1. Let us bow before the noblest of sages Patanjali, who gave yoga for serenity and sanctity of mind, grammar for clarity and purity of speech and medicine for perfection of health. Let us prostrate before Patanjali, an incarnation of Adisesa, whose upper body has a human form, whose arms hold a conch and a disc, and who is crowned by a thousand-headed cobra. Let us prostrate before Lord Adisesa who manifested himself on earth as Patanjali to grace the human race with health and harmony. Let us salute Lord Adisesa of the myriad serpent heads and mouths carrying noxious poisons, discarding which he came to earth as single-headed Patanjali in order to eradicate ignorance and vanquish sorrow. Let us pay our obeisance to Him, repository of all knowledge, amidst his attendant retinue. Let us pray to the Lord whose primordial form shines with pure and white effulgence, pristine in body, a master of yoga who bestows on us his yogic light to enable mankind to rest in the house if the immortal soul.

2. Atha Yoganushãsanam Now on Union Explanation
|| 1.1||
Atha : Now, hereafter Yoga: Union, integration
anushasanam: Instruction , dictums, laws , rules
Q. Now what are going to study?
A. What follows is an instruction on Union.

3. In order to understand the prerequisites we should understand the different states of mind. The great commentator Vyasa enumerates five states of mind:
Restless state
The butterfly state of mind which is ever restless and ever Wondering, easily attached to
Ourside objects and hence extremely unsteady
Forgetful state
Possessed by excessive quality of inertia is morbid, dull and forgetful
The unsteady state
Occasionally steady but predominantly unsteady. The unsteady state either acquired or brought about by the obstacles of disease, disinclination etc
Focussed state
Wholly engrossed in one idea, one pointed, focused. A frame of mind devoid of obstacles to
practice, disinclined towards outside objects and prepared for a state of Union
Restrained state
Perfectly controlled and restrained

4. Adi Sankara enlists requirement of a sincere seeker:
1. Discrimination between the eternal and the transitory
2. Renunciation of enjoyment of fruit of action, here and hereafter
3. Six fold wealth,comprising of
a: sama: Undisturbed concentration on the object of perception
b. dama: Control of sense organs
c. uparati: Condition of state of withdrawal from the object world
d. titiksa: Endurance of pleasure and pain, without dejection or elation
e. sraddha: Faith in the scriptures and the teacher
f. samadhana: Constant focusing of the mind on the self
4.Yearning for liberation

5. A serious student of Yoga, seeking Union of the Self with the Super Self should have
Right attitude of mind, open, without prejudice, free of preconceived notions.
A spirit of enquiry, and be enthusiastic
A desire for emancipation from the wheel of birth and death
Lessened liking for the external world of object towards which the senses drag the mind.
Kindly disposition
Appreciation of the fact that the external is transitory and as a consequence reduction or
renunciation of the desire to enjoy the fruits of action here or hereafter.
Capability for prolonged and undisturbed concentration on a chosen object.
Attitude of mind to endure all pain and sorrow without thought of retaliation, without dejection
and without lamentation.

6. The qualifications of a teacher.
Adi Sankara summarises the qualities needed of a teacher as outlined in the Mundaka and Brahdaranyaka Upanishad:
Shrotriya
Teacher must be well versed in the scriptures
Brahmanishtam
Teacher must be well established in the Brahman (Being)
akamahata
Teacher must be un-smitten by desire
Teacher must be unmotivated by any selfish purpose
avrijina
Teacher shall be stainless
Teacher shall be simple and guileless

7. The student should not be an overflowing cup

8. Save yourself by saying I don’t know

9. Discussion questions 1. What do we know about Patanjali?
2. Is Patanjali the originator of Yoga?
3. Is Patanjali Yoga and Hatha Yoga same?
4. Is Yoga a religion? Is Yoga Hinduism?
5. Is Yoga a philosophy?
6. What is Patanjali Yoga about?
7. What is the aim of Patanjali Yoga?
8. Is Yoga a means or an end?

10. The unexamined life is not worth living.
Socrates

11. What is ‘Sutra’ ?
Sutra means thread. Sutra in this context could be interpreted as a terse link or thread of essential points. These "threads" are extremely terse, stating concisely and often precisely, essential points or techniques. Originally these teachings were oral and were explained and interpreted by commentaries from a teacher guiding the student. Sutra (aphorism). Sutra (aphorism) enshrines, in a few words, vast expanses of meaning, vast depths of fundamental significance.

12. A sutra should be Concise, consisting of minimum number of letters.
Clear, without doubt with regard to the meaning.
Convey the essence of an Upanishadic Statement
Multi-faceted. Reflect all aspects of the subject.
Without glorifications
Faultless (There should be no defects in the words and Meanings).

13. How do should one proceed with the study?
Remember Lord Buddha’s “Four reliances”
1. Rely on the message of the teacher, not on his personality Rely on the meaning, not just on the words Rely on the real meaning, not on the provisional one Rely on your wisdom mind, not on your ordinary judgmental mind.

14. Yogash Chittavritti_Nirodhah
Union is then When mental modifications end || 1.2||
Yoga: Union
Chitta: Mind stuff
Vritti: Modifications, fluctuations
Nirodha: Cease, stop, avoid, eliminate, suppress, hinder, annihilate
Q: What is Yoga?
A: Yoga is avoidance of mental modifications

15. What is vritti?
Vritti simply means a condition or a state arising as a result of the change in a thing. Any cognition is possible only through vritti. No knowledge is possible without vritti. When the mind sees an object, say a pot, mind undergoes change or modification and assumes the form of a pot. There are three kinds of vritti admitted in advaita.

16. Vrittis / Modifications
Thought waves caused by an external
word or by an internal impression
Mind
Vritta means circle. And vritti means circular. When one throws a small stone into water, it creates ripples,
which spreads outwards in a circular form. In the same way, mind has its own patterns which support identity,
action, ambition and cause and effect. They influence the mental structure of an individual. Every dimension of
knowledge, every kind of thought and every field of awareness is nothing but a modification of the mind.
When there is no modification, there is stillness.

17. The four facets of mind Buddhi
Intellect
That part of the mind in which knowledge, whether conceptual
or perceptional appears as a finished thing
Manas
Mind
Characterzied by uncertain ty, doubt, fickleness and hesitation
Mind
Chittha
Will
Seeks happiness and tries to avoid unhappiness
Remembers - Impressions of the past stored, Memory.
The, I'doer, false sense of ego.
A compound thing, not a unity
Changes with the sense of detachment
Part, a reflection of the TRUE SELF and part, accidental.
Ahamkara
Ego sense

18. The HINDU goddess Saraswathi literally means "one who gives the essence(sara) of our own Self(swa). "The four hands of the Goddess represent the four aspects of the inner personality of man,namely manas(mind), buddhi(intellect), ahankar(ego), and chitta(conditioned consciousness). Saraswathi is the consort of Brahma who is the creator. Creation is not possible unless the creator has knowledge of what and how to create. Knowledge therefore is an essential prerequisite for creation.This idea is symbolized by the marriage of Brahma and Saraswathi.

19. Yesterday: The causal:
Analysis indicates the Intellect (Buddhi) in action
Mind
(Manas) arises when
yesterday and tomorrow
arises.
Negating the NOW B E C O M I N G
The WILLING.
chitta
In Yesterday's party,
there were so many neo rich. The economy
must be really doing well. But John did not
bother to recognize me. I will become as
rich as he is so that he doesn;t ingore me
in future.
The false EGO
(Ahamkara)
WAKING STATE
BEING
Yesterday: The causal:
It is the stored impressions called vasanas that cause mind to spring up.
It is the yesterday that lays foundation for today and also obscures the vision of today.
yesterday is the stored arrows in the quiver

20. There were so many neo rich…
Analysis indicates the Intellect (Buddhi) in action
Mind
(Manas) arises when
yesterday and tomorrow
arises.
Negating the NOW B E C O M I N G
The WILLING.
chitta
In Yesterday's party,
there were so many neo rich. The economy
must be really doing well. But John did not
bother to recognize me. I will become as
rich as he is so that he doesn;t ingore me
in future.
The false EGO
(Ahamkara)
WAKING STATE
BEING
There were so many neo rich…
The impressions stored about wealth and valor makes one look at the presented picture from the point of view of wealth and having had a desired picture, proceed to think and analyze about it. The thinking and analysis is the Buddhi/intellect in action. If there are no stored up impressions there is no thinking or analysis either.

