Sutra 49-conclusion of Book 2 and the Bible

Sutra 49

Pranyama is the regulation of the incoming and outgoing flow of breath with retention. It is to be practiced only after perfection in asana is attained.

Iyengar stresses the fact that this is the only time Patanjali gives a distinct step in the ascent of the ladder of yoga. Patanjali does not specify any specific steps in any other aspect of yoga. Pranayama is thought to be the control or regulation of prana, what yoga considers life’s energy, where all life stems from.

The Bible disagrees completely with this. God is the source of all life and of all breath. Not the air but God within the breath, the spirit, the energy, the creator and the redeemer God is life.

"In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." (Job 12:10)

"is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him." (Colossians 1:15-16)

"When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth." (Psalm 104:29-30)

This is not in the Bible but speaks volumes on how I see yoga helping me mindfully breathe in and out God’s word.

Breathing Out and Breathing In
by A.B. Simpson (1843-1919)

Jesus, breathe Thy Spirit in me, Teach me how to breathe Thee in, Help me pour into Thy bosom
All my life of self and sin.

I am breathing out my own life, That I may be filled with Thine;
Letting go my strength and weakness, Breathing in Thy life divine.

Breathing out my sinful nature, Thou has borne it all for me; Breathing in Thy cleansing fullness,
Finding all my life in Thee.

I am breathing out my sorrow, On Thy kind and gentle breast;
Breathing in Thy joy and comfort, Breathing in They peace and rest.

I am breathing out my longings, In Thy list’ning loving ear, I am breathing in Thy answers,
Stilling every doubt and fear.

I am breathing every moment, Drawing all my life from Thee;
Breath by breath I live upon Thee, Blessed Spirit, breathe in me.

Lord I want to inhale receiving your truths and promises. Lord, I exhale and release all the impurities of my old sin nature and the lies of satan. Keep Breathing in Jesus Today!

What more can I say? How to practice regulating the breath of Christ with mindfulness and love the Bible does not explain. But it is very clear that the air we breathe and the ability to do so is given to us and taken away from us by God. Prana is not God; God is God. But using breath to feel and connect to the breath by the grace of God is an important practice in yoga, to be more connected to Him from whom we've come.

Sutra 50

Pranyama has three movements: prolonged and find inhalation, exhalation and retention; all regulated with precision according to duration and place.

Here Iyengar and Patanjali teach about how the inhalation and exhalation move through the body- both the physical and the spiritual (energetic) sheaths. As we inhale the soul comes in contact with the physical body, as we exhale the physical body comes in contact with the soul. The breathe moves through the five sheaths, or five elements that God created life from: 1 is the physical body, 2 is physiological body, 3 psychological body, 4 is the intellectual body, 5 is the body of joy. With each breath God is massaging our bodies, and with awareness we can be attuned mentally, spiritually, and physically to his direction and calling. How awesome is that! Learning to control and listen to our breath by practicing deep pranayama in retention, inhalation, and exhalation can open us to experiencing God.

Job 12:7-10 - But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. (NIV)

We are not told in the Bible HOW to control our breath but we know that everything we are is God-breathed and the more conscious we are of his breath within us the better we are for it. I think from this sutra talking about how with each breath God touches our physical body, we can learn a lot.

Sutra 51

The fourth type of pranayama transcends the external and internal pranayama and appears effortless and non-deliberate.

When balance is formed and there are no restrictions in the breath at all this stage is reached. Patajlai and Iyengar call it seedless pranayama. Here the movement of breath is without volition or effort, and there is no movement in the mind or consciousness. This is the fourth stage of pranayama. Here I would imagine the yogi would be in complete knowledge with God, in total focus on the true essence of God himself, sitting with Jesus in asana in breath. Oh I hope I can be here someday. God with your grace, I wait patiently for you to take me.

Againt the Bible says nothing about HOW to breathe or HOW not to breathe. I do not believe the Bible either agrees or disagrees with this sutra. It is totally about the pranayama practice in yoga.

Sutra 52

Pranayama removes the veil covering the light of knowledge and heralds the dawn of wisdom.

Once again this sutra makes it seem that the breathing exercises or the pranayama itself is the source. The Bible disagrees completely. We know as Christians that God is Source, that God either gives us wisdom and knowledge or holds it from us. This sutra and the Bible disagree. Our veil is lifted only by God himself.

James 1:5 (NKJV)

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Sutra 53

The mind also becomes fit for concentration.

This refers to dharana the sixth limb in Yoga’s 8 limb path. After we have mastered self control (discipline) through self study (acknowledgment and repentance), Patanjali and Iyengar say we have more zeal to proceed to samhadi.

The Bible says to concentrate on God only. So if pranayama helps me concentrate on God in everything I do, then I am all for it. Truly, I am distracted, however I am feeling more blessed each time I call myself back to Godly concentration and contemplation. The Bible agrees with being self disciplined and looking at yourself with a aware eye (self study) as well as concentrating on God. Therefore I think this sutra and the Bible agree. Here is Romans 2: 1-4 and a great reminder of how important it is to study our own ways. Before this passage Paul is telling us how God has made his ways very clear from the beginning of time…

Romans 2

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?

Sutra 54

Withdrawing the senses, mind and consciousness from contact with external objects, and then drawing them inwards toward the seer, is pratyahara.

The Bible says nothing about pratyahara. However, it does speak about non attachment to the flesh and flesh serving things. Jesus tells us not to worry about anything, that God will provide. He teaches us to sell everything and seek God. The only way to God is though Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, which lives within each of his children. I think this sutra and pratyahara is a practice that the Bible and Patanjali agree on.

Matthew 6:25

"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Philippians 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Ephesians 6:18

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

Hebrews 5 New American Standard Bible

In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. 11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Sutra 55

Pratyahara results in the absolute control of the sense organs.

With God anything is possible. In Book 2 of Patanjali’s teaching, he teaches yoga as how to achieve much of what God is telling us to do. Follow his commandments, stay focused on him, know our shortcomings while not attaching to them or judging other people's issues. To live in love, free from our human desires and sinful nature. If we can learn to master this through God’s grace and yoga practice, then we will be that much closer to living as Disciples of Christ. Personally, I think I need all the help I can get. God pulls me close and allows me to punish myself by turning away from him over and over again. But he is always there waiting for me to turn back to let him love me again. If yoga can help me know God more deeply, feel his spirit guide me over my own desires, and help me be more aware of God than I am of my own body, I will give it a try. Pratyahara results in absolute control of the sense organs. Well, Jesus walked on water, raised the dead, and healed the blind… I believe anything is possible when you are totally free in the Holy Spirit. God can do whatever he wants, even let me control all my sense organs.

My conclusion:

At the beginning of this Sutra and Bible study of book 2 of Patanjali’s yoga sutras I was not sure what would happen. I was ready to give up yoga, to never practice or teach again. However, God has shown me so much more though this study. I now see where the Bible and God’s word directly disagree with the teachings of Patanjali. But for the most part God’s laws and his wishes for our faith are in agreement with the teachings of yoga. The Bible does not explain the physical laws of the body, it only teaches us about our relationship with God and his relationship with us and all of humanity. God expects us to figure out the how in order for us to do as he says and not give into our sinful nature. Yoga is a discipline that can help us learn self-control, self-discipline, and awareness. It can strengthen and deepen our relationship with God through the study of his Word and awareness of God and his guidance though his Holy Spirit. Thank you for joining me on this first visit into the Yoga Sutras and The Bible. Next I will be going through the 1st book of Patanjali’s teachings and the Bible.