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Chapter II -Yoga Sutras of
Patanjali
Raja Yoga is the king of Yogas. It concerns directly with the
mind. In this Yoga there is no struggling with Prana or
physical body. There are no Hatha Yogic Kriyas. The Yogi seats
at ease, watches his mind and silences the bubbling thoughts.
He stills the mind, restraints the thought-waves and enters
into the thoughtless state or Asamprajnata Samadhi, Hence the
name Raja Yoga. Though Raja Yoga is a dualistic philosophy and
treats of Prakriti and Purusha, it helps the student in
Advaitic Realization of oneness eventually. Though there is
the mention of Purusha, ultimately the Purusha becomes
identical with Highest Self or Purusha, or Brahman of
Upanishads. Raja Yoga pushes the student to the highest rung
of the spiritual ladder of Advaitic realization of Brahman.
Patanjali's Yoga system is written in Sutras. A 'Sutra' is a
terse verse. It is an aphoristic saying. It is pregnant with
deep, hidden significance. Rishis of yore have expressed
philosophical ideas and their realization in the form of
Sutras only. It is very difficult to understand the meaning of
the Sutras without the help of a commentary, a gloss or a
teacher who is well-versed in Yoga. A Yogi with full
realization can explain the Sutras beautifully. Literally,
Sutra means a thread. Just as various kinds of flowers with
different colours are nicely arranged in a string, to make a
garland, just as rows of pearls are beautifully arranged in a
string to form a necklace, so also Yogic ideas are
well-arranged in Sutras. They are arranged into Chapters.
The First Chapter is Samadhi-pada. It deals with different
kinds of Samadhi. It contains 51 Sutras. Obstacles in
meditation, five kinds of Vritti and their control, three
kinds of Vairagya, nature of Ishvara, various methods to enter
into Samadhi and the way to acquire peace of mind by
developing virtues are described here.
The Second Chapter is Sadhana-pada. It contains 55 Sutras. It
treats of Kriya Yoga, viz., Tapas, study and self-surrender to
God, the five Kleshas or afflictions, the methods to destroy
these afflictions which stand in the way of getting Samadhi,
Yama and Niyama and their fruits, practice of Asana and its
benefits, Pratyahara and its advantage, etc.
The Third Chapter is Vibhuti-pada. It contains 56 Sutras. It
treats of Dharana, Dhyana and various kinds of Samyama on
external objects, mind, internal Chakras and on several
objects, to acquire various Siddhis.
The Fourth Chapter is Kaivalya-pada or Independence. It
contains 34 Sutras. It treats of the independence of a
full-blown Yogi who has perfect discrimination between
Prakriti and Purusha, and who has separated himself from the
three Guna. It also deals with mind and its nature.
Dharmamegha Samadhi also is described here.
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