YSP Podcasts: Recent Episodes
Subhash Mittal
I am pleased to present an audio recording of the Yoga Sutra workshop that I presented on Friday, November 12, 2021 to the students undergoing the Yoga Teachers Training program at the Yoga Garden yoga studio in Apex, NC.
Brief summary of what we covered: * Overview of the Yoga Sutras text * Definition of yoga * Brief overview of Samkhya philosophy * Five vrittis * Abhyasa (practice) and vairagya (non-attachment) * Brief intro to the eight limbs of yoga
You can listen to the podcast as well as subscribe to it on itunes here.
Below are links to the powerpoint presentations used for these discussions:
- Yoga defined
- Ashtanga yoga (eight limbs)
- Kriya, Klesha, Karma
- Concept of Ishwara
- Dharana, dhyana, samadhi (samyama)
I would love to get your feedback.
I am pleased to present an audio recording of the presentation on "Essential message of Bhagavad Gita" that I made on Friday, October 8, 2021 to the students undergoing yoga teacher training at the Yoga Garden in Apex, NC:
Brief summary of what we covered: * Introduction * Background – events leading up to the Kurukshetra war * Paths of yoga in Gita 1. Karma yoga (action) 2. Bhakti yoga (devotion) 3. Jnana yoga (knowledge) 4. Dhyana yoga (meditation/mind)
- Three gunas – sattva (purity), rajas (action), tamas (dullness)
- Other significant verses in Gita
- Modern applications
- Q&A
You can listen to the podcast as well as subscribe to it on itunes here.
Below is the link to the powerpoint presentation used for these discussions:
- Essential message of Bhagavad Gita
I would love to get your feedback.
I am pleased to present an audio recording of the monthly workshop on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali held on Saturday, 8/21/21.
Brief summary of the sutras we covered: * Sutra 1.44: एतयैव सविचारा निर्विचारा च सूक्ष्मविषया व्याख्याता॥४४॥etayaiva savicārā nirvicārā ca sūkṣma-viṣaya vyākhyātā ॥44॥In the same way, savichara (reflective) and nirvichara (super or non-reflective) samadhis, which are practiced upon subtle objects, are explained. * Sutra 1.45: सूक्ष्मविषयत्वं चालिङ्गपर्यवसानम्॥४५॥sūkṣma-viṣayatvam-ca-aliṇga paryavasānam ॥45॥The subtlety of possible objects of concentration ends only at the undefinable. * Sutra 1.46: ता एव सबीजः समाधिः॥४६॥tā eva sabījas-samādhiḥ ॥46॥All these samadhis are sabija (with seed), which could bring one back into bondage or mental disturbance. * Sutra 1.47: निर्विचारवैशारद्येऽध्यात्मप्रसादः॥४७॥nirvicāra-vaiśāradye-‘dhyātma-prasādaḥ ॥47॥In the purity of nirvichara samadhi, the supreme Self shines. * Sutra 1.48: ऋतम्भरा तत्र प्रज्ञा॥४८॥r̥taṁbharā tatra prajñā ॥48॥This is ritambhara prajna, or the absolute true consciousness. * Sutra 1.49: श्रुतानुमानप्रज्ञाभ्यामन्यविषया विशेषार्थत्वात्॥४९॥śruta-anumāna-prajñā-abhyām-anya-viṣayā viśeṣa-arthatvāt ॥49॥This special truth is totally different from knowledge gained by hearing, study of scripture of inference. * Sutra 1.50: तज्जः संस्कारोऽन्यसंस्कारप्रतिबन्धी॥५०॥tajjas-saṁskāro-‘nya-saṁskāra pratibandhī ॥50॥The impression produced by the samadhi wipes out all other impressions. * Sutra 1.51: तस्यापि निरोधे सर्वनिरोधान्निर्बीजः समाधिः॥५१॥tasyāpi nirodhe sarva-nirodhān-nirbījaḥ samādhiḥ ॥51॥When even this impression is wiped out, every impression is totally wiped out ant there is nirbija [seedless] samadhi.
You can listen to the podcast as well as subscribe to it on itunes here.
Below are links to the powerpoint presentations used for these discussions:
- Yoga defined
- Ashtanga yoga (eight limbs)
- Kriya, Klesha, Karma
- Concept of Ishwara
- Dharana, dhyana, samadhi (samyama)
I would love to get your feedback.
