Patanjali's Eight Limbs of Yoga

Who was Patanjali?

Contemporary scholars tell us that Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras describing the eight-limbed Ashtanga system (or the Eightfold Path) were written sometime during the period 4th – 3rd Century BC. No further definitive dating is available as ancient Indian history lacks secure dates; therefore, the Sutras are difficult to pin down. Knowledge was presumably passed by word-of-mouth from teacher to pupil. Equally, little is known of Patanjali, cited as the compiler of the Sutras. It is supposed that many “Sankhyan” scholars (an orthodox school of Hindu philosophy most related to Yoga) collated material, which had been in existence in oral form for hundreds of years, into the single text now distinctively known as the Sutras.

I believe that these scholars made no effort to attach dates/personalities to their written works. They had no private possessions, probably believing that truth was timeless and mattered more than individual identification, therefore, I feel the Sutras are virtually impossible to trademark. Interestingly, the name Patanjali is cited as meaning “gift from God”. Therefore, could we take that “Patanjali” was not a single person, more an alliance of scholars who worked at different times in history to record oral tradition as a gift from God to benefit the human condition as they (the scholars) had benefited from living a life of contemplation?

These Sutras form the basis of the yoga philosophy we are presented with today and virtually every contemporary yoga scholar/writer/practitioner refers to them. The word “sutra” means thread, or “linking thoughts”.

What are the Eight Limbs?

1 Yama (of which there are 5) are our attitudes towards our environment

2 Niyama (of which there are 5) are our attitudes towards ourselves

The Yamas & Niyamas are ethical & spiritual practices

3 Asana the practice of body exercises

4 Pranayama is the practice of breathing exercises

Asana & Pranayama are physical practices

5 Pratyahara or the practice of the restraint of the senses

6 Dharana is the ability to focus and direct the mind/concentration

7 Dhyana or meditative absorption

8 Samadhi or complete integration and immersion. Superconsciousness.

Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana & Samadhi are meditative/contemplative practices

Many modern Yoga classes hardly give a nod to the full Eight Limbs, concentrating mainly on the third limb namely Asana, (physical postures). Quite often this is enough for the student and can be challenging enough for the tutor.

However, a skilled and gifted teacher seamlessly weaves in the Eight Limbs giving students a unique experience that takes them Beyond Yoga and beyond attending just another yoga class.