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PATANJALIYoga Sutras in LingoThe Liberation of Spiritin Modern MetaphorsbyTai Sheridan***Published by Tai Sheridan at SmashwordsCopyright 2011 Tai SheridanSmashwords Edition, License NotesThank you for downloading this free eBook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. Thisbook may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided thebook remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return toSmashwords.com to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.
Books and Podcasts by This Authorelectronic / print / free / paid editionshttp://www.taisheridan.comAlso available at Amazon, Kindle, and iTunes.Buddhist Classics in Modern VerseCelestial Music: Sutras of EmptinessThe Lotus / Diamond / Heart-Wisdom / Loving Kindness SutrasThe Bare Bones Dhammapada: Big Mind Big LoveBuddha's Essential TeachingsThe Buddhacarita: A Modern SequelThe Poetic Saga of Buddha's Life From Birth to EnlightenmentThe Zen Wheel of Life Mantra: A Song of Luminous Wisdom and LoveBased on the Bhavacakra - The Wheel of Life MandalaZen Classics in Modern VerseThe Light of the Ancient Buddhas: Ballads of Emptiness and AwakeningBased on Keizan's Transmission of the LightRice Eyes: Enlightenment in Dogen's KitchenA poetic version of Dogen's Tenzo Kyokun on enlightened living and practiceSnow Falling in Moonlight: Odes in Praise of Dogen's ShobogenzoTwelve Poems based on Dogen's Shobogenzo:The Treasury of the True Dharma EyeWarm Zen Practice: A Poetic Version of Dogen's BendowaWhole Hearted WayOtherBuddha in Blue Jeans: An Extremely Short Zen Guide to Being BuddhaBuddha's Light Body: Collected Works of Tai SheridanPatanjali: Yoga Sutras in LingoThe Liberation of Spirit in Modern Metaphors
Many thanks to my eagle eyesEditor Linda Lee White
DedicationTo what is beyond old and new
Every moment of light and dark is a miracle.- Walt Whitman
Table of ContentsIntroductionChapter 1: Samadhi Pada / The Great UnhookingChapter 2: Sadhana Pada / The School of SpiritChapter 3: Vibhuti Pada / The Wonder of It AllChapter 4: Kaivalya Pada / Let Your Spirit Fly FreeAbout the Author
IntroductionPatanjali’s Yoga Sutras teach restraint, wise action, and morality as a path to “The SupremeLord”. They were written between 100 BCE and 500 BE. In this ancient Hindu text, Patanjaliespouses the eight limbs of yoga as a path of practice and realization of the divine.Sanskrit translations tend to be literal and perplexing. Most versions are augmented byinstructional and interpretive commentaries along with complex philosophy. I have written thisbook with one purpose: an immediate intimacy for the reader between the written word and theirown experience.This approach bypasses any intellectual effort to understand the subtle world of spiritualconsciousness, which is perhaps the biggest impediment to realization. I would like anyone whocan read to be able to intuitively grasp Patanjali’s ideas.There are significant contrasts between Hindu and Buddhist philosophy that are apparent whenreading Pantanjali’s sutras and placing them besides Buddhist works from that time period, suchas Asvaghosa’s Buddhacarita. The most obvious differences are (1) spirit as separate frommatter vs. spirit and matter mutually as inter-dependent; (2) a goal oriented spirituality vs. agoalless one; (3) transcendence as the achievement of a spirit entity as opposed to transcendenceas an existing ontological state; (4) master of the body-breath-mind vs. letting go of them, and(5) the importance of siddhis (powers) in spiritual development vs. ignoring anything out of theordinary. These are generalizations to help the reader understand Patanjali. Neither Hindus norBuddhists have a market on liberation, a world in which comparisons drop away and thingsexists as they are.I hope you enjoy this straight-talk no hocus-pocus down-to-earth radical-iconoclastic version ofthe Yoga Sutras. May Patanjali sing to your body, spirit, and life.To the great AUMTai SheridanKentfield, California 2011
CHAPTER 1Samadhi PadaThe Great UnhookingNow I singof yoga ‘n practicethe BIG NON-DOINGkeep yourthink-feel energy stillsense from insideharmonize think-feelthe five VIBES:seeing correctlyseeing incorrectlyseeing imaginationin your sleepin your memoryseeing clearly happenswith gettinghow things work‘n with seeinglinks between thingsseeing without claritycomes from bad info‘n your distortionsfive vibesof think-feel aresometimes painfulsometimes harmlessimaginal mindturns info into ideasthat don't hold watersleep mindcan’t stand backfrom thingsin memory mind
things stick like gluedo detachment‘n the vibes‘n rat raceS.T.O.P.yogais a steady effortto get unhookedthrough big heartedpractice during a lifetimewhen youare mind’s bossyou quit hungeringhankering for thingsthe awesome unhookingis when youblast free of desire‘n dial in to thespiritual being withinfocused attentiongrows withinsightcontemplationjoyful inner seeingfocusing onbeing here nowyour subtle mindsays adios tothought-feel imprintswhen alivein the clear light spiritand subtle bodysense impressionsdon't bug youa zillion waysto focus ‘nget insight:
confidencestick-with-itlook insidestay connectedto non-doing intimacywith mindfulnessstrong practicesupports liberationthree practicesare on the menustrong medium mildfocus your attentionon the Supreme Lordthe ONE UNMOVEDby trouble or actionsor unconscious intentionsthe lordis the sourceof all knowingunconditioned by timethe master teacherof the ancient onechant sacred soundsthe music of the Lordawaken its meaningdisappear inAUM AUM AUMdial-up tune-into inner sensingobstacles split disappearsay GOOD-BYE todiseaselazinessdoubtinattentionlow energyaddicted sensualityfalse views
back slidinguneven growthscattered attentionfeelingsa distracted mindis distressed depresseda whacked nervous systemmakes breathing hardthis holy yogagets rid of thingsthat keep you STUCKa clear mind shows upwhen think-feelhit calmPEACEis uplifted byfriendlinesscompassionhappiness‘n byNOT REACTING TOhappinessdistressvirtuevicePEACEarises by balancingbreathing ‘n life energyby stabilizing themerging ‘n harmonizingof mind with thingsby awakeningluminous awareness‘n by letting sorrow goa CLEAR CALM MINDcomes by focusingon someonewho doesn’t
hunger hankerit comes throughdream or dreamless sleepit comes througheasy focus on what you lovebeing the mind’s bossputs you in chargeof your intimacywith atoms ‘n galaxiesWhen think-feel shuts upyou ‘n seeing ‘n what you seebecome ONE likea clear diamondyou can purposelyhook upyour think-feelto your sharpclear awareness whena word‘n its meaning‘n a thingswoosh togetherin your mind‘n become ONEIt also happenswhen memorystays out of trouble‘n monkey mindgets lost‘n the lightshines throughi’ve saidmy peaceon the seeking‘n not seeking connectionto your awareness‘n to the subtletyof things
insight intosubtle truthdoesn’t happenif you space outeverything i’veshared abouteasy mindfulness basedon think-feel‘n on learningthe goalless connectionof focusing‘n awareness of clarity‘n serenityhappen whenyour spacious mind‘n regular mindget very closeas in NO GAPa yogi gets goodat clear seeing‘n insight intoREALITYthis wayis differentthan hearing thingsor figuring things outthose limit youto one partof a thingseeing clearlyinto realityditches the whole enchiladaof other mind sparkscontinual mindfulness‘n unhookingfrom think-feelhappens inNON-DOING ANYTHINGeven tryin'to keep things
out of your mind
CHAPTER 2Sadhana PadaThe School of Spiritlive simplystudy your mindmeditate onTHE SUPREME LORDthis the pulsating kriya yogastudy to geteasy mindful awareness‘n to ditchtorqued brain syndrome‘n to eradicateemotional conundrumsGREAT SPIRITUAL IGNORANCEis the source ofthink-feel confusionspiritual blindnessmixed-up identityemotional attachmentwild impulses feelingsbeing sucked into theMUNDANEall caused byTHE FEAR OF DEATHSpiritual ignorancethe BIG PROBLEMOwhether unconsciousdenied or on the loosespiritual ignoranceis seeing upside downseeing temporary as lastingseeing impure as pureseeing distress as joyseeing mundane as spiritualwhat a mess
when you thinkwhat you see‘n how you see itis the real dealit gets even worsewhen you thinkyour spiritual visions‘n objectsare the sameyou’re starvingbecause youare attachedto happinessyou’re starvingbecause youare attachedto desireYou feel terrible‘n your bodyfeels rottenbecause youare hooked onDISTRESS AS AWAY OF LIFEyour FEAR OF DEATHmakes thingstoo importantself preservationis a monster powereven for wise folksturn it all aroundS.T.O.P.the bad vibeswith mindful focuson yourHERE NOW MINDmemory willbum you outwhether you are
liberated or notwhat’s shakin’in the subtle worldgives everythingshape ‘n experiencehappy ‘n big stresscomes fromgetting 'n losingpointssharp people getthat life istotally distressingbecause ofchangehard workwild impulsive hungersconflicting needsthink-feel vibesAVOID STRESSDON’T MAKETROUBLES.T.O.P.your ego I.D.you are notwhat you seeit’s all stuffbased on yoursensing body partsthat seethat actthat stabilizeTHE PURPOSEOF YOUR SENSESIS TO ALLOWLIBERATION!!!All stuffhas a facemaybe specific
regulardefinedor undefinedknowingimprints fromwhat you seeyouwho are seeingare reallyTHE PURE SPACEOF YOURCONSCIOUSNESSYou are hereto becomeONEwith what you seeAn awake personsees differentlythey are unstuckfrom seeingall-things-as-realbecome best friendswith your body‘n unhook from it‘n be what isyour ignorancekeeps you stuckin your bodyas a thingthe great ignoranceof ME as SEPARATEdisappears whenyou detach fromyour I.D.Mindfulnesseach momenttrashesspiritual ignorance
there are stagesof mindful growththat smack youinto the here ‘n nowwith insight ‘n awarenessthe steady practiceof yogagetting ridof the mind-body crapso your clear mind‘n steady insightgrow upbeing goodan' holdin' backactin' wisehealthy naturalbody postureworkin'your breathpulling backyour sensesput your mindfulnesson awake folksor energy thatgets you connectedto good vibrationsTHE BIGOUTER DON’TSyamasoHERE’S HOW TO ACTAWAKENED COOLahimsakeep you impulses
in check‘n DO NO HARMsatyaolive truthfully honestlydon’t let the whimsof your big fat egoget hookedby statusby the timesby locationby circumstancesasteyaIf it ain’t yoursdon’t take itbrahmacharyaKeep a lidon your sex driveso you getsome insightaparigrahaStop tryingto posses thingsALL FOR THE PURPOSEOF WAKING UP!this is whatyou sign on forat all stages yogaTHE BIG INNER DO’Sniyamashere’s howto act wiseshaucha
whatever it iskeep it puresantoshalive contentedlysimplyishvarapranidhanaget yourBIG HEARTfocused onTHE SUPREME LORDtapasdoubt comesfrom yourgreedy mad egowhen doubtbugs youthink theoppositecompact mid-sized grandall doubt getsyou angst out‘n keeps youBLIND ‘n ASLEEPsoCHILL OUTsvadhyayeread goodspiritual stuffwhendo no harmis in your bonesthere’s no fight left
when truthis in your bonesyou do thingswith claritywhen youdon’t take stuffit’s all preciouswhen sex integrityis in your bonesyour spiritualityblossomswhen youquit owning stuffyou seewhere you belongin the cosmic dancewhen youclean up your actyou see your bodyas a bunch of gunk‘n this squashesyour hungers desiresas youclean up your actyou getKINDyou get focused onOTHERSyou getyour sensualityQUIETyou seeSPIRIT in EVERYTHINGyour mind becomesa fertile fieldfor meditationCONTENTMENTIS HAPPINESSlive a
simple body liferefine your sensesstudy your mind‘n connect with theBELOVEDDIVINE BEINGdeep meditation onTHE SUPREME LORDgrows mindfulness‘n constant intimacywith the divinesit solid ‘n cozystop tryingso hard‘n you willmeet infinitynothing willbug youespecially oppositeslike happiness ‘n sorrowor hot ‘n coldin balanceyour breath is calmin-breath out-breathdistinct ‘n clearbreathing happenssometimes shortsometimes longit dependson everythinggo beyondbreathingblast outmental darknesswhich hidesTHE LIGHTconnect your mind
to concentration‘n other folkspull back your sensesyour assumed think-feelthen youare bossof your senses
CHAPTER 3Vibhuti PadaThe Wonder of It Allget your mindall hereput downthought-feelalert isa flowing threadof natural interestor the mindfulnessof awarenessor of somebodyit’s the sameeasy mindof a luminousawakened personwho’s dropped ‘me’in the big vastnesstotal unionis restraintkeep thought-feelin checkpatiently unhookwake up insighta step at a timeuntil real meditationfloats upwhen think-feelstops for a secyour mental stuffcomes ‘n goes‘n transformationis out the starting gatepeace starts flowingyour ambitionswalk out the door
