Welcome back!
As the oppressive heat of the end of the summer gently fades into the warm hues and cooler weather of fall, we welcome you back to the sūtra group. Over the course of the fall we’ll continue our exploration of Ashtānga Yoga – focusing primarily on the first and second limbs, respectively Yamā (self- restraint) and Niyamā (fixed observance) each composed of five parts.
We’ve decided to explore the yamās over two sessions. Sūtra II.30 introduces the five yamās and sūtra II.31 describes the inclusive nature of these five yamās describing them as “universal vows.” In The Tree of Yoga, Mr. Iyengar likens the yamās to the foundations of The Tree “from which all will grow.” He deepens his exploration of the concept in Light on Life describing how “[m]orality and ethics come from inside of ourselves and is a reflection of consciousness….Yoga trains us away from our selfish, brutal motives and shows us how to complete our responsibilities.”
In the first session we’ll be exploring the concept of the yamās as a whole and at least the first two yamās: Ahimsā (non-harming) and Satya (truth). Depending on time potentially the third yamā, Asteya (non-stealing).
Ahimsā, satya, and asteya are each specifically explored in sūtras II. 35, II.36, and II.37.
* * * * * * * * * * For our meeting on September 13, please review the following sūtras and their commentaries on yama – as these are the sūtras that we will focus on:
II.30, II.31, II.35, II.36, II.37
Resources:
Core of the Yoga Sūtras: The Definitive Guide to the Philosophy of Yoga. B.K.S. Iyengar. London: HarperThorsons, 2012. 144 – 145.
Light on Life. B.K.S. Iyengar. New York: Rodale, 2005. 250 – 257.
Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali. B.K.S. Iyengar. London: Thorsons, 1993. 142 – 143, 149 – 150.
Pātañjala Yoga Sūtra Paricaya: An Introduction to Pātañjala Yoga Sūtra-s. B.K.S. Iyengar. New Delhi: Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga. 2013 (2011). 75 – 76.
The Tree of Yoga. B.K.S. Iyengar. Boston: Shambhala, 2002. 50 – 51.
Comments