Patanjali

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are in themselves exceedingly brief, less than ten pages of large type in the original. Yet they contain the essence of practical wisdom, set forth in admirable order and detail. The theme, if the present interpreter be right, is the great regeneration, the birth of the spiritual from the psychical man: the same theme which Paul so wisely and eloquently set forth in writing to his disciples in Corinth, the theme of all mystics in all lands.

Yoga Sutra of Patanjali

The Yoga Sutra, widely regarded as the authoritative text on yoga, is a collection of aphorisms, outlining the eight limbs of yoga. These "threads" (as sutra translates from Sanskrit) of wisdom offer guidelines for living a meaningful and purposeful life.We think of ourselves as living a purely physical life, in these material bodies of ours. In reality, we have gone far indeed from pure physical life; for ages, our life has been psychical, we have been centred and immersed in the psychic nature. Some of the schools of India say that the psychic nature is, as it were, a looking-glass, wherein are mirrored the things seen by the physical eyes, and heard by the physical ears. Thus within the psychic realm of our life there grows up an imaged world wherein we dwell; a world of the images of things seen and heard, and therefore a world of memories; a world also of hopes and desires, of fears and regrets. Mental life grows up among these images, built on a measuring and comparing, on the massing of images together into general ideas; on the abstraction of new notions and images from these; till a new world is built up within, full of desires and hates, ambition, envy, longing, speculation, curiosity, self-will, self-interest.The teaching of the Yoga is, that all these are true powers overlaid by false desires; that though in manifestation psychical, they are in essence spiritual; that the psychical man is the veil and prophecy of the spiritual man. The purpose of life, therefore, is the realizing of that purpose; the unveiling of the immortal man; the birth of the spiritual from the psychical, whereby we enter our divine inheritance and come to inhabit Eternity. This is, indeed, salvation, the purpose of all true religion, in all times. Patanjali has in mind the spiritual man, to be born from the psychical. His purpose is, to set in order the practical means for the unveiling and regeneration, and to indicate the fruit, the glory and the power, of that new birth.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are 196 Indian sutras (aphorisms). The Yoga Sutras were compiled prior to 400 CE by Sage Patanjali, taking materials about yoga from older traditions. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali was the most translated ancient Indian text in the medieval era. In the 20th century the western practitioners of yoga elevated the Yoga Sutras to a status it never knew previously. Scholars consider the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali formulations to be one of the foundations of classical Yoga philosophy of Hinduism. A must have for anyone who practices the philosophy and asana of yoga.

Sai Chopra

Considered the oldest extant text about Indian yoga, the Sutras of Patanjali are thought to have been compiled c. 400 C.E., although recently some scholars have begun to question this history. In the Yogic tradition based upon the polytheistic Hindu faith, the Sutras are unique in that they refer to a singular God. Loved by adherents of all faiths, those seeking the spiritual life, and yoga practitioners, this is one of the earliest translations and commentaries ever completed. Newly edited and updated, this practical version will lead all readers through the four stages of meditation outlined within, and it will help all practitioners to unlock their own innate spirituality. To use terms from other traditions, it will help them to find their own "innate Buddhahood," or the "Kingdom of God within."

A Newly Edited and Updated Version of the Original Translation

Charles Johnston

Yoga is an exercise and meditation philosophy that has been taking the United States by storm over the past several decades. Yet many are unaware that there is an entire, ancient religion that prefaces this phenomenon. Yoga is one of six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy, and "Yoga Sutras of Patanjali" contains 196 aphorisms that form the basis of Raja Yoga. Patanjali uses his text to explain different facets of the philosophy, leading people to achieve kaivalya, the ultimate goal of detachment. The sutras begin with the most basic concentration, and then progresses to discipline, manifestation, and finally, emancipation of the transcendental ego. Patanjali also explains how one can find the path to kaivayla with the eight limbs of Yoga; non-violent thoughts, cleanliness, healthy living, meditation, and others are explained as essential actions to achieving self-liberation. Patanjali lived sometime between the 1st century BCE and the 5th century BCE. While all critics agree that Patanjali is the great compiler of the Yoga Sutras, many deliberate about whether or not he created the meditational philosophy. Some even speculate that Patanjali borrowed some of his sutras from other authors. Regardless, "Yoga Sutras of Patanjali" is now considered to be the leading authority on Yoga, and various editions are still in print over two-thousand years after the original publication.

