Sutra 34-48
Sutra 34
Uncertain knowledge, giving rise to violence, whether done directly or indirectly, or condoned, is caused by greed, anger or delusion in mind, moderate or intense degree. It results in endless pain and ignorance. Through introspection comes the end of pain and ignorance.
In the Old Testament there are examples from Isaiah and Job where non-violent men were used as sacrificial lambs to prove a point to humanity and Satan in the name of God. Then Christ came to offer forgiveness and a fresh start for us to be born again. Once we repent and change our ways away from violence, greed and anger and live more like Christ example he promised us everlasting life in the kingdom of God. Paul lived a violent life before Christ came and offered forgiveness from his sins. Then with the help of Christ Paul lived out his life with introspection of his past regrets and expressed his love for Christ by following and spreading the word of God to everyone he met.
Titus 1:7-10 Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless- not overbearing, not quick tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable one who loves what is good who is self controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
Here God is telling us to know his teaching, live a life of purity, and practice self control. He does not say we will not experience pain, nor does it tell us how to control ourselves. The Bible just states over and over again to be loving, hospitable, and disciplined even in the face of pain. It is up to us as individuals to train ourselves to walk with God through our lives, finding comfort in him.
I think that the word of God agrees and disagrees with this sutra. We should stay away from being violent, or having greed, anger, or delusions of mind. But we are almost promised pain, to suffer in the name of Christ. To live without pain is not promised. The promise of God is to have eternal life with him, but first we must master ourselves. It is up to us to turn our focus to God and away from greed, anger, and violence and in doing so the peace and love from God will elevate what physical pain and suffering we may endure in his name.
Sutra 35
When non violence in speech, thought and action is established, ones aggressive nature is relinquished and others abandon hostility in ones presence.
Have you ever tried to fight with someone who will not fight back? Unfortunately, I have been on both sides of this equation and being at peace does help defuse a heated situation. Jesus teaches us to love one another, even to the point of offering food and shelter to our worst enemy.
Romans 12 17-21
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Don't take revenge my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head” do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
God teaches us to be self controlled and even more kind in the face of evil. The Bible and this sutra are in agreement.
Sutra 36
When the sadhake (the yogi) is firmly established in the practice of truth, his words become so potent that what he says comes to realization.
Iyengar gives this example “for instance if we say 'I'll never eat chocolate again, as long as one cell of our body holds back and disagrees with the others, our success is not assured… It is not our mind, but the inner voice of our cells which has the power to implement our intentions'.”
God says ask and you shall receive.
When we believe in complete faith Jesus creates great miracles. There are countless accounts of Jesus' miracles that were granted due to someone's complete faith in him. He healed, fed, and even raised people from the dead when people asked in complete faith. Still today great healing take place in the name of the Lord.
Does great faith mean that every cell agrees and believes? Wavering faith is when even one cell in our body has doubt. Read the many miracles and blessings that took place in Matthew. Especially the account of Peter walking on water, then doubting Jesus and beginning to sink before Jesus reached out his hand to walk him back to the boat. Matthew 15 where Jesus makes it very clear that our hearts intentions through each word we speak is much more important than keeping mans traditions.
I think the Bible agrees with this sutra. We must have clean hearts to create clean words and solid faith in the miracles and promises of God in order to fully recognize him in our lives.
Sutra 37
When absence from stealing is firmly established precious jewels come.
The Bible says it very clearly in the Ten Commandments Thou shall not steal.
Matthew 19 18-30
Then he said to Him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER; YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY; YOU SHALL NOT STEAL; YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS; 19 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER; and YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 20The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?" 21Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 22But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. 23And Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24"Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 25When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, "Then who can be saved?" 26And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." The Disciples' Reward 27Then Peter said to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?" 28And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. 30"But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.
From this passage alone I believe this sutra and the Bible agree. The jewel is the kingdom of heaven and complete knowledge of Jesus. The lesson is to give freely and be content with what we have here in flesh, without hording it or being selfish is a very important lesson Jesus teaches us.
Sutra 38
When the sadhaka is firmly established in continence, knowledge, vigor, valor and energy flow to him.
Sexual mortality varies from culture to culture and age to age. Even in the Bible there are accounts of men having multiple wives, and widowed wives then being married to the husband’s brother. Then after Jesus came things change again. In our culture, as Christians we are taught to save our purity for marriage, before we are married we are to be married in a sense to the word of God. After marriage we become as one in the eye of God, not to divorce or mistreat our spouse. Read Song of Songs, the holiness and purity that comes from making love is amazing.
Song of Songs 6:3 "I am my lovers and my love is mine."
1Corinthians 6:12-18
12 "Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"--but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh." 17 But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
1 Corinthians 7 1-9
1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." 2But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. 8To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. 9But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
The Bible says nothing about giving us vigor and valor and energy, but it is very clear that sexual relations should be enjoyed and kept holy. In this case I believe the Bible and this sutra agree.
Sutra 39
Knowledge of past and future lives unfolds when one is free from greed and possessions.
Thou shall not covet. The tenth commandment.
As Christians many believe that there is only one life here on earth. We have one life to live and serve God and then we are in waiting until he comes again to raise us up and take us home to heaven. In this sense this sutra and the Bible disagree.
On the need to be free from greed and possessions the Bible and this sutra do agree. Read Matthew 19 again the story of the rich man. Jesus tells him (us) to go give away all our possessions and follow him.
Matthew 6 25-34 Do not worry, Jesus says not worry about anything, that he takes care of everything in nature and will also take care of us. We are told not to worry and to share, give away and not be greedy in life or love.
In this case this sutra and the Bible are in agreement, however in God we have one life.
I have a question about past and future lives. Which was brought up by God in passage Luke 9: 27 when Jesus tells his disciples “ I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
Does that mean that they will not die, because as I study I believe we have evidence that all died in the name of Jesus. Many not a very pleasant death at all. So what did Jesus mean by that statement? Since they are all dead and he has not yet returned. Could he be speaking of their souls and not their flesh, being in heaven or continuing to work in his name here until his coming? Could past and future lives exist? Until we are chosen or have proven our souls worthy by God to ascend, have they then ascended leaving their flesh, but never experiencing the pain of dying? So is it possible to live with God as Jesus is, sitting at his side. This sutra leads me to think it is possible to ascend spirit, and would God give those of us who keep trying chances again and again? I do not know, and I do not question much in doctrine, but this subject: future and past lives. Can we leave this in-between-place of being and be only pure souls, light and free? Is there another way to eternal life with Jesus before the next coming of Christ and the end of this time? In Sutra 43 God stressed Romans 8 Life through the Spirit, to me; which tells us how we are God’s children and how to know his spirit and be co-heirs with Christ. Can we ascend before, and would God give, normal following sinners that are working towards him in imperfection, more time than one mortal life to sit at his side. Is he not also the creator of our spirit, our souls and the source of all life? As Christians, Jesus should mean more to us than air. These passages have made me think about his greatness. I still am questioning this doctrine; that there is only one life. Maybe there is only one soul, but God gives us life or takes it away, or raises us to be at his side forever in free spirit, one, together, his Church, and he brings us up when he wants? In a way there is only one life because we don’t remember the others at birth, we are all born infants to forget and start again. See… I’m still questioning... but the Bible is showing me my heart and not the doctrine here! Wow!
Sutra 40
Cleanliness of body, mind developed disinterest in contact with others of self-gratification.
Cleanliness (purity) of spirit and faith in Jesus Christ are much more important than taking a shower, when it comes to being a servant of God.
Iyengar says “Purity and cleanliness protect the body and make it a fit home for the seer. Consequently it no longer leans towards sensual pleasures and tends to refrain from contact with other bodies. ….” As a temple or a church is kept clean each day, the inner body, the temple of the soul, should be bathed with copious supply of blood through asana and pranayama.”
Revisit the passage from 1 Corinthians 6: our bodies are the temples, a gift from God. Another passage that stands out to me is Luke 11 33- 36 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden or under a blow. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you,”
Cultivating a clean heart and wisdom through the word, along with the calming and purifying physical and mental effects of a regular asana and pranayama practice will help us stay clean physically and mentally when we are faced with unclean situations. I think this sutra and the Bible agree, when we are clean in spirit it is much easier not to fall for mans illusions of grandeur and stay on a straight path in Christ.
Sutra 41
When the body is cleansed, the mind purified and the senses controlled, joyful awareness need to realize the inner self, also comes.
The Bible agrees that we should keep our bodies, mind, and senses pure and under control. However Patanjali explains the inner self as god-like. As Christians we are not seeking self, we are seeking clarity and understanding of God. To look at self is not our objective, but rather to look and seek the Holy Spirit and be a holy servant. We do need to cultivate self awareness in order to not give into our sinful nature and to abide my Gods commandments. However, God is separate from us, his gift of the Holy Spirit within each of us, is just that-a gift. Our bodies are a temple for God to interact with his people as we interact with love and compassion with one another.
With this sutra in mind read Romans 12 1-13
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
In this sutra there are two aspects. First, we are to be self controlled and pure of mind, body, and senses. The Bible agrees and urges this point. We are told to act joyful and be cheerful. When we are in correct action, being pure of heart, God blesses us with his strength and joy. But the only reason we should seek ourselves is to know our own failures and control our sinful desires in nature. When we have cultivated enough self awareness to recognize and repent our sin then we know ourselves, and it is ugly. At that point we should seek to know God with all our will so we might understand the gifts he has given us. The big difference is we are seeking inner awareness to know God, connecting through his word (the Bible) and contemplative focus through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. So in this sutra the Bible both agrees and disagrees.
Sutra 42
From contentment and benevolence of consciousness comes supreme happiness.
To be content with what God has given us and to share it in kindness is a running theme in the Bible. The more we practice right action, the more confident we are in our ability to do so in difficult situations and the less guilt, blame, and fear we hold within us. When I know I have done the right thing even when faced with difficulty, I feel light and happy knowing I did what God has instructed me to do. I cannot speak for anyone else, but from my conversations with others this reward is quite universal.
1 Timothy 6:6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” I think the Bible is telling me to be content and benevolent in all my doings for great gains = happiness.
Sutra 43
Self discipline burns away impurities and kindles the sparks of divinity.
Our human nature is to sin. It takes great discipline not to sin. There is only one man that has lived his whole life without ever sinning, that man is Jesus. Everyone else has sinned to one degree or another. Yoga is a great way to train ourselves to be disciplined in action, thought, and deed. Learning how to not lose focus on God, how not to judge, hate, or react to each other in any way other than being loving and full of humility.
Romans 8 13-17
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live because those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit that makes you a slave again to dear but you received the Spirit of sonship and by him we cry “Abba” father The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. If indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Self discipline is very important as practicing Christians. It is vital to being a son and daughter in the Lord. It also is vital in being like Christ. So I believe that this sutra and the Bible agree with each other.
Sutra 44
Self study leads towards the realization of God or communion with one's desired deity.
This sutra is talking about self study in two ways: knowing our bodies and how each of us as individuals can be healthy, clean, and light, and also self study of actions and thoughts, in relation to others and God. Asana helps to know our body- how it moves, feels, and reacts to situations. Asana also helps us to know our minds- where we waver from Godly thoughts and into earthly longings.
The Bible talks about self study in relation to not judging others before you look at yourself.
Luke 6 41-42 Jesus says “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, brother let me take the speck out of your eye, when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank our of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brothers eye.
We have to look at ourselves, admit our failings and repent our sins or we will not be able to change from our sinful nature to Godly sons and daughters of God. We must not judge others but study ourselves. How else will we know our own weaknesses? I believe Bible study with self reflection and contemplation is vital to learn the difference between God guiding us and our own desires guiding us. Therefore I think the Bible and this sutra agree, but we are not the pure ones, we are seeking self to realize our sinful desires and actions that keep us separate from God. We have to know our flesh in order to repent and ask God for his grace to overcome our failures. Then we have to know our selves so we can control ourselves to follow Gods law, study our relationship with God and recognizing Gods word in us. That is most important to the Christian yogi.
Sutra 45
Surrender to God brings perfection in Samadhi.
Samadhi is when the yogi no longer is bonded to earthly desires and is always in union with God.
The Bible and this one disagree, it is not OUR surrendering that brings us to Samadhi (eternal life with God) but by Gods grace.
Ephesians 2 1-10
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body [1] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But [2] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Surrendering to our Faith in Jesus Christ and having the self control to stay in constant prayer and servitude brings us in relationship with God. But only God's everlasting love and grace can bring us to him, all we can do is our best. We never truly know as Christians if we have achieved apostleship until God lets us know. Read Paul's letter explaining this struggle of not knowing while acting in total faith, surrendering to his calling, graced by God, to live his life teaching the Gospel with every breath
1 Corinthians 9 is long but it is filled with wisdom, it says:
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 This is my defense to those who would examine me. 4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink? 5 Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? 8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. 15 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. 16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. 19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, [2] lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
I believe that the Bible and this sutra disagree, God graces us with Samadhi we do not surrender to him, we prove ourselves faithful and holy in heart and he graces us with eternal life by his side. We have to work for it not surrender to it, what we are surrendering to is his leading.
