Living the Sutras: A Guide to Yoga Wisdom Beyond the Mat

123 Pages·2018·1.87 MB·English

by  Kelly DiNardo

Shambhala Publications, Inc.
4720 Walnut Street
Boulder, CO 80301
www.shambhala.com
© 2018 by Kelly DiNardo and Amy Pearce-Hayden All rights reserved. No part of this book may be
reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or
by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
eBook design adapted from printed book design by Gopa & Ted2, Inc.
Cover art: saemil / iStockphoto
Cover design: Gopa © Ted2, Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: DiNardo, Kelly, 1976– author.
Title: Living the sutras: a guide to bringing yoga wisdom to life / Kelly DiNardo and Amy Pearce-Hayden.
Description: Boulder: Shambhala, 2018. | Includes bibliographical references.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017044380 | ISBN 9781611805499 (paperback) eISBN 9780834841598
Subjects: LCSH: Patañjali. Yogasūtra. | Hatha yoga. | Yoga. | Mind and body.
| Self-care, Health. | BISAC: HEALTH & FITNESS / Yoga. |
PHILOSOPHY / Hindu. | SELF-HELP / Spiritual.
Classification: LCC RA781.7 .D548 2018 | DDC 613.7/046—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017044380
v5.3.1
a
For JP, who long ago told me he just wanted to make me happy. You do.
—KD
For Jorge, my unconditionally loving partner.
—APH
Contents
Introduction: Now We Begin
BOOK ONE: Samadhi Pada
True Colors: Sutras 1:2–1:3
Colors of Our Mind: Sutras 1:4–1:11
Balancing Act: Sutras 1:12–1:16
Joy Ride: Sutras: 1:17–1:18
The Approach: Sutras 1:19–1:22
Divine Connection: Sutras 1:23–1:29
Afflictions: Sutras 1:30–1:31
Antidotes: Sutras 1:32–1:39
Destination Zen: Sutras 1:40–1:51
BOOK TWO: Sadhana Pada
Creatures of Habit: Sutras 2:1–2:2
Obstacle Course: Sutras 2:3–2:9
Breaking the Cycle: Sutras 2:10–2:16
A Matter of Perspective: Sutras 2:17–2:25
Eyes Wide Open: Sutras 2:26–2:29
The Outer Limbs: Ready, Steady, Go: Sutras 2:30–2:34
The First Limb: Core Code: Sutras 2:35–2:39
The Second Limb: Our Behavioral Backbone: Sutras 2:40–2:45
The Third Limb: Take a Seat: Sutras 2:46–2:48
The Fourth Limb: Breathe Easy: Sutras 2:49–2:53
The Fifth Limb: Quiet, Please: Sutras: 2:54–2:55
BOOK THREE: Vibhuti Pada
The Inner Limbs: The Path Forward: Sutras 3:1–3:3
Acknowledgments
Appendix 1: Resources
Appendix 2: The Sutras
About the Authors
E-mail Sign-Up
INTRODUCTION
Now We Begin
MIND. BODY. SPIRIT. In yoga, we explore all three, and on the mat, we get a
glimpse that there is more to the practice than pretzel-like twists and gravity-
defying balances. In your hands, you hold a mind and spirit companion to the
physical practice.
Living the Sutras is a modern, accessible interpretation of ancient philosophy
with exercises and writing prompts to help you make it alive, active, and
applicable to your life. It is based on The Yoga Sutras, teachings compiled by the
guru Patanjali roughly two thousand years ago. The sutras are a map for how to
navigate through the challenges of human life. They contain lessons on how to
deal with loss, pain, dissatisfaction, and alienation. And they provide guidance
on how to cultivate joy and lead a healthy, happy, fulfilling life.
It’s challenging to unfold this map when we’re working to keep our knee over
our ankle in Crescent Pose or struggling to understand how ancient yogic
wisdom could possibly help us deal with a difficult boss, an irritating sibling, or
a rough patch with our partner. And this may be why the sutras are sometimes
seen as dense, incomprehensible, or irrelevant to modern life.
This was certainly how Kelly felt about the sutras for many years. After a
brief introduction to them during one yoga training, she tucked her translation
onto a bookshelf where it, and the ideas within, grew dusty. Twelve years later,
perched on a block at the front of her mat, she listened to her instructor Amy
give a brief talk about viveka, or discernment. In her classes, and later over
coffee, Amy made the sutras understandable, relevant, and personal to Kelly for
the first time. This guide grew out of those conversations.
It’s important to note that this is not an academic study, a scholarly
examination, or a Sanskrit lesson. Rather, it is an offering to those who feel there
is more to the practice of yoga. If our time on the mat is an opportunity to feel
where we are in our body and in our physical life, then this is a chance to take
our practice off the mat and to learn where we are in our mind and spirit. It is a
way to interact with the ancient philosophy in an active, modern way. It’s a
guide for understanding how the mind works and an opportunity to refocus our
attention so we can be present. It is a way—just one way—to live the idea that
yoga is a work in, not just a workout.
So what is the work in? What is the more of yoga?
In the simplest terms, the more of yoga is a life of ease, contentment, and
purpose. The Yoga Sutras, introduced by Patanjali, is a systematic approach for
how to achieve that. Beyond legend, little is known about the author or even if
he was a single person or several people. Patanjali did not create yoga; he
collected existing beliefs, ideas, and practices from various spiritual
