Theos-Talk Archives (December 1998 Message tt00053)

Sveinn Freyr wrote:

> You are quite correct there. For a time, I read several versions concurrently
> and collected books dealing with the Sutras. But I have twice given away my
> library to a T. S. library, when moving from one continent to another.
> Among the books that I miss the most from my former libraries, are the books
> dealing with the Sutras of Patanjali. Some of them rarities.

I can appreciate this.  The study of the Sutras of Patanjali is a
continuous process and having the insights of other sages is a most
valuable help for the student to gain an understanding of them.  It is
also the most practical science I have ever studied to date.

> I am not familiar with the work by Swami Satchidananda.

Satchidanada has a gift of being able to put something across in a way
which is easy to understand.  Unfortunately I do not have his book with
me as I have loaned it to a friend.  I would recommend it to anyone
first starting to study the Sutras simply because it is easy to read and
he gives good examples.
This year we studied the Sutras in our local TS Branch and most of the
students found this translation the easiest to understand however he
only really covers in detail the first two books of Patanjali and the
first few Sutras of book 3.  When Patanjali starts talking about the
results that the student can expect from Samyama in book 3 Satchidananda
does not interpret often.

> The text, - the Sutras - that I would the most like to see at this
> time; is the work by Rama Prasad. Do you have the book.? The Yoga Sutras
> of Patanjali by Rama Prasad.? Rama Prasad is also known for his book:
> Nature´s Finer Forces. Do you know if some of the writings of Rama Prasad
> are on line.?

No I have not come across this Author before.  Just had a look at
amazon.com but they have no reference to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by
Rama Prasad.  They did however have Nature's Finer Forces which I just
ordered.  I will look further.

Another couple of books I am finding quite useful on this topics are:

Yoga as a Philosphy and Religion by Surendranath Dasgupta

Yoga Immortality and Freedom by Mircea Eliade

They are not direct translations of the Sutras but rather discuss in
depth the concepts from the Yoga Sutras and the Samkhya Philosophy.  I
have found these books very helpful. They are more of an academic work.

John