In the past few days I've had a strong feeling that I need to explore and expand my spiritual horizons. I don't really know what is prompting this specifically but I don't question when this happens. I just do it because I believe that following these emotional waves is important in finding my way down my Path. Just like the cycles in my life, I believe my spiritual quest has cycles and I generally enjoy, and learn from, riding them to the fullest.
It has prompted me to order a few yoga books which I am excited to get. And it prompted me to finally seek out and read all of the Yoga Sutra - something I've intended to do for some time. Yesterday I found several versions but the translation I think I like the best (PDF) is by Chip Hartranft although the one by Chester Messenger is not bad either just a bit more verbose. I read the entire Sutra, all 196 of them. Marcia told me I might be the only person to ever actually sit and read all of them.
Anyway, I found most of it quite amazing. Some of it was not new and some of it is difficult to mentally digest but mostly it has a very logical feel which for me is attractive because I thrive on very logical ideas. Given that I've only been digesting it for less than 24 hours, I am going to explore some of the Sutra that seemed to affect me the most.
The first one that I like is actually the second through the fourth of the first "chapter" of the Sutra called "Integration."
"Yoga is to still the patterning of consciousness. Then, pure awareness can abide in its very nature. Otherwise, awareness takes itself to be the patterns of consciousness."
I like this because it's my definition of enlightenment. To me, reaching this state would truly allow me to be present in and to fully enjoy every moment of this life. The next set I really like are 12 - 16 from "Integration."
"Both practice and non-reaction are required to still the patterning of consciousness. Practice is the sustained effort to rest in that stillness. And this practice becomes firmly rooted when it is cultivated skillfully and continuously for a long time. As for non-reaction, one can recognize that it has been fully achieved when no attachment arises in regard to anything at all, whether perceived directly or learned. When the ultimate level of non-reaction has been reached, pure awareness can clearly see itself as independent from the fundamental qualities of nature."
I like this mainly because I get it. Again, the logic of it makes sense to me so it jives in my mind. What I am not sure about here is the "no attachment ... to anything" part. I need to ponder this one. What about love? What about family and friends? To me, human nature is to be attached to love. Without love we are not healthy. This one actually requires me to pause. I think I may not fully understand the intent of this Sutra. Until I do, I must explore it before exploring more of the Sutra.
...
Ok, so I paused and pondered and now I am back. I read some other translations and now feel better about this Sutra. Based on what I can gather from the other translations, the intent of this Sutra is "dispassion" or "freedom from desires" and "craving of objects." This I can handle. Well ... at least I understand it. Whether or not I can actually ever attain such a state is another matter. But that's one of the many reasons I love the physical practice of yoga. Every time I do it, I am practicing this and other Sutra intentions. Dig it.