easy mindfulnessslips into gearin a balanced mindget in stepwith your attentionshape ‘n experiencechangein mindfulness‘n when attachmentto thingsflies out the windowNATURAL MIND LIVESwhen youunhook n' thingsdon’t grab youa yogi canget infofrom past‘n futurea wowclear mindwhenthink-feel‘n mindfulness‘n clarityabout sounds‘n meanings‘n alertnessare REALLY SMOKIN’you knowthe languageof all crittersyou areINTUITIVEyou knowprior livesyou knowwhat others think-feel
you don’t need factsanother’s mindis your minddial into the shapeof your bodyLET THINGS INthe light‘n seeingSEPARATE‘nYOUbecome invisiblesound ‘n pleasureare in checksensitive mindfulnessforgetting the futurekeeping impressions friendlylets the unknownwake upstrong mindfulnessgives the yogithe strengthOF AN ELEPHANTin all affairsyogis get infoabout hidden subtleway out distant thingsby listening towhat’s goin’ onmindfulnessof thesun'n god'n planetwakes upthe whole solar systemmindfulness
of themoonor moon-godwakes upknowingthe star systemmindfulnesson the north starlets you knowthe pathof stars ‘n planetsmindfulnesson yourBELLYlets you knowhow your bodyis mademindfulnesson your tummydecreaseshunger ‘n thirstsilence yoursubtle nerves‘n yournatural mindgets stablemindfulnesson theSHINING LIGHTat the topof your subtle bodyshows youawake beings‘n youget to knowALL REALITYmindfulnesson your chestshows youthe cause
of thought-feelfolks don’t knowthe diff betweentheir own spirit‘n the spirit of thingsTHEY ARE DIFFERENTmindfulnesson the differencelets your knowyour own spiritmindfulnesson the spotof divining thingswakes upsmell tastesight touch sounddiviningis a coolmystic skillBUT A ROADBLOCKto realmindful connectionto things people energyyou canget insideother bodieswhen you don’tattach to your own bod‘n when you knowthe circuit pathwaysof think-feel'n energybeing bossover the aircoming upyour throatto your headlets your unhookfrom water mud‘n sharp things
when hungerdoesn’t grab youyour mind shinesa big fire glowmindfulnesson hearing ‘n spacegrows supernatural‘n divine hearingmindfulnessof thebody-sky connectionas light fluffy cottonlets you flythrough airmindfulnesson whatisn’t made yetlet you becomeTHE GREATBODILESS BEINGthe bigmind darknesswhich hides lighttakes a powdermindfulnesson the realessence of thingson the subtlebalance ‘n valuemakes you bossattention to detail‘n mystic skillwakes up clarityof your subtle bodynothin' stops itthe subtle bodyis beautifulcharming
mystic vibesa brilliant diamondmindfulnessof yoursensual hooks'n instincts‘n valuemakes youbossyogi’s withswift mindsbecome bossof subtle stuffof thehere-’n-gonethink-feelsyou gotta seeTHE DIFFERENCEbetween yourphysical ‘n spiritualpersonalityto unhook‘n becomeway intuitivethe REAL SELFcomes when youcompletely unhookfrom thegross selfforget aboutwhere yogi’s gowhen they diedon’t get hookedby unwanted stuffthat comes upin your mindgettingyour mindinto the
MOMENTBY MOMENTGROOVEwakes upsubtle discriminationyou can seetwo realitiesyou couldn’tsort outsubtle discriminationtranscends everythingsubtle or grossa yogi relieson the natural flowof mind'n time‘n seeingwhen smartthing energy‘n the spirit lifeare equally clearyou havecompletely separatedfrom yourmuddy mind
CHAPTER 4Kaivalya PadaLet Your Spirit Fly Freeyour big naturalmystic mindcan only be hereBECAUSE YOUGOT BORN HUMANlotta waysto wake it upsing the mantra soundhold back impulseslive the easymindful wayfocus on folksfocus on thingsbe like a farmerpulling the weedsthat’s howa subtle mindtransforms thingsthat get in the waybecause you thinkyou gotta havea solidI.D.feelings canrun circlesaround youuntil youget solid ineasy mindfulness‘n unhookingyou canplay in lifewith yourchilled outnatural awake