Sutra 46
Asana is perfect firmness of body, steadiness of intelligence and benevolence of spirit.
This sutra is teaching about asana as a practice to cultivate a strong, clean body, steady mind for focus and spiritual study, and a kind spirit. I found nothing for or against asana practice in the Bible.
Iyengar says “the definition of asana is whatever asana is performed; it should be done with a feeling of firmness, steadiness and endurance in the body, goodwill in the intelligence of the head and awareness and delight in the intelligence of the heart. This is how asana should be understood, practiced and experienced.”
Sutra 47
Perfection is an asana is achieved when effort to perform it becomes effortless and the infinite being within is reached.
Again the Bible teaches nothing about doing asana. Actually the Bible is not much of a how to handbook. It is a relationship book in my opinion. God explains what laws to follow in order to live a pure life in Christ. He tells us about his kingdom and history and family. But he does not tell us how to be loving, kind, generous. He just tells us TO be. He does not tell us how to think of him always, he just tells us that we need to. So for this sutra I believe that Patanjali's how to do asana is worth listening too. Iyengar says in asana the yogi “can be considered firm in his postures when preserving effort is no longer needed. In this stability, he grasps the physiology of each asana and penetrates within, reaching the minutest parts of the body. …. In this way he develops a sensitive mind. With this sensitivity he trains his thinking faculty to read, study, and penetrate the infinite.”
Sutra 48
From then on the sadhaka is undisturbed by dualities.
The Bible says nothing about asana or practicing anything in order to train our minds and bodies to focus and study him. In this sutra Iyengar is saying that Patanjali says the point of asana is to put an end to dualities within our body, mind and souls. That no pairs of opposites can exist for the yogi who has perfected asana, we become one- body, mind, and soul.
Uncertain knowledge, giving rise to violence, whether done directly or indirectly, or condoned, is caused by greed, anger or delusion in mind, moderate or intense degree. It results in endless pain and ignorance. Through introspection comes the end of pain and ignorance.
In the Old Testament there are examples from Isaiah and Job where non-violent men were used as sacrificial lambs to prove a point to humanity and Satan in the name of God. Then Christ came to offer forgiveness and a fresh start for us to be born again. Once we repent and change our ways away from violence, greed and anger and live more like Christ example he promised us everlasting life in the kingdom of God. Paul lived a violent life before Christ came and offered forgiveness from his sins. Then with the help of Christ Paul lived out his life with introspection of his past regrets and expressed his love for Christ by following and spreading the word of God to everyone he met.
Titus 1:7-10 Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless- not overbearing, not quick tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable one who loves what is good who is self controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
Here God is telling us to know his teaching, live a life of purity, and practice self control. He does not say we will not experience pain, nor does it tell us how to control ourselves. The Bible just states over and over again to be loving, hospitable, and disciplined even in the face of pain. It is up to us as individuals to train ourselves to walk with God through our lives, finding comfort in him.
I think that the word of God agrees and disagrees with this sutra. We should stay away from being violent, or having greed, anger, or delusions of mind. But we are almost promised pain, to suffer in the name of Christ. To live without pain is not promised. The promise of God is to have eternal life with him, but first we must master ourselves. It is up to us to turn our focus to God and away from greed, anger, and violence and in doing so the peace and love from God will elevate what physical pain and suffering we may endure in his name.
Sutra 35
When non violence in speech, thought and action is established, ones aggressive nature is relinquished and others abandon hostility in ones presence.
Have you ever tried to fight with someone who will not fight back? Unfortunately, I have been on both sides of this equation and being at peace does help defuse a heated situation. Jesus teaches us to love one another, even to the point of offering food and shelter to our worst enemy.
Romans 12 17-21
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Don't take revenge my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head” do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
God teaches us to be self controlled and even more kind in the face of evil. The Bible and this sutra are in agreement.
Sutra 36
When the sadhake (the yogi) is firmly established in the practice of truth, his words become so potent that what he says comes to realization.
