Part 2 Yoga Sutras Chapter 1 verses 1-2

In this second recording from a series of lectures on the first chapter of the Yoga Sutras, Ryan Kurczak explains the first and second sutra.

When the Yoga Sutras were written by Patanjali 2000 years ago, this formula for waking up had already been taught for 3000 years. What Patanjali wrote has now a history of over 5000 years of practice. The practice described in the sutras is about waking up, that is the goal and if you apply it in your life you will wake up.

The first sutra – “Now instruction in Yoga” reveals the importance of being present, when you practice yoga you have to be here. The second sutra – “Samadhi is experienced when fluctuations and changes in the meditators awareness are restrained and pacified”. That means that you are the witnessing presence that is always there and to experience samadhi you need to always be aware of that point of reference. Samadhi is you, the thing that is always there.

Most people are identified with something external – their body, their emotions and thoughts. These external things are the changes and fluctuations in the meditator’s awareness, and they prevent you from experiencing samadhi. As you see these things ask yourself – who is experiencing this? The answer is that it is you, that is samadhi. Samadhi is the culmination of yoga practice.

Recorded in 2009 at the first “Yogic Scriptures and Meditation Group” hosted by the Asheville Yoga Center. Presented by Ryan Kurczak, Kriya Yoga teacher.

A deeper discussion of the Yoga Sutras can be found here: