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Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali QUOTES

Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali QUOTES

1 " Asana has two facets, pose and repose. Pose is the artistic assumption of a position. ‘Reposing in the pose’ means finding the perfection of a pose and maintaining it, reflecting in it with penetration of the intelligence and with dedication. "

― B.K.S. Iyengar , Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali

2 " Yoga is the teacher of yoga; yoga is to be understood through yoga. So live in yoga to realize yoga; comprehend yoga through yoga; he who is free from distractions enjoys yoga through yoga. "

― B.K.S. Iyengar , Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali

3 " Patañjali is saying that yoga is a preventive healing art, science and philosophy, by which we build up robust health in body and mind and construct a defensive strength with which to deflect or counteract afflictions that are as yet unperceived afflictions. "

― B.K.S. Iyengar , Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali

4 " Patañjali describes the fluctuations, modifications and modulations of thought which disturb the consciousness, and then sets out the various disciplines by which they may be stilled. This has resulted in yoga being called a mental sadhana (practice). Such a sadhana is possible only if the accumulated fruits derived from the good actions of past lives (samskaras) are of a noble order. Our samskaras are the fund of our past perceptions, instincts and subliminal or hidden impressions. If they are good, they act as stimuli to maintain the high degree of sensitivity necessary to pursue the spiritual path. Consciousness "

― B.K.S. Iyengar , Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali

5 " Consciousness is imbued with the three qualities (gunas) of luminosity (sattva), vibrancy (rajas) and inertia (tamas). The gunas also colour our actions: white (sattva), grey (rajas) and black (tamas). Through the discipline of yoga, both actions and intelligence go beyond these qualities and the seer comes to experience his own soul with crystal clarity, free from the relative attributes of nature and actions. This state of purity is samadhi. Yoga is thus both the means and the goal. Yoga is samadhi and samadhi is yoga. There "

― B.K.S. Iyengar , Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali

6 " For one who lacks ethical discipline and perfect physical health, there can be no spiritual illumination. Body, mind and spirit are inseparable: if the body is asleep, the soul is asleep. The "

― B.K.S. Iyengar , Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali

7 " The chameleon nature of asmita is apparent when we set ourselves a challenge. The source of the challenge lies in the positive side of asmita, but the moment fear arises negatively, it inhibits our initiative. We must then issue a counter-challenge to disarm that fear "

― B.K.S. Iyengar , Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali

8 " Freedom, that is to say direct experience of samadhi, can be attained only by disciplined conduct and renunciation of sensual desires and appetites. This is brought about through adherence to the ‘twin pillars’ of yoga, abhyasa and vairagya. Abhyasa "

― B.K.S. Iyengar , Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali

9 " begins the Yoga Sūtras with atha, meaning ‘now’, and ends with iti, ‘that is all’. Besides this search for the soul, there is nothing. "

― B.K.S. Iyengar , Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali

10 " If citta is the sea, its movements (vrttis) are the ripples. Body, mind and consciousness are in communion with the soul; they are now free from attachments and aversions, memories of place and time. The impurities of body and mind are cleansed, the dawning light of wisdom vanquishes ignorance, innocence replaces arrogance and pride, and the seeker becomes the seer. Vibhuti "

― B.K.S. Iyengar , Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali