“We should not teach in the same way than has been done in the past. What we teach should be more relevant to the present situation.”
- TKV Desikachar Speaking at a ten day meeting with his 16 senior Western students from 8 countries in London June 11th 1998
Category Archives: cYs Journal
We should not teach in the same way than has been done in the past……
Saṃkalpa is mainly the intention to do something……
“Saṃkalpa is mainly the intention to do something, to be serious about my goal; it is something I feel I must do. Saṃkalpa must be on both parts: student and teacher, like when we chant ‘saha nāvavatu…’.
Saṃskāra means the purification, like cleaning a vessel before I use it for another purpose. It’s a kind of viyoga or separation. It concerns how I prepare for the situation. The Saṃskāra is an effort in both directions: student and teacher.
Saṃyoga means there is a good exchange; something begins to happen, something is given and something is received.
The best teaching has all three of these.”
- TKV Desikachar Speaking at a ten day meeting with his 16 senior Western students from 8 countries in London June 15th 1998
The East is not going to solve your problems in regard to spirituality……
“The East is not going to solve your problems in regard to spirituality. You must find by yourselves and take responsibility about this too.
What you will do depends on the strength of your spirit. It is not a question of technology. If you are split, your students will be too.
This area requires reflection from each one of us and our group.”
- TKV Desikachar Speaking at a ten day meeting with his 16 senior Western students from 8 countries in London June 18th 1998
The Bhagavad Gītā seen through Three Hexads
According to Yamuna (the grandson of Nathamuni and forebear of Krishnamacharya) in his commentary to the Bhagavad Gītā, the Gītārtha Saṃgraha, this famous Hindu text should be considered as having three sections or hexads of six chapters each.
The first hexad is around our relationship with ourselves, the second hexad is around our relationship with God (as seen through Hinduism) and the third hexad is around our relationship with the world.
Also posted in Paul’s Yoga Related Stuff, Yoga & the Bhagavad Gītā
The Siddhi (accomplishment) depends on the Bhāvanam (cultivation).
“The Siddhi (accomplishment) depends on the Bhāvanam (cultivation).”
- TKV Desikachar
Conscious breathing is one of the greatest tools to influence……
“Conscious breathing is one of the greatest tools to influence the effect of the postures without changing the posture.”
- TKV Desikachar
Also posted in Āsana, Desikachar Quotations, Haṭha, Pauls Daily Quotes Page, Quotations, viniyoga of Yoga
There is an image in the world today that the guru has a following and……
“There is an image in the world today that the guru has a following and his students follow him like the Pied Piper. This is not good.
The true guru shows you the way. You go your way and then you’re on your own, because you know your place and you are grateful.
I can always thank my guru naturally and enjoy the relationship, but I do not have to follow him around, because then I am not in my own place.
Following the guru’s destination is another way of losing yourself. The yoga concept of svadharma means “your own dharma” or “your own way”.
If you try to do somebody else’s dharma, trouble happens.
The guru helps you find your own dharma.”
TKV Desikachar
Kriyā Yoga – Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 1……
Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 1
tapaḥ svādhyāya-īśvara-praṇidhānāni kriyā-yogaḥ |
“The activities of Yoga are self-discipline, self-study and respect for the divine.”
The three upāya (to go near) to take control of our inability to see things clearly……
Also posted in News Views & Posts, Pauls Daily Quotes Page, Paul’s Yoga Related Stuff, Yoga Sūtra Posts
Recognising AND accepting one’s Duḥkham (Suffering) is the first……
“Recognising AND accepting one’s Duḥkham (Suffering) is the first Prajñā (insight).
Once you have accepted this you are free to find out where it is coming from.”
(Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verses 15-27)
- TKV Desikachar January 9th 1999
Sahavāsam (Dwelling Together) – What you associate with becomes part of you.
”Sahavāsam (Dwelling Together) – What you associate with becomes part of you.”
- TKV Desikachar January 15th 2000
cYs Introductory Haṭha Study Weekend May 12/13th 2012 in Bristol
Introductory Haṭha Study Courses
The weekend course is complete in itself and offers a sound overview of the core principles of Haṭha Yoga. It is an opportunity for a Yoga student from any Yoga background or style to experience an in-depth introduction to the concepts and practices which underpin Haṭha Yoga. It presents a view of the core Haṭha concepts in Yoga through which students can support and develop their own practice and deepen their appreciation of the possibilities for why a view such as Haṭha can support our lives. We will explore how they inspire and guide our personal Yoga practice and study, as well as our Yoga teaching.
