PATANAJALI YOG SUTRA

Yoga Sutras Chapter 1
Concentration
Samadhi Pada

Chapter summaries: Ch 1  Ch 2  Ch 3  Ch 4 

Concentration: Chapter 1 of the Yoga Sutras is entitled Samadhi Pada, which means the chapter on concentration. Chapter 1 describes yoga, witnessing five kinds of thoughts, uncoloring thoughts, the twin principles of practice and non-attachment, the stages of concentration, efforts and commitments, obstacles and solutions, and means and results of stabilizing the mind.

The 51 sutras of Chapter 1 have been divided into 9 sections: 

• What is yoga? (1.1-1.4)
• Witnessing and Uncoloring thoughts (1.5-1.11)
• Practice and non-attachment (1.12-1.16)
• Types of concentration (1.17-1.18)
• Efforts and commitment (1.19-1.22)
• Direct route through AUM (1.23-1.29)
• Obstacles and solutions (1.30-1.32)
• Stabilizing and clearing the mind (1.33-1.39)
• Results of stabilizing the mind (1.40-1.51)

Yoga Sutras Chapter 2
Practices
Sadhana Pada

Chapter summaries: Ch 1  Ch 2  Ch 3  Ch 4 

Practices: Chapter 2 of the Yoga Sutras is entitled Sadhana Pada, which means the chapter on practices. Chapter 2 outlines specific tools of attention that are used to systematically carve out, or cut away the obstacles of the inner mental shield that is blocking the light of the Self within. This includes the first 5 of the 8 rungs of yoga, known as ashtanga yoga.

The 55 sutras of Chapter 2 have been divided into 9 sections:

• Minimizing gross coloring (2.1-2.9)
• Dealing with subtle thoughts (2.10-2.11)
• Breaking the alliance of karma (2.12-2.25)
• The 8 rungs and discrimination (2.26-2.29)
• Yamas and Niyamas, rungs #1 and 2 of 8 (2.30-2.34)
• Benefits from Yamas and Niyamas (2.35-2.45)
• Asana, rung #3 of 8 (2.46-2.48)
• Pranayama, rung #4 of 8 (2.49-2.53)
• Pratyahara, rung #5 of 8 (2.54-2.55)

Yoga Sutras Chapter 3
Progressing
Vibhuti Pada

Chapter summaries: Ch 1  Ch 2  Ch 3  Ch 4 

Progressing: Chapter 3 of the Yoga Sutras is entitled Vibhuti Pada, which means the chapter on progressing. Chapter 3 starts by presenting the last 3 of the 8 rungs of yoga, which are concentration, meditation, and samadhi, collectively known as samyama. The rest of the chapter explains how samyama is used as the finer tool to remove the subtler veils of ignorance.

The 56 sutras of Chapter 3 have been divided into 9 sections: 

• Dharana, dhyana, and samadhi, rungs #6-8 of 8 (3.1-3.3)
• Samyama is the finer tool (3.4-3.6)
• Internal is seen to be external (3.7-3.8)
• Witnessing subtle transitions (3.9-3.16)
• Experiences from samyama (3.17-3.37)
• What to do with experiences (3.38)
• More from samyama (3.39-3.49)
• Renunciation and liberation (3.50-3.52)
• Higher discrimination (3.53-3.56)

Yoga Sutras Chapter 4
Liberation
Kaivalya Pada

Chapter summaries: Ch 1  Ch 2  Ch 3  Ch 4 

Final Liberation: Chapter 4 of the Yoga Sutras is entitled Kaivalya Pada, which means the chapter on final liberation. Chapter 4 explains how the mind is constructed and veils the inner light of the Self. It describes how the yogi deals with the natural breaches in enlightenment, and how the primal building blocks of the mind resolve back into their cause, allowing final liberation.

The 34 sutras of Chapter 4 have been divided into 12 sections: 

• Means of attaining experience (4.1-4.3)
• Emergence and mastery of mind (4.4-4.6)
• Actions and karma (4.7-4.8)
• Subconscious impressions (4.9-4.12)
• Objects and the three gunas (4.13-4.14)
• Mind perceiving objects (4.15-4.17)
• Illumination of the mind (4.18-4.21)
• Buddhi and liberation (4.22-4.26)
• Breaches in enlightenment (4.27-4.28)
• Perpetual enlightenment (4.29-4.30)
• Knowables become few (4.31)
• Gunas after liberation (4.32-4.34)