Theos-Talk Archives (December 1998 Message tt00032)

Sveinn Freyr wrote:

> This is the case with all versions of Patanjali. I know of no identical
> versions of the Sutras. If that would be the case, then the mind would
> not be working freely.  But the main idea should be the same.

The approach I have taken is to read several versions concurrently
(unless you can read the Sanskrit texts yourself).  In this way you get
a good idea of what the real intended meaning of the Sutra is. I have
found several good texts for this which are:

Raga Yoga by Swami Vivekananda, another good clear version by Swami
Satchidananda alongside the one you mention by IK Tamini.  Vivekananda
in his book also gives an excellent overview on the principles of Raja
Yoga which I believe is the best I have read to date.

It is also then worth reading their interpretations which generally are
similar but tend to give a well rounded picture.

Of course the Sutras are but seed thoughts which we need to expand.
Something only possible through practising what they suggest.  They were
intended as notes for the teacher to expand on with their students.

> To study Patanjali one needs to learn the Sutras by heart.

I have not done this but can see the advantages of doing so.  There are
4 books
in Patanjali's set which each have around 50 Sutras each.

For the student who is really interested in this work then I would
recommend also reading further into the Samkhya Philosophy from which
the Yoga Sutras are based.  There are some difference between the two,
namely Samkhya has no place for the concept of Isvara (God) and the
Samkhya Philosophy emphasizes knowledge as the means to liberation while
the Sutras emphasis a further step called Samyama which is comprised of
Concentration, Meditation and Samadhi which Patanjali has devoted all of
book 3 to.

John