As Pantajali's Yoga Sutras begin the first "thread", it states: Now the exposition of Yoga is being made. Atha Yoganusasanam (YS 1:1). The "YS" is for Yoga Sutras. The first "1" indicates the first book (of 4), and the second "1" indicates the first "thread", sutra, or paragraph.
Sri Swami Satchindananda's commentary on this states that yoga is more than a mere philosophy, but specific instruction on how to practice yoga. "Without practice, nothing can be achieved." (p.3) Yoga is a very practical practice.
Patanjali's Yoga Sutras is considered to be a science, in that it is a deliberate, specific, and detailed accounting on HOW to practice yoga. Patanjali states later in this text that if you practice as is described in the sutras, then a known result will happen. What is the known result that happens? Should we read ahead and find out what our prize is for doing yoga right? Perhaps we believe that if we do yoga right we will reach a state of enlightenment. This can become a trap... a tricky position to sort out. With the science of yoga, a known outcome will happen, yet we are not to get caught up in being correct. (More to come later on this specifically!)
This is something that can be looked at from several different perspectives and many paths do indeed seek enlightenment as the goal. In meditation, a goal of bliss is often sought. Yet, the more we try to attain the state of bliss in meditation, the more illusive it becomes!
These teachings are deliberate, and slow. Without rushing, goal seeking, or seeking for that matter, or we miss the point of the teachings.
When we stop seeking, we can only then FIND. Allowing ourselves just to be.
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