 The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
 The beginning, middle, and end of yoga texts is the Yoga Darshan (Yoga Sutras) of Patanjali. It has not only never been superseded, it has never been equalled. It stands alone as the sole authority on yoga outside the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita. One of the best commentators on the Yoga Sutras was Dr. I. K. Taimni, who summarized Patanjali's classic in the preface to his masterly exposition of Yoga Sutras, The Science of Yoga:
“The philosophy of Yoga deals with some of the greatest mysteries of life and the Universe and so it must inevitably be associated with an atmosphere of profound mystery. If the doctrines of Yoga are studied in the light of both ancient and modern thought it is much easier for the student to understand and appreciate them. The discoveries made in the field of Science are especially helpful in enabling the student to understand certain facts of Yogic life, for there is a certain analogous relationship between the laws of higher life and life as it exists on the physical plane, a relationship which is hinted at in the well-known Occult maxim ‘As above, so below’.
“In this basic literature of Yoga, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali stand out as the most authoritative and useful book. In its 196 Sutras the author has condensed the essential philosophy and technique of Yoga in a manner which is a marvel of condensed and systematic exposition.
“On account of its comprehensive and systematic treatment of the subject the Yoga Sutras is the most suitable book for deep and systematic study of Yoga. In the olden days all students of Yoga were made to commit it to memory and meditate regularly and deeply on the Sutras for bringing out their hidden meanings. But the modern student, who has to be convinced first that the study and practice of Yoga is worthwhile, needs a more detailed and elaborate treatment of the subject to enable him to understand its philosophy as a whole. Even for this purpose the Yoga Sutras is the most suitable basis, not only because it gives all the essential information about Yoga in a masterly manner but also because it is recognized as a masterpiece in the literature of Yoga and has stood the test of time and experience.”
Articles on Yoga and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
- What is Yoga? – by Swami Nirmalananda Giri.
A brief study of both the philosophical and practical nature of Yoga as the capstone of self-culture and enlightenment.
- Foundations of Yoga – by Swami Nirmalananda Giri.
The basis of all Yoga practice are the “Ten Commandments of Yoga”–the principles of Yama and Niyama outlined by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. This booklet considers the various aspects of each principle as well as the spiritual power which is developed through each one.
- The Science of Yoga – by I. K. Taimni. A PDF download. 391 pages, 10.6 MB
A masterful exposition of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Dr. Taimni, a professor of chemistry and physics, elucidates some of the more difficult but important concepts in the sutras with examples drawn from modern scientific research.
- The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, translated by Raghavan Iyer, edited by Swami Nirmalananda
The Yoga Darshana (Yoga Sutras) of Patanjali is usually presented as two hundred brief aphorisms and commented upon accordingly, splitting them apart and thereby losing the original continuity of thought. This loss of continuity has enabled commentators to set forth their own private ideas on Yoga which are often, even usually, at variance with the intentions of Patanjali. Without changing the order of the sentences in any way, Swami Nirmalananda has arranged them so a reader can see that the Yoga Darshana is really a brief and coherent essay on Yoga. When read in this way, Patanjali’s teachings can be easily seen free of extraneous concepts.
- Commentary on the Yoga Sutras – by Raghavan Iyer
- Essays on the Yoga Sutras I – by Raghavan Iyer
- Essays on the Yoga Sutras II – by Raghavan Iyer
- Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi, and Meditation – by Swami Nirmalananda Giri.
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