IMG_0446, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

We have a mud swamp in our backyard that he loves to play in

IMG_0430, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

He sleeps and eats

Good Apollo

DSC00823, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

He is growing like kudzu.

New Family Member

DSC00812, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

This is Apollo the puppy. He seems to be dwelling in his own true splendor.

True Splendor

तदा द्रष्टु स्वरूपे वस्थानं 

1.3 tada drastuh svarupe vastanam

Then the Seer (Self) abides in His own nature.

Sri Swami Satchidananda




Then (when thought waves are controlled) the seer is established in his own true nature.
Baba Hari Dass




Then, the seer dwells in his own true splendor.
BKS Iyengar




The seer refers to the true self, the soul, the purusa. The life force that exists in all of us, buried deep underneath all the daily bullshit.


"When the waves of consciousness are stilled and silenced, they can no longer distort the true expression of the soul. Revealed in his own nature, the radiant seer abides in his own grandeur.
When it (the mind) is restrained and regulated, a reflective state of being is experienced. In this state, knowledge dawns so clearly that the true grandeur of the seer is seen and felt. The vision of the soul radiates without any activity on the part of the citta (consciousness). Once it is realized, the soul abides in its own seat."
from Light on Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by BKS Iyengar


It is important to notice that BKS Iyengar writes that the seer, the soul, will be established in its own true nature. He distinctly does not say, you. This is because what we identify ourselves with is the fluctuating citta (the mind that won't shut up). We think we are this body and this mind, that goes through our ever so important tasks, driving here, buying this, getting pissed off at that, loving this, hating that, blah blah blah.
Patanjali is telling us that this body is a temporary apartment for the soul. The soul  is eternal, undying, unchanging, genderless and has no ice cream preferences. We can begin to make contact with that soul, not by spacing out and drooling all over ourselves, but by hard work (abhyasa and vairagya). As the mind chatter begins to diminish,  we are made more capable of glimpsing the soul.

Patanjali Yoga Sutra Links

I have put up a new link list just for sutra related things. Thanks to Lee and Chiara for sharing the links with the chanting. 
If you happen upon any other chanting source that you find helpful, share it with me so I can stick it up here. 
You can also purchase cd copies of all the sutras being chanted along with a booklet from the IYNAUS (National Iyengar Association) website. That link is under Links of Interest over there to the right. 

Sutras on Sunday

For all of you who would like to chant sutras on Sunday mornings, we will now begin chanting 10 minutes before class, that's 8:50 am. So, show up, sit down, chant. 
If you happen to arrive while chanting is in progress, quietly come into the room, get only what you need to sit, then sit down and join the chanting or be quiet, sit up straight and listen contently. 

New Sutra

अथ योगानुशासनम् 

1.1 atha yoganusasanam

      

      With prayers for divine blessings, now begins an exposition of the sacred art of yoga.

This is the first sutra of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. 

I like the immediacy of this sutra. The word 'atha' means now. Not tomorrow, not sometime in the future when I feel like I can handle it, but right now. Many times, I have chanted this sutra to myself when I slip into a state of negligence and procrastination. 

When I first decided to have sutra chantings at the start of class, it was because of this sutra. For months I hashed it over in my mind. I would always end up at a place of procrastination. I'll do it soon. The future is fat with the bounty of what we are planning to accomplish. 

Then one Sunday morning, after the Innvocation to Patanjali,  a sutra just came out of my mouth. It was an 'atha' moment.

Of course, that sutra was not the one I speak of now, but another one of my favorite. I chose it because everyone can certainly relate to it.

tivra samveganam asannah

the goal is near for those who are supremely vigorous and intense in their practice. 

Scroll down a few posts to see all the sutras we have covered so far. They all fit together. 

Now, yoga will be explained.

The goal is near for those who work towards it with determination and vigor. 

Practice and detachment are the means you use to keep you on the path while moving towards this goal.

Yoga is the stopping of the fluctuations of the consciousness.

Self-discipline, study and devotion to God are the main actions you must be practicing while on this path.

Moral injunctions, fixed observances, postures, breath control, sense (eyes, ears, etc) control and withdrawal, concentration, meditation and absorption with your true self are the stages of yoga.

Geetaji - Pada Hastasana

Geetaji Pada Hastasana 04, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

Do You Know?

वितर्कबाधने प्रतिपक्सभवनं 

vitarka badhane pratipaksabhavanam

2.33 Principles which run contrary to yama and niyama are to be countered with the knowledge of discrimination. 

Light on Yoga Sutras of Patanjali translated by BKS Iyengar

2.33 Upon being harassed by negative thoughts,one should cultivate counteracting thoughts.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali translated by Edwin Bryant

2.33 When disturbed by negative thoughts, opposite (positive) ones should be thought of. This is pratipaksha bhavana.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali translated by Sri Swami Satchidananda

2.33 When gripped by the desire to be an asshole, don't.

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali translated by Me, Kquvien DeWeese.

The big question here is are you intelligent and discerning enough to know when thoughts are self-serving negative thoughts or not. Are you more concerned with being harassed or are you more concerned with your harassment of others? What is perfectly painless and natural to you, could be impolite, inappropriate or even harmful to those around you. Consider it.

A quick word here about chanting in class. 

On Wednesdays, we have been spending 10 minutes before the beginning of the Vinyasa class at Stillwater chanting. Feel free to join us, even if you are not taking the class.

Allow me to chant the sutra once so that the entire class can hear it and establish the rhythm. 

If you are uncomfortable chanting, get over it. But until you get over it, there is nothing wrong with listening to the chanting around you and receiving that experience.

Do not worry or be self-conscious about your voice, or pronunciation. Chanting is a vibrational experience, no one cares how your voice sounds. All the voices in the room join together to create one sound, one vibration. Focus on the meaning of the words as you chant them. The repetition brings clarity, understanding and ultimately change for the better if you allow it.