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SRADDHA
SRADDHA
Exploration into Yoga Sutras and Poetry
SRADDHA
SRADDHA
by Andreja Pisnik
SRADDHA
Exploration into Yoga Sutras and Poetry
Every one of us has often question herself or This book presents my own explorations
himself who am I, what am I made of, why am through the journey toward myself. It is not
I here, what do I need to do in my life, how intended to be egotistic or very personal,
can I solve a problem, is there a better way to though it can not be otherwise either. This are
my life, am I a good person, how can I be contemplations and explorations into the
better.....endless inquires into the mind and wisdom of sages, through the images caught
matter, causing elevations of moods and drops through the photo camera, through the poetry
of enthusiasm resulting in happiness or and words of those that inspire my life and
despair....some of us love to turmoil in mental enrich the experience of my travels.
intrigues and running in circles, some seek It is a devotion and humble realization of the
wisdom in other places inside and outside, profound truth that pervades the universe and
every one to her and his own content, is around us every moment.
sometimes for years, often a life time. As a core source of my focus are the Yoga
It never ends. Sutras, as presented by the sage Patanjali.
We are always questioning, doubting, proving, Because I study,practice and teach yoga.
returning to our self and then.....wisdom comes Because I believe in yoga and has become an
from the higher places, they say. To find what inextinguishable part of my life.
we seek, that grain of everlasting happiness,
bliss that will last until our last breath. We With gratitude and respect to all those
travel the world, learn, listen, practice and teachers of the past and present who speak to
endure with devotion and humility. We reach me in words of wisdom through the ether or in
out to find compassion and return to ourselves their human presence, I humbly dedicate this
to find our own heart, loving, tender and pages to them and to all others who feel and
always present. It is in this moment, not in the share my vision.
past nor future, that we are happy and loved. Andreja
1
Atha yoganusasanam. Yoga is the ability to direct the mind
YS. I.1 exclusively toward an object and sustain that
direction without any distractions. The object
In the convention of ancient sanskrit literature, can be a concrete one either external to
the first word, atha, caries the connotation of a ourselves or part of ourselves. It can be an area
prayer, both for an auspicious beginning and a of interest, a concept, or something beyond the
succesful conclusion to the work that follows. level of the senses, such as God.
YS I.2
3
Comprehension, misapprehension,
imagination, deep sleep,memory...are
activities of the mind. YS I.6
4
Sleep, Dear, Sleep... Memory
Ravikiran Arakkal
5
Then to the rolling Heav’n itself I cried, asking, “What lamp had Destiny to guide her little
children stumbling in the dark?” and - “ A blind understanding!” Heav’n replied.
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
6
The mind can reach the state of Yoga through practice and detachment. YS I.12
7
Practice is basically the correct effort required to move toward, reach and maintain the state
of Yoga. YS I.13
8
When an individual has achieved complete understanding of his true self, he will no longer
be disturbed by the distracting influences within and around him. YS I.16
9
Through faith, which will give sufficient energy to achieve success against all odds, direction
will be maintained. YS I.20
10
Sonnet 141: In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes
William Shakespeare
11
"Hope" is the thing with feathers—
That perches in the soul—
And sings the tune without the words
—
And never stops—at all—
Emily Dickinson
12
God is a Supreme Being whose actions are never based on misapprehension. YS I.24
13
He knows everything there is to be known. He is eternal. In fact he is the ultimate teacher.
He is the source of guidance to all teachers: past, present and future. YS. I. 25,26
14
Paradiso: Canto II
Observe me well, how through this place I So likewise this Intelligence diffuses
come Its virtue multiplied among the stars.
Unto the truth thou wishest, that hereafter Itself revolving on its unity.
Thou mayst alone know how to keep the ford
Virtue diverse doth a diverse alloyage
The power and motion of the holy spheres, Make with the precious body that it quickens,
As from the artisan the hammer's craft, In which, as life in you, it is combined.
Forth from the blessed motors must proceed.
From the glad nature whence it is derived,
The heaven, which lights so manifold make The mingled virtue through the body shines,
fair, Even as gladness through the living pupil.
From the Intelligence profound, which turns
it, From this proceeds whate'er from light to light
The image takes, and makes of it a seal. Appeareth different, not from dense and rare:
This is the formal principle that produces,
And even as the soul within your dust
Through members different and According to its goodness, dark and bright.'
accommodated
To faculties diverse expands itself, Dante Alighieri
15
In order to relate to God it is necessary to regularly address him properly and reflect on his
qualities. YS I.28
16
In that book which is my memory....that is the chapter when I first met you appear the
words....here begins a new life. Dante Alighieri, La Vita Nuova
17
For in and out, above, about, below,
‘Tis nothing but a Magic Shadow-show,
Play’d in a Box whose Candle is the Sun,
Round which we Phantom Figures come and go.
