We'll be reading from a key classical yoga text: Patanjali Yoga Sutra, written several centuries ago and used by teachers and students since. We'll explore a translation and an interpretation of it. The translation is Yoga The Art of Integration by Rohit Mehta (1908-1995). Mehta was a philosopher/educator, a student of Krishnamurti, and a supporter of Gandhi's who was jailed repeatedly for his activism). Our other text - a poetic interpretation of the same source material - is Yoga, Power, and Spirit by Alberto Villoldo, a medical anthropologist (born Cuba 1949). The square brackets are mine. We'll begin right at the beginning with verse I.1-3:
Mehta: Now [at this auspicious time] begins a discussion on Yoga. Yoga is the dissolution of all centres of reaction in the mind. In this state, the Seer is established in [their] own original nature
Villoldo: The teachings of yoga begin now. Yoga is vigilance [attention], awareness, and stillness [non-distraction] of the mind. Yoga frees [us] from the drama. the tragedy, the saga [our] mind creates and allows [us] to experience your True Self.