Category: Religiousness in Yoga

Excerpts from “Religiousness in Yoga” by TKV Desikachar Part 1: Antarāya … The term antarāya describes a situation where a person moving towards betterment is blocked, either because of the experiences had in that progression or because of negative factors that might have been present for many years. Let us consider some of these obstacles,…

Excerpts from “Religiousness in Yoga” by TKV Desikachar Part 1: Ratio Now, a very important aspect of the practice of prāṇāyāma is how to establish the right ratio for individual practice … We might need something new to maintain our attention to practice or to suite a particular need, If the ratio is too easy,…

Excerpts from “Religiousness in Yoga” by TKV Desikachar This part introduces the vocabulary of breath-related practices. Part1: Pūraka & Recaka … In prāṇāyāma we simply breathe. As long as we observe how the body is responding to our breathing, we have nothing to worry about. Problems develop only when we insist upon holding the breath…

Excerpts from “Religiousness in Yoga” by TKV Desikachar Part1: Yama & Niyama … Yoga does not offer us a specific method, in that, if we do this, such will happen … Yoga also suggests that our attitude towards things can help in this movement toward reduced avidyā and freedom from duḥkha. The entire practice of…

Excerpts from “Religiousness in Yoga” by TKV Desikachar … As we continue āsana practice using a variety of postures and breathing in a planned sequence, somehow we get used to the routine. Gradually our attention to our practice decreases … This, then, is a reason for improvisation, to bring a new quality of attention and…

Excerpts from “Religiousness in Yoga” by TKV Desikachar This chapter is a brief overview of Samkhya. In this excerpt I’ve elected to let the live teaching setting in which this book originated by letting the questions come through. I believe that the questions (and answers) capture well the essence of these teachings by encountering (and…

Excerpts from “Religiousness in Yoga” by TKV Desikachar Part1: Saṃskāra … dust that blows on the skin is harmless, but if a tiny particle gets into the eye we suffer … a person who seeks clarity becomes sensitive like the eye … That is why there is always more apparent duḥkha for a viveki, one…

Excerpts from “Religiousness in Yoga” by TKV Desikachar Part1: Vinyāsa … Will someone who knows nothing about Yoga recognize the difference between it and gymanstics … merely by looking at a book on Yoga āsanas? Yoga … is not an expression of form for others to watch. We are doing it for ourselves. We are…

Excerpts from “Religiousness in Yoga” by TKV Desikachar 1: Avidyā ” … We never know when a particular form of avidyā might arise. It is like planting seeds. The moment they get water, fertilizer and air, they sprout … We should never relax when we appear to have no avidyā … Therefore, we emphasize that…

Excerpts from “Religiousness in Yoga” by TKV Desikachar 1: Asana The practice of Yoga provides us an occasion that might give us a feeling for the meaning of the word Yoga. Despite any incidental benefits, this is the fundamental reason for practice … In our practice we focus upon the body, the breath and the…

Excerpts from “Religiousness in Yoga” by TKV Desikachar 1: Yoga Yoga is one of the six principle systems of Indian thinking known as darśana. The word darśana is derived from the Sanskrit root drś, meaning “to see.” Fundamentally darśana means “view” or “a particular way of viewing.” It also has a further meaning which suggests…