What Does Patanjali Teach Us?

A holistic and classical practitioner of Yoga is not one who is only trying to become more flexible and strong in his or her body. In fact such a practitioner would not place much interest and effort in such a thing.

A holistic and classical practitioner of Yoga is someone who is learning, understanding and applying the teachings that Patanjali put forth in his Yoga Sutras so as to weaken and eliminate suffering in his or her life.

The causes of this suffering are mental defilements, known in Sanskrit as kilesha.

It is when we weaken and eliminate these kileshas that we experience liberation and the union that is Yoga.

Patanjali's Yoga Sutras not only teach us about these kileshas and their nature and forms, but more importantly, how to weaken and eliminate them.

The primary method for doing this is through the practice of meditation.

In addition we engage in various moral and ethical actions which assist in this process.

So if we are truly a practitioner of Yoga, we do the following things.

We engage in a regime of postures and various other physical, breathing and purifying techniques in order to strengthen and balance the body, mind and consciousness.

Many times, Yoga practitioners make this the cornerstone of their practice of Yoga and for many, it is the practice of Yoga.

Such an approach, though both healthy and therapeutic is not a strong or deep practice of Yoga. It is not holistic and not being done in the true classical sense of what Yoga and its practice is.

Secondly, we practice meditation on a daily basis, attempting to sit for the same amount of time at least and at the same time each day.

Thirdly, we apply the morals and ethics of Yoga, known as the yamas and niyamas to all of our individual and interactive actions with others in thought, in word and in action.

To do such a thing is not easy, as it requires mindfulness of all of these teachings and the ability to apply them to the situations, experiences, tasks and activities that come up in day to day living.

Fourthly, we are extremely mindful and appropriately disciplined as regards our diet, our sleep and our leisure activities.

Our practice of Yoga can be weak and ineffective if our attitudes to diet, sleep and leisure activities are not mindful and disciplined.

It is also important that we study and reflect on the teachings as with each experience of study and reflection, we can learn something new that will deepen our understanding and therefore our practice.

Is this difficult?

No, but we have to understand the need for what we are doing and be ready to make the commitment that goes with seeing and understanding that need.

Making changes in diet, sleep and leisure activities is more a matter of seeing the need and applying the discipline then anything else.

These changes come more easily when we fully understand their need.

We can benefit from the support of others and many times family and friends may not always give us the support that we need.

In some places we may find like-minded people and fortunately, in these days of the internet, we may find such like-minded people online.

Sometimes the support that we seek may not be interactive and sharing and only come through reading the writings, work and books of others.

If we apply ourselves with sincerity, there will be a worthwhile change that manifests itself in a better understanding of what causes suffering in ourselves and others, and with that a weakening of it.

2005 John C. Kimbrough (February 24th, 2005)