Another Friday, another definition of yoga. Parts 1, 2 and 3 cover definitions from the Bhagavad Gita, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Caraka-Saṃhitā. Today’s definition is shared from the Gheranda Samhita (gheraṇḍasaṁhitā), one of three classic texts of Hatha Yoga.

Gheranda Samhita / Gheraṇḍasaṁhitā

1.4 nāsti māyā-samaḥ pāśo nāsti yogāt paraṃ balam

na hi jñānāt paro bandhur nāhaṃ-kārāt paro ripuḥ

There is no bondage stronger than maya, nothing that brings as much strength (physical, mental, pranic, and karmic) as Yoga, no greater friend than knowledge and no bigger enemy than ego.

1.5 abhyāsāt kādi-varṇāder yathā śāstrāṇi bodhayet

tathā yogaṃ samāsādya tattva-jñānaṃ ca labhyate

Just as with the study of alphabets comes the knowledge of great texts, with the study/practice of Yoga comes the knowledge of truth/substance of truth.

(Translations sourced from Yoga: Ancient Heritage, Tomorrow’s Vision by Indu Aurora, 2019)

I thought that this was an appropriate definition to share following yesterday’s post. Remember that it is for us to discover which definition of yoga resonates with us. This may shift over time, with one definition staying with us for a period and another coming into our awareness according to the events that we face.

How does this definition resonate with you? How does your understanding of yoga change based on this definition?

peace,