The Eight Limbs of Yogic Meditation - Patanjali's Yoga Sutras

All forms of Yogic Meditation practiced today are based on the Yoga Sutras -- a Sanskrit scripture by the ancient Indian sage, Patanjali. This famous text prescribes a sequence of eight specific practices, ending with samadhi, to reach the ultimate goal of spiritual life.
The eight limbs (ashta anga) of yoga present a road map for spiritual practice, beginning with yama (prohibitions) and niyama (injuctions) which are intended to purify one's mind (sattva shuddhi), then asana, posture, required for long periods of seated meditation, then pranayama, breathing exercises, pratyahara, sense withdrawal, dharana, concentration, dhyana, meditation, all leading to samadhi, a mystical state of absorption.
Links:
Yoga Sutra Lectures www.arshabodha.org/yogasutra....
Guided Meditations www.arshabodha.org/Meditation...
Meditation - A Journey of Exploration www.amazon.com/Meditation-Jou...
Swami Tadatmananda is a traditionally-trained teacher of Advaita Vedanta, meditation, and Sanskrit. For more information, please see: www.arshabodha.org/

[@somethingwicked9731]

This is truly the best explanation of the 8 limbs of yoga I’ve come across. I’ve been studying to become a yoga teacher and I keep being assigned needlessly difficult-to-read textbooks on the same subject. I don’t understand them and put the book down feeling defeated but this was so well done. I loved how slow and concise you spoke so I could follow each word. Thank you!

[@Grateful4Today]

Wishing you all the best success

[@padlockeussy]

Agree entirely. Very well explained and elaborated in eloquently.

[@modernthinker5310]

I pray to God that Gurus like you who has in depth knowledge about the True knowledge should be there in this misguided world to guide the people to achieve Moksha.

[@parvsheth5078]

I am so happy to see hundreds of foreigners(non Indians by birth) following these practices . I can guarantee this will benefit you very much.

[@TheSuperTeacherStudent]

I always worry that I might be accused of cultural appropriation, so thank you for your comment.

[@hankiedave]

i love people on youtube who speak in calmer voice unlike other videos from people in the US who tried to explain all things in LOUD VOICES! thank you for posting this, very clear in all angles and the soft voice is heaven.

[@babyinvasion]

I felt so relieved just now when he began speaking. The "KZbin voice" is soul-draining and stressful. I found my calm place here.

[@atpeace1060]

I’m currently in a spinal ward in a pretty crappy way but this is really helping my mind and well being. I’m very grateful. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@AquilaLiberum]

This was presented so succinctly and clearly, I was enraptured for the entire video. Thank you for sharing! 🙏🏻

[@sunilgautam3530]

The Power of India 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🙏🙏🙏

[@bravervanchi7362]

incredible...greetings from argentina... a pleasure to hear a dharma teacher like you decompose these terms.. with clarity and wisdom and without a second intention... keep up the great work!!

[@KOUdance]

Thank you for breaking down the eight parts of yoga as a series of branches to be climbed in sequential order 🙏🏽 I never thought of it that way before this video

[@vaibhavjain3234]

Patanjali System is very helpful for organising one's life. Thinking in terms of this system can impact a person's life positively. This was a very well done overview of the the 8 limbs of yoga by Patanjali also pointing out the modern ramifications and how they not tethered to the intention/goal of a particular limb(as pointed out in the video about asana)

[@anupreetborkar9174]

Like a true master, you made it so easy to understand. 🙏

[@Ravishns]

Ashtanga Yoga is the eight-limbed path of conscious living and spiritual practice that guides one towards Self-Knowledge, liberation and cessation of personal suffering. Beautifully explained

[@watchwitness6407]

Om Namah Sivaya - Pranams Gurudev🙏

[@ChristophePeytier]

Thank you Swamiji, for your constant sharing. What a pleasure to listen and learn!

[@user-xe1xf2bk7j]

Thank you. Now it’s clear what are the goals of meditation and yoga itself.

[@DrNijR]

Namasthe, Useful manual towards permanent happiness. Thank you Swamiji.

