The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali is a classic Sanskrit treatise consisting of
195 "threads," or aphorisms, describing the process of liberation
through yoga. Although little is known about Patanjali (most scholars
estimate that he lived in India circa 200-300 B.C.), his writings have
long been recognized as a vital contribution to the philosophy and
practice of yoga. This new, expert translation of the original Sanskrit
text of Patanjali's best-known work presents his seminal ideas and
methods in accessible, plain-language English.
Patanjali organized the sutra into four parts: Samadhi (absorption),
Sadhana (practice), Vibhuti (supernatural powers), and Kaivalya
(liberation). Each represents a step in breaking free of our limited
definition of consciousness and training the mind to achieve oneness
with the universe. Geshe Michael Roach, one of the most respected
teachers of Tibetan Buddhism in America and a renowned scholar of
Sanskrit, provides authoritative commentary on each of the sutras. His
notes and clarification are straightforward and highly readable,
untainted by obscure, academic terminology or New Age jargon. The first
edition of the Yoga Sutra to present a Buddhist perspective, this
paperback original will be welcomed by students and spiritual seekers
alike.