Your Ultimate Yoga Sutras Of Patanjali Study Guide | Read All Sutras Here

Chapter One (Samadhi Pada – Enlightenment/Bliss/Liberation Foot | Section on Enlightenment)

An introduction to Yogic theory and an overview of Samadhi.

Click Here To Access Our Yoga Terms And Definitions Page

1. Now the exposition of Yoga is being made. [Now we will have a discourse/conversation that explains the meaning and purpose of the self-discipline/devoted practice of Yoga/Union.]
2. The restraint of the modification of the mind-stuff is Yoga. [Yoga/Union is control over the changing nature of mind-stuff, ie. thoughts, memories, compulsions, delusions, etc.]
3. Then the Seer (Self/Drashtuh) abides in Its own nature. [Once the mind-stuff is restrained, then a person can accept and express his/her True Self/nature.]
4. At other times (the Self appears to) assume the forms of the mental modifications. [When one is not expressing his/her True Self, he/she has the appearance of over-identifying with his/her changing thoughts/distortions. Over-identifying with distortions creates a false sense of self.]
5. There are five kinds of mental modification which are either painful or painless. [Whether painful or painless, distortions are distortions.]
6. They are right knowledge, misconception, verbal delusion, sleep and memory.
7. The source of right knowledge are direct perception, inference and scriptural testimony.
8. Misconception occurs when knowledge of something is not based upon true form.
9. An image that arises on hearing words without any reality (as its basis) is verbal delusion.
10. That mental modification supported by cognition of nothingness is sleep.
11. When a mental modification of an object previously experienced and not forgotten comes back to consciousness, that is memory.
12. These mental modifications are restrained by practice and non-attachment. [You gain control of your thoughts through practice and non-attachment.]
13. Of these two, effort toward steadiness of mind is practice. [Keeping your mind steady is considered practice.]
14. Practice becomes firmly grounded when well attended to for a long time, without break and in all earnestness. [Your practice becomes second nature, and firmly ingrained within you, when you partake in it for a long time, without stopping, and with sincere dedication.]
15. The consciousness of self-mastery in one who is free from craving from objects seen or heard about is non-attachment. [The consciousness of self-mastery is free from desire for things seen and imagined.]
16. When there is non-thirst for even the gunas (constituents of Nature) due to the realization of the Purusa (True Self in elemental seed form), that is supreme non-attachment. [When there is no desire for even desirable qualities of being due to the attainment of True Self-expression beyond concrete form, then you have achieved supreme non-attachment/self-mastery.]
17. Samprajnata samadhi is accompanied by reasoning, reflecting, rejoicing in pure I-am-ness.
18. By the firmly convicted practice of the complete cessation of the mental modifications, the impressions only remain. This is the other samadhi [asamprajnata samadhi].
19. Those who merely leave their physical bodies and attain the state of celestial deities, or those who get merged with Nature, have rebirth. [Transcending the body to achieve cosmic consciousness leads to rebirth.]
20. For the others, this asamprajnata samadhi could come through faith [devotion], vigor [effort], memory [learning], contemplation [deep reflection] and or/by discernment [discernment here requires clear seeing which is absent of judgment, bias, delusion, conditioning, projection, etc., in order to obtain True, uncolored, understanding].
21. To the keen and intent practitioner, this (samadhi) comes quickly.
22. The time necessary for success further depends on whether the practice is mild, medium or intense.
23. Or (samadhi is attained) by devotion with total dedication to Isvara.
24. Isvara is the supreme Purusa unaffected by any afflictions, actions, fruits of actions or by the inner impressions of desire.
25. In Isvara is the complete manifestation of the seed of omniscience.
26. Unconditioned by time, Isvara is the teacher of even the most ancient teachers.
27. The word expressive of Isvara is the mystic sound OM. (OM is God’s name as well as form.)
28. To repeat it [OM] with reflection upon its meaning is an aid.
29. From this practice all the obstacles disappear and simultaneously dawns knowledge of the inner Self.
30. Disease, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, sensuality, false perception, failure to reach firm ground and slipping from the firm ground gained–these distractions of the mind-stuff are the obstacles.
31. Accompaniments to the mental distractions include distress, despair, trembling of the body and disturbed breathing.
32. The practice of concentration on a single subject (or the use of one technique) is the best way to prevent the obstacles and their accompaniments.
33. By cultivating attitudes of friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous and disregard toward the wicked, the mind-stuff retains its undisturbed calmness.
34. Or that calm is retained by the controlled exhalation or retention of the breath.
35. Or the concentration on subtle sense perceptions can cause steadiness of mind.
36. Or by concentrating on the supreme, ever-blissful Light within.
37. Or by concentrating on a great soul’s mind which is totally freed from attachment to sense objects. [Christ or the Buddha, for example.]
38. Or by concentrating on an experience had during dream or deep sleep.
39. Or by meditation on anything one chooses that is elevating.
40. Gradually, one’s mastery in concentration extends from the primal atom to the greatest magnitude.
41. Just as the naturally pure crystal assumes shapes and colors of objects placed near it, so the yogi’s mind, with its totally weakened modifications, becomes clear and balanced and attains the state devoid of differentiation between knower, knowable and knowledge. This culmination of meditation is samadhi.
42. The samadhi in which name, form and knowledge of them is mixed is called savitarka samadhi, or samadhi with deliberation.
43. When the memory is well purified, the knowledge of the object of concentration shines alone, devoid of the distinction of name and quality. This is nirvitarka samadhi, or samadhi without deliberation.
44. In the same way, both savicara (reflective) and nirvicara (super or non-reflective) samadhi, which are practice upon subtle objects, are explained.
45. The subtlety of possible objects of concentration ends only at the undeniable.
46. Each of the above kinds of samadhi are sabja (with seed), which could bring one back into bondage or mental disturbance.
47. In the purity of nirvicara samadhi the supreme Self shines.
48. This is rtambhara prajna, or the absolute true consciousness.
49. This special truth is totally different from the knowledge gained by hearing, study of scripture or inference.
50. The impression produced by this samadhi wipes out all other impressions.
51. When even this impression is wiped out, every impression is totally wiped out and there is nirbija (seedless samadhi).

Chapter One Study Overview

Chapter One Introductions & Prompts

Sutra Studies Week 1: Letting Go And Starting Anew

Sutra Studies Week 2: Your Practice Is Your Path (Sutra 1)

Sutra Studies Week 3: On Mind Mastery | Choose To “Love More Worry Less” (Sutra 2)

Sutra Studies Week 4: Looking Into The Mirror Of Your Projected Mind (Sutra 3)

Sutra Studies Week 5: Discovering Your True Self Identity (Sutra 4)

Sutra Studies Week 6: Let Your Thoughts Be Your Guidepost (Sutra 5)

Sutra Studies Week 7: The 5 Types Of Mental Distortions According To Patanjali (Sutras 6-11)

Sutra Studies Week 8: Gaining Control Of The Mind Through Practice And Non-Attachment (Sutra 12)

Sutra Studies Week 9: Practicing At All Times (Sutra 13)

Sutra Studies Week 10: Practicing Continuously And With Commitment For As Long As It Takes (Sutra 14)

Sutra Studies Week 11: Freedom From [Meaning Non-Attachment], Not Denouncement of, Desire Brings Peace (Sutra 15)

Sutra Studies Week 12: How Earthly Desires [Pleasures] Have No Comparison To Connection With One’s Highest Expression (Sutra 16)

Sutra Studies Week 13: Contraindications For Samadhi | A Lesson For Healers, Teachers, And Those Who Are In Service To Their Spirit, A Cause, Or To The Benefit Of Others (Sutra 17)

Sutra Studies Week 14: What Does It Mean To “Be In The World But Not Of It” (Sutra 18)

Sutra Studies Week 15: On Spiritual Rebirth (Sutra 19)

Sutra Studies Week 16: The Path To/of Deep Contemplation (Sutra 20)

Sutra Studies Week 17: Speeds Of Travel Towards Samadhi (Sutras 21-23)

Sutra Studies Week 18: The Truth That Your Pure Self Cannot Be Corrupted (Sutra 24)

Sutra Studies Week 19: Your Infinite Potential To Know (Sutra 25)

Sutra Studies Week 20: The Timeless, Limitless, Guru (Sutra 26)

Sutra Studies Week 21: The OM (AUM) Sound And Symbol In Yoga (Sutra 27)

Sutra Studies Week 22: Developing Personal Connection With OM/AUM (Sutra 28)

Sutra Studies Week 23: Moving From A Japa A Day to “Ajapa Japa” In Your Mantra Repetition Practice (Sutra 29)

Sutra Studies Week 24: The 9 Main Distractions That Can Turn Into Obstacles To Samadhi On Your Eightfold/Eight-Limbed Path [And How To Avoid/Overcome Them] (Sutra 30)

Sutra Studies Week 25: The Trauma And Suffering Caused By Separation From The Source And The True Self (Sutras 31-32)

Sutra Studies Week 26: The Way You Look At Others Should Not Disturb Your Inner Peace (Sutra 33)

Sutra Studies Week 27: The Breath-Mind Connection (Sutra 34)

Sutra Studies Week 28: Moving To Subtler Levels Of Awareness In Your Practice | Using Concentration On Your Senses To Gain Inner Peace (Sutra 35)

Sutra Studies Week 29: Focusing On The Blissful Light Within (Sutra 36)

