Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Verse 2.45 समाधि सिद्धिःईश्वरप्रणिधानात् ॥४५॥ samādhi siddhiḥ-īśvarapraṇidhānāt ॥45॥ Surrender to God brings perfection in samadhi Verse 2.46 स्थिरसुखमासनम् ॥४६॥ sthira-sukham-āsanam ॥46॥ Asana is perfect firmness of body, steadiness of intelligence and benevolence of spirit. Samadhi is attained through clarity of intelligence and intensity in thought to surrender to God. The power of samadhi comes to him who takes refuge in God. Surrender to God releases the sadhaka from the bondage of earthly desires, leads to the renunciation of sensuous desires and finally attains Moksha. Sutras 2 .46-48 define asana and the effects of its practice. The definition of asana is given as follows: whatever asana is performed, it should be done with a feeling of firmness, steadiness and endurance in the body; goodwill in the intelligence of the head, and awareness and delight in the intelligence of the heart. This sutra defines the perfected asana. From the very first sutra Patanjali demands the highest...

Verse 2.43 कायेन्द्रियसिद्धिरशुद्धिक्षयात् तपसः ॥४३॥ kāyendriya-siddhir-aśuddhi-kṣayāt tapasaḥ ॥43॥ Self-discipline (tapas) burns away impurities and kindles the sparks of divinity. Verse 2.44 स्वाध्यायादिष्टदेवता संप्रयोगः ॥४४॥ svādhyāyād-iṣṭa-devatā saṁprayogaḥ ॥44॥ Self-study leads towards the realization of God or communion with one's desired deity. Self-discipline destroys all impurities, perfecting the body, mind and senses, so that consciousness functions freely and attains divinity. Study of the Self has two paths. One is for communicating from the skin, through the inner sheaths towards the seer; the other from the seer to the outer layer of his abode. Though consciousness exists in the body, it needs to be tapped through the practice of asana and pranayama, in which the intelligence acts as a bridge to connect awareness of the body with the core and vice versa.  This connecting intelligence alone brings harmony of body, mind and soul, and intimacy with the Supreme Soul (I...

Verse 2.41 सत्त्वशुद्धिः सौमनस्यैकाग्र्येन्द्रियजयाअत्मदर्शन योग्यत्वानि च ॥४१॥ sattva-śuddhiḥ saumanasya-ikāgry-endriyajaya-ātmadarśana yogyatvāni ca ॥41॥ When the body is cleansed, the mind purified and the senses controlled, joyful awareness needed to realize the inner self, also comes. Verse 2.42 संतोषातनुत्तमस्सुखलाभः ॥४२॥ saṁtoṣāt-anuttamas-sukhalābhaḥ ॥42॥ From contentment and benevolence of consciousness comes supreme happiness By this practice the Sattva material will prevail, and the mind will become concentrated and cheerful. The first sign that you are become Spiritual is that you are becoming cheerful. A pleasurable feeling is the nature of the Sattva. Everything is pleasurable to the Sattvika man, and when this comes, know that you are progressing in Yoga. All pain is caused by Tamas, so you must get rid of that; moroseness is one of the results of Tamas.  The strong, the well-knit, the young, the healthy, the daring alone are fit to be Yogis. To the Yogi everything i...

Verse 2.39 अपरिग्रहस्थैर्ये जन्मकथंता संबोधः ॥३९॥ aparigraha-sthairye janma-kathaṁtā saṁbodhaḥ ॥39॥ Knowledge of past and future lives unfolds when one is free from greed for possessions. Verse 2.40 शौचात् स्वाङ्गजुगुप्सा परैरसंसर्गः ॥४०॥ śaucāt svāṅga-jugupsā parairasaṁsargaḥ ॥40॥ Cleanliness of body and mind develops disinterest in contact with others for self-gratification. When one is steady in living without surplus possessions and without greed, one realizes the true meaning of one's life, and all life unfolds before one. Perseverance in this austerity leads to knowledge of one's past and future lives which appear like reflections in a mirror. When the sadhaka i s free of worldly aspirations, he is a krtarthan (a happy and satisfied person). Aparigraha means not only non-possession and non-acceptance of gifts, but also freedom from rigidity of thought.  Holding on to one's thoughts is also a form of possessiveness, and thoughts, as well as material possessions, should...

Yoga Sutras ~ Patanjali: Verse 2.37 अस्तेयप्रतिष्ठायां सर्वरत्नोपस्थानम् ॥३७॥ asteya-pratiṣṭhāyāṁ sarvaratn-opasthānam ॥37॥ On being firmly established in non-stealing all wealth comes to the Yogi. Verse 2.38 ब्रह्मचर्य प्रतिष्ठायां वीर्यलाभः ॥३८॥ brahma-carya pratiṣṭhāyāṁ vīrya-lābhaḥ ॥38॥ When the sadhaka is firmly established in continence, knowledge, vigour, valour and energy flow to him. Upon the man who does not take what does not belong to him, all riches are showered. Being without desire, he effortlessly attracts what is precious, materially and figuratively, including the gem of all jewels, virtue. The celibate transforms the energy of procreation into spiritual energy (ojas) , creating lustre. Sexual energy is the most basic expression of the life force. It is immensely powerful, and it is essential to control and channel it. In no way should we despise it. The life-force which finds sexual expression also serves to find the warmth of our emotions, the passions of our intell...