Danam: Ch 1 Overview

An Overview of the First Chapter of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras

Yoga stills our agitated minds, allowing us to see clearly. Normally we are busy thinking: trying to understand what we see, planning, imagining, dreaming, remembering. We define our identities on the basis of our plans, dreams, and memories, and lose sight of what is behind them. It's not that all kinds of thinking are unhelpful - clearly planning, analysing, and remembering all help our daily lives to run more smoothly; dreaming, speculating, and remembering can inspire great art which enriches our lives. The problem comes when we believe that we are nothing more than our thoughts and ideas.

The way to develop a quality of stillness is through persistant effort for a long time, combined with an attitude of dispassion. Unfortunately, for most of us, there's no quick fix. More detailed suggestions for calming a disturbed mind are given in the second chapter: chapter one assumes that you are generally steady and focussed already.

The first stages of meditation include various thoughts and sensations, but eventually they subside and only subtle imprints are left. People pursue this path with varying degrees of enthusiasm: some seem to be born in a state of yoga; others have to work to get there, but it is within reach if you are serious.

Some people have strong confidence in the path they are following, and that faith gives them the energy they need. For others, devotion to God will turn their attention deep inside, beyond personal ideas and fantasies so potential problems such as illness or tiredness no longer disturb us. A whole range of problems, like illness, laziness, doubt over-indulgence can disturb us. Sometimes we don't notice the problem itself, but is shows as emotional, physical, mental distress, or in disturbed breathing patterns. As a way to combat these problems, Patanjali suggests a number of possible subjects for meditation. They include: our relationships with others; our breath, particularly the exhalation; how we experience or are affected by our senses; finding a role model who inspires us; or choosing a subject we feel will be helpful and will hold our attention.

Once your mind is quiet, then you can see clearly. It is as if your mind takes on the qualities of whatever you choose to focus on: instead of being coloured by your memories, dreams or expectations, you just see it as it is. Then you can progress through various stages of meditation. In the initial stages the object itself is mixed in with thoughts and ideas about it, then gradually the mental activity reduces and the object seems to shine through. This process starts with meditation on a tangible object, and is progressively refined to more subtle objects. Then it is possible to know by direct experience instead of accepting somebody else's word. Eventually this clarity can become more usual for us than the old habit of allowing our thoughts to obscure our sight.

Chapter One Translation