Sutra 1.26
पूर्वेषाम् अपि गुरुः कालेनानवच्छेदात्॥२६॥
pūrveṣām api guruḥ kālenānavacchedāt
Translation:
- Not limited by time, The Lord is the teacher of even the ancients. – CT
- Unconditioned by time, Isvara is the teacher of event the most ancient teachers. -SS
- Isvara was also the teach of the ancients, because he is not limited by time. -EFB
Vocabulary:
api—also
guru—teacher
pūrvas—everyone before, of the ancients
an-avaccheda—not limited, due to non-limitation
kāla—time, by time
Key Concepts:
Patanjali explains that God is the teacher of all, those who came before us and those still to come. He also describes that God is not subject to time or the cycles of creation.
Kala, time is considered the movement of the gunas, the movement of matter, the movement of the sun, and the movement of nature. Other ages of time, like the past or future, are other formations of the gunas. Isvara can break into human history at will, not limited by time.
Knowledge here is unlimited, like an ocean that is endless. In the ocean of knowledge there are currents of knowledge and in these current, there are chains of teachers. Who was the first teacher? Patanjali says that God is the guru’s guru, the teacher’s, teacher, the holder of all knowledge.
Though we are infinite sources of knowledge, we need teachers to help us realize that knowledge. Teachers come to us in the forms of the people and experiences in our lives.
Ultimately eternal peace cannot be achieved through the mind. The mind is part of nature, and finding the perfect balance of Supreme Consciousness, requires that we transcend all aspects of nature including the mind.
Just as we pay homage to our gurus and teachers, we must pay homage to God for being our ultimate guide and teacher. Yoga is the unification of the Yogin with the Divine.
Practice
Practice because you love yourself so much, not because you need to fix yourself.
Prayer Ritual
Practice 5X Rounds
Mantra:
- Use your mantra.
- Say your mantra to yourself 5 times out loud.
- Say your mantra in a whisper 5 times.
- Say your mantra silently in your mind 5 times.
*When you catch your mind engaged in an activity that you find harmful, use your mantra to get reset your mind.
Pranayama:
Viloma
- Start ujjayi, create a nice long breath, balancing the inhalation and exhalation.
- Inhale into the belly for a count of 2 and pause for 2.
- Inhale into the chest for 2 and pause for 2
- Inhale into the shoulders for 2 and pause for 2.
- Exhale slowly, smoothly and completely, pausing for 2.
- Reapeat for 5 minutes.
Meditation:
- Draw your attention into yourself. Removing your awareness of the objects of your senses.
- Focus your minds eye on your object of meditation.
- Practice for 10 minutes.
- When you feel your mind wander be so gentle in bringing it back. *Remember we are like infants in this journey. Treat yourself as you would your own child.
Reflection
- In what ways can I see Gods knowledge in the Past?Can I see God’s knowledge here in the present?
- Who or what have been important teachers in my life?
- In what ways can I pay homage to the teachers in my life, past and present?
- What ways can I pay homage to God?