21. John did not bother to recognize me:
Analysis indicates the Intellect (Buddhi) in action
Mind
(Manas) arises when
yesterday and tomorrow
arises.
Negating the NOW B E C O M I N G
The WILLING.
chitta
In Yesterday's party,
there were so many neo rich. The economy
must be really doing well. But John did not
bother to recognize me. I will become as
rich as he is so that he doesn;t ingore me
in future.
The false EGO
(Ahamkara)
WAKING STATE
BEING
John did not bother to recognize me:
False identification of ego with thought. Desire for recognition stemming out of mistaken identity of the real ego with the thought. This mistaken identity triggers desire for recognition and the failed fulfillment of desire kindles further desire for acquiring riches. Yesterdays arrows have an effect. Additional arrows in the form of desires get added to the quiver.

22. I will become rich tomorrow…
Analysis indicates the Intellect (Buddhi) in action
Mind
(Manas) arises when
yesterday and tomorrow
arises.
Negating the NOW B E C O M I N G
The WILLING.
chitta
In Yesterday's party,
there were so many neo rich. The economy
must be really doing well. But John did not
bother to recognize me. I will become as
rich as he is so that he doesn;t ingore me
in future.
The false EGO
(Ahamkara)
WAKING STATE
BEING
I will become rich tomorrow…
The willing today is creating the tomorrow.
The arrow in the quiver is aimed, unleashing new desires.

23. The state of equlibrium is the state of stillness of the mind
The state of equlibrium is the state of stillness of the mind.The very first ‚
movement’ of the cosmic mind, when it thought ‚ I am’, resulted in the apparent
disequilibrium, creating the ripples of Gunas- Sattva, Rajas and Thamas.
This thought resulted in the creation of space (mind) and sound ( Prana, vital
energy). Mind and Prana are mixed like milk and water and hence are
inseparable. Where there is prana there is mind (consciousness) and where
there is consciousness, there is movement. Moving beyond the influence of
Gunas would mean moving back to state of equlibrium.

24. How is mind modified?
Mind is modified by any subject or object brought before it or to which it is directed
The modification occurs from the power of reproducing thoughts too.
The channels by which the mind is led to go out to an object or subject, are the organs of
sight, touch, taste, hearing, and so
By means of hearing it shapes itself into the form of the idea which may be given in
speech,
By means of the eye in reading, it is molded into the form of that which is read;
Sensations such as heat and cold modify it directly and indirectly by association and by
recollection.

25. “Apart from the mind there is no ignorance.
The mind itself is the ignorance which is the cause
for the bondage of rebirth. When the mind is destroyed,
everything else is destroyed. When the mind manifests, everything else manifests”
Adhi Sankara

26. MIND How is mind influenced?
Mind is influenced by several forces. They are
Body
Environment
Society
MIND
Food
Habits
Personal disciplines
Senses
Breath

27. The issue The mind does not perceive objects as they are.
As human beings we perceive world outside through our mind.
The mind does not perceive objects as they are.
The mind does not perceive correctly because it is influenced by Avidya (false
understanding) due to identification with body, breath, senses, food, personal disciplines,
habits , society and environment.
This wrong perception leads to false understanding.
False understanding influences our action.
The action based on false understanding causes suffering and binding.
We need to be free from this suffering and binding.
Freedom can come about if the “Perceiver” is not clouded by mind.
Perceiver we see is a different entity from the process of perceiving and the object of
perception.
Yoga is the means to free ourselves from the bondage and take us to a state of union of
the perceiver, process of perception and the perceived.

28. The characteristics that qualify the mind stuff
Firstly, mind is outgoing
Second, it is objectifying in its nature
Characteristics that
qualify the mind stuff
Third, it is always in motion, always
restless, always fickle, never steady

29. What is mind? Mind is not a gross thing, visible and tangible
Mind's magnitude cannot be measured
Mind does not require a space in which to exist
Mind's existence is nowhere seen
Mind precedes matter
Mind is all electricity
Mind is formed out of the subtlest portion of food
Mind is made up of subtle matter of various grades of density with differentiates of vibration
Mind is atomic, all pervading
Mind is a bundle of habits, desires and ideas
Mind is ever changing, wavering and unsteady
Mind is intelligent when compared to senses and non intelligent compared to Intellect
Mind is the cause for liberation as well as bondage
Mind is the manifestation of the non apprehension of Reality caused by inertia
Mind is the equipment that orders all types of action that should manifest

30. Is brain and mind the same?
The brain is a heap of cells made up of protein and fat molecules. It is formed of nerve cells called neurons. There is no power in this piece of meat to observe the images, to constitute consciousness, or to create the being we call “myself“
Dr. Michael Solomon a cardiologist at the Emory University Medical Science in his book, 'Recollection Of Death: A medical investigation' reports of his extensive research on near death experiences. He consculdes that the mind is an entity distinct from the brain and the near death crisis caused the mind and brain to split apart for a brief time. Solomon wrote: 'Could the mind which splits apart from the brain, be in essence, the soul, which continues to exist after the final bodily death, according to some reliaious doctrines?'

31. Sri Nisargadata Maharaj
There is no such thing as peace of mind. Mind means disturbance, restlessness itself is mind. Yoga is not an attribute of the mind, nor is it a state of mind.
Sri Nisargadata Maharaj

32. The monkey and the frog Mind and Intellect
Monkey by its very nature is always restless and jumping from one object to another. It is ever changing and wavering. Imagine such a restless monkey intoxicated with alcohol and bitten by a string of bees, that is the state of mind.
A frog on the river bank can see only what moves. When the wind ruffles water, frog sees the water surface. If wind stops, the water body does not register on the frog’s mind. Similarly as long as a minnow is darting around in the pond, the frog’s eyes can follow it everywhere. But the moment the minnow stops, it disappears from the mind of the frog. As long as the frog is concerned the minnow has slipped away- until it flicks its tail again.
This is exactly the relationship between the mind and the intellect. As long as there is mental modification, so long will intellect keep following the mind. When mind stops, when its modifications cease, for the intellect, the mind has disappeared – until modifications start again

33. The monkey and the frog Mind and Intellect
This is exactly the relationship between the mind and the intellect. As long as there is mental modification, so long will intellect keep following the mind. When mind stops, when its modifications cease, for the intellect, the mind has disappeared – until modifications start again.
When the intellect looks at the Self it does not see anything at all. Right under its nose as it were exists the Self, and yet intellect cannot perceive it until mind stops moving. When mind stops, intellect sees the being. When mind moves, intellect follows the mind.
As long as there is duality, the separateness of the subject and object, there is mental modification. So long as there is mental modification, intellect will keep following what is going

34. Tadã Drashtuh Svarupeavasthãnam
The seer then abides In true self resides ||1.3||
Tadã: then
Drashtuh: the seer
Svarupe: in self
Avasthãnam: abides, dwells, resides
1.3 Q: What happens on cessation of mental modifications?
A: You dwell in your true nature.

35. What is the difference between being and not being established in self?
INDIVIDUAL
Svarupe avasthana
Beyond mind
not gripped by
thought waves
peaceful, serene, quiet
Free from the bonds of
Pleasure pain chain
Established in the self
Being the ocean
UNITY
I AM
Vritti - rupe avastana
Entrapped in mind
gripped by thought waves
restlessness, unease, anxiety fear, anger, frustration.
Bound by dualities of
attachment and aversion
Engrossed in thoughts
Becoming the waves
DUALITY
I AM THIS