Yoga is an exercise and meditation philosophy that has been taking the United States by storm over the past several decades. Yet many are unaware that there is an entire, ancient religion that prefaces this phenomenon. Yoga is one of six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy, and the "Yoga Sutras of Patanjali" contains 196 aphorisms that form the basis of Raja Yoga. Patanjali uses his text to explain different facets of the philosophy, leading people to achieve Kaivalya, the ultimate goal of detachment. The sutras begin with the most basic concentration, and then progresses to discipline, manifestation, and finally, emancipation of the transcendental ego. Patanjali also explains how one can find the path to Kaivayla with the eight limbs of Yoga; non-violent thoughts, cleanliness, healthy living, meditation, and others are explained as essential actions to achieving self-liberation. Patanjali lived sometime between the 1st century BCE and the 5th century BCE. While all critics agree that Patanjali is the great compiler of the Yoga Sutras, many deliberate about whether or not he created the meditational philosophy. Some even speculate that Patanjali borrowed some of his sutras from other authors. Regardless, the "Yoga Sutras of Patanjali" is now considered to be one of the most important textual sources for the practice of yoga. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper and is translated with a preface by William Q. Judge.

General Press

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali provides a complete manual for the study and practice of Raja Yoga, the path of concentration and meditation. The sutras begin with the most basic concentration, and then progresses to discipline, manifestation, and finally, emancipation of the transcendental ego. It is now considered one of the most important textual sources for the practice of yoga. This classic work of Indian philosophy spells out succinctly how the mind works, and how it is possible to use the mind to attain liberation.

Alice Bailey

This volume is an original paraphrase, with commentary, of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The Yoga Sutras are of ancient origin, first reduced to writing by Patanjali, who is considered the founder of the Raja Yoga School. Control of the mind and its illumination by the soul are brought about through the practice of Raja Yoga.

Paraphrase of the Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali

The Light of the Soul

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (Translated with a Preface by William Q. Judge)

Das Yogasutra des Patañjali ist einer der bedeutendsten Klassiker des Yoga und bildet die Grundlage für alle modernen Yogalehren. R. Sriram, einer der renommiertesten Yogalehrer im deutschsprachigen Raum, hat sich viele Jahre lang mit diesem Text beschäftigt und ihn neu übersetzt. Er verdeutlicht in seinen Erläuterungen, dass die 2000 Jahre alte Lehre viele Lösungsmodelle für Fragen enthält, die sich in unserem modernen Leben stellen. Seine klare Sprache und anschaulichen Beispiele machen die Aussagen des Yogasutra lebendig und gut nachvollziehbar und lassen R. Srirams große Erfahrung in der Vermittlung dieses Textes erkennen. Das Glossar am Ende des Buches ermöglicht das schnelle Auffinden der wesentlichen Begriffe. Ein unerlässliches Buch für Yoga-Praktizierende und für alle, die sich für die altindischen Lehren der Befreiung interessieren.

Von der Erkenntnis zur Befreiung

Das Yogasutra

Danijel Turina

"Yoga Sutra" is the basic scripture of yoga, in the sense of a Hindu philosophical view, and is essential for anyone who wants to gain deeper insight of the spiritual aspects of yoga. In translation and commentary by the founder and teacher of darshana-yoga, this text reveals the true nature of yoga as the quest for the highest reality. (World Religions)

Yoga Sutra

Patanjali, also called Gonardiya, or Gonikaputra, (flourished 2nd century BCE or 5th century CE), author or one of the authors of two great Hindu classics: the first, Yoga-sutras, a categorization of Yogic thought arranged in four volumes with the titles "Psychic Power," "Practice of Yoga," "Samadhi" (state of profound contemplation of the Absolute), and "Kaivalya" (separateness); and the second, the Mahabhashya ("Great Commentary"), which is both a defense of the grammarian Panini against his chief critic and detractor Katyayana and a refutation of some of Panini's aphorisms. The Yoga-sutras seem to span several centuries, the first three volumes apparently having been written in the 2nd century BCE and the last book in the 5th century CE. Authorities therefore tend to credit more than one author writing under this name, although there is wide variance in opinion. There is a possibility that many people used this name, because it was used by the authors of a number of other works on such diverse subjects as medicine, metrics, music, and alchemy. (britannica.com)