Iyengar gives this example “for instance if we say 'I'll never eat chocolate again, as long as one cell of our body holds back and disagrees with the others, our success is not assured… It is not our mind, but the inner voice of our cells which has the power to implement our intentions'.”
God says ask and you shall receive.
When we believe in complete faith Jesus creates great miracles. There are countless accounts of Jesus' miracles that were granted due to someone's complete faith in him. He healed, fed, and even raised people from the dead when people asked in complete faith. Still today great healing take place in the name of the Lord.
Does great faith mean that every cell agrees and believes? Wavering faith is when even one cell in our body has doubt. Read the many miracles and blessings that took place in Matthew. Especially the account of Peter walking on water, then doubting Jesus and beginning to sink before Jesus reached out his hand to walk him back to the boat. Matthew 15 where Jesus makes it very clear that our hearts intentions through each word we speak is much more important than keeping mans traditions.
I think the Bible agrees with this sutra. We must have clean hearts to create clean words and solid faith in the miracles and promises of God in order to fully recognize him in our lives.
Sutra 37
When absence from stealing is firmly established precious jewels come.
The Bible says it very clearly in the Ten Commandments Thou shall not steal.
Matthew 19 18-30
Then he said to Him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER; YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY; YOU SHALL NOT STEAL; YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS; 19 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER; and YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 20The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?" 21Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 22But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. 23And Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24"Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 25When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, "Then who can be saved?" 26And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." The Disciples' Reward 27Then Peter said to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?" 28And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. 30"But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.
From this passage alone I believe this sutra and the Bible agree. The jewel is the kingdom of heaven and complete knowledge of Jesus. The lesson is to give freely and be content with what we have here in flesh, without hording it or being selfish is a very important lesson Jesus teaches us.
Sutra 38
When the sadhaka is firmly established in continence, knowledge, vigor, valor and energy flow to him.
Sexual mortality varies from culture to culture and age to age. Even in the Bible there are accounts of men having multiple wives, and widowed wives then being married to the husband’s brother. Then after Jesus came things change again. In our culture, as Christians we are taught to save our purity for marriage, before we are married we are to be married in a sense to the word of God. After marriage we become as one in the eye of God, not to divorce or mistreat our spouse. Read Song of Songs, the holiness and purity that comes from making love is amazing.
Song of Songs 6:3 "I am my lovers and my love is mine."
1Corinthians 6:12-18
12 "Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"--but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh." 17 But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
1 Corinthians 7 1-9
1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." 2But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. 8To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. 9But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
The Bible says nothing about giving us vigor and valor and energy, but it is very clear that sexual relations should be enjoyed and kept holy. In this case I believe the Bible and this sutra agree.
Sutra 39
Knowledge of past and future lives unfolds when one is free from greed and possessions.
Thou shall not covet. The tenth commandment.
As Christians many believe that there is only one life here on earth. We have one life to live and serve God and then we are in waiting until he comes again to raise us up and take us home to heaven. In this sense this sutra and the Bible disagree.
On the need to be free from greed and possessions the Bible and this sutra do agree. Read Matthew 19 again the story of the rich man. Jesus tells him (us) to go give away all our possessions and follow him.
Matthew 6 25-34 Do not worry, Jesus says not worry about anything, that he takes care of everything in nature and will also take care of us. We are told not to worry and to share, give away and not be greedy in life or love.
In this case this sutra and the Bible are in agreement, however in God we have one life.
I have a question about past and future lives. Which was brought up by God in passage Luke 9: 27 when Jesus tells his disciples “ I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
Does that mean that they will not die, because as I study I believe we have evidence that all died in the name of Jesus. Many not a very pleasant death at all. So what did Jesus mean by that statement? Since they are all dead and he has not yet returned. Could he be speaking of their souls and not their flesh, being in heaven or continuing to work in his name here until his coming? Could past and future lives exist? Until we are chosen or have proven our souls worthy by God to ascend, have they then ascended leaving their flesh, but never experiencing the pain of dying? So is it possible to live with God as Jesus is, sitting at his side. This sutra leads me to think it is possible to ascend spirit, and would God give those of us who keep trying chances again and again? I do not know, and I do not question much in doctrine, but this subject: future and past lives. Can we leave this in-between-place of being and be only pure souls, light and free? Is there another way to eternal life with Jesus before the next coming of Christ and the end of this time? In Sutra 43 God stressed Romans 8 Life through the Spirit, to me; which tells us how we are God’s children and how to know his spirit and be co-heirs with Christ. Can we ascend before, and would God give, normal following sinners that are working towards him in imperfection, more time than one mortal life to sit at his side. Is he not also the creator of our spirit, our souls and the source of all life? As Christians, Jesus should mean more to us than air. These passages have made me think about his greatness. I still am questioning this doctrine; that there is only one life. Maybe there is only one soul, but God gives us life or takes it away, or raises us to be at his side forever in free spirit, one, together, his Church, and he brings us up when he wants? In a way there is only one life because we don’t remember the others at birth, we are all born infants to forget and start again. See… I’m still questioning... but the Bible is showing me my heart and not the doctrine here! Wow!
