- The First Sutra: “Now begins yoga” – Atha Yoga Anushasanam: Bhagawan offers two translations: “now begins the instruction on yoga” and “now the experience of yoga”. He states that Patanjali, the master of these sutras, makes it clear that this teaching is for those who are sincere seekers ready to experience yoga now, without wasting time.
- His own master tested him by having him sit for hours without moving, which was considered the qualification for entering yoga.
- Understanding “now” is crucial for the experience of yoga, as intellectual knowledge alone is insufficient.
- Yoga is not merely a therapy for physical ailments or a means to escape poverty, though it can help with these; its deeper purpose is to transform life and lead to profound experiences.
- The Second Sutra: “Yoga is cessation of the mind” or “Withdrawal from mental thought patterns is yoga” (Yogah Chitta Vritti Nirodhah)
- Nature of the Mind: This is a central teaching. Nithyananda repeatedly asserts that mind is not an object or a thing to be fought, suppressed, or destroyed; it is an action. Just like walking or talking are actions that can be stopped, thinking is also an action that can be stopped.
- Mind as an Action of the Brain: A profound insight Nithyananda received from his master is that “one action of your brain is mind”. This challenges the common perception that the mind is bigger or more powerful than the physical brain. Realizing this allows one to relax, knowing that thinking is just one function that can be started or stopped at will. The brain can operate and live life even without the activity of what is commonly called “mind”.
- Taking Responsibility: A key to stopping the mind is to take full responsibility for one’s thinking. If you are thinking, it’s because you are doing it or you wanted it. Blaming others or external reasons for continuous thinking prevents one from being able to stop.
- Ability to Stop Thinking: Bhagawan emphasizes that if one truly understands that thinking is an action they perform, they can stop it. If it starts again, it means they wanted it to start. This awareness is sufficient for some to achieve clarity and peace.
- Cessation of Mind (Chitta Vritti Nirodha): This means not only controlling or dropping thoughts but also encompasses revelation, channeling, mastery, integration, coordination, stilling, quieting, and setting aside all modifications of the mind [9]. It’s about being able to play with the mind like a gymnasium, using it when needed and resting from it when not needed.
- Results of Cessation: When mental thought patterns (chitta) cease, it results in relaxation into one’s true nature of limitlessness and total understanding. This state is called “swarupa”.
- However, Bhagawan clarifies that not having thoughts is not yoga itself; it’s the result of thoughts disappearing. Deep sleep, for instance, involves no thoughts but is not yoga because it lacks awareness [8]. “Not having thoughts with awareness is yoga” or leads to yoga.
- Acceptance and Surrender:
- Bhagawan uses a Zen story about Suzuki, an enlightened disciple crying after his master’s death, to explain two levels of acceptance:
- Accepting the outer situation: Surrendering to what is happening externally.
- Accepting the internal response: Accepting the emotions, pain, or suffering that arise within oneself due to the outer situation.
- Many people only practice external acceptance and expect an immediate calm internal state, which means they are not truly accepting their inner world. **Complete acceptance involves embracing both external situations and internal responses. Only when both levels of acceptance happen can one be established in their true nature (swarupa).
- Responsible surrender is highlighted as enlightenment. This means taking full responsibility, even in the act of surrendering, as opposed to pseudo-surrender where individuals make excuses or blame others.
- Bhagawan uses a Zen story about Suzuki, an enlightened disciple crying after his master’s death, to explain two levels of acceptance:
- Three Types of Seekers: Bhagawan categorizes people into three groups based on how they receive spiritual truth:
- The first 33%: These individuals instantly grasp the truth with deep devotion and restful awareness; for them, the yoga sutra session is complete with the understanding of the first two sutras.
- The second 33%: These individuals need a little convincing, logical support, or techniques to internalize the truth.
- The third 33%: These individuals are very resistant and may never grasp the truth easily, but Patanjali, as an ultimate master, has solutions even for them as one goes deeper into the sutras.
- Source: From SPH Nithyananda on Patanjali Yoga Sutras
KAILASA's Words of Eternal Bliss, Nithyananda! 