susanrichardsonyoga

MAY SUTRA:

avidyasmita-raga-dvesabhinivesah klesah

avidya = not seeing things as they are asmita = the sense of ‘I’, egoism  raga = desire, passion, attachment dvesa = aversion abhinivesah = clinging to life, self-preservation klesah = cause of suffering, corruption, hindrance, affliction, poison

The causes of suffering are not seeing things as they are, the sense of ‘I’, attachment, aversion, and clinging to life.

avidya ksetram uttaresam prasupta-tanu-vicchinnodaranam

 avidya = not seeing things as they are ksetram = field uttaresam = other, following prasupta = dormant tanu = thin vicchinna = interrupted, intercepted udaranam = activated, aroused

Not seeing things as they are is the field where the other causes of suffering germinate, whether dormant, activated, intercepted, or weakened.

anityasuci-duhkhanatmasu nitya-suci-sukhatma-khyatir avidya

anitya = impermanent asuci = impure duhkha = distress, pain, suffering anatmasu = not self nitya = permanent suci = pure sukha = happiness atma = self, essence khyatir = seeing avidya = not seeing things as they are

Lacking this wisdom, one mistakes that which is impermanent, impure, distressing, or empty of self for permanence, purity, happiness, and self.

APRIL  SUTRA:

vyadhi-styana-sansaya-pramadalasyavirati- bhranti-darsanalabdha-bhumikatva- anavasthitatvani-citta-viksepas te ‘ntarayah

Sickness, apathy, doubt, carelessness, laziness, hedonism, delusion, lack of progress, and inconstancy are all distractions which, by stirring up consciousness, act as barriers to stillness.

vyâdhi = sickness    styâna = apathy   sansaya = doubt   pramâda = carelessness   âlasya = laziness   avirati = sexual indulgence   bhrânti = false  darsana = vision, perspective  alabdha = failing to attainbhûmikatva = developmental stages  anavasthitatvâni = inconstancy, instability   citta = consciousness   viksepâh = distraction, stirring up   te = these   antarâyâh = obstacles

duhkha-daurmanasyangam-ejayatva-svasa-prasvasa viksepa-sahabhuvah

When they do, one may experience distress, depression, or the inability to maintain steadiness of posture or breathing.

duhkha = distress, pain, suffering  daurmanasya = depression       angam = limb    ejayatva=trembling        åvâsa = disturbed inhalation prasvâsâ = disturbed exhalation  viksepa = distraction, stirring up sahabhuvah = accompanying

MARCH SUTRA:

The postures of meditation should embody steadiness and ease.

sthira = steady, stable  sukham = happiness  âsanam = posture

This occurs as all effort relaxes and coalescence arises, revealing that the body and the infinite universe are indivisible.

prayatna = effort  saithilya = relaxation   ananta = endless, boundless  samâpattibhyâm = coalescence, unified contemplation

Then, one is no longer disturbed by the play of opposites.

tato = therefore, from these, from that  dvandva = play of opposites, dualities  anabhighâtah = insulation, being beyond disturbance

JANUARY FEBRUARY SUTRA:

unwholesome thoughts can be neutralized by cultivating wholesome ones.

vitarka- analytical thinking, unwholesome thoughts badhane- repelling  pratipaksa- opposite   bhavanam- realizing, becoming

vitarkâ himsâdayah    krta-kâritânumoditâ    lobha-krodha-moha-pûrvakâ- mrdu madhyâdhimâtrâ duhkhâjnânânanta -phalâ   iti pratipaksa-bhâvanam

We ourselves may act upon unwholesome thoughts, such as wanting to harm someone, or we may cause or condone them in others; unwholesome thoughts may arise from greed, anger, or delusion; they may be mild, moderate, or extreme; but they never cease to ripen into ignorance and suffering.  This is why one must cultivate wholesome thoughts.

vitarkâ = analytical thinking, here: negative thoughts himsâ = harming  âdayah= et cetera  krta = done, accomplished kârita = caused to be done, instigated  anumoditâ = approved  lobha = greed  krodha = anger moha = delusion   pûrvakâ = preceded by  mrdu = mild  madhya = moderate  adhimâtrâ = extreme, intense duhkha = distress, pain, suffering âjnâna = ignorance  ananta = endless, boundless  phalâ = fruit  iti = thus  pratipaksa = opposite   bhâvanam = realizing, becoming

FALL 2010 SUTRA:

maitrî-karuñâ-muditopeksâñâm sukha-duhkha-puñyâpuñya-visayâñâm bhâvanâtas citta-prasâdanam

Consciousness settles as one radiates friendliness, compassion, delight, and equanimity toward all things, whether pleasant or painful, good or bad

maitrî = friendliness  karuñâ = compassion mudita=delight  upeksâñâm = equanimity   sukha = happiness duhkha =distress,pain  puñya = good, virtuous  apuñya = bad, evil visayâñâm = object  bhâvanâtas = radiating, projecting citta = consciousness     prasâdanam = calming, tranquilizing, clarification