Quotations
When improper thoughts disturb the mind, there should be constant pondering over the opposites.
Improper thoughts and emotions such as those of violence – whether done, caused to be done, or even approved of – indeed, any thought originating in desire, anger or delusion, whether mild, medium or intense – do all result in endless pain and misery.
Overcome such distractions by pondering on the opposites.
When one is confirmed in non-violence, hostility ceases in his presence.
When one is firmly established in speaking truth, the fruits of action become subservient to him.
All jewels approach him who is confirmed in honesty…
When one is confirmed in non-possessiveness, the knowledge of the why and how of existence is attained…
As a result of contentment there is purity of mind, one-pointedness, control of the senses, and fitness for the vision of the self.
Supreme happiness is gained via contentment.
Through sanctification and the removal of impurities, there arise special powers in the body and senses.
By study comes communion with the Lord in the Form most admired.
Realization is experienced by making the Lord the motive of all actions.
From The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali – The Threads of Union
In the calm of Sahaja’s cave
You can discover the True One.
Sayeth Nanak, the True One loves the truthful.
Guru Nanak
Patanjali is the one who originally described the “asanas” that are used in today’s many forms of physical “Yoga”, also known as “Hatha Yoga”. Yoga simply means “mystical union” with the Divine (or whatever you want to call it). In western society today, Yoga is the practice of “asanas” and there is little talk of meditation, spirituality or God, which were the original purpose of the practice of asana exercises as described by Patanjali.
Max Lieberman
Austerity, the study of sacred texts, and the dedication of action to God constitute the discipline of Mystic Union (Yoga).
This discipline is practised for the purpose of acquiring fixity of mind on the Lord, free from all impurities and agitations, or on One’s Own Reality, and for attenuating the afflictions.
The five afflictions are ignorance, egoism, attachment, aversion, and the desire to cling to life.
Ignorance is the breeding place for all the others whether they are dormant or attenuated, partially overcome or fully operative.
Ignorance is taking the non-eternal for the eternal, the impure for the pure, evil for good and non-self as self.
Egoism is the identification of the power that knows with the instruments of knowing.
Attachment is that magnetic pattern which clusters in pleasure and pulls one towards such experience.
Aversion is the magnetic pattern which clusters in misery and pushes one from such experience.
Flowing by its own energy, established even in the wise and in the foolish, is the unending desire for life.
These patterns when subtle may be removed by developing their contraries.
Their active afflictions are to be destroyed by meditation.
From The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali – The Threads of Union
(written between 1700 and 2200 years ago)
“There are two selfs; the higher and the lower self.
The higher self is human spirit clothed with soul, made in the form of God.
The lower self is an illusion, and will pass away; the higher self is God in man, and will not pass away.
If you would ask me what to study I would say, yourselves; and when you will have studied them, and then would ask me what to study next, I would reply, yourselves.
He who knows well his lower self, knows the illusions of the world, knows of the things that pass away; and he who knows his higher self, knows God; knows well the things that cannot pass away.
Men seek salvation from an evil that they deem a living monster of the nether world. This evil is myth.
The only devil from which men must be redeemed is self, the lower self. If man would find his devil he must look within; his name is self.
If man would find his saviour he must look within; and when the demon self has been dethroned the saviour, Love, will be exulted to the throne of power.
The David of the light is Purity, who slays the strong Goliath of the dark, and seats the saviour, Love, upon the throne.”
Extract from the The Aquarian Gospel