Session with Ganesh Mohan bio registration
“The beginning of yoga and its definition have been explained in the first two sutras. In this third sutra, the nature of the seer is explained. The Yogavalli is like a flower in bloom to those who practice yoga well, and like an arrow to those whose yoga is unsound.”
– Sri T. Krishnamacharya, Yogavalli - Sutra 1.34
Yoga is an ancient science. The defining text on yoga is the Yogasutras of Patanjali. This workshop will explore the first four sutras from the Yogasutras. The first four sutras have been selected because, traditionally, they are considered to concisely contain the whole of the rest of the text.
This workshop will attempt to present classical yoga in a manner that is definitive and authoritative, yet relevant and accessible.
This workshop is aimed at making a definitive presentation on yoga. Towards this goal, the sutras will be explained with the authority of four classical commentaries. Taken together, these commentaries are the final word on yoga. The four commentaries are:
Direct references will be cited from these commentaries to substantiate points explained.
The purpose of this workshop is to present that message with the same authenticity, but with greater simplicity. The language will be kept simple and non-technical at all times, so that the relevance of the classical presentation is not lost in incomprehensible or arcane language.
The workshop will include practical asana, pranayama and meditation sessions interspersed with the lecture sessions.
All through, the workshop bring out how this ancient psychology offers timeless answers to the fundamental issues that we face in our lives today. For example:
Defining a life goal: We all have goals all our lives. We know they change. We all have desires. They too change. Sometimes our desires and ideals are in conflict. For example, we desire money, but we seek to give, as an ideal. Sometimes what we want and what we think we should want are in sync. How do we decide on our ideals and goals? What should we seek in our lives? The Yogasutras provides unambiguous answers to these questions.
Discipline and freedom. What choices do we have? Is discipline a lack of choice? Does freedom lie in choice? Or is discipline the way to greater control over ourselves, and therefore, the ability to lead our lives with greater control and choice? What is the difference between discipline and self-repression or self-denial? Where does happiness lie—in self discipline or self indulgence?
Clarity and balance. Tranquility and fulfillment. We all want clarity, balance, tranquility and fulfillment. Are they different goals or the same one? In what state of mind will we have them? Why do we seem to gain them to a greater or lesser degree at some times, yet find them illusive at another time? Are these relative or absolute goals?
The place of body work and breath work in the path of yoga. Patanjali classically defines yoga as the “restraint of the modifications of the mind” in the Yogasutras. What is the role of the body and the breath in the path to this goal?