Informationen zum Autor ALISTAIR SHEARER did postgraduate work in Sanskrit at the University of Lancaster, after studying literature at Cambridge. He has practiced and taught meditation for many years. He currently divides his time between lecturing and writing on the sacred art of Hinduism and Buddhism, teaching meditation courses, and leading cultural tours to the Indian subcontinent each winter. His latest publications include The Spirit of Asia and Buddha: The Intelligent Heart . Klappentext "A wonderful translation, full of contemporary insight yet luminous with eternal truth.Jacob Needleman The Yoga Sutras were cast in their present form in India around the third century b.c. Yoga is from the Sanskrit root meaning "union, and a sutra is a thread or aphoristic verse. The basic questions "Who am I? "Where am I going? "What is the purpose of life? are asked by each new generation, and Patanjali's answers form one of the oldest and most vibrant spiritual texts in the world. He explains what yoga is, how it works, and exactly how to purify the mind and let it settle into absolute stillness. This stillness is our own Self. It is the indispensable ground for Enlightenment, which is the ultimate goal of all our aspirations. Alistair Shearer's lucid introduction and superb translation, fully preserving Patanjali's jewel-like style, bring these ancient but vital teachings to those who seek the path of self-knowledge today. Bell Tower's series, Sacred Teachings, offers essential spiritual classics from all traditions. May each book become a trusted companion on the way of truth, encouraging readers to study the wisdom of the ages and put it into practice each day.1 The Settled Mind 1.And now the teaching on yoga begins. 2.Yoga is the settling of the mind into silence. 3.When the mind has settled, we are established in our essential nature, which is unbounded consciousness. 4.Our essential nature is usually overshadowed by the activity of the mind. 5.There are Wve types of mental activity. They may or may not cause suVering. 6.These Wve are: understanding, misunderstanding, imagination, sleep, and memory. 7.Understanding is correct knowledge based on direct perception, inference, or the reliable testimony of others. 8.Misunderstanding is the delusion that stems from a false impression of reality. 9.Imagination is thought based on an image conjured up by words, and is without substance. 10.Sleep is the mental activity that has as its content the sense of nothingness. 11.And memory is the returning to the mind of past experience. 12.These Wve types of mental activity are settled through the practice of yoga and the freedom it bestows. 13.The practice of yoga is the commitment to become established in the state of freedom. 14.The practice of yoga will be Wrmly rooted when it is maintained consistently and with dedication over a long period. 15.Freedom is that triumphant state of consciousness that is beyond the inXuence of desire. The mind ceases to thirst for anything it has seen or heard of; even what is promised in the scriptures. 16. And supreme freedom is that complete liberation from the world of change that comes of knowing the unbounded Self. 17.The settled mind is known as samadhi. In samprajnata samadhi, the settled state is accompanied by mental activity: Wrst on the gross level, then on the subtle level, then a feeling of bliss, and Wnally the sense of pure "I-AM-ness." 18.After the repeated experience of the settling and ceasing of mental activity comes another samadhi. In this only the latent impressions of past experience remain. 19.This is the nature of existence for be...

Klappentext

"A wonderful translation, full of contemporary insight yet luminous with eternal truth.”—Jacob Needleman

The Yoga Sutras were cast in their present form in India around the third century b.c. Yoga is from the Sanskrit root meaning "union,” and a sutra is a thread or aphoristic verse. The basic questions "Who am I?” "Where am I going?” "What is the purpose of life?” are asked by each new generation, and Patanjali's answers form one of the oldest and most vibrant spiritual texts in the world. He explains what yoga is, how it works, and exactly how to purify the mind and let it settle into absolute stillness. This stillness is our own Self. It is the indispensable ground for Enlightenment, which is the ultimate goal of all our aspirations.

Alistair Shearer's lucid introduction and superb translation, fully preserving Patanjali's jewel-like style, bring these ancient but vital teachings to those who seek the path of self-knowledge today.

Bell Tower's series, Sacred Teachings, offers essential spiritual classics from all traditions. May each book become a trusted companion on the way of truth, encouraging readers to study the wisdom of the ages and put it into practice each day.

Leseprobe
1 The Settled Mind

1.And now the teaching on yoga begins.

2.Yoga is the settling of the mind into silence.

3.When the mind has settled, we are established in our essential nature, which is unbounded consciousness.

4.Our essential nature is usually overshadowed by the activity of the mind.

5.There are Wve types of mental activity.

They may or may not cause suVering.

6.These Wve are:

understanding,

misunderstanding,

imagination,

sleep,

and memory.

7.Understanding is correct knowledge based on direct perception, inference, or the reliable testimony of others.

8.Misunderstanding is the delusion that stems from a false impression of reality.

9.Imagination is thought based on an image conjured up by words, and is without substance.

10.Sleep is the mental activity that has as its content the sense of nothingness.

11.And memory is the returning to the mind of past experience.

12.These Wve types of mental activity are settled through the practice of yoga and the freedom it bestows.

13.The practice of yoga is the commitment to become established in the state of freedom.

14.The practice of yoga will be Wrmly rooted when it is maintained consistently and with dedication over a long period.

15.Freedom is that triumphant state of consciousness that is beyond the inXuence of desire.

The mind ceases to thirst for anything it has seen or heard of; even what is promised in the scriptures.

16. And supreme freedom is that complete liberation from the world of change that comes of knowing the unbounded Self.

    17.The settled mind is known as samadhi.

    In samprajnata samadhi, the settled state is accompanied by mental activity:

    Wrst on the gross level,

    then on the subtle level,

    then a feeling of bliss,

    and Wnally the sense of pure "I-AM-ness."

    18.After the repeated experience of the settling and ceasing of mental activity comes another samadhi.

    In this only the latent impressions of past experience remain.

    19.This is the nature of existence for beings without gross physical bodies and for those who are absorbed in the womb of all life awaiting rebirth.

    20.For others this samadhi is preceded by trust, perseverance, recollection, tranquillity, and wisdom.

    21.It is near for those who ardently desire it.

17. Yet even among them there are degrees--mild, moderate, and intense.

    23.It can also come from complete surrender to the almighty Lord.

    24.The Lord is a unique being who exists beyond all suVering.

    Unblemished by action, He is free from both its cause and its eVects.

    25.In Him lies the Wnest seed of all knowledge.

18. Being beyond time, He is the Teacher of even the most ancient tradition of teachers.

    27.He is expressed through the sound of the sacred syllable OM.

    28.It should be repeated and its essence realized.

    29.Then the mind will turn inward and the obstacles that stand in t…