Perceptions of Truth,

The Yoga Sutras of Maharíshi Patañjali

By Steven M. Schorr, Sri Sri Raj Agni Satyapravaha

© 2013 Steven M. Schorr All Rights Reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced, utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including phtocopying or stored in a retrival system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission in writing from the author or publisher.

First published in May 2013 by

Agni Huna Publishing

P.O. Box 448

Puunene, Hi 96784

Email: rajagni@mac.com

ISBN: 978-0-9892995-0-3

eISBN: 9780989299510

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013906865

Printed in the United States of America

Book design by Steven M Schorr

Cover photo and cover design by Steven M. Schorr

DEDICATION

TO SEVATI ROSE GABRIEI

WITH GRATITUDE, LOVE, AND AFFECTION

AND DEEP APPRECIATION FOR HER TIRELESS
ASSISTANCE IN THE EDITING OF THIS BOOK

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

Invocation

Preface

Introduction

Pada 1 Samadhi Pada: Chapter on Concentration of Mind, Sutras 1 to 51

Pada 2 Sdhana-Pda: Chapter on Means Sutras 1 to 55

Pada 3 Vibhti-Pda: Chapter on Development Sutras 1 to 56

Pada 4 Kaivalya-Pda: Chapter on Identification with the Supreme Spirit Sutras 1 to 34

INTRODUCTION

The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali are one of the most important works in the study of Yoga and form the basis of much of what we understand about the precepts of the Yogic path.

Language is a complex phenomenon in the development of human consciousness, without which society and culture could not exist. The subtleties and meanings of words reflect the people and civilizations in which they were developed. In the ancient Sanskrit language, the roots of words are revealed as having resonant significance to the energies that they were describing. The earliest Sanskrit writing describes root words called bija sounds, which were essentially 'thought forms' representing divinities or cosmic powers. These words exert their influence by means of sound vibrations. The bija sounds, literally meaning seed, were used to express the origin or cause of the underlying vibration of the words that the Vedic sages sought to communicate.

Over time through a wide application of these root words and their subsequent compounding, a complex language developed. By exploring the implications and subtleties of language and meaning etymology studies the history of words, their origins and how their forms and meanings have changed over time. Uncovering the meanings and origins of words in languages with long written histories such as Sanskrit, one can utilize their ancient texts to gather knowledge about how these words were used during their development.

A Sacred Code

That there is a sacred code hidden within the Yoga Sutras of Patañjali is a novel assertion in the study, translation and commentary of the Yoga Sutras. When the process of 'harmonic resonant alignment' is applied to translation a very different and compelling message emerges. The process applied here looked at each word from the original Devanagri Sanskrit script, transliterated and then translated them into English, according to the perceived intention of the informing spirit, that of Maharishi Patañjali. Then, the words were properly sequenced and interpreted.

A Diversity of Translations

Currently, there are a number of translations and commentary based on Patañjali's Yoga Sutras. They cover a wide range of interpretations and include translations such as those of Swami Vivekananda in a book called "Raja Yoga"; that of an author known as Maha Sadha Ishwara (MSI), called "Enlightenment"; a Theosophical-based translation called "The Yoga Aphorisms of Patañjali" by the William Q Judge; an Edgar Cayce based translation called "Edgar Cayce and the Yoga Sutras: Uniting Body, Mind and Spirit by Istavan Fazekas; a Hatha Yoga version by Swami Satchidananda; another Theosophy Trust translation by Raghavan Iyer; a Buddhist vipassana version in the tradition of Krishnamacharya by Chip Hartranft; an early western translation by Charles Johnston called "The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali: The Book of the Spiritual Man"; "The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali Om Edition" by Robert Odom; "Yoga Sutras for the 21st Century" by Thomas Emmerson; a modern street lingo version called "Yoga Sutras in Lingo" by Tai Sheridan; "The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali - With Great Respect and Love" by Mukunda Stiles; "The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali -A New Translation and Commentary" by George Feuerstein; "The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali - Illuminations Through Image, Commentary and Design" by Gary Kissah; "Light on The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali" by B.K.S Iyengar; " The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali (Sacred Teachings)" by Alistart Shearer; "How to Know God" by Swami Prabavananda and Christopher Isherwood; "The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali" by James Naughton Woods and a Kriya Yoga version called "Kriya Yoga Sutras of Patañjali and the Siddhas" by Marshall Govindan.

