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Patanjali begins by stating that all limbs of yoga are a necessary foundation to reaching the state of self-awareness, freedom and liberation. He refers to the three last limbs of yoga as samyama , in verses III.4 to III.5, and calls it the technology for "discerning principle" and mastery of citta and self-knowledge.
The concept of vritti is central to the main definition of yoga given in Sutra 1.2 of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: "yogasch chitta vritti nirodha". I. K. Taimni translates this as: "Yoga is the silencing of the modifications of the mind". [1]
Patanjali is also the reputed author of a medical text called Patanjalah, also called Patanjala or Patanjalatantra. [22] [62] This text is quoted in many yoga and health-related Indian texts. Patanjali is called a medical authority in a number of Sanskrit texts such as Yogaratnakara, Yogaratnasamuccaya, Padarthavijnana, Cakradatta bhasya. [22]
Dharana is a state of mind, Dhyana the process of mind. Dhyana is distinct from Dharana in that the meditator becomes actively engaged with its focus. Patanjali defines contemplation (Dhyana) as the mind process, where the mind is fixed on something, and then there is "a course of uniform modification of knowledge". [52]
Pratyahara [1] [2] (Sanskrit: प्रत्याहार, romanized: Pratyāhāra) or the 'gathering towards' is the fifth element among the Eight stages of Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga, [3] as mentioned in his classical work, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali composed in the 2nd century BCE. [4]
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali describe suffering as an impediment to spiritual growth. [1] Yogic practices such as meditation and pranayama breathing exercises provide methods to overcome afflictions. [1] According to Shiva Purana 2.3.5 and Hathatatvakaumudi, klesha refers to suffering (i.e. suffering caused by penance). [4] [5]
Vijnana Bikshu regards joy (ānanda) as a state that arises when the mind passes beyond the vicara stage. [82] Whicher agrees that ānanda is not a separate stage of samādhi. [82] According to Whicher, Patanjali's own view seems to be that nirvicara-samādhi is the highest form of cognitive ecstasy. [82]
In the Yoga Sutras II.1, Patañjali and his commentators write that the Kriyāyoga (action-oriented type of yoga) is to be undertaken by those whose mind is not already fixed. The fixing or "stilling of the changing states of mind" (Yoga Sutras I.2) is the goal of yoga, for which Kriyāyoga is necessary as a first step for a sādhaka. [11]