The Book of the Spiritual Man

Patanjali's Yoga Aphorisms, or Yoga Sutras, are rather like algebraic formulas. They are hardly comprehensible without a commentary. The commentary of Bhoja Raja is the clearest and simplest one known, and thus was chosen by the first translators of the Yoga Sutras. The better known commentary by Vyasa, and its sub-commentaries, are more complex and difficult. Here is the first, and still the only complete translation of Bhoja Raja's commentary. Although not an easy text, it provides what is perhaps the most comprehensible description of the ancient science of meditation found in the Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali.

with the Commentary of Bhoja Raja

Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali

Texto clássico fundamental do sistema filosófico do Yoga. Verdadeiro tesouro para ser lido e relido por aqueles que buscam trilhar um caminho espiritual, Yoga Sutras é mais do que um manual completo para o estudo e a prática do Raja Yoga, ele é um norteador para conquistar concentração, meditação e autorrealização. O Yoga, uma das seis escolas da filosofia hindu, nos apresenta textos clássicos, teóricos e práticos. Os Sutras Clássicos, com mais de 2 mil anos de existência, ensinam-nos as práticas yogues sobre ética, meditação, posturas físicas e nos direcionam com leveza para lidar com as situações do dia a dia. Os Sutras são apresentados, nesta edição, na sua forma mais pura, com o original em sânscrito e sua respectiva tradução feita por um respeitável e experiente mestre. Ricas em conhecimento e sabedoria, as mensagens aqui presentes guiam a mente e a consciência em direção à felicidade, à paz e à lucidez.

Versão integral em sânscrito e em português

Os Yoga Sutras de Patanjali

The 'Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali' are 196 Indian sūtras (aphorisms) that constitute the foundational text of Ashtanga Yoga, also called Raja Yoga. In medieval times, Ashtanga Yoga was cast as one of the six orthodox āstika schools of Hindu philosophy.

Lo Yoga é una disciplina che si é sviluppata nel solco di una tradizione millenaria fondata sulla rivelazione vedica, la cui origine si perde nella notte dei tempi; tale disciplina ci è stata tramandata nel corso dei secoli nella forma dello Yoga Sūtra, un’opera attribuita a Patañjali e commentata da grandi maestri del passato come Vyāsa, Vācaspati Miśra e Vijñāna Bhiksu. La presente edizione si propone di approfondire, oltre al testo, questi commentari che hanno un’importanza fondamentale nella comprensione dello Yoga, a cominciare da quello di Vyasa ma con particolare attenzione anche all’opera di Vijñāna Bhiksu, un grande maestro vissuto nel sedicesimo secolo. Bhiksu rende esplicito il pensiero esposto in estrema sintesi da Vyasa nel suo commento, mettendo in relazione il primo e il secondo capitolo del Sū tra con i due grandi sentieri di realizzazione spirituale della tradizione indù, la Via della Conoscenza (jñā na mā rga) e la Via dell’Azione (karma mā rga). Grazie a questa chiave di lettura il Sūtra ci svela non l’insegnamento di Patañjali, come si dice comunemente, ma i suoi due insegnamenti, il primo indirizzato ai discepoli già in grado di controllare la propria mente, il secondo dedicato a coloro che non sono ancora in grado di farlo. Vyasa considera questo secondo sentiero di realizzazione uno Yoga a parte, diverso da quello definito nel primo capitolo, e destinato particolarmente a coloro che conducono una vita attiva, come i praticanti occidentali, che tendono all’estroversione e necessitano di seguire un sentiero graduale, chiamato Astanga Yoga, che consentirà loro di accedere successivamente allo Yoga della conoscenza insegnato nel primo capitolo.

Il più antico testo di yoga con i commenti della tradizione

Patañjali

Barbara Stoler Miller

Offers nearly two hundred aphorisms by an ancient Hindu philosopher that explain the yoga method of reaching enlightenment

Patanjali

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