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Patanjali's Yoga Sutras is a brilliant exposition of the philosophical principles, deep truths, and disciplines of yoga. It organizes the disciplines into eight "limbs," or categories, of yoga practice. Specific meditation techniques are not given; only kinds of disciplines are discussed. Many of its sutras (aphorisms) describe and comment on these practices. This timeless treatise by an enlightened yogi addresses the universal human condition of apparent separation from God (avidya, not knowing the Supreme Reality) and shows us how to overcome the mental tendencies and illusions that keep us in this condition.
Like tree limbs, which emerge in sequence, the first disciplines come first. As they develop, mature and bear fruit, the next ones are practiced. For example, yama prepares one to practice niyama. Patanjali calls the last three elements of niyama "kriya yoga" ("kriya" means action). Marshall Govindan takes the position that these three elements of kriya (or action) yoga constitute the whole of Patanjali's yoga. However, all eight limbs are discussed in great detail in verses 2.30 through 3.8 of the Sutras and provide a far more complete description of yoga.
In verse 2.1, Patanjali says: "Kriya yoga consists of tapas (austerity, self-discipline), svadhyaya (self-study), and Ishvara pranidhana (devotional surrender to God)." (Note: The words in parentheses are commonly accepted translations of the Sanskrit terms.) In the "eight-limbed" path, the kriya yoga practices of niyama precede asana (meditation posture), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses from their objects), dharana (concentration), dhyana (uninterrupted, deep concentration), and samadhi (oneness with the object of meditation). For this reason, "kriya yoga" is sometimes interpreted "preliminary yoga." However, the first of the eight limbs, yama, consists of five abstentions (don'ts), and the five elements of niyama are observances (dos), so the kriya yoga practices of niyama can also be interpreted "action yoga," which implies doing something.
The following comments from Govindan's book on the Sutras contradict Yogananda and other enlightened yogis, who concur that the yoga of Patanjali is the "eight-limbed" path.
Foreword (xiv, xv) by G. Feuerstein: "... while Patanjali's teaching has become virtually equated with eight-limbed yoga (ashtanga yoga), he himself called his path that of action yoga (kriya yoga) in pada 2.1." "The aphorisms in the Yoga Sutras dealing specifically with the eight limbs appear to have been quoted by Patanjali or subsequently added to his text. There is no real satisfactory explanation for why Patanjali used the label kriya yoga for his teachings."
Introduction Part 2 (xxiii) by M. Govindan: "Feuerstein has pointed out, however, that Patanjali's yoga was not the "ashtanga" or "eight-limbed" yoga, described in verses 2.28 to 3.8, as has been commonly thought by most translators. Textual analysis has revealed that these verses were merely quoted from another unknown source."
On the contrary, Patanjali never called his path that of action (or kriya) yoga; not in verse 2.1 (pada 2.1), nor in any other verse, nor did he say it consisted of anything other than ashtanga yoga. And if he had quoted the verses pertaining to ashtanga yoga, it would indicate that he agreed with them.
In Chapter Three of The Holy Science by Swami Sri Yukteswar a yoga teaching that includes the practices of ashtanga yoga is presented, but it is somewhat different from that of the Yoga Sutras and appears to represent a different school of yoga. This illustrates that the principles, truths and practices of yoga are universal and can be discovered by yogis independently of each other. Of course, two different people would never perceive, categorize or explain these principles, truths and practices in exactly the same way, so unless verses 2.28 to 3.8 of the Sutras were compiled from various sources, they are the unique creation of a single person. That person appears to be Patanjali because there is perfect agreement and harmony between these verses and the other verses in the Sutras.
With regard to the idea that Patanjali's yoga was not the eight-limbed path but only kriya yoga and that verses 2.28 to 3.8 were either quoted by him or added to his text later on, the following points should be considered. If Patanjali had quoted these verses it would mean that he agreed with what they say. One of them, verse 2:29, states that yoga consists of eight limbs, and other verses discuss each of the practices of kriya yoga, treating them as elements of the second limb. Moreover, apart from the verses about ashtanga yoga, which according to Govindan and Feuerstein, did not come from Patanjali, there are only two verses in the Yoga Sutras about kriya yoga. If Patanjali's path was kriya yoga and the verses pertaining to ashtanga yoga were added to his text later on, we would expect him to have devoted more than two verses to describing and commenting on his path.
As mentioned before, kriya yoga consists of tapas, svadhyaya and Ishvara pranidana. The austerities or self-disciplines of tapas involve rising above bodily desires and enduring pain or discomfort, by means of determination and will; "svadhyaya" means deep study of the nature of the Self; and Ishvara pranidhana includes both devotion to God and acceptance of God's will.
Verses 1.23, 2.2, and 2.45 of the Sutras tell us that Ishvara pranidhana and kriya yoga lead to samadhi. Through devotional surrender to God one rises above the influence of ego, harmful desires, and illusions, which darken the mind and keep one from knowing God. The heart's natural love shines forth and illumines one's inner life. One follows the guidance of Spirit and practices the moral disciplines of yama with greater resolve. Not only do the blessings of yama come into one's life, but in addition, the first two stages of niyama naturally arise: one's thoughts and body become more pure and one finds contentment within. Through devotional surrender to God, one eventually becomes totally absorbed in God. Nevertheless, according to the Yoga Sutras, limbs three through seven, practiced along with the first two limbs, also lead to samadhi, and all eight limbs constitute yoga. (The seventh limb of yoga, "dhyana," is usually translated as "meditation," but in modern, everyday usage "meditation" is often taken to mean all or several of the limbs that follow niyama: assuming a suitable posture, controlling breath and life force, withdrawing awareness from objects of the senses, calming and focusing the mind, deep concentration on a particular aspect of God, and fully uniting with God in blissful oneness.)
In verses 3.16 to 3.54, verses that Govindan and Feuerstein attribute to him, Patanjali comments on various functions of samyama, which consists of dharana, dhyana, and samadhi. Inasmuch as his teachings included these final, culminating limbs of ashtanga yoga, to be complete they must have also included the five disciplines that precede samyama and facilitate its practice. Because he never said his path was kriya yoga and because the verses about ashtanga yoga describe what are generally considered to be essential components of yoga and fit in with his teachings in other parts of the Sutras, it seems highly unlikely that his path was kriya yoga rather than ashtanga yoga, and that these verses were quoted by him or later on added to his text. They are an integral part of his masterful treatise, perfectly in accord with the other aphorisms in the Sutras, and appear to be his own teachings.
George Johnston has studied, practiced and taught various aspects of the philosophy and science of yoga ever since he became a disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda in 1962. He lives at Song of the Morning yoga retreat in Michigan with his wife, Mary Ann, who has written about her experiences, and the messages that Jesus, Babaji and Yogananda have given her. To learn more, visit:
http://www.maryann-george.com/
