Yoga sutras, II 28-29 Ashtanga yoga

[lavina]

II, 28 yogana anusthanat asuddhi ksaye jnana dipith avisekaka-khyateh
II, 29 yama niyam asana pranayama pratyahara dharana dhyana samadhayo astavangani

By sustained practice
of all the component parts of yoga
the impurities dwindle away
and wisdom’s radiant light
shines forth
with discriminative knowledge.

Yoga’s eight component parts
are self-control for social harmony,
precepts for personal discipline,
yoga pose,
regulation of prana,
withdrawal of the senses from their objects,
contemplation of our true nature,
meditation on the True Self,
and being absorbed in Spirit.

M. Stiles

The sadhaka’s constant, disciplined practice of the components of yoga will result in the “impurities of the sadhaka’s body and mind are consumed, the causes of affliction are removed and the crown of wisdom is acquired. This wisdom and achievement keep the sadhaka innocent and free of pride.” (Iyengar, p132) He continues to explain that each component depends on the other and by constant practice, one will progress and evolve. The first five stages, self-control (yama), personal discipline (niyama), yoga pose (asana), pranayama (regulation of prana) and withdrawal of the senses (pratyahara) are “individual efforts for the evolution of the consciousness”. Contemplation (dharana), meditation (dhyana) and absorption in Spirit (samadhi0 are “the universal manifestation of the natural states of yoga.” (p134 -35)

Iyengar, B.K.S., Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. New Delhi, India: Harper Collins Publications India. 1993

Swami Satchidananda, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Buckingham, VA: Integral Yoga Publications. 2004

Swami Shyam, Patanjali Yog Darshan, India: International Meditation Institute, 2001, 3rd. edition

Stiles, M., Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Boston, MA: Red Wheel/Weiser LLC. 2002