[@jagatheesanchandrasekharan7248]

This is one area in which our contemporary knowledge of Buddhism can benefit from insights. The term “Dharana”, which literally means short and “I can hold, carry, keep (in mind)” is a good description of the task faced in Buddhist contemplative practice, regardless of what tradition / schoolconsidered.In meditation we also need to maintain our meditation object firmly in focus in mind, without losing it. This central feature of the task undertaken when trying to cultivate meditative concentration, relates as an equivalent to the literal meaning of the Buddhist term “sati” (which means reminder / recall) and what is general and now translated simply as “mindfulness” - a translation that often aboard with questions.And the reason is as follows, in summary: To maintain the object of meditation in mind you need to remember it. Remember here that means you have to hold, keep in mind, your object of concentration. This is exactly what makes the faculty of memory, usually being pushed away by the impressions with new information by the six senses, which, if penetrated, would result in more or less a wild spin.If you are able to sustain their concentration on one point however - or even as much as you can keep it, one of the laws of functioning of the mind that the Buddha rediscovered and explained in detail that this rebate is “artificial” senses the support and focus on a particular mental object equivalent to a minor sensory stimulus.As a result of mental calmness and happiness (piti) and happiness index (sukha) will arise and show signs of the primeirs a stronger concentration - these being two of the five factors of meditative absorption (jhana), along with (i) directed thought (vitakka) (ii) sustained (Vicara) and (iii) equanimity (Upekkha).This is also the reason why is quite logical that samma sati, mindfulness, has to come before samma samadhi, full concentration in the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism - or, as shown in this case in the Yoga Sutta, “Dharana” would be the stage immediately prior to “Delivering the Samadhi.”In this case the Yoga Sutra throws much light on the original meaning as understood in the early centuries of Buddhist practice and can help us reach a more precise understanding of what “samma sati, right mindfulness, originally meant or pointed. (In Theravadin blog post is a rather plain and that shows how sati yoniso manasikara are coming in practical terms, check this link ).On the opposite side, or better, understanding it as a byproduct of the practice of sati is no other term that would best be described as “mindfulness.” The Pali term is sampajaññā - which literally means “next-consideration”, eg, be well aware of when performing an action, then a “clear understanding” of what it does - but this activity is a result of sati, as having the mind fixed on an object leads to a refined consciousness that arises when during the next and keep the mind of an object, creating a clear understanding of the few sensory impressions that may enter. According to this concept, mindfulness would be a result of sati and not the practice of sati in itself!But again, both activities are happening almost simultaneously, even if not in the same order and then the current use of the term translated can be done - at the same time a fine distinction, however, has its benefits. You can not keep an object from the standpoint of mind without which would create or develop mindfulness in mind - but (unfortunately!) you may be aware of all your actions that you work without the right concentration - as when eat an ice cream, in seeking the sensual pleasure, an example of improper care. This being the fact that unfortunately idealize the interpretations of some Westerners who want to say “Buddhist”.There is a difference between deliberately let himself be led by sense impressions by focusing on their physical pleasures and enhancing / supporting raga (desire) and nandi (joy) - and, from the perspective of Gotama Buddha, put his feet on the ground using the mindful memory and thus experiencing a more refined awareness of trying to get it off the shaft so that it results in a greater mindfulness, in the culmination of his experience flows into total equanimity in the face of both pleasurable and painful sensations.Thus, then, we must understand as vipassanā is no way a synonym for mindfulness (sati) but something that springs from the combination of all these factors especially the last two, samma sati (mindfulness) and samma samadhi (right concentration) applied to the relentless observation of what appears to be in front of (yathabhuta).

[@melkomservice7389]

Thank you, Swamiji.

[@SriniKanchi1]

Wonderful Narration. Thank you Swamiji

[@aliinglis2311]

Thank you for your video. I am currently studying yoga for myself firstly, then I wish to share to others. I am deeply relating the yamas and niyamas to myself and changing as a soul. So enlightened. I feel close to God, nature and feel utterly connected, although I feel disconnected in the now to others. I am going within. I feel that unlike others, I want to honour the yamas and niyamas before concentrating on asanas. I doubted this at first, but I am sure that this is the correct way. Blessings.