Sutra 40
Cleanliness of body, mind developed disinterest in contact with others of self-gratification.
Cleanliness (purity) of spirit and faith in Jesus Christ are much more important than taking a shower, when it comes to being a servant of God.
Iyengar says “Purity and cleanliness protect the body and make it a fit home for the seer. Consequently it no longer leans towards sensual pleasures and tends to refrain from contact with other bodies. ….” As a temple or a church is kept clean each day, the inner body, the temple of the soul, should be bathed with copious supply of blood through asana and pranayama.”
Revisit the passage from 1 Corinthians 6: our bodies are the temples, a gift from God. Another passage that stands out to me is Luke 11 33- 36 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden or under a blow. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you,”
Cultivating a clean heart and wisdom through the word, along with the calming and purifying physical and mental effects of a regular asana and pranayama practice will help us stay clean physically and mentally when we are faced with unclean situations. I think this sutra and the Bible agree, when we are clean in spirit it is much easier not to fall for mans illusions of grandeur and stay on a straight path in Christ.
Sutra 41
When the body is cleansed, the mind purified and the senses controlled, joyful awareness need to realize the inner self, also comes.
The Bible agrees that we should keep our bodies, mind, and senses pure and under control. However Patanjali explains the inner self as god-like. As Christians we are not seeking self, we are seeking clarity and understanding of God. To look at self is not our objective, but rather to look and seek the Holy Spirit and be a holy servant. We do need to cultivate self awareness in order to not give into our sinful nature and to abide my Gods commandments. However, God is separate from us, his gift of the Holy Spirit within each of us, is just that-a gift. Our bodies are a temple for God to interact with his people as we interact with love and compassion with one another.
With this sutra in mind read Romans 12 1-13
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
In this sutra there are two aspects. First, we are to be self controlled and pure of mind, body, and senses. The Bible agrees and urges this point. We are told to act joyful and be cheerful. When we are in correct action, being pure of heart, God blesses us with his strength and joy. But the only reason we should seek ourselves is to know our own failures and control our sinful desires in nature. When we have cultivated enough self awareness to recognize and repent our sin then we know ourselves, and it is ugly. At that point we should seek to know God with all our will so we might understand the gifts he has given us. The big difference is we are seeking inner awareness to know God, connecting through his word (the Bible) and contemplative focus through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. So in this sutra the Bible both agrees and disagrees.
Sutra 42
From contentment and benevolence of consciousness comes supreme happiness.
To be content with what God has given us and to share it in kindness is a running theme in the Bible. The more we practice right action, the more confident we are in our ability to do so in difficult situations and the less guilt, blame, and fear we hold within us. When I know I have done the right thing even when faced with difficulty, I feel light and happy knowing I did what God has instructed me to do. I cannot speak for anyone else, but from my conversations with others this reward is quite universal.
1 Timothy 6:6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” I think the Bible is telling me to be content and benevolent in all my doings for great gains = happiness.
Sutra 43
Self discipline burns away impurities and kindles the sparks of divinity.
Our human nature is to sin. It takes great discipline not to sin. There is only one man that has lived his whole life without ever sinning, that man is Jesus. Everyone else has sinned to one degree or another. Yoga is a great way to train ourselves to be disciplined in action, thought, and deed. Learning how to not lose focus on God, how not to judge, hate, or react to each other in any way other than being loving and full of humility.
