Table Of ContentINSIDE THE YOGA SUTRAS
INSIDE THE
YOGA SUTRAS
A COMPREHENSIVE SOURCEBOOK FOR
THE STUDY AND PRACTICE OF PATANJALI’S YOGA SUTRAS
REVEREND JAGANATH CARRERA
Integral Yoga® Publications
Yogaville, Virginia
Copyright © 2006 Jaganath Carrera.
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or
portions thereof in any form.
Cover Art © 2006 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville
Printed in the United States of America
Second Printing 2008
Third Printing 2011
Libraryof Congress Control Number: 2005907687
ISBN - 13: 978-0-932040-57-2
Cover design by Tim Barrall
Layout by Kemper Conwell, Pixels of Charlottesville, Virginia.
Integral Yoga®Publications
Satchidananda Ashram-Yogaville
Route 1 Box 1720
Buckingham, Virginia 23921
iv
Contents
Dedication. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Acknowledgments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Preface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Put Down This Book, Unless. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
The Cosmic Drama:
What You Perceive Is What You Believe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Pada One:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Inside Pada One. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Samadhi Pada: Portion on Absorption. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Pada One Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
What to Do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Pada Two:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Inside Pada Two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Sadhana Pada: Portion on Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Pada Two Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
What to Do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Pada Three: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Inside Pada Three. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Vibhuti Pada: Portion on Accomplishments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Pada Three Review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
What to Do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Pada Four: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Inside Pada Four. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Kaivalya Pada: Portion on Absoluteness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Pada Four Review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
What to Do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Study Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Appendix:
The Yoga Sutras, the Dualism of Classical
Sankhya, and the Nondualism of Advaita Vedanta. . . . . . . . . . 239
Sutras-by-Subject Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Word-for-Word Sutra Dictionary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Continuous Translation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Glossary of Sanskrit Terms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 401
v
Dedication
This book is dedicated to all who seek peace and understanding,
both individual and universal. May you soon experience the
unbounded peace and joy of your own Self.
It is also dedicated to that great light of Yoga, Sri Patanjali
Maharaj. A compassionate and brilliant teacher, his universal
teachings have informed and guided countless seekers to realize the
Self and be free.
Above all, I offer this book with humility, love, and gratitude to my
revered master, Rev. Sri Swami Satchidanandaji Maharaj, whose very
life embodies and exemplifies the truths of Sri Patanjali’s Sutras.
He is the root; this text, the fruit. His teachings, humor, vivid
stories, and memorable analogies are for me the foundation for
understanding the Yoga Sutras and permeate this publication. This,
along with his admonition always to “look beyond the letter, to find
the spirit of the law,” encouraged me to express my own humble
thoughts regarding this classic text.
I can never repay him for all he has done for me. To him, I offer my
prostrations.
vi
Acknowledgments
This text has been published through the dedicated and loving
efforts of many. I can never repay them for their selfless efforts in
bringing this text to light. They truly embody Yoga in action.
To my wife, Rev. Janaki Carrera, who patiently reviewed draft after
draft, providing organization, commonsense guidance, and the title
of this volume.
To Swami Karunananda Ma and Swami Sharadananda Ma,
masterful teachers of Raja Yoga, whose countless hours of service
provided both insights into these teachings and perceptive editing.
They helped give clarity and depth to the text.
To Paraman Barsel, a great Raja yogi (and the teacher in the first
Raja Yoga class I attended) whose editing skills helped elevate both
the ideas and prose of this text. He was on call at all hours to serve.
To Rev. Prem Anjali for her unflagging support, Ganesh MacIsaac
for his advice and help, Gill Kent for the clear editing that put the
polish on the apple, and the many students and teachers of Yoga who
encouraged and inspired me.
ToTim Barrall, a great artist and Karma Yogi, for his inspired cover
design and to Kemper Conwell who did a masterful job with the
layout of the text, making it clear and inviting.
Tothe countless wise teachers, authors, and commentators whose
profound knowledge and insights into this holy text inspired and
informed me. Thank you.
vii
Preface
I love the Yoga Sutras. They have been a part of my life, as both a
student and a teacher of Raja Yoga, for over thirty years. Yet to
comment on a sacred text requires a particular inspiration or, fail-
ing that, a peculiar type of daring or arrogance. After all, every spir-
itual classic is surrounded by the wise words of great sages and
scholars. Before adding another viewpoint, one must ask: Do I have
anything worthwhile to add to the discussion? Will it be a useful
service to others?
The book you hold in your hands began as a personal project: to
organize notes that had been jotted down on receipts, envelopes, and
notebooks over years of study and contemplation. At the urging of
students, this straightforward task transformed into the formidable
undertaking of writing a commentary. Their requests gave birth to a
rumor that took on a life of its own. Soon I was being asked when my
book would come out!
In spite of the interest, the project initially seemed unnecessary to
me, especially since my own master, Sri Swami Satchidananda (Sri
Gurudev) had authored a magnificent translation and commentary.
That text has been a treasured bible for me as well as countless oth-
ers for almost two decades. I thought it might be impertinent even to
suggest that my small voice should be added alongside his and the
other brilliant translators and commentators on the Yoga Sutras that
are available. Still, students continued their requests. Finally I found
it hard to ignore the realities of students’ interest and my expanding
compilation of notes.
One day, during a meeting I had with Sri Gurudev, I brought these
developments to his attention. His response provided insightful
guidance along with his blessings: “If it’s a good service to others, why not?
I’ve been thinking that it is time for a new approach. Go. Do it.” On another
occasion, in response to my lingering hesitancy, he added, “Someone
motivated by their ego would not even be asking these questions. It’s a good idea to
do this. Yes, let’s do it.” His blessings instilled a special life and spirit to
this project and initiated five years of joyfully consuming effort.
My prayer is that this publication fulfills my master’s charge to
provide a useful service to others.
viii
Put Down This Book, Unless . . .
. . . you agree with this fundamental truth: everyone wants to be
happy, peaceful, and fulfilled.
If you are completely at peace, if there is no lack in your life, if
nothing has the power to make you sad, anxious, or unsure, then
perhaps for you the study and practice of the Yoga Sutras is not
necessary; you are already living the goal. If, on the other hand, you
feel there is something missing in fleeting occasions of joy; if you
yearn to experience an abiding peace, are searching for meaning and
a vision of life that will help you make sense out of the unexpected
twists and turns you face; or if you would like to bring your mind to a
clear and focused stillness, then consider reading on.
TheYoga Sutrasof Sri Patanjali is the science of joy and a blueprint
for living a deeply satisfying life. It is a timeless spiritual classic
whose appeal is founded on a profound and unerring understanding
of the human condition. Not simply a philosophy, it presents a
holistic system of practices that provide clear progressive steps
towards the elimination of suffering and attainment of spiritual
liberation. These teachings reach beyond age, occupation, gender,
and faith tradition. They touch the heart of the struggle to find peace
amidst a world of uncertainties and challenge. They boldly proclaim
that the joy we seek is within us, as none other than our True Identity.
ix
