The Moment of Decision
- Shahid Khan - Yogveda Yoga
- Jan 15
- 3 min read
Introduction: A New Thursday Tradition
Welcome to a new chapter at Yogveda.
Every Thursday, we will step away from the sweat and mechanics of asana to enter the "operating manual" of the human mind: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
This series is an evolution—a "living Version 2"—of my published book on this profound text. But this blog series is not a lecture; it is a Socratic dialogue between Master and Student.
Each week, we will decode one Sutra. I will provide the commentary, but then I will turn the floor over to you with specific questions for self-reflection. To truly understand this text, you must apply it. I invite you to answer these questions in the comments below to begin the dialogue, or keep a private diary to track your own evolution.
We begin at the very beginning. At the threshold shown in the image above.
Sutra 1.1 अथ योगानुशासनम् ॥ १.१ ॥ atha yogānuśāsanam
Translation: "Now, the exposition/discipline of Yoga begins."
Decoding the "Now" (Atha)
Patanjali does not waste words. He does not begin with "Once upon a time." He begins with Atha—Now.
Why "Now"? It implies that something came before. A dissatisfaction with ordinary life, a deep suffering, or a burning curiosity has brought you to this exact moment, reading this screen. You are standing at a threshold.
There is a timeless truth in this lineage: "When the student is ready, the master appears."
The teaching is presenting itself to you right "Now" because, consciously or unconsciously, you have made yourself ready to receive it.
The Dialogue: Are You Ready?
If the teaching has appeared, the only remaining question is: Are you actually ready for it?
We cannot begin the "discipline" (anushasanam) without clarity of purpose. Stop scrolling for a moment. Look at the seeker standing before the light in the image and ask yourself these questions:
For the Practitioner: You show up to class. You roll out the mat. Why do you really do yoga? Is it just to touch your toes, or are you hunting for something deeper?
For the Skeptic or Beginner: Why have you not stepped through the door yet? What resistance is blocking your readiness? Are you waiting for a "perfect" time that will never arrive?
The Definition: Before we explore the ancient definition next week, what is yoga to you, right now, in your current life?
The Self-Analytic Angle: The Discipline of Mirrors
To step through the door of "Atha" requires radical honesty. Yoga is not a hobby; it is an anushasanam—a discipline. It is a mirror that reflects your mind back to you without filter.
This series is your tool for that self-study. Are you ready to look into the mirror without flinching?
The Call to Engagement
This "living book" only works if it is a two-way street. The teaching has appeared.
Step 1: Begin the Dialogue (Primary) Don't just consume this content. Participate in it. Scroll down to the comments section below. Answer just one of the questions above. Tell me why your "Now" is here. Let the dialogue begin.
Step 2: Deepen Your Study (Secondary) Want the foundational text this series is based on?
Ready to study this discipline live with the master?
Author, Master Shahid Khan
Comments