The two go together. Hence, cultivate a steady and quiet breath; thereby the mind is controlled and the life of a Yogi is prolonged."

 

Geeta calls the spiritual quest the pursuit of the soul.  The mind has achieved poise and concentration and has let go of the ego to find eternal bliss.

 

I am glad to be on this quest, even though if is a hard one, a lifelong challenge.

I take a few steps forward and then often back again, but the quest to be a better person is within me and I am glad to have so many wonderful books and teachers to help me along the way.

 

Namaste.

Pamela Nelson

 

 

 

 

 

Indigo Yoga Retreat 2017 - March 25 & 26

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I feel so grateful to be asked to teach at this upcoming yoga retreat organized by Indigo Yoga Co.

This upcoming retreat will take place in Waskesiu Lake. 
If interested in registering or wanting more information please contact info@indigoyogaco.ca

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.blogspot.com

Yoga: A Gem for Women - Astanga Yoga

 

Yoga: A Gem for Women

 

As Patanjali helps us understand - practice and detachment are required to control the senses and mind.

This is explained more in Patanjali's Astanga Yoga Sutras - 8-limbs of yoga.

Geeta writes on this next in her book - Yoga: A Gem for Women.

 



She says that the "proper functioning of the body depends on the several limbs.  The absence of sickness in any one limb affects the health of the whole body.  The same principle applies to the study of yoga and its branches."

The 8 steps Patanjali writes about are:
Yama - conduct towards others
Niyama - conduct towards oneself
Asana - practice of the postures for physical discipline
Pranayama - breath-control for mental discipline
Pratyahara - discipline of the senses
Dharana - concentration
Dhyana - meditation
Samadhi - self-realization

All the limbs are interdependent.

Geeta quotes 11.28 of Patanajali's Yoga Sutra's:
The study of the 8 limbs of Yoga leads to the purification of the body, the mind, and the intellect: the flame of knowledge is kept burning and discrimination is aroused."

However, in the Yoga Upanisads there is said to be only 6 limbs and was called Sadanga Yoga - Six-Sided Yoga.
They say the six are:
Postures
Breath control
Discipline of the senses
Concentration
Meditation
Self-realization

But the texts also state that in order to attain Samadhi yama and niyama are prerequisites, therefore really making little difference between Astanga and Sadanga Yoga.

Geeta does write about what the main differences between the two systems are though.

She says that the Sadanga Yoga was aimed at small groups - members of monasteries, who already practice yama and niyama.
Patanajali's system was for everyone so more instructions were needed on how to lead one's life and gain spiritual bliss.

Next blog will be on the Threefold Quest that a seeker must undertake.

Today, see if you can apply one of the limbs of yoga and see how it relates to another limb.
For example, how in the yamas - ahimsa (non-harming in word, action and thought) can relate to your asana practice.  If push to hard in a posture you are harming yourself and doing more out of ego. 

See if you can relate this even to pranayama.

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.blogspot.com

Yoga: A Gem for Women - Five Faceted Mind

 

 

 

Yoga: A Gem for Women - by: Geeta Iyengar

 

In the last post, citta was explained as being made up of mind, ego and intellect and being composed of the three basic qualities of sattva, rajas and tamas.
Geeta explains that according to the predominant quality, the mental states or modifications (vrittis) are formed.
These modifications are five-fold and they are Pramana, Viparyaya, Vikalpa, Nidra and Smrti.
Geeta writes:
Pramana is proof as experienced by the five senses and mind and obtained either by direct perception, inference or scriptural testimony.
Viparyaya is a mistaken view
Vikalpa is imagination or something without factual basis
Nidra is sleep
Smrti is memory

When unrestrained these vrittis tie us to the material world and the more rajas or tamasic qualities. 
Yoga, Geeta tells us teaches us to restrain the five vrittis and to lead a spiritual life.

How are we to do this?

Geeta gives us Patanjali's two fold remedy for controlling the fluctuations of the mind.
Sutra 1.12 - abhyasa-vairagyabhyam tannirodhah - They are practice or study and the absence of worldly desires or detachment.

Abhyasa - Study or Practice
Geeta writes that "without rigorous practice nothing is gained. Without practice, purity of the body and the mind cannot be achieved, fluctuations of the mind cannot be controlled."
This rigorous practice is fourfold - moral, physical, mental and spiritual.

Patanjali writes in Sutra 1.14 that rigorous practice has to be long-lasting and uninterrupted, and performed with dedication and respect; then alone the foundation is well prepared.

Vairagya - Absence of Worldly Desires
Geeta writes that "The key to success is in effort.  Vairagya or absence of worldly desires can be achieved by controlling the senses, by carrying out one's duties without thought of reward and by acting with goodness and purity."

Both are needed for success in yoga. 
It has been written by B.K.S. Iyengar and by Geeta Iyengar, relating practice and detachment to the wings of a bird.  Two wings are needed for flight, as well as the coordination between the two!

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.blogspot.com

 

Gem for Women - The Path of Yoga

 

 

Gem for Women - chapter III - The Path of Yoga

 

Defining yoga is important as the word when said conjures up different ideas for many.

 

Geeta writes, "The word Yoga has its root in the Sanskrit word "yuj" which means to merge, join or unite.  It is the union of the soul with the eternal truth, a state of unalloyed bliss, arising from the conquest of dualities."

 

"Yoga frees one from life's sorrows and from the diseases and fluctuations of the mind."

 

This is attained through experience and not just book knowledge.

 

 

Geeta asks if Yoga is an art, science or philosophy?

 

I like how she writes that living is an art, and that yoga enhances the quality of one's life.  From that she says therefore, yes, yoga is an art.  Yoga lifts one up to face the difficulties that come into our life with equanimity.

 

Yoga is also said to be a science - Geeta writes Yoga consists of acquiring knowledge through observation and experiment and that it is a science that deals with the body and mind.

 

As a philosophy, Geeta says that yoga turns one away from the material world to the spiritual world in search of truth - to investigate the nature of Being.

 

Geeta gives Patanjali's definition of yoga, which is sutra 1.2 as 'yogascittarttinirodhah" - yoga is the control of the fluctuations of the mind, the intellect, and the ego. 

Here Self-Realization comes when the fluctuations of the mind have been removed so one's mind is unruffled. 

 

What though is citta that Patanjali talks about?

 

Geeta writes that the word 'citta" is used to define the mind, but it is more comprehensive then that.  The term is composed of the mind(manas), intellect(buddhi) and ego(ahamkara) and the mind is the bridge that connects the physical body with the spiritual.

When we are drawn to the more physical, we get lost in the pursuit of pleasures. 

When directed toward the spiritual, it is to reach the final goal - emancipation.

She talks of the perpetual tug-of-war between the two. The mind being pulled depending on the guna (sattva, rajas or tamas) that is dominate.

 

In the sattva state Geeta says the mind is illuminated to a state of calmness, composure and serenity.

The rajasic state makes a person more active, tense and wilful.  The qualities of ambition and pride.

When tamasic the person is in a state of inertia and ignorance.

So the citta is composed of these three qualities. 

In the next blog more on the gunas and the fluctuations of the mind. 

 

Namaste.

Pamela Nelson

www.plnyoga.blogspot.com

plnyogastudio@gmail.com