Yoga Sutras: The Means To Liberation

by Dennis Hill (Translator)

The Yoga Sutras were compiled about 2,000 years ago by the sage Patanjali from an oral tradition reaching back into unknowable antiquity. He gives us the essential wisdom for the practice of yoga and meditation to know, first hand, the essence of our true Self-the conscious indweller that enlivens this body. Experiencing the fully conscious state shows us the essential transcendent nature of the universe to bring us a state of undisturbed joyous tranquillity. Traditionally, this wisdom has been handed down from master to student as a transmission of the means to liberation. Patanjali tells us that the pure blissful inner Self is already attained and all that is required is to lose interest in that which is not the Self. This is pretty straight forward, and we learn all we need to know in the first three sutras. Presuming we will not get it the first time, he goes on to detail the nature of the Self, the practices that will awaken us, the attainments that arise from the practices and then explains about the state of final liberation. Throughout the book we are reminded of two fundamental practices that lead to the final state, kaivalya. One practice is vairagya (dispassion, non-attachment) and the other is viveka (discrimination). In the practice of viveka, we learn to discriminate between the mind and the watcher of the mind (consciousness itself). When we can rest in the state of consciousness knowing itself; we answer the question, "Who am I"

132 pages, Paperback

First published October 23, 2007

Reviews

[ANDREA]

This book is almost impossible to understand without a teacher. I imagine it’s a lot like reading scripture, in that, it is ancient wisdom which has been translated many times for centuries and the context and meaning isn’t self-explanatory. Nevertheless, it is beautiful and incredibly thought-provoking. More people need to understand that Yoga is so much more than asanas and could benefit greatly from the teachings here. The philosophy contained elicits incredibly rigorous critical thinking, explores the meaning, origin, and purpose of life, not from a prescriptive standpoint but a series of concepts so challenging and satisfying to contemplate that it’s hard to walk away without a much clearer idea of one’s self, one’s responsibility in the world and entire relationship to all of creation. NBD.

[Amber Kirbey]

I read this book as part of my yoga teacher training. Go into this book with an open mind knowing that it is more philosophical and spiritual. There were several sutras that resonated with me and many others that I didn't understand or didn't connect with. I think as I continue to grow in my yoga practice I will revisit this book.

[Glen Schroeder]

“In the kaleidoscope of change, seek only the Unchanging.”