98
february/march 2019
yogajournal.com.au
REFLECTION
YJ
PHOTO: MELISSA TOWNSEND
Sutra I.35
The experience
of subtle, divine
levels of the senses
also establishes
steadiness in
the mind.
EACH OF THE FIVE SENSES can be a
vehicle for subtle, divine
experiences that can bring peace
and steadiness to your mind and
move you toward samadhi (union
with the absolute)—the eighth
and fi nal limb of yoga. Sensory
experiences—such as visions,
sounds, tastes, aromas, and
physical sensations—can come
naturally as a function of grace,
or they can be the result of certain
techniques and practices. These
sensory perceptions can bring
great calmness and peace and
serve as a gateway to an
experience of transcendence.
Artwork, translation, and commentary
from The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali–A Visual
Meditation; Book One, Samādhi Pādah by
Melissa Townsend. Available at amazon.com
or melissa-townsend.com.