Romans 8 13-17
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live because those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit that makes you a slave again to dear but you received the Spirit of sonship and by him we cry “Abba” father The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. If indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Self discipline is very important as practicing Christians. It is vital to being a son and daughter in the Lord. It also is vital in being like Christ. So I believe that this sutra and the Bible agree with each other.
Sutra 44
Self study leads towards the realization of God or communion with one's desired deity.
This sutra is talking about self study in two ways: knowing our bodies and how each of us as individuals can be healthy, clean, and light, and also self study of actions and thoughts, in relation to others and God. Asana helps to know our body- how it moves, feels, and reacts to situations. Asana also helps us to know our minds- where we waver from Godly thoughts and into earthly longings.
The Bible talks about self study in relation to not judging others before you look at yourself.
Luke 6 41-42 Jesus says “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, brother let me take the speck out of your eye, when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank our of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brothers eye.
We have to look at ourselves, admit our failings and repent our sins or we will not be able to change from our sinful nature to Godly sons and daughters of God. We must not judge others but study ourselves. How else will we know our own weaknesses? I believe Bible study with self reflection and contemplation is vital to learn the difference between God guiding us and our own desires guiding us. Therefore I think the Bible and this sutra agree, but we are not the pure ones, we are seeking self to realize our sinful desires and actions that keep us separate from God. We have to know our flesh in order to repent and ask God for his grace to overcome our failures. Then we have to know our selves so we can control ourselves to follow Gods law, study our relationship with God and recognizing Gods word in us. That is most important to the Christian yogi.
Sutra 45
Surrender to God brings perfection in Samadhi.
Samadhi is when the yogi no longer is bonded to earthly desires and is always in union with God.
The Bible and this one disagree, it is not OUR surrendering that brings us to Samadhi (eternal life with God) but by Gods grace.
Ephesians 2 1-10
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body [1] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But [2] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Surrendering to our Faith in Jesus Christ and having the self control to stay in constant prayer and servitude brings us in relationship with God. But only God's everlasting love and grace can bring us to him, all we can do is our best. We never truly know as Christians if we have achieved apostleship until God lets us know. Read Paul's letter explaining this struggle of not knowing while acting in total faith, surrendering to his calling, graced by God, to live his life teaching the Gospel with every breath
1 Corinthians 9 is long but it is filled with wisdom, it says:
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 This is my defense to those who would examine me. 4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink? 5 Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? 8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. 15 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. 16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. 19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, [2] lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
I believe that the Bible and this sutra disagree, God graces us with Samadhi we do not surrender to him, we prove ourselves faithful and holy in heart and he graces us with eternal life by his side. We have to work for it not surrender to it, what we are surrendering to is his leading.
Sutra 46
Asana is perfect firmness of body, steadiness of intelligence and benevolence of spirit.
This sutra is teaching about asana as a practice to cultivate a strong, clean body, steady mind for focus and spiritual study, and a kind spirit. I found nothing for or against asana practice in the Bible.
Iyengar says “the definition of asana is whatever asana is performed; it should be done with a feeling of firmness, steadiness and endurance in the body, goodwill in the intelligence of the head and awareness and delight in the intelligence of the heart. This is how asana should be understood, practiced and experienced.”
Sutra 47
Perfection is an asana is achieved when effort to perform it becomes effortless and the infinite being within is reached.
Again the Bible teaches nothing about doing asana. Actually the Bible is not much of a how to handbook. It is a relationship book in my opinion. God explains what laws to follow in order to live a pure life in Christ. He tells us about his kingdom and history and family. But he does not tell us how to be loving, kind, generous. He just tells us TO be. He does not tell us how to think of him always, he just tells us that we need to. So for this sutra I believe that Patanjali's how to do asana is worth listening too. Iyengar says in asana the yogi “can be considered firm in his postures when preserving effort is no longer needed. In this stability, he grasps the physiology of each asana and penetrates within, reaching the minutest parts of the body. …. In this way he develops a sensitive mind. With this sensitivity he trains his thinking faculty to read, study, and penetrate the infinite.”
Sutra 48
From then on the sadhaka is undisturbed by dualities.
The Bible says nothing about asana or practicing anything in order to train our minds and bodies to focus and study him. In this sutra Iyengar is saying that Patanjali says the point of asana is to put an end to dualities within our body, mind and souls. That no pairs of opposites can exist for the yogi who has perfected asana, we become one- body, mind, and soul.
posted by Antiqua | 5:56 PM
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