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Patanjali Yoga Sutras: In The Light Of Kriya
This is a scriptural commentary of Lahiri Mahasaya on Patanjali Yoga Sutras in the Light of Kriya.
All living beings are subject to the law of cause and effect. As a result of their past actions, they suffer again and again without breaking the cycle of births and deaths.
Desires cause them to embody and reembody in the world.
Once in embodiment, the individual seeks happiness and avoids pain and sorrow.
Pleasure and/or pain is reaped in this life according to past good and bad actions.
Moreover, in order to be happy in this world, one should also suffer because happiness and suffering are relative. There is no escape from suffering until all desires themselves are dissolved, or transcended.
Perfect Happiness can only be found in Peace, or Shanti.
How can one find Peace?
There is no other means for finding Peace except through the practice of Yoga. By the practice of Yoga, the tremendously restless heart becomes calm. Not only does the heart become calm by Yoga practice, but longevity is also increased. The body becomes healthy, and absolute Knowledge is gained.
Who can tell how long a man will remain alive?
It is well known that even ordinary people, without mentioning Yogis, can live up to one-hundred to one-hundred-fifty years. It is also admitted that, starting with the body in the mother’s womb up to the age of eighty, individuals are faced with premature death.
What is the cause of premature death?
How can one prevent it?
Who is also lucky not to be afflicted with hereditary ill-health or premature death?
Individuals themselves are the cause of their own death. It will become clear when one analyzes the nature of his restless activities and desires in search of Happiness.
What could be more desirable than to enjoy Peace with a steadfast heart?
It In not so easy to remain steadfastly calm no matter what happens in life. But why in this not possible? Where is one's command over the mind?
One shall have to tactically acquire dominion over the mind. That can only be accomplished by Yoga practice.
It is possible to live even when all physical and mental activities have come to a stop when one practices Yoga.
Yoga is one of the six systems of philosophy. Yogi Patanjali is the founder of this system as well as the author of the many commentaries on Yogi Panini (the father of Sanskrit grammar).
This very valuable, tiny book is divided into four
In the first part, it describes the nature of Yoga, Samadhi, or "Attunement" with the ultimate Self and discusses its various aspects.
In the second part, the first five steps of the eightfold Yoga path are outlined for the benefit of the truth seeker.
In the third part, the last three steps are outlined, namely, Dharana ("concept of Tranquility"), Dhyana ("meditation") and Samadhi ("Attunement"). The state of going within during meditation practice and the danger of developing yogic powers on discussed.
In fourth part, Kaivalya, or "the highest Liberation", is discussed.
In fact, discussion of Yoga is the aim of this book.
All living beings are subject to the law of cause and effect. As a result of their past actions, they suffer again and again without breaking the cycle of births and deaths.
Desires cause them to embody and reembody in the world.
Once in embodiment, the individual seeks happiness and avoids pain and sorrow.
Pleasure and/or pain is reaped in this life according to past good and bad actions.
Moreover, in order to be happy in this world, one should also suffer because happiness and suffering are relative. There is no escape from suffering until all desires themselves are dissolved, or transcended.
Perfect Happiness can only be found in Peace, or Shanti.
How can one find Peace?
There is no other means for finding Peace except through the practice of Yoga. By the practice of Yoga, the tremendously restless heart becomes calm. Not only does the heart become calm by Yoga practice, but longevity is also increased. The body becomes healthy, and absolute Knowledge is gained.
Who can tell how long a man will remain alive?
It is well known that even ordinary people, without mentioning Yogis, can live up to one-hundred to one-hundred-fifty years. It is also admitted that, starting with the body in the mother’s womb up to the age of eighty, individuals are faced with premature death.
What is the cause of premature death?
How can one prevent it?
Who is also lucky not to be afflicted with hereditary ill-health or premature death?
Individuals themselves are the cause of their own death. It will become clear when one analyzes the nature of his restless activities and desires in search of Happiness.
What could be more desirable than to enjoy Peace with a steadfast heart?
It In not so easy to remain steadfastly calm no matter what happens in life. But why in this not possible? Where is one's command over the mind?
One shall have to tactically acquire dominion over the mind. That can only be accomplished by Yoga practice.
It is possible to live even when all physical and mental activities have come to a stop when one practices Yoga.
Yoga is one of the six systems of philosophy. Yogi Patanjali is the founder of this system as well as the author of the many commentaries on Yogi Panini (the father of Sanskrit grammar).
