Autumn: term two

The view out my back window. photo by Margot Porter

Autumn and term two. The theme for classes this term is Patanjali's eight limbs of yoga. My reference will be TKV Desikachar's translation of Patanjali's sutras from the book 'The heart of Yoga: Developing a personal practice".


Patanjali's 196 short aphorisms or sutras outline an experiential path to achieving self-realisation.
The sutras known as the eight fold path or Ashtanga Yoga (ashta means eight and anga means limbs) are based on the achieving control over the mind. Patanjali describes five obstacles (kleshas) that prevent us from reaching our goal. It is stated that last four klesha stem from Avidya or ignorance of our true nature.

The kleshas are:

Avidya: ignorance or unreal cognition
Raga: excessive attachment to pleasurable things
Dvesha: excessive aversion or hatred
Asmita: egosim
Abhinivesha: fear of death