The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: The Complete Guide to the Study and Practice of Raja Yoga, the Path of Concentration and Meditation – Agosh Prasan Subramani
I approached this book with great curiosity and caution because in my thinking, Yoga can have no single interpretation or even a single guru for it is for the student to be prepared to receive when the teacher is inspired and compelled to give. Far from the contortions of physical Asanas, Yoga, the ancient practice, the essence of which is the union of the mortal and the cosmic is expansive, elegant, and magnificent. It examines the mortal existence, energy, and senses of perception, memory, and talents to unite and focus splintered and scattered energy with the infinite wisdom of the cosmic forces that are limitless, timeless, and continuous. Yoga provides the tools for the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual transformation of vital energy from being squandered to building a magnificently fulfilling, compassionate, and generous life.
The book does a remarkable job cataloguing the many facets of yoga– the basic physical postures or Asanas and breathing techniques, the Pranayams that keep the human vessel healthy by filling it with vital energy. The author also presents the estimated origin of yoga of thousands of years ago and it links Yoga practices to other ancient hymns of the Vedas and epics like Mahabharata. The earliest of the Vedas the Rig Veda mentioned Yoga as far back as 29,000 years BC. The accuracy of the date is astounding but less relevant. The depth of the study is already established. The book lists and repeats the eight kinds of yoga and the focus, content, and intent. Yama – abstinences, Niyama – observances, Asana – physical postures, Pranayama – breath control, Pratyahara – withdrawal of the senses, Dharana – concentration, Dhyana – meditation, and Samadhi – absorption or absolute surrender. It also introduces the six branches of Yoga: Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana/Gyaana Yoga, and Tantra Yoga. The list is comprehensive. Once again, it reveals the vastness of the cosmic majesty within which we exist in our mortal forms for a mere speck of time. While the author could have done more to describe more, given the vastness of the scope, even asking for it is an impossible an unfair demand.
The book does make clear that Yoga provides the tools to take the elements of mortal life and link them to the spirituality of cosmic powers and forces. The various branches of Yoga practices bleed the ego, harness temptations, and unite in the mission of serving life itself –preserving it, improving it, and extending it. Yoga provides the inspiration and the tools. The ethical and honest teachers and gurus, impart their wisdom to uplift while other opportunistic merchants with clever tongues and devious intentions exploit this ancient wisdom for own gains. At the end of the book, the author scratches the surface of the popular kinds of Yoga schools but that effort should have been left out. It adds nothing meaningful.
All in all, this book is an excellent broad-brush overview of the expanse of the Yogic philosophy, its tools, and discipline to harness vital energy for the purpose of high intention, clean thinking, strong body, and purity of actions.
Recommendation:
Build your own training program for balance, peace, harmony, and excellence. Draw from the various tools and techniques of the Yoga practices. Grow, mature, own your own energy and space. Be as grand as nature has gifted you the opportunity. Om, Shanti, Shanti (Eternal peace).