The Stages of Samadhi

In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali speaks of the different stages of samadhi. The mere understanding of these different states is very little compared to the experience, but still, for the sake of understanding, Patanjali describes them. The first stage of samadhi is the...

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Patanjali’s Words: Samadhi and Sraddha (Faith)

Rev. Jaganath, Integral Yoga Minister and Raja Yoga master teacher, has spent a lifetime delving into the deepest layers of meaning in Patanjali’s words within the Yoga Sutras. Our series continues with the 20th sutra of Chapter 1 in which Patanjali further elaborates...

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Vibhuti Pada: Entering the Oneness of Time

Vibhuti Pada: Entering the Oneness of Time

Ruth Lauer Manenti (affectionately known as "Lady Ruth" in the Jivamukti Yoga tradition) has been offering her students “dharma talks”—stories from her life that accompany her classes and represent the yogic commitments to ahimsa (non-violence), compassion and...

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Patanjali’s Words: The “Other” Samadhi

Rev. Jaganath, Integral Yoga Minister and Raja Yoga master teacher, has spent a lifetime delving into the deepest layers of meaning in Patanjali’s words within the Yoga Sutras. Our series continues with the 18th and 19th sutras of Chapter 1 in which Patanjali now...

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Patanjali’s Words: Intuitive Insight

Rev. Jaganath, Integral Yoga Minister and Raja Yoga master teacher, has spent a lifetime delving into the deepest layers of meaning in Patanjali’s words within the Yoga Sutras. Our series continues with the 17th sutra of Chapter 1. Rev. Jaganath explains that this is...

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Patanjali’s Words: Nirodaḥ — Part 2

Nirodha’s Adversary: Vyutthana Vyutthana, externalization of the mind, is the predominant characteristic of ordinary consciousness. The temptation might be to characterize nirodha as a mind in meditation and vyutthana as a mind tempted by distractions of the outside...

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Patanjali’s Words: Nirodaḥ — Part 3

Nirodha as the Root of Intuitive Insight One of the major themes in the Sutras is the ability to distinguish between the mind, even the completely tranquil mind – and the Self, our True Nature. This ability is called viveka (discriminative discernment) or Yoga...

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