Old School Yoga

Sutra 2.28

Yoga-aṅga-anuṣṭhānād-aśuddhi-kṣaye jñāna-dīptir-ā-viveka-khyāteḥ

• yoga = yoga
• aṅga = a limb or member of the body
• anuṣṭhānā = doing, performance, practice, execution, accomplishment
• aśuddhi = Impurity, foulness
• kṣaye = loss, decline, waste, wane, decay, diminution; destruction, end, termination
• jñāna = knowing, understanding; knowledge, learning; knowledge derived from meditation on the higher truths of religion and philosophy
• dīptir = brightness, splendour, brilliance, lustre
• ā = near, near to, towards, from all sides, all around
• viveka = discrimination, judgment, discernment, discretion
• khyāteḥ = (In phil.) Knowledge, the faculty of discriminating objects by appropriate designation

Translation

By practicing the limbs of yoga, [and with] the elimination of impurity, [there arises] the illumination of understanding leading to discernment [of self from not-self] by the faculty of discrimination.

Discussion

Viveka-khyāteḥ, that is, the ability to differentiate the self and the not-self by the faculty of discrimination, is the end game of the ancient yoga practice. When the yogi can do this continuously, then he abides in his own-form. The important points are:

1. The limbs of yoga are the methods. They are concerned with
2. Elimination of impurity, and
3. Illumination of understanding.

Sutra 2.29

Yama-niyama-asana-prāṇāyāma-pratyāhāra-dhāraṇā-dhyāna-samādhayo’ ṣṭā-vaṅgāni

Translation

The Eight Limbs (ṣṭā-vaṅgāni) are:

• yama - restraints
• niyama - observances
• asana - postures
• prāṇāyāma - breath control
• pratyāhāra - withdrawal from sense objects
• dhāraṇā - concentration
• dhyāna - one-pointedness
• samādhi - clarity of perception at the most subtle level

Discussion

The eight limbs can be classified as:

• Elimination of Impurity
  • yama
  • niyama
• Physical Practices
  • asana
  • pranayama
• Illumination of Understanding
  • pratyahara
  • dharana
  • dhyana
  • samadhi

Each of the limbs will be discussed individually.