mindgo beyond rewards‘n gettin' dingedthere'sa zillion causesa zillion conditionscreatin' now‘n experienceyou gettotally freeby unhookingyour past lifehits nowthingsjust lookunconnectedin the here ‘n howlife unfoldson a timelinemoving forwardyour memoriesare ancient wild thingswith no beginningyour hope ‘n desirealways eternalglued togetherby cause ‘n effectwithouta causethere ain’tno realitythe past‘n futureare realin now
time isa flowing streamsometimes you can see itsometimes you can’tdepends onits natureeverything is unique‘n partly madeoutta timeeverybody’sso differentthey seedifferentlythings aren’t herebecause you see themthey don’t stop existingbecause you mightnot be hereyour moodsyour expectationsthey embosshow youknow thingsbehind stuff isA CHANGELESSSPIRITstudy stuff‘n it awakens inyou mindyour fracturedone-sided divideddual mindcan’t know thingscompletelyit’s insideFATHOMLESSMEDITATIONreality shows up
you gotta lookwith a spiritbehind the mindto see stuffin total stillnessthingsare harmonizedONEchecking things outwith your think-feelwakes up spiriteverything happeningin think-feel‘n experienceIS FORTHE SAKEOF SPIRITwhen your think-feelis super quietyou canseparate themfrom spiritwith yogayou canget regularat separating themin your chill mindblast out ofyour usualI.D.of you‘n thingslots of stuffkicks into viewcuz ofsubtle impressions
ditch yourthink-feel attachments‘n REST IN SPIRITyour mindis clear‘n knowswhat’s sowhen you quittrying toGETespeciallyspiritual GETeasy mindfulnessin the subtle planeis like energy cloudscheering you onTO ACT KIND‘nTO BENEFITculture’s bad stuff‘n your bad habitshitch hike outta town.when dark is doneyou mindis clear calmyour habitsn' addictions handledyour think-feelfades besidesthe vast knowledgeborn with unhookingthe subtle naturetotally chillsyou settle down‘n see the sourceof flowing betweenmatter ‘n spiritthe whole deal
stops in its tracksSPIRIT SEPARATESFROM THOUGHT-FEELwhen you arezero neutralbalanced objectivein respondingto anythingeverything‘n whenyou aren’tpushed aroundby the whims‘n needsof folksthe spiritfinds itselffinds itsown shape asthe force behindthink-fell energyTHAT’S IT!
About the AuthorPoet-philosopher Tai Sheridan is a Zen priest in the Shunryu Suzuki lineage. He trained with SanFrancisco Zen Center, Dharma Eye Zen Center, Berkeley Zen Center, Zen Heart Sangha, andThe Shogaku Zen Institute. He specializes in transforming ancient Buddhist and Zen texts intoaccessible and inspirational verses.Tell a Friend About This BookView more books by Tai Sheridan, Ph.D.Connect with Taiwebsite: http://www.taisheridan.comemail: mailto:tai@taisheridan.comBooks and Podcasts by This Authorelectronic / print / free / paid hwords.com/profile/view/taisheridanAlso available at Amazon, Kindle, and iTunes.Buddhist and Spiritual Classics in Modern VerseCelestial Music: Sutras of EmptinessThe Lotus / Diamond / Heart-Wisdom / Loving Kindness SutrasThe Bare Bones Dhammapada: Big Mind Big LoveBuddha's Essential TeachingsThe Buddhacarita: A Modern SequelThe Poetic Saga of Buddha's Life From Birth to 94778
The Zen Wheel of Life Mantra: A Song of Luminous Wisdom and LoveBased on the Bhavacakra - The Wheel of Life MandalaZen Classics in Modern VerseThe Light of the Ancient Buddhas: Ballads of Emptiness and AwakeningBased on Keizan's Transmission of the LightRice Eyes: Enlightenment in Dogen's KitchenA poetic version of Dogen's Tenzo Kyokun on enlightened living and practiceSnow Falling in Moonlight: Odes in Praise of Dogen's ShobogenzoTwelve Poems based on Dogen's Shobogenzo:The Treasury of the True Dharma Eye
Warm Zen Practice: A Poetic Version of Dogen's BendowaWhole Hearted WayOtherBuddha in Blue Jeans: An Extremely Short Zen Guide to Being BuddhaBuddha's Light Body: Collected Works of Tai SheridanPatanjali: Yoga Sutras in LingoThe Liberation of Spirit in Modern Metaphors
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Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras teach restraint, wise action, and morality as a path to “The Supreme Lord”. They were written between 100 BCE and 500 BE. In this ancient Hindu text, Patanjali espouses the eight limbs of yoga as a path of practice and realization of the divine.