These are but a few of the many translations available. Many have been published but some are unknown and lost in the mists of time, authored by various Hindu pundits and their western counterparts over the last two to three thousand years.

Why are there so many translations and commentaries for one book? We may conclude that the importance of this treatise is unparalleled in the understanding of Yoga. The antiquity of the treatise has provided ample time for all interested to study and comment on it. It is also clear that many schools of Yoga have referenced Patañjali's Yoga Sutras to provide a basis of validity to claims that their school's techniques are appropriate and in-line with the meaning of Patañjali's original intent, thus substantiating their contentions. This is true with many of the translations, throughout history. A simultaneous review and analysis of many of these translations, Sutra for Sutra read contemporaneously, will find similarities in some cases and in other cases vastly different meanings according to the authors and their individual perceptions and biases.

A Search for Meaning

The search for meaning often takes a circuitous path. Most contemporary author and translators, translating Sanskrit from Devanagri to English might reference a previously written version of the Yoga Sutras from a known and presumed reliable source. This would be a reasonable approach to guide their translation. Yet, Sanskrit is a rich and diversified language where any given word may have thirty to sixty different meanings, some antithetical and some tangential. How would an average author skilled in the use and understanding of Sanskrit select from the diversity of meanings for any given word? They may use inference or insight or they might rely upon a previous translation, whose author relied on a predecessor translation and so on.

When the process of harmonic resonant alignment is applied and the meaning of the word is selected, a higher knowledge combined with reason prevails in the process of interpretation. They are brought together to appeal reasonably to the modern mind, thus revealing a very different message. For example, in a given Sutra there may be five words and each of the words has thirty to sixty possible translations, all are valid in some context or other. The combination of meanings becomes astronomically large as the multiplication of each word combination increases the resultant choice of meanings. This is bound to create problems and contradictions.

The word meanings and their sequences take on a strange progression, as a result of a combination of factors that can best be explained by comparing it to an amalgamation of children's games. In the game called telephone a player whispers a phrase into the next person's ear. They then pass along to the next person whatever he or she has heard. The message morphs due to misunderstanding, shifting memories and interpretation. Mad Libs is a phrasal template word game where one player prompts another for a list of words to substitute for blanks in a story. The Jumble game seeks to reassemble words and phrases that have been mixed up in an anagram. Translating ancient Sanskrit is subject to a similar improbable mixture of linguistic contrivances from which a multiplicity of meanings can be extracted, leading to divergent context. Authors may attempt to accurately reflect their understanding of the subject matter, or they can be influenced by a particular bias and suggest a translation supportive of a particular understanding, teaching, lineage or school.

It is not my intention to judge any of the translations or commentaries written about this teaching. I only wish to add insight with a new and significant perception about the language, intent and meaning of the originating author.

The Code Underlying the Text

The cipher or code is a methodology that has been used throughout history to convey information and meaning to an esoteric audience. Codes are used for ensuring the confidentiality of communications and are devices used to transform messages into an obscured form so they cannot be understood by the uninitiated. In order to understand a coded message a key is required.

Some extraordinary writings contain veiled meaning and coded texts. Implicit within their words and symbols are expressed two or more meanings, one for the casual reader who may happen upon the work and another deeper meaning for those who can decipher the code and interpret the underlying significance.

Translating hieroglyphic symbols from papyrus and the stone stele of ancient Egyptian texts was largely unsuccessful until the 'Rosetta Stone' was found. The Rosetta Stone is an ancient Egyptian hard stone stele fragment inscribed with a decree issued at Memphis in 196 BC on behalf of King Ptolemy V. The decree appears in three languages: Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, Demotic script, and Ancient Greek. Because the stele's message was basically the same in all three scripts, it provided the key to translation and subsequent understanding of Egyptian hieroglyphs.

E. Wallace Budge, Keeper of Egyptian antiquities at the British Museum in 1925 wrote a book called "Osiris, The Religion of Resurrection" wherein his translation of many ancient papyrus reveal the three-fold nature of the Soul. Further research established an etymologically significant connection to ancient Hawaiian linguistics, both in meaning and context (see the author's previous book "Keeper of Secrets"). Max Freedom Long wrote several books in the 1920's discovering a hidden meaning in the prayers and chants of ancient Hawaii and developed a thesis of a second deeper meaning implicit in the root words of these sacred chants. His work helped to uncover a deeper understanding about the essential nature of Hawaiian spiritualty.