Also posted in cYs Announcements, Haṭha, News Views & Posts, Paul’s Yoga Related Stuff
For something to work you must participate positively……
”For something to work you must participate positively. In other words Śraddhā.” (Yoga Sūtra C1 v20)
- TKV Desikachar January 15th 2000
Yogi Glenn Black Responds to New York Times Article on Yoga
For the full interview visit the link to the Huffington Healthy Living
EF: What is the goal of yoga?
GGB: We have limited intellect, we have no idea what Samadhi is and if it’s same for everybody. To become more conscious and more aware and more able to deal with the stress that is constantly inundating us, I think that’s the best we can hope for in this day and age. The ancient sages had experiences beyond what the senses and the mind can contemplate. They realized that the body and mind are obstacles to awareness and spent a lot of time exploring that. It’s probably the basis of religion. But nowadays, after a yoga class, within seconds the students are looking in their pockets for their cell phones, so how long does it really last?
Also posted in All Drawn from the Web, Yoga, Health & Lifestyle
We are welcome to use Kumbhaka (breath suspension) but……
”We are welcome to use Kumbhaka (breath suspension) but if it in any way affects the quality of the Inhale or Exhale and our own relation with this flow, then there is no meaning. The tragedy of Kumbhaka is that we can use force, as in Āsana, to achieve our aim. But why and at what price?”
- TKV Desikachar June 30th 1978 from a one week retreat on Prāṇāyāma in Switzerland
The commercialised corporation of Viniyoga is in danger……
“The commercialised corporation of Viniyoga is in danger of becoming a parody of the personalised incorporation of viniyoga.”
Also posted in News Views & Posts, Paul Quotations, Pauls Daily Quotes Page, Quotations, viniyoga of Yoga
The mind is agitated because of certain things inherent……
“The mind is agitated because of certain things inherent, not from the outside, these are already inside.”
TKV Desikachar - Lecture on December 20th 1997 in Chennai, India (Fuller notes on this lecture yet to be posted)
Medicine, Mastery and Mystery
An Interview with Paul Harvey by Joseph Le Page.
Joseph is the founder and director of Integrative Yoga Therapy. This interview took place while Paul was teaching at Zinal for UENFY in 1999.
The new is not as strong as the old.
“The new is not as strong as the old.” (Yoga Sūtra Chapter 4 verse 27)
- TKV Desikachar
Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 9
Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 9
vyutthāna-nirodha-saṃskārayoḥ abhibhava-prādurbhāvau nirodha-kṣaṇa-citta-anvayaḥ nirodha-pariṇāmaḥ |
“The disappearance of the tendency of rising up is the appearance of the tendency of containment; successive moments of containment in the psyche is the transformation to containment.”
Also posted in Pauls Daily Quotes Page, Yoga Sūtra Posts
TKV Desikachar interviewed by Leslie Kaminoff in October 1992.
Originally posted to e-Sutra on April 24, 1999. Now available on-line through Leslie Kaminoff’s Teaching Organisation Yoga Anatomy.
Also posted in All Drawn from the Web, Views around the Source
Definition of feudalism – to give homage, labour, and……
Definition of feudalism –
“to give homage, labour, and a share of the produce, notionally in exchange for military protection.”
- Can the same be said for Religious or Spiritual or even some Yoga dynasties in terms of ‘in exchange for Spiritual protection’?
Also posted in Paul Quotations, Pauls Daily Quotes Page, Quotations, Yoga Bricolage
The spirit of viniyoga is starting from where one finds oneself……
“The spirit of viniyoga is starting from where one finds oneself. As everybody is different and changes from time to time, there can be no common starting point, and ready made answers are useless. The present condition must be examined and the habitually established status must be re-examined.”
- TKV Desikachar
How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body
“Yoga is for people in good physical condition. Or it can be used therapeutically. It’s controversial to say, but it really shouldn’t be used for a general class.”
New York Times January 7th 2012 – Heads up to my old friend from Kathmandu Billy Forbes
Also posted in All Drawn from the Web, Yoga, Health & Lifestyle
How to respect the tradition and at the same time……
“How to respect the tradition and at the same time, to live and teach in the present situation?”.
- TKV Desikachar Speaking at a ten day meeting with his 16 senior Western students from 8 countries in London June 8th 1998