Sutra 1.2
योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः॥२॥
yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ
Translation:
- The restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff is Yoga. -SS
- Yoga occurs when one focuses completely on a single object, so that thought waves do not disturb one’s heart-mind field. -NB
- Yoga is the stilling of the changing states of the mind. -EFB
- Yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the heart-mind field.
Vocabulary:
yoga- self mastery
nirodha- stilling, calming
vṛttis— thoughts, fluctuations
citta— heart-mind field
Key Concepts:
Sāṃkhya
Sāṃkhya provides the cosmology, the metaphysical infrastructure, for Yoga. It is important to note that this cosmology is dualistic. It is a way of understanding reality as two distinct principles, Puruṣa and Prakṛiti. Yoga and Samkhya share the same goal, the goal of discerning between pure consciousness and the multiplicity of manifestation. In Sāṃkhya this goal is realized through knowledge while Yoga uses many means to come to this discrimination.
Citta
- Citta, the heart-mind field, stores our experiences and constructs our identity. The sum total of our mind.
- Cit is the unconditioned consciousness.
- The entire science of Yoga is based on this concept.
- The activity in the Citta is called vṛttis, fluctuations. These activities are thoughts and emotions.
- The functions of the Citta are perception, will, and memory. Memory is made up of outer memories and deep habitual patterns know as saṃskāra.
Practice
Prayer:
Guide me to that which is in my highest good. Help me to distinguish what nourishes my soul and what deteriorates my being. Lead me down the path of wisdom so that I may show up fully in each moment. Let my study be enlightening and fruitful. Allow my practice to benefit all beings. -Namaste
Pranayama:
Ujjayi Pranayama:
- Take a comfortable seat, one that feels both regal and relaxed.
- Turn your attention to your breath, closing your mouth inhale and exhale through both nostrils.
- Start to restrict the throat so that you feel the breath from the throat to the heart, and it makes and oceanic sound.
- Start to lengthen both the inhale and exhale so that they are balanced.
- Feel the sensation of the body expanding in all directions during the inhalation and the contracting sensation during the exhalation.
- Continue for 5 minutes, then allow the breath to return to normal.
- Allowing the body to breath, sit for 5 more minutes focusing on the breath.
Reflections
- How would I define Yoga?
- What fluctuations of the mind do I experience?
- What practices or experience allow my mind to settle?
- What is my personal understanding of the cosmology of the universe?
What does this remind me of? Other stories, scriptures, or teachings.
Sutra 4.4-6, 4.15-16,4.18-24