7 Ways to Purify the Mind, Part 1
Sutras 33 through 35 of Book One of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Sutra 1:33. The mind becomes clarified by cultivating attitudes of friendliness [maitri], compassion [karuna], gladness [mudita] and indifference [upekshanam] respectively towards happiness [sukha], misery [dukha], virtue [punya] and vice [apunya]. Maitri is friendliness; … Continue reading
The Simple Yoga Method of Removing Mental Pain and Depression
Sutras 31 and 32 of Book One of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Sutra 1:31. (Mental) pain [dukha], despair [daurmanasya], nervousness [angamejayatva] and hard breathing [shvasa-prashvasa] are the symptoms of a distracted condition of mind [vikshepa-sahabhuvah]. Dukha is pain; suffering; misery; sorrow; grief; unhappiness; stress; … Continue reading
How to Enter the Kingdom
A Commentary on the Gospel of Thomas Jesus saw infants being suckled. He said to his disciples, These infants being suckled are like those who enter the kingdom. They said to him, Shall we then, as children, enter the kingdom? Jesus said to them, When … Continue reading
Om, the God-Word
Sutras 27 through 30 of Book One of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali 27. His designator [vachaka] is ‘Om’ [Pranava]. Usually, vachaka means that which is denoted by speech, in this case meaning that Ishwara is designated by the Pranava–by the sacred syllable OM. But … Continue reading
Reincarnating Backwards in Time, the Mother-God, and Other Questions
Q: Are our soul’s transmigrations limited to linear time? In other words, can, and is it natural, for a soul to reincarnate from, say, the 21st century, to the 13th? It is never good to be dogmatic about anything, especially since language never encompasses reality fully or … Continue reading
Who Is God According to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali?
Sutras 24 through 26 of Book One of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali 24. Ishwara is a particular Purusha who is untouched [aparamrishta] by the afflictions of life [kleshas], actions [karma] and the results [vipaka] and impressions [ashayai] produced by these actions. Ishwara, God, is … Continue reading