Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is a compilation of 'sutras' or aphorisms that traces its roots from oral Yoga tradition.

The oral tradition has been passed from teacher to student for hundreds of years but it was only sometime between 200 BC and 300 AD that it was compiled by a certain Patanjali. While his identity cannot be concretely established, he is recognized as the one who brought those sutras into writing. The result is a collection of 195 aphorisms that offer practical advice to its readers. Each aphorism is short to make it easier to memorize.

Even if it was written some 2,000 years ago, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali remain an influential body of work to Yoga practitioners. The Yoga Sutras especially helps those who wish to focus on meditation because of its emphasis on the subject. The compilation presents to readers some obstacles when meditating as well as solutions to the problem.

The collection of Yoga Sutras talks about the Eight Limbs of Yoga, which is said to be similar to the Eight-fold Path in Buddhism. The eight limbs are the ways how a yogi can practice Yoga. They include the practice of asanas or poses, pranayama or the control of one's breathing, and dharana which talks about the art of concentration. By reading this and taking its contents to heart, a yogi can have a broader and deeper view of what really Yoga is. He/she will see that it goes beyond the current conception that it only involves practicing asanas and as a means of keeping oneself fit.

Contrary to what other people think, Yoga has a more profound purpose. This is illustrated by the Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. According to him, freedom from the chains of Karma is the ultimate goal of Yoga. With that, the person finally ends the seemingly endless cycle of reincarnation.

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