With this translation of the Yoga Sutras of Maharishi Patañjali I present my best attempt at deciphering the true intention and meaning conveyed by Patañjali. I believe this to be more than just another biased version. Allow me to substantiate the basis of my belief by sharing some of my personal journey.

On the Path of Awakening

In February of 2005, I made a pilgrimage to Abadjania, Brazil to see the healer known as Joao de Deus or "John of God". At the time I was making herbal medicines using a new healing modality I had developed called Bioresonant Phytotherapeutics. This is a hydrodistillation technology that entrains the vibrational frequencies of herbal plants into a water matrix. I had brought some of the medicines with me to present to John in the hope of conveying their usefulness to him and also to receive his blessing for the continued dissemination of these herbal remedies.

Upon my first visit to John he indicated, through an interpreter, that I should sit and meditate in the current, an energy field created by 400 or so who gathered during each of John's sessions to potentiate his healing effort through meditation. He also indicated that I would be given an 'intimation'. I agreed and sat down in the current and immediately went into a deep and profound meditation. What I received in this meditation was a visitation from a dear departed friend, a Hawaiian Kahuna named Auntie Mahilani Poe Poe, who had died shortly before my trip to Brazil.

It was Auntie Mahi Poe Poe who knocked at the door of my Maui herbal plant distillation facility in 2002 exclaiming that she had been sent by her Kupuna (ancestors) in her dreams to find me. She asked me if I would like to work with her to bring the Hawaiian Lau Lapa'au medicinal plant healing knowledge to the world and integrate it with my discoveries in Bioresonant Phytotherapeutics. I readily agreed. Auntie Mahi Poe Poe appeared before me in my meditation and spoke to me, "The healing you are experiencing with John of God can be done on Maui, what is being done here, in Abadjania, can be done there." With this admonition I understood the possibilities that awaited me.

My goal in visiting John of God was to learn and serve while attending to the healing needs of my wife. Brazil is steeped in the traditions of Christianity and John of God's Casa or House is the house of Dom Ignacio, its patron Saint. I was drawn to the local traditions of worship and began to meditate upon the Christ to assist in the healing work. It was shortly before my first face-to-face visit with John that I decided to apply myself in an all night meditation and prayer vigil dedicated to invoking the healing power of Christ. I had no desire for anything for myself, only to bring healing to my wife who slept silently in the bed beside me. Utilizing techniques of breath control and certain meditative forms of the Hawaiian Huna tradition and combining these with elements of Hindu Bhakti Bhavic elicitation, focused intent and extraordinary spiritual emotion, I was subsumed into a state of enraptured bliss and with tears of profound gratitude received the effulgent presence of the Christ. His presence was of pure light and love and an extraordinary exalted blessing, as this brought healing and love into my heart and to my ailing wife. I was profoundly humbled by this experience and was both elated and filled with hope.

The meetings with John were preceded by a visit to a translator, as all communications with the entities as John called the higher spiritual beings he channeled, were relayed in Portuguese. Questions for John were given to the translator, who would write them down and hand them back back to be presented to John at the time of the meeting. Everyone who wished to see John formed a long queue of several hundred on any given day. The line would slowly progress through several rooms filled with meditators who were in service to John and whose aggregate energies formed 'the current'. In the last hall chairs were lined up in rows on either side of a center aisle. Those in the line walked one by one down this aisle. At the end of the aisle John was seated in a large wooden chair.

John conducted two sessions per day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays of each week. As we stayed for two weeks we had six meetings per week for a total of twelve visits. This was ample time to get comfortable with the process, assimilate the experiences and explore deeper levels of interaction. After my initial intimation experience, subsequent visits focused on personal issues that were relevant to healing, learning and assisting my wife to receive her healing. On the morning of the fifth visiting day, something extraordinary occurred.

An Extraordinary Experience

I stood before John of God, who was in a deep trance state, with various entities speaking through him. A lively conversation sparked between the translator and John (all in Portuguese), intermittently punctuated by the translator's exclamation of "really" and "Uh huh" and "Ah". This went on for several minutes during which I was left standing in rapt curiosity. Finally, the translator looked at me and said, "This is very good news. They are taking care of everything." John interjected additional comments and the translator continued, "You have been recognized as a healer of the Casa, a 'Filo de Cas' or Son of the Casa". I was given a photo identification card to validate the honor of being a recognized healer and I keep this card with me, in my wallet to this day. Thus it came to be that I was honored and welcomed into the Casa of Dom Ignacio, the healing center of John of God.

