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PYS 1.1: Beginn der Yogalehre
PYS 1.1: Beginn der Yogalehre

Yogaśāstra 1.1: Now the Teaching of Yoga Begins

`Atha` opens the teaching; the Bhāṣya defines yoga as samādhi and distinguishes absorption with cognition from the complete cessation of all vṛtti.

Dr. Ronald Steiner Dr. Ronald Steiner Laura von Ostrowski Laura von Ostrowski
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 1.1
अथ योगानुशासनम् ||1||
atha yogānuśāsanam ||1|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
atha
atha
adverb
 now
yoga
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
yoga
substantive masculine
 concerning yoga
anuśāsanam
nominative singular
anuśāsana
substantive neuter
 exposition, instruction
Now (atha) [begins] the exposition of the teaching on yoga (yogānuśāsanam | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
This moment (atha) can be a beginning. For one breath, let what came before settle and sense what you truly want to be present for now.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

The Vyāsa-Bhāṣya reads atha as the opening of this teaching and defines yoga as samādhi, a condition possible on every level of citta. It distinguishes five levels: kṣipta (restless), mūḍha (dull), vikṣipta (distracted), ekāgra (one-pointed), and niruddha (restrained). Concentration that remains subordinate to distraction within a distracted citta does not count as yoga. Saṃprajñāta-yoga occurs when the one-pointed citta illuminates a real object, attenuates the kleśa, loosens karmic bonds, and turns toward nirodha; when every vṛtti is restrained, there is asaṃprajñāta-samādhi.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya
Now, then, the exposition of concentration (is to be made).
James R. Ballantyne - 1852
Now (begins) the exposition of Yoga.
Ganganatha Jha - 1907
Nunmehr die Belehrung über den Yoga.
Paul Deussen - 1908
Now the exposition of yoga [is to be made].
James Haughton Woods - 1914

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Dr. Ronald Steiner

Dr. Ronald Steiner

From Ulm

The "Yoga Doc" - Dr. Ronald Steiner is the founder of the AYI method. This method links traditional Ashtanga Yoga with innovative Yogatherapy and living Philosophy. This forms a practice that is personal for each and... more ›

Laura von Ostrowski

Laura von Ostrowski

Ich bin 2004 das erste Mal mit Yoga in Berührung gekommen und habe seitdem unendlich viele Facetten kennengelernt. Einerseits die vielfältigen praktischen Seiten von Yoga - in Form verschiedener Ausbildungen (500 h... more ›

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Erika Heinze
Erika Heinze
Dieser Moment- um in den Zustand des Yoga einzutauchen finde ich sehr wirkungsvoll. Als ich den Satz durchgelesen habe, hat es mich sofort tief im inneren berührt! JA! Es liegt nicht in der Zukunft, der Moment ist immer da, in jedem Augenblick, in diesem Moment kann ich in den Zustand des Yoga eintauchen, die Tür steht immer offen! Es ist immer Jetzt. Der Augenblick der Ewigkeit.
Danke
V
Vip001 Pal007
amazing content. I always been referring to this.

Just one suggestion please. e.g. I would like to read 50 shlokas in one sitting. Hence, navigating all these back and forth is not so useful. If you can add arrows to previous and next sutras on every page that will
1. make it easy for readers to navigate
2. increase user's engagement
3. More important, to understand context easily from page to page and something not clear easy to go back and read and listen.

Again, thankful for your site and great contribution.
Ronald Steiner
Ronald Steiner
Hello Vip,

thanks for your message. We are working on a better navigation.
But the arrows to previous and next sutras are already on every page. ... a bit hidden: Beside the top menu when you move your mouse over this place. :)
And beside the main content of the page there is a flag, that brings you back to the whole chapter of the Sutra. If you want to read the whole chapter of the Sutra and recitate them here is the link for you:
https://de.ashtangayoga.info/philosophie/quelltexte-und-mantren/yoga-sutra/yoga-sutra-1-ueber-die-vollkommene-einheitserfahrung-ronald-laura/201128-yoga-sutra-kapitel-1-zum-mitchanten-ronald-laura/

Enjoy your diving into the Sutra.

Namaste and best greetings

Ronald