The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is the classical ancient Indian treatise on the practice of Yoga. While Yoga conjures up images of bodily postures and stretches in popular western culture, this aspect of yoga, the asanas, is only the third limb of the eight limbs outlined in the Yoga Sutras—and, indeed, Patanjali pays only passing attention to this aspect of the system.

This workshop will consist of a close reading of Patanjali’s original text, focusing on the opening section of the work, wherein Yoga is defined, as well as on the eight limbs of yoga covered in the heart of the text, which outline the step by step methods for attaining the enlightened state.

Attention will be paid to the classical commentaries of the text, thus exposing students to the traditional understanding of the practice of classical Yoga and its goals. Students are advised to bring any copy of the Sutras which has the Sanskrit text in romanized script as attention will be focused on the original source rather than its westernized manifestation.

AN EVENING WORKSHOP
Friday, May 16, 7–10pm
08SSD08M Approved for CEUs
Members: $25 / Nonmembers: $30
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Edwin Bryant, PhD, taught Hinduism at Harvard and is presently a professor of Hindu religion and philosophy at Rutgers. He has been a practitioner of bhakti yoga for 25 years, a number of them spent in India. He has published six books and numerous articles on Vedic culture and yoga and has also just completed a new translation of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.