The most famous line from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is the second one, in which Patanjali provides a succinct definition of Yoga [the first line of Patanjali’s outline merely orients the listener/reader to what’s about to follow, akin to a airline flight attendant announcing, “This flight is going to Arkansas; hop off now if that’s not where you want to go!”]

1.2 yogash chitta vritti nirodhah

 

Here’s how a handful of Patanjali’s enthusiastic students translate that Sanskrit:

Swamij.com

Yoga is the control (nirodhah, regulation, channeling, mastery, integration, coordination, stilling, quieting, setting aside) of the modifications (gross and subtle thought patterns) of the mind field.

Shyam Ranganathan

Yoga is the control of the (moral) character of thought.

BKS Iyengar

Yoga is the restraint of mental fluctuations, or suppression of the fluctuations of consciousness.

Bernard Bouanchaud

Yoga is the ability to direct and focus mental activity.

Sri Swami Satchidananda

The restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff is Yoga.

Edwin F. Bryant

Yoga is the stilling of the changing states of the mind.

Allan (Skip) Dowds

Yoga is mind control.

Want to learn how your mind works? How to control your thoughts, in order to live a healthier, happier, more productive life? Read – and practice – Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras!

Blessings, Allan 🙏❤️🕉