I am pleased to present an audio recording of the monthly workshop on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali held on Saturday, 7/17/21.
Brief summary of the sutras we covered: * Sutra 1.41: क्षीणवृत्तेरभिजातस्येव मणेर्ग्रहीतृग्रहणग्राह्येषु तत्स्थतदञ्जनतासमापत्तिः॥४१॥kṣīṇa-vr̥tter-abhijātasy-eva maṇer-grahītr̥-grahaṇa-grāhyeṣu tatstha-tadañjanatā samāpattiḥ ॥41॥Just as the naturally pure crystal assumes shapes and colors of objects placed near it, so the Yogi’s mind, with its totally weakened modifications, becomes clear and balanced and attains the state devoid of differentiation between knower, knowable and knowledge. This culmination of meditation is samapatti (deep absorption). * Sutra 1.42: तत्र शब्दार्थज्ञानविकल्पैः संकीर्णा सवितर्का समापत्तिः॥४२॥tatra śabdārtha-jñāna-vikalpaiḥ saṁkīrṇā savitarkā samāpattiḥ ॥42॥The samadhi in which name, form and knowledge of them is mixed is called savitarka samadhi, or samadhi with deliberation. * Sutra 1.43: स्मृतिपरिशुद्धौ स्वरूपशून्येवार्थमात्रनिर्भासा निर्वितर्का॥४३॥smr̥ti-pariśuddhau svarūpa-śūnyeva-arthamātra-nirbhāsā nirvitarkā ॥43॥When the memory is well purified, the knowledge of the object of concentration shines alone, devoid of the distinction of name and quality. This is nirvitarka samadhi, or samadhi without deliberation.
You can listen to the podcast as well as subscribe to it on itunes here.
Below are links to the powerpoint presentations used for these discussions:
- Yoga defined
- Ashtanga yoga (eight limbs)
- Kriya, Klesha, Karma
- Concept of Ishwara
- Dharana, dhyana, samadhi (samyama)
I would love to get your feedback.
I am pleased to present an audio recording of the monthly workshop on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali held on Saturday, 6/19/21.
Brief summary of the sutras we covered: * Sutra 1.19: bhava-pratyayo videha-prakr̥ti-layānām ॥19॥Those who merely leave their bodies and attain the state of celestial deities, or those who get merged in nature, have rebirth. * Sutra 1.20: śraddhā-vīrya-smr̥ti samādhi-prajñā-pūrvaka itareṣām ॥20॥To the others, this Asamprajnata Samadhi could come through faith, strength, memory, contemplation of by discernment. * Sutra 1.21: tīvra-saṁvegānām-āsannaḥ ॥21॥To the keen and intent practitioner this [Samadhi] comes very quickly. * Sutra 1.22: mr̥du-madhya-adhimātratvāt-tato’pi viśeṣaḥ ॥22॥The time necessary for success further depends on whether the practice is mild medium or intense.
You can listen to the podcast as well as subscribe to it on itunes here.
Below are links to the powerpoint presentations used for these discussions:
- Yoga defined
- Ashtanga yoga (eight limbs)
- Kriya, Klesha, Karma
- Concept of Ishwara
- Dharana, dhyana, samadhi (samyama)
I would love to get your feedback.
I am pleased to present an audio recording of the monthly workshop on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali held on Saturday, 5/15/21.
Brief summary of the sutras we covered: * Sutra 3.1: deśa-bandhaḥ cittasya dhāraṇā ॥1॥Dharana (concentration) is the binding of the mind to one place or an object. * Sutra 3.2: tatra pratyaya-ikatānatā dhyānam ॥2॥Dhyana is the continuous flow of cognition toward that object. * Sutra 3.3: tadeva-artha-mātra-nirbhāsaṁ svarūpa-śūnyam-iva-samādhiḥ ॥3॥Samadhi is the same meditation when there is the shining of the object alone, as if devoid of its own (mind's) form. * Sutra 3.4: trayam-ekatra saṁyamaḥ ॥4॥The practice of these three [dharana, dhyana and samadhi] upon one object is called samyama. * Sutra 1.17: vitarka-vicāra-ānanda-asmitā-rūpa-anugamāt-saṁprajñātaḥ ॥17॥Samprajnata Samadhi (contemplation with knowledge of the object of meditation) is accompanied by gross awareness , subtle awareness, bliss and pure I-am-ness * Sutra 1.18: virāma-pratyaya-abhyāsa-pūrvaḥ saṁskāra-śeṣo-‘nyaḥ ॥18॥The remnant impression left in the mind on the dropping of the Pratyaya (content of the mind - the object of meditation) after the previous practice is the other (i.e., Asamprajnata Samadhi)
You can listen to the podcast as well as subscribe to it on itunes here.
