Author Archives: paul
Prāṇāyāma is the interface between Āsana and Dhyāna and an important……
Prāṇāyāma is the interface between Āsana and Dhyāna and an important (missing?) link in the evolution of one towards the other.
Our practice needs to become a celebration of what we have……
Our practice needs to become a celebration of what we have.
Rather than what we have becoming a reason not to practice.
Since Dhyāna cannot occur without an object of concentration……
"Since Dhyāna cannot occur without an object of concentration,
there must be an area (Deśa) where you fix your mind.
So, first you have to fix or bind (Bandha) your mind on a particular place (Deśa), a chosen object; this is known as (Deśa Bandha as in YS C3v1).
And second, the mind should establish a relationship with this object which should last, at least, for a moment."
- TKV Desikachar Madras December 1998 in seminar on ‘Models for Meditation According to Indian Tradition’.
Perhaps the best explanation of Dhyāna is given by Patañjali in……
"Perhaps the best explanation of Dhyāna is given by Patañjali in the Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verses 1 and 2, where he states that one must first fix the question (Dhāraṇā) and then link to it (Dhyāna).
One who is not able to fix the question is not able to succeed in Dhyāna."
- TKV Desikachar Madras December 1998 in seminar on ‘Models for Meditation According to Indian Tradition’.
We need to begin with a definition of Dhyāna……
"We need to begin with a definition of Dhyāna.
Dhyāna involves an individual and a question or object.
On a simplest level, what happens between the individual and that question or object is the beginning of Dhyāna.
It can be any question, but it must be one question.
There must only be one channel between the "I" and the question, not multi-channels.
The "I" must temporarily drop the other interests and there must be a question.
There is no Dhyāna if there is no question or object."
- TKV Desikachar Madras December 1998 in seminar on ‘Models for Meditation According to Indian Tradition’.
In the Vedic tradition, meditation – the need to reflect on something in……
"In the Vedic tradition, meditation - the need to reflect on something in order to understand it better - is necessary for happiness."
- TKV Desikachar Madras December 1998 in seminar on ‘Models for Meditation According to Indian Tradition’.
Dhyāna means ‘to look for something new on a specific subject’.
Dhyāna means 'to look for something new on a specific subject'.
- TKV Desikachar Madras December 1998 in seminar on 'Models for Meditation According to Indian Tradition'.
Yoga practice needs to evolve towards a live-in relationship rather than……
Yoga practice needs to evolve towards a live-in relationship rather than a go-out affair.
Increasingly I observe Yoga teachers, even if not trained specifically in……
Yoga is a process to train a student, not a training to process a teacher.
Yoga is a process to train a student,
not a training to process a teacher.
In some moments the heart melds with the Mantra……
In some moments the heart melds with the Mantra,
in others the mind grapples with the Mantra,
occasionally there is just the wonder of the Mantra.
Yoga can be a mystery to be resolved or a question to be solved……
Yoga can be a mystery to be resolved or a question to be solved.
The common inquiry is the relationship of Citta with Cit.
The process for one is Bhakti Dhyānam and for the other Jñana Dhyānam.
It is the student in us that must realize ‘Avasthānam’…..
This post continues from the quote below posted in January 2013:
Developing this further I feel it is the student in us that must, through an appropriate Sādhana received within an auspicious context with a teacher, realize 'Avasthānam' in that the ‘Svarūpa’ or the ‘own character’ of the inner student 'takes up its place'.“These days there is lots of talk on what is involved in training to be a Yoga Teacher, however little talk on what is involved in training to be a Yoga Student.”
Posted in Āsana, Āyurveda, cYs Journal, Haṭha, Pauls Musings on Yoga Today, Prāṇāyāma, viniyoga of Yoga
One focus in my apprenticeship with my teacher was that the main priority both ways was on how to transmit……
One focus in my apprenticeship with my teacher was that the main priority both ways was on how to transmit.
It was from here that the what to transmit flowed naturally.
My impressions over this past decade is that for later generations of both teacher and students this has been supplanted, partly through the dilution of mass instruction, with the main priority both ways transmuted from how to what to transmit.
If so, this infers that the how to transmit remains with the teacher and the what to transmit with the student.
If so, this means the learning process moves from one of transmission to one of information and the art of the how to transmit becomes in danger of obscurity.
Posted in cYs Journal, Pauls Musings on Yoga Today, viniyoga of Yoga
One focus in my apprenticeship with my teacher was that the main priority both ways was on how to practice……
One focus in my apprenticeship with my teacher was that the main priority both ways was on how to practice.
It was from here that the what to practice flowed naturally.
My impressions over this past decade is that for later generations of both teacher and students this has been supplanted, partly through the dilution of mass instruction, with the main priority both ways transmuted from how to what to practice.
If so, this infers that the how to practice remains with the teacher and the what to practice with the student.
If so, this means the learning process moves from one of transmission to one of information and the art of the how to practice becomes in danger of obscurity.
Posted in Āsana, cYs Journal, Haṭha, Pauls Musings on Yoga Today, viniyoga of Yoga
Roots, Verb Forms and Primary Derivatives of the Saṃskṛta Language.
Roots, Verb Forms and Primary Derivatives of the Saṃskṛta Language
- W D Whitney - Saṃskṛta Professor Yale University 1895
From Archive.Org Online Resources
Let us examine the Yoga Sūtra……
"Let us examine the Yoga Sūtra......
In the 3rd chapter there is the idea of Saṃyama (C3 v4) or the Sādhana of regularly involving the attention of the person towards a specific object or idea.
There are certain Sūtra which tell us of certain powers or clarity developed through Saṃyama.
When a person has reached a certain level of attention he can pursue one examination within his individual capability for a certain period of time."
- TKV Desikachar France 1983
The more students you have the less of a teacher you are.
The more students you have the less of a teacher you are.
Posted in cYs Journal, Haṭha, Pauls Daily Quotes Page, viniyoga of Yoga
For me there is an existential difference between teaching exercise as……
For me there is an existential difference between teaching Exercise as Yoga and Yoga as Exercise.
The more you teach the more you must practice.
"The more you teach the more you must practice."
- TKV Desikachar
Continuing the idea of Śikṣaṇa, it is possible to put further categories……
“Continuing the idea of Śikṣaṇa, it is possible to put further categories into Sādhana.
It is important as often people have little distinction between exercise and Yoga.
According to texts and great masters Sādhana is not just at the body level but at the Indriya level, the mind level and possibly even further."
- TKV Desikachar France 1983
Often people have little distinction between exercise and Yoga.
Teaching at a retreat in France 1983 TKV Desikachar said:
"Often people have little distinction between exercise and Yoga."
Thirty years later what do we find?
Question to TKV Desikachar on Yama and Niyama……
Question to TKV Desikachar on Yama and Niyama:
"The idea behind Yama and Niyama is the attitude we have to the inside and outside.
If I don't know what is true there is no question of telling the truth.
However there is the intention, because one day it may become a reality.
Even though some of these things are not there in the beginning, if the intention is sincere then one day it will become an action if conditions and our psychological state change.
Yama as telling the truth also means discretion."
- TKV Desikachar France 1983
The esoteric knowing of the transcendent mystical vision is open to……
"The esoteric knowing of the transcendent mystical vision is open to dangerous distortion when placed in the hands of one who has not controlled the darker animal desires and power-hungry ego and who is not under the supervision of a guru (spiritual teacher - glossary p108)."
- 'Yoga and Psychology' Harold Coward p4 - SUNY Press 2002
Thus, the ability to fix the question is a requisite for Dhyāna…..