WRITING
Research on connections, parallels and contemporary questions
Articles & Studies
VEDAS/UPANISHADS
The Vedas and the Upanishads (the last part of the Veda) contain the essence of ancient Indian wisdom, as it was “revealed” to the first seers (rishis) and captured in the secret formulas they called “mantras”. These are works from the seeds of which all subsequent Indian intellect has “germinated”, an essential part of which forms the system of Yoga (Yoga Darshana). The great wealth of symbolism that characterizes these works has aroused my interest in recent years, giving rise to an attempt to identify the ways in which they have been transferred and incorporated into the yoga practice, be it philosophical or physical.
Ritualizing internally
Deeply rooted in ancient Indian thought since the Vedic period was the concept of ritual (yajña). Etymologically derived from the verb root “yaj” whose meaning is attributed by Monier Williams Dictionary as “to worship, to honor, to offer”, the word “yajña” reveals the need of ancient Indian people to contact with the various facets they attributed to the Absolute One and recognized as their “gods” (deva-s).
April 25, 2024
YOGA SUTRA
The Yoga Sutra is one of the works that needs to study anyone who wants to know the philosophical principles and methods of concentration on which the practice of yoga on the mat is based. B.K.S Iyengar’s book “Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali” that fell into my hands in 2015 provides me with its incomparable lyricism “food” for more study but, most importantly, for writing. In the period that follows, I begin to write, investigating the new light that shed on the philosophy of Patanjali’s yoga the parallels with ancient Greek philosophy.
Epicurus on and off the yoga mat
The idea for this article came from an earlier study on Patanjali and Epicurus. The question it attempts to answer is to how can the Epicurean concept of moderation and autonomy add to our yoga practice and how we can apply it on a practical level on and off the mat.
September 3, 2017
The ultimate goal of Yoga
In the first of the four chapters of his aphorisms, Patanjali defines yoga as the limitation of the fluctuations of consciousness (citta-vṛtti-nirodha) (sutra I.2) through which the individual can reach the knowledge of the Self, his/her soul (puruṣa) (sutra I.3). This is a goal that presupposes an eightfold (aṣṭāṅga) process of transformation of consciousness which culminates in the final phase of the meditative practice of samādhi (nirbīja samādhi).
March 4, 2017
The nature of desire
True pleasure doesn’t come from an unconditional surrender to sensual pleasure but from a process of reflection on the nature of desire, which is based on the principles of moderation and self-sufficiency, Epicurus teaches us. Similar is the idea that forms the basis for the practice of Patanjali’s yoga student in continence (“brahmacharya”) and non-greed (“aparigraha”). A key pillar of the individual’s path to happiness seems to be for both philosophers the perception of philosophy as a therapy and art of ethical living.
March 20, 2016
Books
ASTANGA YOGA
Journey Back to Balance
A guide to balance for the modern individual which draws on the ancient teachings of the Yoga system (Yoga Darshana) as handed down to us from its most seminal work, the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali. Published by Archetypo Publications, June 2024.
