The Path of the Yoga Sutras: A Practical Guide to the Core of Yoga

by Nicolai Bachman

Overview

One of the great gifts of the yogic path is that it returns us to a life of simplicity, even as we go about our lives in a world of growing complexity. Through practice, we ultimately find the freedom to be who we really are, and allow others do the same.

This was Patañjali's original intention when he penned his legendary sutras. But when a text is over 2,000 years old, important things can get lost in translation. For today's yoga student looking to take their practice “off the mat and into the world,” Nicolai Bachman presents The Path of the Yoga Sutras.

By organizing the sutras into 51 core concepts that support the Western student in germinating and blossoming these potent “seed” teachings, Bachman has created a breakthrough tool for integrating yoga philosophy and practice, whatever your level of experience.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781604074291
Publisher:	Sounds True, Incorporated
Publication date:	08/01/2011
Pages:	296
Sales rank:	245,248
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Nicolai Bachman
Nicolai Bachman has been teaching Sanskrit, chanting, yoga philosophy, and Ayurveda since 1994. He has a knack for synthesizing and organizing complex topics into simple and understandable presentations. His education combines informal, traditional study with the academic rigor of university classes. Nicolai has studied extensively at the American Sanskrit Institute, the Ayurvedic Institute, the American Institute of Vedic Studies, and the Vedic Chant Center. He holds an MA in Eastern philosophy, an MS in nutrition, and is E-RYT 500 certified. Nicolai’s publications include The Language of Yoga, The Path of the Yoga Sutras, The Language of Ayurveda, and 108 Sanskrit Flash Cards. For more, visit sanskritsounds.com.

Table of Contents

Foreword Tias Little xiii

Preface xix

Acknowledgments xxi

Introduction 1

Part 1 Key Principles

1 Atha Readiness and Commitment 7

2 Citta Heart-Mind Field of Consciousness 11

3 Purusa Pure Inner Light of Awareness 17

4 Drsya Ever-Changing Mother Nature 21

5 Viveka Keen Discernment 25

6 Abhyasa Diligent, Focused Practice 29

7 Vairagya Nonattachment to Sensory Objects 33

8 Yoga as Nirodha Silencing the Heart-Mind 39

9 Isvara The Source of Knowledge 43

10 Karma and Samskara Action and Its Imprint 49

11 Parinama Transformation 57

Part 2 Understanding Suffering

12 Duhkha Suffering as Opportunity 65

13 Sarhyoga False Identification of the Seer with the Seen 71

14 Vrtti-s Activity in the Heart-Mind 75

15 Pramana Correct Evaluation 79

16 Viparyaya Misperception 83

17 Vikalpa Imagination 87

I8 Nidra Sleep 91

19 Smrti Memory 95

20 Antaraya-s Obstacles That Distract 99

21 Klesa Mental-Emotional Afflictions 105

22 Avidya Lack of Awareness 109

23 Asmita Distorted Sense of Self 113

24 Raga Clinging to Past Pleasure 119

25 Dvesa Clinging to Past Suffering 123

26 Abhinivesa Fear of Death 129

Part 3 Outer Behavior

27 Astanga The Eight Limbs of Yoga 135

28 Yama-s Ethical Practices 139

29 Ahimsa Nonviolence and Compassion 143

30 Satya Truthfulness and Sincerity 149

31 Asteya Not Taking from Others 153

32 Brahmacarya Conservation of VitalEnergy 157

33 Aparigraha Nonhoarding 161

34 Pratipaksa-Bhavana Cultivating the Opposite 165

Part 4 Personal Practices

35 Niyama-s Personal Self Care 171

36 Sauca Cleanliness 175

37 Santosa Contentment and Gratitude 179

38 Kriya-Yoga Practice in Action 185

39 Tapas Practice Causing Positive Change 189

40 Svadhyaya Study by and of Oneself 195

41 Isvara-Pranidhana Humility and Faith 201

42 Asana Refinement of the Body 207

43 Pranayama Regulation of Breath 211

Part 5 Inner Development

44 Pratyahara Tuning Out Sensory Input 217

45 Citta-Prasadana Purification of the Heart-Mind 221

46 Dharana Choosing a Focus 227

47 Dhyana Continuous Focus 231

48 Samadhi Complete Attention 235

49 Samyama Focusing Inward 241

50 Pratiprasava Returning to the Source 245

51 Kaivalya Permanent Oneness 249

Epilogue 253

Permissions and Credits 255

For Further Study 257

Further Resources 259

Index 261

About the Author 271

Editorial Reviews

Author Nicolai Bachman came to study the Yoga Sutras from a background in yoga asana (postures), meditation, and an expert knowledge of Sanskrit language. In his introduction to The Path of the Yoga Sutras, he provides background information about Patanjali, the Yoga Sutras, and yoga as a method of transforming the way we think, communicate and act, by directing our attention inward and cultivating contentment, clarity, and peace of mind.

His approach is refreshing. Rather than commenting on 195 sutras consecutively, he offers 51 concepts in five parts: key principles, understanding suffering, outer behavior, personal practices, and inner development. Each concept is explained in a chapter. While the concepts can be understood singly, the chapters are ordered so that the concepts reinforce and build upon each other, and reading the book this way is beneficial.

Language lovers will delight in the derivations and breakdowns of the Sanskrit words for the concepts in The Path of the Yoga Sutras....

Author Bachman asserts, "Yoga... is all about independent thinking." The Path of the Yoga Sutras: A Practical Guide to the Core of Yoga is for everyone who is willing to contemplate and apply today the principles Pantanjali provided so long ago.” —NY Journal of Books

From the Publisher