This very valuable, tiny book is divided into four
In the first part, it describes the nature of Yoga, Samadhi, or "Attunement" with the ultimate Self and discusses its various aspects.
In the second part, the first five steps of the eightfold Yoga path are outlined for the benefit of the truth seeker.
In the third part, the last three steps are outlined, namely, Dharana ("concept of Tranquility"), Dhyana ("meditation") and Samadhi ("Attunement"). The state of going within during meditation practice and the danger of developing yogic powers on discussed.
In fourth part, Kaivalya, or "the highest Liberation", is discussed.
In fact, discussion of Yoga is the aim of this book.
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First published March 30, 2014
About the author
Lahiri Mahasaya
43 books40 followersLahiri Mahasaya, was an Indian yogi guru who founded the Kriya Yoga school.
He became known in the West through Paramahansa Yogananda, a disciple of Sri Yukteswar Giri, and through Yogananda's 1946 book Autobiography of a Yogi .
To note his high spiritual state, his followers called him Mahasaya, which is a Sanskrit spiritual title translated as 'large-minded'. He was also popularly known as Yogiraj and Kashi Baba by his followers.
He organized many study groups and gave regular discourses on the Bhagavad Gita at his "Gita Assemblies." He freely gave Kriya initiation to those of every faith and status, from gardeners and postmen to kings; from Hindus to Muslims and Christians.
The Arya Mission Institution published commentaries by Lahiri on the Bhagavad Gita, along with other spiritual books, including a Bengali translation of the Gita. Lahiri himself had printed thousands of small books with excerpted passages from the Gita, in Bengali and Hindi, and distributed them for free.
He gave permission to one disciple, Panchanan Bhattacharya, to start an institution in Kolkata to spread the teachings of Kriya Yoga.
Some of his notable disciples included:
- Panchanan Bhattacharya,
- Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri
- Swami Pranabananda,
- Swami Keshavananda Brahmachari,
- Bhupendranath Sanyal
- The parents of Paramahansa Yogananda.
He became known in the West through Paramahansa Yogananda, a disciple of Sri Yukteswar Giri, and through Yogananda's 1946 book Autobiography of a Yogi .
To note his high spiritual state, his followers called him Mahasaya, which is a Sanskrit spiritual title translated as 'large-minded'. He was also popularly known as Yogiraj and Kashi Baba by his followers.
He organized many study groups and gave regular discourses on the Bhagavad Gita at his "Gita Assemblies." He freely gave Kriya initiation to those of every faith and status, from gardeners and postmen to kings; from Hindus to Muslims and Christians.
The Arya Mission Institution published commentaries by Lahiri on the Bhagavad Gita, along with other spiritual books, including a Bengali translation of the Gita. Lahiri himself had printed thousands of small books with excerpted passages from the Gita, in Bengali and Hindi, and distributed them for free.
He gave permission to one disciple, Panchanan Bhattacharya, to start an institution in Kolkata to spread the teachings of Kriya Yoga.
Some of his notable disciples included:
- Panchanan Bhattacharya,
- Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri
- Swami Pranabananda,
- Swami Keshavananda Brahmachari,
- Bhupendranath Sanyal
- The parents of Paramahansa Yogananda.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 14, 2023
Maharishi Patanjali originally compiled these sutras (aphorisms) between 500 BCE and 400 CE. This edition is authored by the great disciple of Mahavatar Babaji, Lahiri Mahasaya, who, in turn, was guru to the legendary Jnanavatar (Incarnation of Wisdom) Swami Sriyukteshwar Giri. Swami Sriyukteshwar's disciple was Paramhansa Yogananda, popularly known as the father of yoga in the West. This book has been well-produced by the Sanage Publishing House of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Published in a robust hardbound format, it gives a sutra-wise elucidation in the light of Kriya. This reviewer liked the fact that the original aphorism in Sanskrit is absent in the text since the language is not known to him and, therefore incomprehensible.
The aphorisms have been divided into four chapters:-
1) Samadhi Pada: Meditation
2) Sadhana Pada: Procedure
3) Bibhuti Pada: Powers
4) Kaivalya Pada: Realization
This work is recommended to both advanced as well as those with a dimunitive intrigue in matters pertaining to Indian spiritual thought and history.
The aphorisms have been divided into four chapters:-
1) Samadhi Pada: Meditation
2) Sadhana Pada: Procedure
3) Bibhuti Pada: Powers
4) Kaivalya Pada: Realization
This work is recommended to both advanced as well as those with a dimunitive intrigue in matters pertaining to Indian spiritual thought and history.
Displaying 1 of 1 review