Author: Ravi Ravindra
Publisher: Theosophical Publishing
Year: 2012
Language: Bi-Lingual
Pages: 288
ISBN/UPC (if available): 9788170595731
Description
In the yoga tradition, Patanjali is regarded as an incarnation of Sesha Naga, the mighty serpent, embodying strength, energy and wisdom. Philosophy is for Patanjali, as poetry is for John of the Cross, a way of expressing a vision from on high. Patanjali is not interested in argument; he says what he sees. philosophy for him is an experiential science. Patanjali's yoga sutra-s is a teaching of a psychological practice based on a spiritual vision, the vision of a still mind. He is a teacher who gives practical instructions for yoga, the work required in order to be more and more related to the Real.
The teaching of Patanjali, as expressed in the Yoga Sutras-s, is transformational. To the extent we can understand it and practice it, we can also participate in the third eye vision with which Patanjali brings and a yogi aspires to.
This book explores the Yoga-Sutra-s in order to gain insight about the various levels of attention within ourselves and about the possibility of cultivating a steady, impartial and free attention which can relate us to the subtler levels of reality. Although the Yoga Sutra-s is the text to be studied, the primary purpose of this exploration is self-study to that depth within may be discovered.
Readers will have an existential engagement with this study. Some suggestions are made for a practical exploration to aid the search for self-knowledge; these are gathered in a separate section at the end of the book.
Each verse of the text is considered, nor for the sake of a textual exegesis of the Yoga Sutra-s, but in order to garner the wisdom of the yoga tradition expressed in these sutras. The Yoga sutra-s make a call and if we can respond with willingness, effort, gratitude and humility, a connection with higher levels of reality if facilitated.
The commentary is accompanied by a new translation of the Yoga Sutra-s which is intended to help illuminate this text. The translation has been influenced by a careful reading of the original Sanskrit, by the insights of the sages and by a feeling of respect for the radical teaching for transformation contained in the text. The original Sanskrit is included in the Devanagri script, along with the Latin transcription for each sutra.
COMMENT:
I was particularly impressed by your commentary on Patanjali Yoga Sutra, which is extremely useful for people who want to learn the essence of Sutra having no knowledge of Sanskrit or any other Indian language.
I always recommend your book to those people who enquire of me about the yoga tradition. ! – Samdhong Rinpoche, ex Kalon Tripa (Prime Minister) of the Tibetan Government in Exile, Dharamshala.