On the following day, which was to be my final day for visitation, I had hoped to express my gratitude for the extraordinarily successful healing my wife had received and for the healing and recognition that was extended to me. As I progressed in the receiving line, to stand before John, I rehearsed in my mind what I would say for my parting words, those of gratitude and appreciation. Again, something unexpected happened. Upon approaching John, the visiting Spirit he was hosting immediately responded in recognition. He motioned to me to sit beside him in meditation as he did his healing work, an invitation that I gladly accepted. This was quite unusual and had not been seen before by others in my group who had been to see John many times. I felt deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to be of service to John of God's amazing healings.

Truth vs. Falsehood

The next progression of my healing work began in June of 2005, with an exploration of the ability to ascertain truth from falsehood. This skill would become invaluable, both as a diagnostic tool and in refining an understanding of the human conscious connection to Divine consciousness. Reading the book "Power vs. Force, Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior" by Dr. David Hawkins, facilitated this process. In this book Dr. Hawkins postulates that it may be possible to differentiate between truth and falsehood and that we, as sensitive beings could develop the ability to achieve this. He presented a psychologically driven perspective of internal awareness in the form of Applied Kinesiology, which measures the reaction of a physiological response to inquiry. By utilizing Applied Kinesiological testing in the context of traditional metaphysical paradigms he suggests that all events, actions, thoughts and emotions are written into the unlimited collective consciousness or Divine Mind, and that as participants in this universe, we all have access to that consciousness. Through Applied Kinesiology we have the ability to get the answer to any question we can formulate, with the exception of the future, which has not yet been formed.

Transcendent Kinesiology

An expanded model of Applied Kinesiology evolved for me as I put these teachings into practice, which I termed Transcendent Kinesiology. This form of direct connection to the spiritual element of consciousness allows for unlimited access to Divine archetypes, as they are described in some of the great spiritual teachings of the world and in the resonant legacy of the Saints and Mahatmas.

Using harmonic resonant alignment one can align the consciousness with Deity or Saints and make an inquiry to that divine personage. A direct connection to Divine Mind allows for an inquiry into the verities of truth and its relative effect on circumstances. The advantage in projecting an inquiry to Divine Mind, as opposed to inquiring through the subject or individual, is the absence of biased thought forms and feelings that pervade the consciousness of others. In this way, an interpretation of truth is achieved untainted, as truth is received via the purity of Divine Consciousness.

In Transcendent Kinesiology an inquiry is made to Divine Mind through the conduit created by the integration of Jiva and Paramatma/Spirit. This integration is achieved by activating the Atma, a resonant center often referred to as the eighth chakra. Once opened, a direct communication begins with Paramatma/Spirit, who has access to Divine Mind or the akashic records. It is there that the collective memory of humankind is stored. From this perspective the ability to ascertain truth from falsehood takes on a new dimension. The impressions of our existence lived throughout time, both in and out of incarnation, including all experiences, thoughts and feelings, provide the actual landscape of the akashic records. If one were able to read this record untainted by the bias of individual emotions, both positive and negative, all would be revealed.

The Mudra of Truth

The Mudra, (Sanskrit: or seal) is a symbolic or ritual gesture, which can represent particular deities, aspects of enlightenment, offerings or can be used to direct energy and to effect a spiritual state or condition. Mudras are known to lock and guide energy flow and reflexes to the brain. Through mudra we can talk to the body and mind as each area of the hand reflexes to a certain part of the mind or body. While some mudras involve the entire body, most are performed with the hands and fingers. There is a special mudra, I call the Mudra of Truth that can be used in conjunction with Transcendent Kinesiology. The Mudra of Truth combined with proper, intelligent inquiry can be used for diagnosis of the Jiva's energy fields by ascertaining the qualities of a condition. This includes diagnosing the state of health of the physical, etheric, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies. Each energy field can be evaluated on a numerical or percentile scale of well-being.

A New Pope

In April of 2005 I began to apply the Mudra of Truth to ascertain world affairs. On April 2, 2005 Pope John Paul II died and a new Pope was being considered. In the local newspaper a field of ten Cardinals were arrayed on the front page as the likely candidates from whom a new pope would be selected. An inquiry using the Mudra of Truth revealed that the new Pope would be Cardinal Ratzinger of Germany. When the final selection was made and white smoke poured from the Vatican Papal chimney I was astounded to see that Ratzinger had indeed become the new Pope as I had predicted. Benedict XVI was ordained on April 19, 2005.

