Hi Reader,

One of the central ideas in the Yoga Sutras is that the root cause of suffering is ignorance of the true nature of the self.

According to the Sutras, our true nature is one of eternally joyful existence.

What's keeping us from seeing ourselves that way?

The Sutras tell us that there are five obstacles, the first and foremost of which is ignorance. When we’re trapped in a state of ignorance, we can’t see our own true nature.

What we can see is our material minds and bodies, which are temporary and subject to all manner of misfortune and suffering.

So, we believe what we see: we think that we are our minds and bodies — the not-self — and not the pure, eternal, joyful beings that ignorance keeps us from seeing.

The dictionary definition of “ignorance” is “lack of knowledge, education, or awareness.”

But the Sanskrit word that’s usually translated as “ignorance” is avidyā.

And there’s more to avidyā than what the dictionary tells us about ignorance.

We can get deeper understanding of avidyā — and the Yoga Sutras as a whole — if we consider that the first “a” in avidyā is a negating prefix, just as in the first of the yamās: ahimsā: non-harming.

So we can think of avidyā as not . . . knowing?

The usual translation of vidyā is “knowledge,” but if we listen to the sound of the word, it sounds a lot like the English word, “video.”

And “video” is a projection of light.

And the problem is that we can’t see our true nature.

Why can’t we see? avidyā: No light!

The Yoga Sutras are a set of instructions for how to turn on the lights.

And, with any luck, my upcoming course on the Yoga Sutras will shine a light on the text that will help you see the deeper meanings and enduring relevance of this ancient book of spiritual illumination.

I hope you’ll join me this weekend for

The Yoga Sutras

Saturdays and Sundays, February 14-15 / February 21-22 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EST

Each class will be recorded: replay links will be emailed to all registrants.

Participants can receive 6 hours of CE credit with Yoga Alliance.

Tuition: $108

This course is for yoga teachers and serious practitioners. Together, we'll explore this foundational text of yoga wisdom in theory and practice.

​CLICK HERE TO ENROLL​

This course makes the meaning of the Sutras accessible without over-simplification, explores the deep conceptual landscape of the Sutras without getting lost in abstract ideas, and offers practical applications for a modern practice without compromising the traditional understanding of the text.

Each session is live, conversational, and grounded in the text itself — with time for questions and discussion.

And all of the live online sessions will be recorded in case you can’t attend every class.

If this feels like the kind of inquiry you’re ready for, please join us.

Hoping you're having a great week,

- Hari-k

BTW: In case you're wondering, I'm not making it up: the Sanskrit word vidyā really is the etymological root of the Latin verb videre, meaning "to see,” and, by extension, the origin of the English word "video." Proof once again that linguistics makes philosophy fun!