Rebecca Polack
The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali presents the reader with a set of practical instructions for living a deeply meaningful life. The text contains 196 terse statements, or 'sūtras' (literally 'threads'), sewn together into four distinct chapters. Written almost two thousand years ago by the Indian sage Patañjali, the Yoga Sūtras has had vast influence on the Indian philosophical traditions for several millennia, especially on yoga philosophy and its practices. This third chapter of the Yoga Sūtras-the Vibhūti Pāda, or the Chapter on Special Powers-is all about the power of a sustained yoga practice. In yogic parlance, 'vibhūti' is often translated as 'special powers'. But the roots 'vi' and 'bhū' together also imply 'growth' and 'expansion'. The Monier Williams Sanskrit English Dictionary lists a number of other meanings of 'vibhūti'-'abundant', 'powerful', 'mighty', 'glorious', and 'majestic', to name a few. In this chapter, Patañjali folds in the remaining three ingredients of the eight-fold path of yoga-dhāraṇā, dhyāna, and samādhi. The previous five ingredients in the second chapter-yama, niyama, āsana, prāṇāyāma, and pratyāhāra (PYS II.29-55)-have prepared the practitioner for a deeper level of practice. Dhāraṇā binds the mind to one object. Yet, because the mind is fickle and wants to flit about here and there, the practitioner’s task is to repeatedly place the mind on that object, or in its general vicinity. There is a point, however, where the mind stays upon that object, even if briefly, and the focus is transformed. This is dhyāna-the wide angle narrows and there is a flow of attention toward that single object with greater ease. When the mind empties completely of conceptual debris and the object of meditation is the only thing on the mental menu, that is samādhi. Together these three are called saṃyama (PYS III.1-4). This third book is inundated with sacred geometrical patterns, Arabic arches, and celestial motifs fashioned in Madhubani, the folk art tradition of Northern India. This coloring book--and indeed, the entire series--draws upon the timeless tradition of the Yoga Sūtras to engage people in a new and lively way that calms the mind, relieves stress and anxiety, and enhances overall well-being. It is also a great resource for a deeper, more transformative understanding of the text.
