108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 28 – Svādhyāya – to look at that which helps me understand.
Svādhyāya – to look at that which helps me understand.
– Commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 1
Svādhyāya – to look at that which helps me understand.
– Commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 1
“Svādhyāya implies what the tradition teaches
or a teacher has taught as studies.
Thus, it does not necessarily mean that
they should read and recite Veda.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 1…
“Svādhyāya is an inquiry into one’s true nature.”
– T Krishnamacharya’s commentary to Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 1…
“He also presented the idea that Āsana is Svādhyāya,
making you understand something about yourself.”
– TKV Desikachar from lectures on ‘The Yoga of T Krishnamacharya’,
given at Zinal, Switzerland 1981.…
“The study that helps us to know where we are from and what progress we have achieved.
In short, our journey to our roots is Svādhyāya.
There are many means. Vedic chant where the student repeats exactly how the teacher recites the text is one. The means should respect our culture.
It must help explore our own background, our strengths and weaknesses and our progress.
Even a good teacher can be a mirror, a Svādhyāya.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 1…
“Svādhyāya –
Reflecting on our actions will tell us something about oneself.
The word means going toward oneself.
The re-action of Tapas should lead you towards Svādhyāya.
Also means study of texts.
For example Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā and Pūrṇa Matsyendrāsana.
Is the effect different from what it said will happen?
This leads to Svādhyāya and Anumāna or to a teacher.”
– TKV Desikachar France 1983…
Svā – To look at that
Adhyāya – Which helps me understand
– What is outside myself.
– What is inside myself.
– What is beyond myself.
– Commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 1
A postscript to yesterdays post around the three Niyama
within Kriyā Yoga on the uses of the terms ‘self’ or ‘Self’ within
the legs in the tripod supporting our efforts at nurturing a state of Yoga.
The first leg supporting the tripod refers to Citta
as the self in terms of nurturing self-Discipline.
“Tapas is to discipline our eating habits.”
– T Krishnamacharya
The second leg supporting the tripod refers to both Citta and Cit
as the self in terms of nurturing Self-Inquiry.
“Svādhyāya is an inquiry into one’s true nature.”
– T Krishnamacharya
The final leg …
Activities that nurture a state of Yoga involve
self-discipline, self-inquiry and Self–awareness.
– Reflections around Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 1
The 2023 Art of Sūtra Psychology Module Course Three is limited to a maximum of five students to allow for a personalised approach and in-depth transmission between teacher and student.
“The study that helps us to know where we are from
and what progress we have achieved.
In short, our journey to our roots is Svādhyāya.”
– T Krishnamacharya
Based in the Cotswolds, they are intended for those Yoga students who, having completed a Sūtra Psychology Module …
What are the concepts of Sṛṣṭi Krama, Sthiti Krama and Anta Krama and what is their significance in relationship to the practice of Āsana, Prāṇāyāma and Dhyānam?
We can approach these three concepts and the question of their relationship with practice from a chronological and within that, a psychological viewpoint. According to the Yoga teachings from T Krishnamacharya there are three chronological and accompanying psychological stages of life, or Tri Krama.
1. The first Krama is the stage of growth and expansion known as Sṛṣṭi Krama. Here, chronologically, the starting point is the age from …
The first chapter called Samādhi Pādaḥ
assumes the aspirant has progressed
adequately to be in a state called Samāhita.
Such a person is not easily agitated.
They have a clearer perception to comprehend
concepts such as Īśvara, Vairāgya.
What about others who are known as Vyutthita Citta,
a mind easily prone to agitations and distractions?
This second chapter known as Sādhana Pādaḥ caters to them.
The first step consists of:
The whole system functions on the strength of mind.
Mind is affected by what we eat…
तपः स्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि क्रियायोगः ॥१॥
tapaḥ svādhyāya-īśvara-praṇidhānāni kriyā-yogaḥ |
“The activities of Yoga are self-discipline, self-study and contemplation on the divine.”
Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 1
“The three Upāya to take control of our inability to see things clearly.
Tapas
Recognising that changing certain things enables us to see.
So to create conditions so that you recognise yourself.
Svādhyāya
Working in the direction of rectification.
The means that will help us examine ourselves.
Īśvara Praṇidhānā
To accept certain realities.
We may fail, things may go wrong,
so to develop a certain sense of interested detachment.
To act to the best …
“Manasika Sādhana –
Mind has a part to play.
We can either direct or restrain.
Mind mentioned a lot in Yoga texts.
i.e. Attitude of Saṃtoṣa – mental contentment also a Sādhana.
Also Bhāvana.
Also Yama and Niyama.
When Yama and Niyama accomplished they become Siddhi.
Svādhyāya example of Sādhana – Study to know something about oneself or others.
Adhyayayana – To repeat exactly what is said by your teacher.
Based on three steps:
Śravaṇam – Listen
Mananam – Reflect
Nidhidhyāsanam – Go into what the teachers says.
“Tapas is Proper Diet, Mantra Chanting and Self-Inquiry.”
– T Krishnamacharya commentary on Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Six verse 46
(Refer also to Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 1 with its Kriyā Yoga and additional commentaries from Krishnamacharya and Desikachar)…
‘Religiousness in Yoga: Lectures on Theory and Practice’ by the University Press of America,
a transcript of recordings of a one month Yoga Programme in Colgate University in 1976, published in 1980.
Unlike the later redacted edition, re-published in 1995 as the ‘Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice’, it captures the evolution of the retreat with the days lectures and Q & A dialogues as they alternated between ‘lectures on the principles and purposes of Yoga and discussions related to the practice of Yoga with special reference to the postures and the breathing techniques’.
TKV Desikachar, in his forward …