[@Krishnananda67]

🙏 thanks for this enlightened preaching.

[@drumestatic]

This video explained a lot to me. I will watch again and again until I learn. Thanks for sharing.

[@deepak26v]

Whenever i am looking for directions, Swami Ji arrives to show me the path 🙏🙏

[@danahill4988]

excellent video, for months I've been searching for something that's this clearly stated! I guess everything manifests in it's due time tho. Namaste :)

[@suryaprakashbellary8773]

I am really searching for this topic when l stumbled on this .Thank you so much Swamy for your excellent teaching.

[@robertharrisonarshavidyave7600]

Excellent teaching Swamiji

[@alexrfontes]

Greetings from Brazil. Thanks very much Swamiji and all who worked to make this very enlightening video available. Hare 🕉

[@Divamaks]

So simply and clearly presented. Thank you for simplifying this!

[@mybabyandme08]

Amazing teacher 🙏🏽 Thank you for sharing this. Your videos are heaven sent ☺️

[@Mrsb830]

Thank you this made me understand the 8 limbs of yoga better .

[@debrajmukherjee2721]

Thank you Gurudev ... ur a Treasure trove in my journey towards realisation of consciousness ... I Love your videos and easy teachings ... I also read several spiritual books which I get in the internet. I have read Yoga Sutra s of Patanjali by Swami Satchitananda and also Swami Vivekananda, also I read the book Holi Science written by Swami Yukteswar Giri ... found them quite enlightening .. I Love logical scientific deduction to be the basis behind spiritual path ... Swami kindly guide me through more enlightening video of yours, your calm and prestine demeanor attracts me towards your teachings with Love, I am practicing meditation twice a day for 20 mins where I focus on complete void and calm between my eyes ... I find it rather refreshing and scintilatting .... I am a loner soul who finds peace in solitude ... Swami kindly guide me .... be my Guru 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@00Farfarello00]

Thank you for the excellent presentation of this profound spiritual book

[@tommyssanderson]

This is a fabulous guide to the subject Extremely well presented Thank You for taking the time to Present this

[@karthikeyankrishnamurthy4764]

Excellent swamiji.. all discourses with logical examples.. simply superb.. thanks a lot

[@cvf3197]

Thank you for sharing your wisdom. Namaste.

[@ivybanerjee5865]

Thank you Swamiji...love it

[@rattikarndamico4914]

Thank you for this wonderful teaching, I’m so grateful.

[@mikemikalis]

Thank you! I couldn’t have asked for a better overview.

[@nataliekate2176]

Wonderful video Swamiji. I have been watching quite a few of your videos lately and they have been very helpful - Thankyou so much for sharing. Namaste 🙏🏼

[@buttonpetrelli]

Natalie Kate hi natalie! :)

[@sandrabraz7585]

The best explanation about 8 limbs I've ever heard. ❤

[@eduardodacol3263]

wonderful!

[@ranjitkhangar1674]

Excellent video on ashtang yog

[@daniel01167]

A continuous string of though, i always believed i had to reach a point of no thought at all, this was so enlightening, thank you so much.

[@Aurora-ki1wm]

Thank you very much for sharing such wonderful information 🙏

[@joahyoga1995]

Great analogy on asana without meditation :)

[@elenamussopaludan2613]

thank you so much..I woke up with this today

[@golondrina56]

Hermosa explicación. Muy esclarecedora. Gracias .

[@lizmilligan6177]

Thank you this was lovely clear explanation 🙏❤️

[@drm54321]

So helpful. Thank you Swami!

[@JoNordan]

Thanks so much. Well presented and really helped me to tangle out some things.

[@Robinson8491]

this one is great, especially the ending with patanjali's goal of spirituality

[@prakashdholakia9763]

A very concise and lucid overview of a very complex subject. My sincere pranaam to Swami Tadatmanada .

