Yoga Sutras of Patanjali translated by Yogi Kalinath - Introduction

A short introduction. My name is Yogi Kalinath, most of you know me as Devidasan. I am in no ways rejecting my previous initiated name or title bestowed upon me as Yogacharya Devidasan Giri. The truth is that over the course of my seeking, I have trod many paths and received initiations in both Dakshina Marga (Right-Hand Path) and Vama Marga (Left-Hand Path) of Tantra as well as in Classical Hinduism with the Gayatri Pariwar where I was proudly initiated as a Hindu Brahmin. I even received initiation as a monk in the Nayaswami Order created by Swami Kriyananda, a direct disciple of the great Paramhansa Yogananda of the ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ fame.

Even though these initiations may seem disparate to some and even contrary to others, the Left-Hand and the Right-Hand form part of one body, and that body is Sanatana Dharma, the Perennial Path.

I have walked both the Orthodox Path as exemplified by the Gayatri Pariwar and the Heterodox Path as exemplified by the Nath Sampradaya. Now I walk the Path of Oneness, of Universality, of Unity in Diversity which includes and is yet beyond both the Right-Hand and Left-Hand Paths. Both of these Paths taken to the extreme can become dangerous for self and potentially for others also. The Right-Hand Path taken to the extreme generates a ‘holier than thou’ attitude and breeds intolerance while the Left-Hand Path taken to extremes leads to degeneration and potential destruction of self. Wisdom is indeed the greatest pearl!!!

I have been doing Sadhana for the past 25 years and teaching for over 15 years. So I am relatively still a baby and there are two scriptures, two guiding lights that I always go back to and they are the Bhagavad Gita of Rishi Ved Vyasa and the Yoga Sutras of Rishi Patanjali.

I have tasked myself with interpreting the Yoga Sutras. I am no Sanskrit scholar nor academic nor expert. However I intend to provide my insights through meditation and life experience, reflections on this great scripture. One verse per week for people to digest, reflect upon and integrate into their lives. At 196 verses, this will become a four year project.

The approach I will take is one of universality and applicability for NOW. The great wisdom given to us in the past can retain its essence and yet be applicable for life now, indeed that is its test of being perennial and universal. It can be “both and” instead of “either or”. So when reading my interpretation of the verses, do not be offended as I don’t mean to offend neither the traditionalists nor the politically correct such as the New Agers and modern day apologists. As I often say to my students: ‘It is about being real and facing the challenges of life—It is what it is!” and “Practice is on the mat/cushion, however the real test is off the mat/cushion”.This is the way I teach and this is the way I live my life. Responsibility to the responsible which after all is the ability to respond to both our individual callings and life itself.In closing I would like to give reverence to my first two Gurus in this incarnation, my mother and father, followed by Spiritual Preceptors and Life Mentors past, present and future in body and beyond, you all know who you are. And not least and above and beyond all, Pranams upon Pranams to my most Beloved Divine Mother, Kali MAA.