The Yogasutras of Patanjali on Concentration of Mind

The Yogasutra is one of the most important works of Indian culture. The present book is an attempt of interpretation of the Yogasutras based on some special criteria adopted by the authros: (1) To use the traditional commentaries as auxiliaries, not as guides, with prudence and freedom, (2) To interpret those Sutras, in which Patanjali analyzes real phenomena, as what they actually are: descriptions of facts of experience. To such an end the authors have tried to have a clear idea of the phenomena to which Patanjali refers, and in this task they have found extremely useful the descriptions of their mystical experiences by Yogis of India and Christian mystics. The book includes the Sanskrit text of the Sutras and an English translation by the authors.

About the Author:

Carmen Dragonetti and Fernando Tola are most prestigious indologists in the Spanish speaking world. They have been Professor in the National Universities of San Marcos (Lima, Peru) and Buenos Aires (Argentina). They are the researchers at National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONCICET).

Reviews:

a number of sometimes surprising and novel insights are introduced to the reader for consideration…The compartmentalized format of the book will enable students in seminars to utilize it without much difficulty. Recommended for all academic libraries and students of Indian Philosophy –James A. Santucci, Religious Studies Reviews, Vol.14, Number 3/July 1988, California State University

The authors translate the sutras of the first book of the Yogasutras and add a detailed commentary carefully analyzing the meaning of the terms used by Patanjali and critically examining previous translations. –Indo-Iranian Journal, Vol.32, No.1, January, 1989

The English translation by K.D. Prithipaul of the University of Alberta is a fine piece of work, marked by clarity, and adequately unveiling the sophistication of the authors discussion. –Clifford G. Hospital, Queen s University