Conference with Guruji - July 2, 2006

While going through my Sanskrit notes, I found notes I had made on two conferences Guruji gave in 2006. These are my notes on the first conference.  (Please be aware that it's possible I heard something incorrectly or wrote something down incorrectly - these are just my notes, not stone tablets brought down from the mountain.)

First four limbs (yama, niyama, asana, pranayama) are the foundation, the external practices (bahya); the second four limbs (pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi) are the internal practices (antara).  If asana is not correct, the second part (antara) is not possible.

First do asana, then yama/niyama. Yama/Niyama is very difficult.  Ahimsa (non-harming) means no one is troubling you (not even in your thoughts).  Yama/Niyama is gradually coming.

Asana - body/mind is perfect, then you are always telling the truth (satya).

Asana is perfect, then pranayama you are taking.  Vata dosha (imbalance in air/akasha elements) - shaking, body is shaking.  Rechaka (exhalation) and Puraka (inhalation)... regulation of these is pranayama.  Vinyasa - same (sama or equal) breathing system: 10 seconds inhalation and exhalation.  Then yoga is coming: yogascitta vritti nirodhah.  Then mind control is coming.

Breathing and looking (drishti) - if not done, mind control is not coming.  Breath control is mind control.  Body becomes steady - not shaking.

All the circulation must be correct (in asana).  The spine must be straight - not bending.

Bandhas - four inches below the navel, the muscles. Then the vayu goes through the branches of the tree of the nervous system to one nadi - the Brahma nadi to the Sahasrara - then moksha (liberation).

Strong body, mind, good thoughts one must have.

One by one correctly practice the asanas. They are coming.