Jivatmic Calibration

I applied myself diligently in the use of this technique to ascertain the qualities of spiritual consciousness. This exploration resulted in the understanding that the Mudra was tapping into a 'current of truth' as it resonated in the akashic realm of Divine Mind. From this experience I composed a chart of the Jiva's spiritual progress. This included important qualities of one's moral, ethical and spiritual nature and was compiled in a format I titled 'Jivatmic Calibration'. Within this form each quality of consciousness could be charted on a relative scale for the purpose of measurement. Jivatmic Calibration is a measure of the spiritual progression of the soul as it expresses itself in the current life. Based on the Current of Truth, Jivatmic Calibration uses the principles of Transcendent Kinesiology to determine the metrics of conscious evolution. There are twenty-one metrics of conscious development that are recognized and employed in this process, which provide an overview of the state of the Jiva's spiritual progress.

Receiving a Vision

In April of 2006 a dear friend approached me with a problem and asked for help. Her daughter, a beautiful five-year old child, had developed a condition that left her unable to speak and screaming uncontrollably for six hours a day. The affect on the mother was quite distressful and her concern for her daughter touched me deeply. I sought guidance from my Teacher on the inner planes. In a deep meditation I asked for a way to help the mother and child. Using techniques of elicitation combined with the pure emotion of bhavic Samadhi I sought contact with the source of wisdom and understanding. As my appeal to the Divine Presence intensified, I could feel waves of compassion welling up in my heart. In a moment of epiphany I received what I had sought. A strange and unfamiliar vision appeared before my mind's eye, fully formed with instructions on its use. The vision was of a series of vertical clear rods with cylindrical magnets suspended upon them. The magnets were to be made of a neodymium alloy, the most powerful standing magnets available. A series of at least three magnets float on clear acrylic rods and are positioned with repelling polarity. I inquired as to what these were and what they were for. I received the answer that they were for a process to be called Magnetic Field Disruption. The result of placing the young girl within the magnetic field disruption technology was astounding. She instantly stopped screaming and became calm and stable.

A Magnetic Field

Magnetic Field Disruption (MFD) is a technology that creates a kinetic, out-of-phase magnetic energy field distributed over a limited area. The neodymium magnets used in this process are the strongest standing (non-electrically induced) magnets available. Because of the strength of the magnetic field and the use of polarity-repelling positioning on a smoothly surfaced clear rod, the magnets appear to float. They are affected by stimulation, causing them to bounce when moved and thus cause the field to stress through repetitive compression and decompression. The rods are positioned equidistantly around an affected patient sitting comfortably upright in a chair. This technology was to be used to for a very special purpose.

Entity Removal Explained

The inspired vision of the Magnetic Field Disruption technology was an instruction for the removal of 'spirit entities'. These are the lost souls of departed Jivas who have transgressed into the personal energy field of an afflicted individual. Entities are Souls who have died and who have not transitioned into the light, or that place of assimilation and preparation we call the 'after life'. At the moment of death the soul's energy departs from the physical body and the cells become uncoordinated in a process we call decomposition. The Soul's journey, in a normal progression, is to transition away from the material plane toward the light and toward integration with the Spirit. This process is very brief and typically lasts only four seconds. Departed loved ones may appear to help us in this transition to the afterlife, as well as Spirit guides and teachers. The appearance of a spiritual guide occurs according to beliefs developed during one's life. For example, a devout Christian could be assisted in their transition by a perception of Jesus or a devout Hindu could be assisted by their perception of Krishna or Shiva. In near death experiences, many have had the memory or vision of a previously departed relative or Deity encouraging their transition into the light and away from material existence.

For those who have had adequate spiritual training or experience, this transition is natural and effortless. If at the moment of death one remains attached and distracted by material concerns this transition could become problematic. The Soul becomes lost. Such lost Souls are unable to complete the shift into the light and remain in a state of confusion, caught in an intermediary reality because they were distracted by their desire for material possessions, their hidden treasures or for their next drink or drug experience. These attachments at the instant of transition cause the soul to miss the moment. The moment ends, the Divine light fades and they become stranded, disembodied entities on the material plane.