Yoga Sutras 1.20 The 5 Keys of Patanjali’s Wisdom

The Yogasutra text is composed by Maharishi Patanjali. This book is written in the form of sutras. Sutra-style is an ancient rare style of India in which the subject is presented in very short words. It is divided into four chapters in which 196 “threads” of wisdom are written. In this book, Maharishi Patanjali has accurately described the essential ideas and principles of Yoga. Patanjali’s “Yoga Sutras” is established as the single most authentic book on the subject of Yoga. In Sutra 1.20, Patanjali gives five keys to attaining knowledge; these five traits can lead to samadhi.

Yoga Sutras 1.20:

Sraddha virya smrti samadhiprajna purvakah itaresam (श्रद्धावीर्यस्मृतिसमाधिप्रज्ञापूर्वक इतरेषाम्)

Word for Word Translation:

• Sraddha trust comes from revelation, belief, courage faith, confidence, reverence

• Virya: energy, moral strength, mental power, vigor

• Smrti: memory, recollection, mindfulness, remembrance

• Samadhi: Supreme devotion,deep absorption of meditation, profound meditation

• Prajna: knowledge gained through deep contemplation, wisdom, discernment, intelligence

• Purvakah: previous, prior, preceded by, prerequisite

• Itaresam: of other people, others

Patanjali’s 5 Inner Qualities

Shradda: God is an inner feeling based on experience and evidence in the scriptures that we acquire in the form of yoga practice. Practice done with reverence can make us feel deeper and deeper. Patanjali has described it in different ways.

Veerya: Memory Mindfulness Strength (virya), physical as well as mental. To know the truth it takes an ambitious effort of courage, strong will and determination for a very long time. In yoga, the Sanskrit word for strength (virya) is vira virile and virtuous.

Smriti: Knowledge accumulated through memory. The memory power of the person should be sharp. Re-collecting your scattered thoughts and forgotten knowledge requires a constant state of awareness called mindfulness.

Prajna: Higher knowledge of Prajna arises from intuition. Through our awareness our inner meaning is opened and our knowledge helps in the creation, refinement and embodiment.

Samadhi: Samadhi is a commonly used Sanskrit word which means a state of meditation in which external consciousness disappears. It is considered as the last stage of meditation or spiritual life.

Samadhi is the best state of calm mind. Apart from this, it is also considered to be the highest state of concentration. Under this, the person concentrating on an object and the object eventually becomes one. That is, in this state of meditation, the distinction between the self and the object of the person meditating completely disappears. They become one.

Conclusion

We can see how these ephemeral approaches work to help advance faith, strength, mindfulness, and insight. Patanjali believed that these five qualities of yoga could lead to the realization of the true nature of life.