I have been meditating on the Yoga Sutra for over thirty years. No text has ever given me so much. Every sutra provides a source for deep contemplation, research and wisdom. It is the most complete and in depth teaching on the subject of yoga.

Some say the text is only for monks and for those who wish to renounce the world - this is nonsense. The central theme of the sutra is meditation. Meditation is certainly challenging but that is no reason to reject the text. That is a bit like saying that mathematics is only for mathematicians. Just because algebra seems beyond us, does not mean we cannot learn arithmetic.

In fact, there is no reason why algebra should be beyond anyone’s capacity, with the right teaching and starting with the basics. It is the same with yoga. We all start at a different point and we all need different paths, but those paths all lead to the same destination. The text is pregnant with so many layers of wisdom, value and different pathways to the ultimate goal.

There are two main reasons why meditation is so challenging - not having access to good technique and not understanding where technique is supposed to take you. The Yoga Sutra provides both. It explains why meditation is so valuable, even necessary, what is the target, and how to get there.

Yoga Sutra is not a book of philosophy - there is no argument or debate being offered. It is more a book on the science and art (method) of meditation and a text on psychology. It tells you how to meditate, what results you can expect, and why meditation is so valuable.

Sutra Study and Meditation

Sundays 4 PM Israel Time - 9 AM New York Time
Starting March 12

In person and streamed live online via Zoom

This series of ten classes takes a deep dive into the first chapter of the Yoga Sutra - the Samadhi Pada - includes study of the text, important commentaries, discussion and meditation.

https://www.integralashtanga.com/samadhi

Feedback from a recent participant on this course:

“Thank you. This has been extraordinary for me. It has been very supportive to my practice and to my life. This is the first time I am going through this and even if I am not devoting the appropriate amount of time to properly review it, I am very happy to be doing it.

These sort of things just don’t exist in our culture. In the beginning I was wondering how I could possible fit it in, but I am experiencing a level of happiness and contentment now because of it. Thank you. If society allowed for it, this would be not only meaningful but necessary and integral… we could just do this all year long. I intend to do an intense study of the sutras again.”