Below are links to the powerpoint presentations used for these discussions:
- Yoga defined
- Ashtanga yoga (eight limbs)
- Kriya, Klesha, Karma
- Concept of Ishwara
- Dharana, dhyana, samadhi (samyama)
I would love to get your feedback.
I am pleased to present an audio recording of the monthly workshop on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali held on Saturday, 4/17/21.
Brief summary of the sutras we covered: * Sutra 2.54: svaviṣaya-asaṁprayoge cittasya svarūpānukāra-iv-endriyāṇāṁ pratyāhāraḥ ॥54॥When the senses withdraw themselves from the objects and imitate, as it were, the nature of the mind-stuff, this is pratyahara. * Sutra 2.55: tataḥ paramā-vaśyatā indriyāṇām ॥55॥Then follows supreme mastery over the senses.
You can listen to the podcast as well as subscribe to it on itunes here.
Below are links to the powerpoint presentations used for these discussions:
- Yoga defined
- Ashtanga yoga (eight limbs)
- Kriya, Klesha, Karma
- Concept of Ishwara
- Dharana, dhyana, samadhi (samyama)
I would love to get your feedback.
I am pleased to present an audio recording of the monthly workshop on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali held on Saturday, 3/20/21.
Brief summary of the sutras we covered: * Sutra 2.50: bāhya-ābhyantara-sthambha vr̥ttiḥ deśa-kāla-sankhyābhiḥ paridr̥ṣṭo dīrgha-sūkṣmaḥ ॥50॥The modifications of the life-breath are either external, internal or stationary. They are to be regulated by space, time and number and are either long or short. * Sutra 2.51: bāhya-ābhyantara viṣaya-akṣepī caturthaḥ ॥51॥There is a fourth kind of pranayama that transcends any reference to an internal or external object. * Sutra 2.52: tataḥ kṣīyate prakāśa-āvaraṇam ॥52॥As its result, the veil over the inner light is destroyed. * Sutra 2.53: dhāraṇāsu ca yogyatā manasaḥ ॥53॥And the mind becomes fit for concentration.
You can listen to the podcast as well as subscribe to it on itunes here.
Below are links to the powerpoint presentations used for these discussions:
- Yoga defined
- Ashtanga yoga (eight limbs)
- Kriya, Klesha, Karma
- Concept of Ishwara
- Dharana, dhyana, samadhi (samyama)
I would love to get your feedback.
I am pleased to present an audio recording of the monthly workshop on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali held on Saturday, 2/20/21.
Sutras covered: * Sutra 2.47: prayatna-śaithilya-ananta-samāpatti-bhyām ॥47॥By letting go of any unnecessary effort and by meditating on the infinite, asana is mastered. * Sutra 2.48: tato dvaṅdva-an-abhighātaḥ ॥48॥Thereafter, one is undisturbed by the dualities. * sutra 2.49: tasmin sati śvāsa-praśvāsyor-gati-vicchedaḥ prāṇāyāmaḥ ॥49॥That [firm posture] being acquired, the movements of inhalation and exhalation should be controlled. This is pranayama.
You can listen to the podcast as well as subscribe to it on itunes here.
Below are links to the powerpoint presentations used for these discussions:
- Yoga defined
- Ashtanga yoga (eight limbs)
- Kriya, Klesha, Karma
- Concept of Ishwara
- Dharana, dhyana, samadhi (samyama)
I would love to get your feedback.
I am pleased to present an audio recording of the monthly workshop on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali held on Saturday, 1/16/21.
Sutras covered: * Sutra 2.45: samādhi siddhiḥ-īśvarapraṇidhānāt ॥45॥"By total surrender to God, samadhi is attained." * Sutra 2.46: sthira-sukham-āsanam ॥46॥"Asana is a steady, comfortable posture."
You can listen to the podcast as well as subscribe to it on itunes here.
Below are links to the powerpoint presentations used for these discussions:
- Yoga defined
- Ashtanga yoga (eight limbs)
- Kriya, Klesha, Karma
- Concept of Ishwara
- Dharana, dhyana, samadhi (samyama)
I would love to get your feedback.