The Yoga Bridge

As per the title, I came across this fantastic sutra while looking through the Sutras of Patanjali.  If you practice yoga, you should immediately be learning about the eight steps a.k.a. eight limbs.  This statement isn’t a belief but a truth. Yoga leads to less suffering in life.

ii.16        heyam duhkham anagatam.

English translation:  The pains which are yet to come can be and are to be avoided.

Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali,page 123.  explanation.   Past pain is finished.  Pain that we are in the process of experiencing cannot be avoided, but can be reduced to some extent by yogic practice and discriminative knowledge. Unknown future pains can be prevented by adhering now to yogic discipline.

I would take the yogic discipline as the eight limbs but mainly yama, ethical conduct,  and niyama, self-restraint. The Sutras of Patanjali is a treasure and given freely.  The sutras are a great aid, guide, to living and is universal.  We should live by the following:

Ethical conduct which is

1) Non violence

2) Truthfulness

3) Non stealing

4) Chastity or faithfulness to one partner

5)  Non possessiveness.

Self Restraint which is:

1) Cleanliness

2) Non attachment

3) Discipline to do the work

4) Self study of scripture

5) Surrendering to God.

6) Non use of alcohol or mind altering drugs.

And the other steps which I would loosely state:

1) Yogic postures

2) Yogic breathing

3) Meditation

4) Living completely in the present.