Patanjali's Yoga Sutras

We cannot just plant a sapling anywhere, forget about it and then come again to the spot after a few days expecting to see a tree growing. There is thus the need for imparting some sincerity, enthusiasm, and meaning to an activity once started.

Just like the sapling the human beings are also striving for growth and actualisation of inner potentials. In Yoga there is much work to be done work within to train the subconscious to realise the highest.

A well-known Indian named Patanjali, organized this study of man and his achievements in a systematic form. He wrote a small book which is called the Yoga Sutra. The work itself is very very small. In one single page you can write down the entire book. It contains aphorisms consisting of a few words, but these are very important. In the very second and third sentence Patanjali answers the question, "What is Yoga, where of the human personality" and in the next aphorisms, he assures us that such a self mastering leads us to the absolute states. That's what Yoga is. It is not just exercise, it is not just meditation, it is not just relaxation. The purpose behind Yoga is to gain a complete control over our whole personality - the body, the mind and more, Such a control leads to the optimum growth of one's consciousness.

Shri H. Sequeira translated the Yoga Sutras and wrote notes on the same. The notes were published in the magazine 'Yoga and Total Health' of the Yoga Institute from 1985 to 1995.

Success has different meanings. Success in the true sense of achieving the highest is enshrined in the old Indian ways of realising one's own true nature. Such a success spills over into success in other areas. Some of the great men in this country were first Yogis and then good medical men, good philosophers and excelled in practically all areas of life.

We remain indebted to Shri Yogendraji, The Yoga Institute, Santacruz and academicians like Ramaprasad, Woods and Dasgupta for the use we made of their experiences and explanations at different places in the book. We also wish to thank all those who helped us in compiling this book.

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