Sutra Studies Week 30: Drawing Inspiration And Strength From Attained And Liberated Spirits And Minds (Sutra 37)

Sutra Studies Week 31: Using Sleep [And Dreams] For Steadiness Of Mind And To Prepare For Deeper Meditation (Sutra 38)

Sutra Studies Week 32: Doing What Works Best For You (Sutra 39)

Sutra Studies Week 33: Mastery Of Concentration (Sutra 40)

Sutra Studies Week 34: When Nothing Else Matters Or Exists Except The Object Of Your Focus (Sutra 41)

Sutra Studies Week 35: The First Type of Samprajnata Samadhi | Savitarka (Sutra 42)

Sutra Studies Week 36: The Second Type/Level of Samprajnata Samadhi | Nirvitarka (Sutra 43)

Sutra Studies Week 37: Samadhi On Subtle Objects And Transcending The Personal “I” | Samadhi Levels 3-5 – Moving From Samprajnata To Asamprajnata Samadhi & Beyond (Sutras 44-51)

Chapter One Check-ins

Sutra Studies Week 1: Check-In | You Must Let Go In Order To Grow

Sutra Studies Week 2: Check-In | Being Grateful For your Body And the Life That It Sustains

Sutra Studies Week 3: Check-in | Why Practice Yoga?

Sutra Studies Week 4: Check-in | Ask Yourself This Question Every Day

Sutra Studies Week 5: Check-in | Our Connection To All Of Creation

Sutra Studies Week 6: Check-In | The Greatest Christmas Gift You Can Give To Yourself And Others

Sutra Studies Week 7: Check-In | Letting Go Of Mental Distortions And Suffering Through Mindfulness

Sutra Studies Week 8: Check-In | Remain A Neutral Observer Of Yourself And Your Life

Sutra Studies Week 9: Check-In | Make Peace Your Natural State

Sutra Studies Week 10: Check-In | The Prerequisites For Success In Yoga

Sutra Studies Week 11: Check-In | How Attachment To Desires Creates Suffering And Wasted Energy

Sutra Studies Week 12: Check-in | Why You Lose Interest In Lower Desires When You Connect To The Truth Of Who You Really Are

Sutra Studies Week 13: Check-In | Why Yoga Is One Of The Highest Forms Of Service (When All Limbs Are Practiced)

Week 14: Check-In | Some Points On Self-Reflection And Self-Expression (Moving From Distinguished To Undistinguished Samadhi In Yoga)

Sutra Studies Week 15: Check-in | On Reincarnation And Rebirth

Sutra Studies Week 16: Check-in | Pathways To Asamprajnata Samadhi (With Infographic)

Sutra Studies Week 17: Check-in | The Result Of Commited Practice

Sutra Studies Week 18: Check-In | The True Self Of Samadhi (And Beyond)

Sutra Studies Week 19: Check-In | The Intelligence And Magnificence Of Existence

Sutra Studies Week 20: Check-In | Becoming Attuned To The Knowledge, Teacher, And Astute Observer Within

Sutra Studies Week 21: Check-In | As Above, So Below (Sutra 27)

Sutra Studies Week 22: Check-in | What Goes Into An Effective Japa/Mantra Repetition Practice?

Sutra Studies Week 23: Check-In | Honoring Your Sankalpa/Commitment To Your Japa Practice

Sutra Studies Week 24: Check-In | What Focus Means For Your Positive Movement Forward

Sutra Studies Week 25: Check-In | Finding And Creating Inner Peace (Even Through Pain)

Sutra Studies Week 26: Check-In | Keeping Things In Perspective In Your Yoga Practice

Sutra Studies Week 27: Check-In | Yogic Breathing And Pranayama Foundations

Sutra Studies Week 28: Check-In | The Importance Of Self-Awareness For Sensory Control

Sutra Studies Week 29: Check-In | Keeping Your Inner Light Bright No Matter What

Sutra Studies Week 30: Check-In | Connection Through Shared Oneness

Sutra Studies Week 31: Check-in | Gaining Insight From Dreams [With Guided Yoga Nidra Exercise]

Sutra Studies Week 32: Check-In | Finding Your Personal Yoga Style And Route Back To Your Self

Sutra Studies Week 33: Check-In | What Does It Means To Practice Concentration?

