Demystifying Patanjali: The Yoga Sutras (Aphorisms): The Wisdom of Paramhansa Yogananda Presented by his direct disciple, Swami Kriyananda: The Wisdom ... by his Direct Disciple, Swami Kriyananda

by Paramahansa Yogananda, Kriyananda (Editor)

What happens as we grow spiritually? Is there a step-by-step process that everyone goes through—all spiritual seekers, including those of any or no religious persuasion—as they gradually work their way upward, until they achieve the highest state of Self-realization?
About 2200 years ago, a great spiritual master of India named Patanjali described this process, and presented humanity with a clear-cut, step-by-step outline of how all truth seekers and saints achieve divine union. He called this universal inner experience and process “yoga” or “union.” His collection of profound aphorisms—a true world scripture—has been dubbed Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.
Unfortunately, since that time many scholarly translators with little or no spiritual realization have written commentaries on Patanjali’s writings that have succeeded only in burying his pithy insights in convoluted phrases like “becomes assimilated with transformations” and “the object alone shines without deliberation.” How can any reader understand Patanjali’s original meaning when he or she has to wade through such bewildering terminology?
Thankfully, a great modern yoga master—Paramhansa Yogananda, author of the classic Autobiography of a Yogi—has cut through the scholarly debris and resurrected Patanjali’s original teachings and revelations. Now, in Demystifying Patanjali, Swami Kriyananda, a direct disciple of Yogananda, shares his guru’s crystal clear and easy-to-grasp explanations of Patanjali’s aphorisms.
As Kriyananda writes in his introduction, “My Guru personally shared with me some of his most important insights into these sutras. During the three and a half years I lived with him, he also went with me at great length into the basic teachings of yoga.
“I was able, moreover, to ask my Guru personally about many of the subjects covered by Patanjali. His explanations have lingered with me, and have been a priceless help in the [writing of this book].”

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Philosophy

196 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2013

About the author

Paramahansa Yogananda (Bengali: পরমহংস যোগানন্দ Pôromohôngsho Joganondo, Sanskrit: परमहंस योगानं‍द Paramahaṃsa Yogānaṃda), born Mukunda Lal Ghosh (Bengali: মুকুন্দ লাল ঘোষ Mukundo Lal Ghosh), was an Indian yogi and guru who introduced many westerners to the teachings of meditation and Kriya Yoga through his book, Autobiography of a Yogi .

Reviews

[Tandava Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote the bit below for our bookstore's magazine, but I'll add a few more personal comments as well. This was the last scriptural commentary Swamiji wrote before his passing, and it's a nice feeling of completeness to get Patanjali covered in that collection finally. Very different feel to this book compared to, say, The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita. By this point, Swami seems to have been writing in a much more informal flow, almost like he's just talking to you about it all in his living room. And so that's sort of sweet, though the insights are still as spiritually deep and valid as in any of his other books. I don't relate to Patanjali as much as to the other masters and scriptures that are more directly related to our path (speaking as a Yogananda devotee), and so I don't have this on quite the same pedestal as some of Swami's other books. But if you want to know what Patanjali was all about, this is the thing to read.

- - - magazine review - - -

For the past 2,200 years, Patanjali’s yoga sutras have provided humanity with a non-sectarian roadmap to the entire spiritual path. However, few are able to grasp the subtleties of these teachings, and the many translations and commentaries over the years have more often confused than clarified them. It was the great yoga master Paramhansa Yogananda who brought the ancient teachings into the modern age through direct revelation. Now, direct disciple Swami Kriyananda shares his guru’s insights with his trademark clarity, compassion, and humor, in a guide for seekers of all paths.

[Bhakta Kishor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patanjali came much later and sort of assimilated everything. He saw that it was getting too diversified and complex for anyone to understand in any meaningful way. So he assimilated and included all aspects into a certain format – as the Yoga Sutras. The most cherised sutra in the paradigmatic book would be : "योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः तदा द्रष्टुः स्वरूपे अवस्थानम् ।"

Sutra literally means a thread. Or in modern language we can say it is like a formula. Anyone who knows the English alphabet, even a kindergarten child can say E=mc², but there is an enormous amount of science behind that little formula, which most people do not understand. The sutras are like this, in thread form. Out of ignorance, people have just taken these sutras and are trying to implement it as it is. A thread is of no consequence by itself. There can never be a garland without the thread but no one ever wears a garland for the sake of the thread. The thread was given so that each master makes his own kind of garland. You can put flowers on it, or beads or pearls or diamonds. The thread is vital but that is not a goal by itself.

[Sumi Rajesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that interprets and not just translates. It is a perspective written from understanding and imbibing Patanjali’s sutras. It’s the best I have laid my hands on. I tried reading a few books on Patanjali’s sutras before; but most failed to engage or make sense. This is a conversation with the reader, an account of Swami Kriyananda’s learnings from his guru Paramahamsa Yogananda. Interestingly, Paramhansa Yogananda never wrote a book on the sutras. So probably this book is the closest we can get to his views and teachings of the sutras as told to his disciple.
I got what I was looking for, the sutras are something that need to be read and re-read , interpreted and put to action, this book does justice. The author’s personal anecdotes felt a bit misplaced and pointless at times but it can be ignored in the scale of what the book offers.

[Sandeep · Rating 5 out of 5]

I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START FROM BUT I WILL START WITH AN OVERVIEW

The writer has explained aphorisms perspicuously where as lot of writers failed to do so.Some writers muddled up things while other writers misleaded us with their misconceptions .
This is the most lucid writing I have ever found based on PATANJALI'S APHORISMS .All the aphorisms were explained as clear as crystal.
It has helped me clear my prejudice about various things.I will recommend this book not only to spiritual seekers but also to non seekers as they will be able to come across the various truth's of life. Various subtle aspects of life were unfolded exceptionally well by the writer.

SWAMI KRIYANANDA AND HIS ANECDOTES

This is the first time I have read swami kriyananda's book and I found him as a profound philosopher . His writing is so good that we feel as if were receiving teachings from paramahansa yogananda himself . It was difficult to believe writer's anecdote for some people but it appeared perfectly sinking to me. The small incidents that writer shared helps us to understand the aphorisms . On the other hand anecdotes are what I found as differentiating factor from other books .
According to me everyone should read this book at least once in their life time to make their perceptions(more over prejudice) clear about God and to know the arcane nature of human life.

[Keith Wilson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm still mystified.

[Lisa Tener · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most clear book I've read on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Am enjoying it thoroughly.

[JessMcQ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will have to read this again and again - incredibly well written and life changing.

[ABHISHEK MITRA · Rating 5 out of 5]

10

[William Cimino · Rating 2 out of 5]

Comprei como un livro de yoga, mas recebi um livro Cristão.

[Purplecat · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first 3 padas were interesting, the last one sort of lost me. I will likely go back to re-read but overall, it was an enjoyable read and easy to get through.

[Kathleen Wendorf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. Helped me to understand the Sutras. I refer to it often.