Sutra I, 4.

I, 4. vritti sarupyam itaratra- At other times the seer identifies with the fluctuations of
consciousness. -Iyengar (tr.)

Now this one I can relate to through direct experience! Whenever I allow myself to identify with my "labels", i.e., yoga teacher, personal trainer, girlfriend, daughter, etc., my current emotional state (I am happy, I am depressed, I am nervous...) and/or my current situation or sense of self-worth, then I am obviously not in conscious contact with my true nature, which is essentially changeless and pure. All of these identifications are an illusion imposed upon me by the bombardment of what I perceive as reality through the filters of my manomaya kosa, my mental sheath. We discussed the kosas in detail in the first pod cast and the manomaya kosa in particular in the second. Basically, I allow my memories and past impressions, my sense of self (small"s") at that particular moment and the way I choose to integrate and relate to that information to mold my self image and inform my actions. Because this is a conditioned behavior, it is very difficult to transcend, and, of course, that is what the study of Yoga, citta (consciousness, and this work I have undertaken is all about.

Sutra I, 3.

tada drastuh svarupe avasthanam- Then the seer dwells in his own true splendor. -Iyengar (tr.)

This one is difficult to comment on with any qualification, simply because it is so closely related to the end result of the process, and I have yet so far to go. The closest experience I could hope to identify with this state is perhaps when I am feeling those moments (however fleeting) of being in the "flow", in synch with the Universe and it's intention for me. It's also those times when I feel from my heart that things are right, without any doubt or misgivings whatsoever. When I have a sense of "lightness of being", tranquility and peace. There is an absence of extremes, no turbulence caused by negative emotion, exhilaration of passion or delirium of happiness. All is just simply calm, resting in sauca, santosha, and svadhyaya- purity, contentment and Self-knowledge.

Simply put, The Soul is in the driver's seat!

Our next meeting, March 12

Hello Everyone!
Our next podcast and meeting will be on Saturday March 12 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
We will be back in the Fireside Lounge at the Centennial Tower Apartments 2515
4th Ave 2nd Floor. Please listen to the previous podcasts to catch up on the
material we will be covering and try to obtain a copy of the Yoga Sutras for
study. Any translation will do, but we have found the translations by B.K.S.
Iyengar and Swami Satchidananda to be most helpful in their commentaries and
also the simple translation without commentary by Alistair Shearer to be to the
point.
I am participating in a workshop on Sunday, so we have to meet one day earlier
to have the podcast out in timely fashion.
Thanks for understanding and we hope to see you all there!
Namaste!
Xanna