Sutra Studies Week 34: Check-In | Being One With The Object Of Your Attention

Sutra Studies Week 35: Check-In | Discernment, And Knowing

Sutra Studies Week 36: Check-In | Total Surrender To Your True Self

Sutra Studies Week 37: Check-In | What Are Attachments & Compulsions And What Does Liberation Mean

Sutra Studies Week 52: Check-In | Spiritual Practice Is Attuning With Reality And Acknowledging/Understanding The Nature Of Dense reality/Maya

Chapter One Reflections

Sutra Studies Week 2: Reflections On The Practice As The Path (Sutra 1)

Sutra Studies Week 3: Reflection on Mind Mastery | Choose To “Love More Worry Less” (Sutra 2)

Sutra Studies Week 4: Reflections On Looking Into The Mirror of Our Projected Mind (Sutra 3)

Sutra Studies Week 5: Reflections On Discovering Our True Self Identity (Sutra 4)

Sutra Studies Week 6: Reflections On Letting Your Thoughts Be Your Guide (Sutra 5)

Sutra Studies Week 7: Reflections On The Five Types Of Mental Distortions According To Patanjali (Sutras 6-11)

Sutra Studies Week 8: Reflections on Gaining Control Of Your Mind Through Practice And Non-Attachment (Sutra 12)

Sutra Studies Week 9: Reflections On Practicing At All Times (Sutra 13)

Sutra Studies Week 10: Reflections on Practicing Continuously And With Commitment For As Long As It Takes (Sutra 14)

Sutra Studies Week 11: Reflections On Freedom From [Meaning Non-Attachment], Not Denouncement of, Desire Bringing Peace (Sutra 15)

Sutra Studies Week 12: Reflections on How Earthly Desires Have No Comparison To Connection With One’s Highest Expression (Sutra 16)

Sutra Studies Week 13: Reflections On The Contraindications For Samadhi (Sutra 17)

Sutra Studies Week 14: Reflections On What It Means To “Be In The World But Not Of It” (Sutra 18)

Sutra Studies Week 15: Reflections On Spiritual Rebirth (Sutra 19)

Sutra Studies Week 16: Reflections On The Path To/Of Deep Contemplation (Sutra 20)

Sutra Studies Week 17: Reflections On Speeds Of Travel Towards Samadhi (Sutras 21-23)

Sutra Studies Week 18: Reflections-The Truth That Your Pure Self Cannot Be Corrupted (Sutras 24)

Sutra Studies Week 19: Reflections On Your Infinite Potential To Know (Sutra 25)

Sutra Studies Week 20: Reflections On The Timeless, Limitless, Guru (Sutra 26)

Sutra Studies Week 21: Reflections On The OM/AUM Sound And Symbol In Yoga (Sutra 27)

Sutra Studies Week 22: Reflections On Developing Personal Connection With OM/AUM [Through Japa Practice] (Sutra 28)

Sutra Studies Week 23: Reflections On Moving From A Japa A Day to “Ajapa Japa” In Your Mantra Repetition Practice (Sutra 29)

Sutra Studies Week 24: Reflections On The 9 Main Distractions That Can Turn Into Obstacles To Samadhi On Your Eightfold/Eight-Limbed Path (Sutra 30) [With Guided Audio Exercise/Meditation]

Sutra Studies Week 25: Reflections On Meditation As A Means To Create Freedom From The Trauma And Suffering Caused By Separation From The Source And The True Self (Sutras 31-32)

Sutra Studies Week 26: Reflection On The Fact That The Way You Look At Others Should Not Disturb Your Inner Peace (Sutra 33)

Sutra Studies Week 27: Reflections On The Breath-Mind (And Everything) Connection (Sutra 34)

Sutra Studies Week 28: Reflections On Moving To Subtler Levels Of Awareness In Your Practice | Using Concentration On Your Senses To Gain Inner Peace (Sutra 35)

Sutra Studies Week 29: Reflections On Focusing On The Blissful Light Within (Sutra 36)

Sutra Studies Week 30: Reflections On Drawing Inspiration And Strength From Attained And Liberated Spirits And Minds (Sutra 37)

Sutra Studies Week 31: Reflections On Using Sleep [And Dreams] For Steadiness Of Mind And To Prepare For Deeper Meditation (Sutra 38)

Sutra Studies Week 32: Reflections On Doing What Works Best For You (Sutra 39)

Sutra Studies Week 33: Reflections On Mastery Of Concentration (Sutra 40)

Sutra Studies Week 34: Reflections On When Nothing Else Matters Or Exists Except The Object Of Your Focus (Sutra 41)

Sutra Studies Week 35: Reflections On The First Type of Samprajnata Samadhi | Savitarka (Sutra 42)

Sutra Studies Week 36: Reflections On The Second Type/Level of Samprajnata Samadhi | Nirvitarka (Sutra 43)

Sutra Studies Week 37: Reflections On Samadhi On Subtle Objects And Transcending The Personal “I” | Samadhi Levels 3-5 – Moving From Samprajnata To Asamprajnata Samadhi & Beyond (Sutras 44-51)

Page 1: Introduction | Page 2: Overview | Page 3: Chapter 1 | Page 4: Chapter 2 | Page 5: Chapter 3 | Page 6: Chapter 4 | Page 7: Additional Learning