Sutras 1.17-1.18

Exceedingly helpful talks; undergoing deep resistance to a 40 year practice, and missing the practice in all aspects of life . Thanks for the elucidation.

Sharon, so happy you are here. xok

James, you are such a gifted teacher. You really make the teachings of Patanjali accessible. This is so relevant to my life. To every life!

Thank you James for the clear explanations of Patanjali's Yoga Sutra's.  I have had this book for years and even though it has explanations in it, it just was not providing clarity.  Really enjoying your talks, I just hope they keep going and cover all 196.  :)

James, your presentation & inspiration is very uplifting and much appreciated. Best wishes

Really clear! Defining the Sanskrit words one at a time opens a fascinating window on the thinking behind the Sutras. Describing the sequence of the Sutras  in relation to a our experience of practice also makes them  relevant and approachable.  We are learning about the Sutras in a course here in Jerusalem but through Hebrew translations. I felt I was missing something because of a limited vocabulary. Your videos have been a help but more importantly an inspiration to learn more. Bravo!

I agree with what was said above - the clear examples, the lake in particular is amazing at describing what might happen if we experience even momentary peace, new and subtler patterns come up all the time.  And also the housework, brilliant, you sit there quietly and you notice the dust, constant cleaning required, it never ends.  Thank you James for making this so very clear.

1.18 is challenging...asamprajñata samādhi is not mentioned in so many words - it took me a few lookups to realise it's implied.  I still find the brevity and super concise form of the sūtra-s something to get to grips with.  And a lesson to using precise and concise language.  And also, I noticed, that oftentimes the sūtra following the preceding one is a continuation of the meaning, an elaboration and explanation of a term introduced before.

I can't help myself from laughing out loud, since what you describe in the last video is soooo close to home. Had been teaching yoga classes for 10 years, everything was going smootly, then BAM :big invalidating pain. Put aside yoga for while (more then a year), thinking it was not useful for "real life". Went on a path to understand all that, healed myself, found my "truths about life and what it means to be human", only to come back to the Yoga Sutras and get that everything I though I has found "on my own" was already in there... Lol.   Thank you again for translating the sutras in such a practical , classy  and qualitative way.

If life seems to be moving in the same pattern of energy.  Is telling you to move out of it or is it wanting more reflection?