***
***
18
Interuptions....illness, mental stagnation, doubts, lack of forsight, fatigue, overindulgence,
illusions about one’s true state of mind, lack of perseverence, regression. YS I.30
19
No crooked leg, no bleared eye,
No part deformed out of kind,
Nor yet so ugly half can be
As is the inward suspicious mind.
Queen Elizabeth I
20
If one can select an appropriate means to steady the mind and practice this, whatever the
provocations, the interruptions cannot take place. YS I.32
21
With them the Seed of Wisdom did I sow, And with my own hand labour’d it to grow:
And this was all the Harvest that I reape’d - “ I came like Water, and like Wind I go.”
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
23
Rid your body of its impurities,
let your speech be true and sweet,
feel friendship for the world and,
with humility seek knowledge and wealth.
T. Krishnamacharya
***
In daily life we see people around us who are happier then we are, people who are less happy. Some may
be doing praiseworthy things and others causing problems. Whatever may be our usual attitude toward
such people and their actions, if we can be pleased with others who are happier then ourselves,
compassionate toward those how are unhappy, joyful with those doing praiseworthy things, and remain
undisturbed by the errors of others, our mind will be very tranquil. YS I.33
***
25
From Love to Friendship
If you would have me love once more, Who loves, and is beloved no more,
The blissful age of love restore; His hapless fate may well deplore;
From wine's free joys, and lovers' cares, Life's loss may easily be borne,
Relentless time, who no man spares, Of love bereft man is forlorn.
Urges me quickly to retire, 'Twas thus those pleasures I lamented,
And no more to such bliss aspire. Which I so oft in youth repented;
From such austerity exact, My soul replete with soft desire,
Let's, if we can, some good extract; Vainly regretted youthful fire.
Whose way of thinking with this age But friendship then, celestial maid,
Suits not, can ne'er be deemed a sage. From heaven descended to my aid;
Let sprightly youth its follies gay, Less lively than the amorous flame,
Its follies amiable display; Although her tenderness the same.
Life to two moments is confined, The charms of friendship I admired,
Let one to wisdom be consigned. My soul was with new beauty fired;
You sweet delusions of my mind, I then made one in friendship's train,
Still to my ruling passion kind, But destitute of love, complain.
Which always brought a sure relief
To life's accurst companion, grief. Voltaire
Will you forever from me fly,
And must I joyless, friendless die?
No mortal e'er resigns his breath
I see, without a double death;
26
When we are confronted with
problems, the counsel of someone who
mastered similar problems can be a
great help. YS I.37
27
Enquiry into dreams and sleep and our experiences during or around these states can help
to clarify some of our problems. YS 1.38
28
To sleep:perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub; For in that sleep of death what dreams may
come... Hamlet,W.Shakespeare
29
Any inquiry of interest can calm the mind. YS I.39
31
Haiku: “ I am one Who eats his breakfast gazing at the morning-glories.” Basho
32
Looking for your own face
Attar
33
When one reaches the state of yoga, nothing is beyond comprehension. YS I.40
35
There is a Candle in Your Heart
Rumi
36
37
When the mind is free from distraction.....then, like a flawless diamond, reflects only the
features of the object and nothing else. YS I.41
39
40
41
The Absolute
Sri Chinmoy
42
Everything that has been heard, read or felt may interfere with our perception. YS I.42
43
Sloka 20
***
Sloka 25
T. Krishnamacharya
45
46
We here and that man, this man,
and that other in-between,
and that woman, this woman,
and that other, whoever,
Nammalvar
47
Except that the mind cannot comprehend the very source of perception within us, its
objects can be unlimited. YS I.45
48
Then, what one sees and shares with others is free from error. YS I.48
49
Finally, if ever....
The mind reaches a state when it has no impressions of any sort. It is open, clear, simply
transparent. YS I.51
51
Acknowledgements Photography
In this book presentation were used the The images presented were made during the
following sources: travel through South India in past two years.
The Yoga Sutra-s of Patanjali / first chapter in All photos in this book are copyright to
translation by TKV Desikachar, son and Andreja Pisnik.
student of legendary T. Krishnamacharya.
Published by Krishnamacharya Yoga
Mandiram, Chennai-India. For more info on publication mail:
andrejapisnik@me.com
Poetry is from various historical and modern-
day poets, chosen from their publications on
web and books.
Amsterdam, 2010
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