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Yoga Sutras
Yoga Sūtraयोगसूत्र· YOH-gah SOO-trahthreads/aphorisms on yoga
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are a foundational text of yoga philosophy — 196 short aphorisms that set out the eight-limbed path and the workings of the mind.
Compiled by the sage Patanjali (around 2,000 years ago), the Sutras define yoga as 'the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind' and remain the classical reference for yoga's philosophy.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali?
- A classical text of 196 concise verses that lay out yoga philosophy, including the eight limbs (ashtanga) and the famous definition of yoga as stilling the fluctuations of the mind.
References
- Patanjali, Yoga Sutras 1.2 — yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ · Classical text — The definition of yoga as stilling the mind.