Patanjali Yoga Sutras: Eight Limbs
Sutra 2.28:
By the practice of the limbs of yoga, the impurities are destroyed and there dawns the light of wisdom, leading to discriminative discernment.
In this introduction to the eight limbs of yoga, Patanjali refers to transcending the five obstacles to happiness: nescience (not knowing the Self), ego, attachment, aversion and fear. These obstacles (kleshas) are progressive, in that nescience (avidya) strengthens ego which becomes immersed in attachment, aversion and fear. Sutra 1.2 tells us that yoga is the restraint of thought in the mind. It is this restraint that awakens Self-knowledge and, in turn, diminishes the suffering of the ego brought on by attachment, aversion and fear. Patanjali suggests that by practicing the eight limbs of yoga that the student will attain the wisdom of the Self and ultimately, discrimination of the silent witness (Purusha) from the noise of the world (Prakriti).
Sutra 2.29:
The eight limbs of yoga are:
1. Yama (restraints)
2. Niyama (observances)
3. Asana (posture)
4. Pranayama (regulation of breath)
5. Pratyahara (sense withdrawal)
6. Dharana (concentration)
7. Dhyana (meditation)
8. Samadhi (transcendent superconsciousness)
The first four of these practices are external and the final four are internal. The natural starting points of Astanga Yoga are (1) asana that will stabilize, strengthen and purify the body, and (2) dhyana that will purify the mind. As the practice of asana progresses, all the other limbs of Astanga must be integrated as well. Simultaneous with asana, we must learn and follow the yamas and niyamas as well as sustain a daily discipline of meditation. If equal emphasis is placed on both the external and internal practices, Astanga Yoga will blossom into an integrated life of health and happiness.
As we progress through the study of the Yoga Sutras devoted to Astanga, each practice will be taken individually in different sutras, but we must not neglect the other practices in our personal development. Asana and meditation will be the foundation practices as we study the restraints and observances. Asana practice will integrate pranayama, and meditation will integrate pratyahara, dharana and samadhi.
Through this integrated approach, health and happiness will gradually emerge as our predominant state to carry us forward into purity and transcendence: the goal of yoga.
~Dennis Hill
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