philosophies, organized them, and codified them into a step-by-step process for
self-realization.
The Yoga Sutras are comprised of 195 compact sentences that are divided into
four portions or books (padas). Patanjali first explains what yoga is, what a
steady mind looks like, and the various obstacles that keep us from maintaining
balance. In the second book, he presents the tools and practices that support the
goal of yoga. In the remainder of the sutras, Patanjali describes in great detail the
transformation that leads to the full and complete understanding of our true self
and potential. This yogic system promises:
►That the mind becomes steady and clear through practice.
►That through these practices, we learn to minimize distractions and increase
our awareness and presence in everyday life.
►Greater understanding and acceptance of ourselves, others, and the world
around us. This greater understanding connects us to our divine light and
teaches us how to reach our potential and live with purpose. And, with
others, we are able to communicate more clearly and understand their
words and actions so our relationships are more harmonious.
►Freedom from our fears, self-imposed limitations, and expectations.
Classically, Patanjali talks about removing our limitations to such a degree
that we are completely free, even of our own physicality, and we could
gain superpowers like levitation, invisibility, and supernormal hearing.
We take a less Superman-like approach and believe Patanjali was inviting us to
go beyond what we perceive is possible and to realize that we possess greater
capability, knowledge, and potential. He is telling us that when we get ahold of
our mind and silence the chatter, we will hear the true voice within, understand
our spirit, function free of limitations, and be able to do anything.
If this seems ambitious, it is. Our goals are grand: wisdom, personal insight,
freedom, a life of ease. As Sri Swami Satchidananda says in his translation and
commentary of The Yoga Sutras: “Never, never settle for these little things. Our
goal is something very high. It is eternal peace, eternal joy. Don’t settle for a
little peace, for a little joy, for petty happiness.”
There are hundreds of translations and commentaries on The Yoga Sutras, and
we list some of our favorites in appendix 1, but Living the Sutras is something
different. The sutras were written for a renunciate living in solitude thousands of
years ago, and it is challenging to build a bridge between the ancient theory and
the modern-day application. We hope that Living the Sutras will be your bridge.
This book can be used in many ways and at different times in your life and
practice. It can be an introduction to this classical philosophy. It can be a quick
guide and reference for students and teachers. But our aim is for you to make it
part of an active self-study by using a journal, the writing prompts, and exercises
to bring the ancient wisdom of the sutras into your life as a part of your practice.
To do this, you might choose to read it from beginning to end to help you
understand the yogic system and to support your personal journey. Or you may
let chance give you focus and reflection for the day by randomly choosing a
single commentary and prompt. However you choose to use this guide, we hope
you find it to be an opportunity to actively engage with the sutras in a deeply
personal way.
Like yoga, journaling is an act of self-study that requires concentration and
aims to shine a light on the truth about who we are. For this reason, we’ve
chosen to focus primarily on the first two books of the sutras, as they offer
reason, theory, and practices that encourage and foster self-study, whereas the
third and fourth books are more descriptive of the results. For each sutra or
group of sutras, we offer a brief interpretation and writing prompts that give you
the chance to reflect on and apply its meaning to your life.
Before we begin this journey, we have some overarching advice.
When translated, the first yoga sutra, atha yoganushasanam (1:1), simply
states “Now we begin” or “Now the teachings of yoga are presented.” We are
partial to one variation that reads “Now we begin our practice.” It is a practice,
an ongoing effort. A pianist doesn’t start with Chopin. A runner doesn’t start
with a marathon. It takes one note, one step at a time.
Journaling about the sutras doesn’t require any special skills. You don’t need
to study anything before you begin. You don’t need to be a skilled writer or even
worry about grammar. In fact, set any of those expectations or pressures aside so
you can let the thoughts flow.
Exploring the sutras doesn’t make you Buddhist or Hindu. You can practice
your own religion or no religion at all. The writing prompts are meant to apply
the sutras to your life, within any faith or secular tradition.
We invite you to turn this journaling practice into a mindfulness practice. Put
away distractions, even your phone. Find a comfortable, quiet place to write.
And, before you take pen to paper, take a moment to become still and present
with slow, deep, even breaths.
Now we begin.