Devotion

The full translation of this would be “devotion to god,” but this can be misleading in the context of Classical Yoga. Religious yogins often use this discipline as a place to put their devotional practice in the context of the practice, but Patañjali’s intention here is a little different. In Indian religious belief, Ishvara is the supreme creator god, who exists in the highest of heavens. Patañjali gives his concept of Ishvara a very specific definition, as a special soul that has never needed the purification and practice of yoga because it has never been sullied by incarnation in human form. As such it is the ultimate teacher by example, it is the standard to which all yogins must aspire. Devotion, in this context, becomes devotion to this ideal, meaning a complete re-orienting of one’s life and lifestyle towards the desired goal. Anything that will distract you from that goal must be turned away from and anything that will bring you closer to it must be embraced.


Related Posts:
Yoga in Action
The Great Vow of Yoga
Non-Harming
Truth
Non-Coveting
Continence
Non-Hoarding
The Disciplines
Purity
Contentment
Austere Practices
Self-study

Tags: Meditation