Yesterday we began our 4-part workshop on Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. It was so much fun! We reviewed the text as a whole and then got into the first part of chapter 1. We talked about how the first chapter is for people with stable minds, the second chapter for people with unstable minds, the third chapter tells us what we can achieve if we practice yoga (but to not get caught up in these things) and the fourth talks about reaching samadchi.

Chapter one begins with a commitment sutra which says "I am ready to take a new path- the old path is not working for me and I am suffering." Then it goes on to tell us that yoga is creating a on-pointed focus in the mind (which is why you can use it to achieve just about anything). Next Patanjali discusses the benefits of having a yoga mind- that we will see more clearly, make better decisions and ultimately suffer less. He also warns us of the other path- that we may not see clearly, make poor decisions and suffer more.

I could go on and on because I love the sutras so much! But for now I must go and do my practice!