[@vijayagurram2766]

Thank u so much for beautiful explanation 🌸🌸💐🌺

[@PawanSharma-oi1vw]

What can be more better than the way swamiji has explained. Pranam ❤

[@jkd6969]

Thank you for sharing your wisdom so clearly🙏🏼

[@YogaToSamadhi]

Thank you. Namaskar 🙏🏼

[@jamesstevenson7725]

A very knowledgeable teacher. Thank you for explaining Yoga to us

[@andreperiquito5989]

Thank you for this video.

[@trob-o-matic8896]

You videos are always very helpful. Thank you!

[@amulyar]

Thank you! 🙏

[@observer2333]

Namaste!

[@yapchenpo95]

This is so clearly explained! Thanks!

[@GreyHorse019]

Guruji, Thank You

[@emilhettiarachchi5961]

This explained a lot about yoga, i was all confused thank you Swami Ji

[@bayyareddy2575]

so nice explaination thank you swamiji

[@vijayagurram2766]

Thank u swamiji 💐💐

[@tesfaalone1910]

Wow i am new to meditation and yoga and this was extremely helpful

[@KauthukaPanorama]

Thanks a lot Guruji, Got an idea of Astanga in Patanjali. Prohibition. Injunction, Posture, Breathing, Sense Withdrawal, Concentration, Meditation, Absorption

[@neelanair5002]

Thank you .Pranamto you. Invaluable teaching and enlightening .It is so important to know the roots in its essence as misinterpretation can cause confusion and the very purpose of gyaan so futile. My pranam.

[@ducdang5934]

Great, thanks for sharing !

[@brahmajosyulavenkatasubram8605]

Very clear and lucid explanation Swamiji.tks

[@dcoleman4444]

Swami Tadatmananda is a great teacher.

[@AndrewFlorkowski-hu3vp]

Blessings and love thank you for sharing❤️🙏☀️x

[@marcmaclellan3503]

thank you for your wisdom

[@healthhappinessandspiritua9088]

Thanks so much

[@tharanis362]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@top5paranormal254]

You are a really great teacher, thank you.

[@masawemccord-franco1367]

I love his voice, I can listen to him all day🙏

[@Julie-lh5jb]

Fantastic video. Wow thank you very much for this explanation its so clear! Helps me make sense of it all x

[@analemma.inflection]

What a great video. Thank you.

[@virendradr]

Sir enlightend by your explanation,i shall teach every one to master your thoughts explained..you did it well.I love it love you,appreciate yo

[@Bijou_248]

My soul lead me here. Time, space synchronicity. The beauty of this video is simple and rich, like nectar to a honey bee . Thank you so much. Subscribing to your channel. ✨🙏

[@HombreWithAnOmbre]

I love this video thank you so much

[@deepakarya3085]

Mesmerising Thank you 🙏🙏

[@PresenceIsAGift]

This is Awesome

[@borkapajic4154]

🙏Namaste💖Thank You🌺for sharing🌈One-ness of The Brahma Vishnu and Shiva of The🌲of The Eternal Life🌠🌠🌠

[@samx2781]

Thank you for this

[@laika5757]

Music to my ears... 🎼🎶🎸

[@ekasucahyatiwinayaputri2927]

Thank you very much🙏🙏🙏 Beautiful explanation. Nice regard from Indonesia.

[@indyd9322]

Very informative video! Thank you

[@karthikeyansundararajan2391]

Gurus words awesome

[@vikramc08]

Thanks a lot for sharing Swami ji 🙏🙏 🙏. A very detailed explanation 🙏.

[@annmarierogers791]

Fantastic! Thank you!

[@bvenugopal3983]

Fine yoga class. Thanks Swamiji

[@epictetus__]

Such a beautiful presentation. Shocking to see only 6.4k likes compared to 2.27 lac views. It shows the priorities of modern generation 😥

[@khashy87]

Thank you

[@vaibhavjain3234]

Also thankyou for clearing Samadhi is a mental state and is not permanent i thought wrongly that it was the ultimate being

[@iam3142]

Thank you 🙏

[@rdb108]

Beautifully explained! Thank you!

[@meeraradhasharma5493]

pranam.