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 undesired traits, [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 true nature. In the begining and middle game, the yogi essentially must learn to discriminate right from wrong, good from bad, truth from falsehood. The important points of this sutra are:

1. The limbs of yoga are the methods. They are concerned with
2. Elimination of undesirable traits, 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 - observing the breath
• pratyāhāra - mental discipline
• dhāraṇā - concentration
• dhyāna - one-pointedness
• samādhi - clarity of perception at the most subtle level

Discussion

The eight limbs can be classified as:

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

Each of the limbs will be discussed individually.