WOMAN LISTENING

A wise woman, who was traveling in the mountains, found a precious stone in a stream.

She reverently placed the gem in her bag.

The next day, she met another traveler, who was hungry.

The wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone in the wise woman's bag, admired it, and asked the wise woman to give it to him.

The wise woman did so without hesitation.

The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune.

He knew the jewel was worth enough to give him security for the rest of his life.

But a few days later he came back, searching for the wise woman.

When he found her, he returned the stone and said,

"I have been thinking. I know how valuable this stone is, but I would like to exchange it in the hope that you can give me something much more precious. If you can, teach me the secrets about the power you have within you, the power than enabled you to, without hesitation, give me this precious stone."

(from THE SECRET POWER OF YOGA, by Nischala Joy Devi)

Some years ago, it was suggested to me by a yoga teacher that I study several interpretations of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The above story introduces the only interpretation I have that was done by a woman. Interestingly, her focus is on the first two of the four books, and she suggests, "As your curiosity about Books III and IV develops, I encourage you to read the many translations available."

The other interpretations I have been reading are:

LIGHT ON THE YOGA SUTRAS OF PATANJALI, by B.K.S Iyengar.

THE YOGA SUTRAS OF PATANJALI, translation and commentary by Sri Swami Satchidananda.

THE ESSENCE OF YOGA: REFLECTIONS ON THE YOGA SUTRAS OF PATANJALI, by Bernard Bouanchaud.

In the last few days, I've also been listening to THE YOGA SUTRA OF PATANJALI TUTORIAL, chanted by T.K.V. Desikachar. Reading one sutra early each morning and discovering how the Sanskrit words are pronounced is becoming part of my yoga practice.

("Woman Listening" was drawn in chalk pastel by Old Girl of the North Country in the early 1980's)