This month continues to be exciting. Last week the World Yoga Forum was featured among the top blogs and websites on Yoga in India. This week as committed last week has marked the completion of the second part of the Yoga Sutras (aphorisms) by Patanjali as described by Swami Vivekananda in Raja Yoga. These are 55 sutras that talk about the practice of yoga and have been detailed in the chapter – Concentration: It’s Practice in the book Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda. It is one of the most critical pieces in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras as it is introduces the practice and has described many important concepts. I’d like to share an excerpt from the last sutra of the second set.
“When the Yogi has succeeded in preventing the organs from taking the forms of external objects, and in making them remain one with the mind-stuff, then comes perfect control of the organs. When the organs are perfectly under control, every muscle and nerve will be under control, because the organs are the centres of all the sensations, and of all actions. These organs are divided into organs of work and organs of sensation. When the organs are controlled, the Yogi can control all feeling and doing; the whole of the body comes under his control. Then alone one begins to feel joy in being born; then one can truthfully say, “Blessed am I that I was born.” When that control of the organs is obtained, we feel how wonderful this body really is.“
You can read the full set below. Take your time to read and understand it. If you have any suggestions for the World Yoga Forum, you can contact me or comment below.
Part 2 (55 Sutras)
Concentration: Its Practice – Swami Vivekananda
The practice of concentration is the second part in Swami Vivekananda’s Raja Yoga and a continuation of the first part, which describes the spiritual uses of concentration. The first part has the first 51 sutras of Patanjali where the uses of concentration have been described. The second part discussed below has the next 55 sutras (aphorisms) out of the 195 sutras from Patanjali’s yoga sutras. This part begins with the introduction of Kriya-Yoga, and its effects. Also read the first part of Raja Yoga – Concentration: It’s Spiritual Uses. 1. Mortification, study, and surrendering fruits of work to God are…
Keep readingPart 1 (51 Sutras)
Concentration: It’s Spiritual Uses
This post is from Swami Vivekananda’s Raja Yoga and includes the first segment of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras interpreted and translated by Swami Vivekananda. This chapter from Raja Yoga essentially lists the first 51 Yoga Sutras from Patanjali’s 195 Yoga Sutras. Swami Vivekananda has explained these Sutras through four separate chapters in the book. The first chapter is the first segment, which in its essence talks about the mind, concentration, and describes meditation and its various stages. These have been chronologically listed as mentioned in Raja Yoga. There are certain instances where the meaning of a Sutra may not be clear.…
Keep readingI’ve also included a few interesting posts this week that come from the second set of sutras.
More this week
Can The Soul Be Unhappy? Are You Free? – Swami Vivekananda
In Raja Yoga, Swami Vivekananda decodes Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and comments on the soul being unhappy and the soul being free in the 72nd & 73rd Sutra (aphorim). Swami Vivekananda Says, Then how does the soul appear to be happy or unhappy? By reflection. If a red flower is put near a piece of pure…
Why Build Places of Worship? – Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda in the book Raja Yoga is deciphering and explaining Yoga Sutras by Patanjali. While explaining these in the 70th Sutra (out of 195 Sutras), Swami Vivekananda has made a very important & interesting argument on places of worship and holy people. He also questions, why is it important to worship god (if at…
Can Meditation Help With Anger? – Swami Vivekananda
We’ve at some point all experienced anger and even rage. We might have also encountered people getting angry and seen them doing ghastly things in the heat of the moment. It can almost be undisputedly said that anger is not good for anyone. Swami Vivekananda in Raja Yoga while deciphering Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras has clearly…
If you have any suggestions, you can contact me or comment below.
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[…] This has been another exciting week at the World Yoga Forum. This week marks the completion of Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda as committed last week. […]