ATHA YOGA-ANUSHASANAM
This is the first sutra by Patanjali : "Atha yoga - anushasanam." Translation: "Now, yoga."
Atha is a most auspicious word. It means “now.” It calls our attention to the fact that a teaching of great importance is about to be given — right now — not “once upon a time” in the past, or some time in the future — but now in the present moment. Atha makes yoga a living teaching, not something archaic that was studied by ancients at some point in history, but an invitation to Be Here Now.
The word anu from anushasanam means “atom” — the minute, most indivisible parts that make up the whole. This relative world is composed of many jivas or individuated atomic beings. Shasanam is from the root word shas, which means “to instruct.” So when it is connected to anu, it means that the atoms will instruct you: the essential nature within all of life will be your teacher — Nature will teach you. The wisdom that you need is all around you in the very forms of nature. All of life no matter what it is, from an oak tree to a bumblebee, has a heart — a place inside that isn’t often noticed by someone who is only looking on the surface. But it is in the tiniest of seeds, like a mustard seed, that the history of the world is stored, as well as the history of me and you, it is only we are not aware about it.
Only when we observe nature carefully will we discover the universal truths that are concealed. This sutra is an invitation to live a deeply examined life, imbued with sensuality and feeling, and through that experience come to know the natural world not as existing separate from you but as your teacher — able to provide you with open doorways of limitless possibilities in the here and now. The universe is alive, and all of life communicates. When a sparrow flaps a wing in one part of the world, the breeze can be heard all the way around the world. Most of us have just forgotten how to listen.
The message of yoga is to first look here on this earth for intelligent life. Stop speculating on whether or not intelligent life exists on other planets. We haven’t yet been able to admit that nature is intelligent: we have been so obsessed with exploiting her for her resources, we haven’t taken the time to stop and listen, much less try to learn from Her.
Look for hidden meaning — that is what Patanjali is advising to those who are interested in yoga. It will take the most astute student, one who is disciplined and focused, one with a sense of adventure, to be able to immerse themselves into its mysteries. But once you enter on the path of Yoga, there is no turning back, because by entering on the path, you step into the eternity of the present which can transform your inner self to the future you.