YOU'VE ALREADY MISSED THE CHANT BACK CHALLENGES FOR SPRING 2018 & WINTER 2019, AND THAT'S OK BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT TOO LATE FOR THE SUMMER 2019 CHANT BACK CHALLENGE.
WHAT IS IT? GLAD YOU ASKED. KEEP READING...
WHAT IS IT? GLAD YOU ASKED. KEEP READING...
The body of wisdom contained in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali is essential to know for anyone interested in tasting the highest and sweetest fruit of YOGA, especially true yoga enthusiasts and yoga teachers. Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras are the authoritative text that "explicitly" explains what YOGA is and how to attain it.
And get this... what most people in the west call "yoga" is actually a pretty loose idea of āsana (postures/poses), and of Patañjali’s 196 yoga sūtras (195 according to some sources), only 3 directly address what's meant by āsana. The question we should be asking is: WHAT DO THE OTHER 193 SŪTRAS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT YOGA? If we want to fulfill the promise of what YOGA offers, shouldn't we know this? Join me and let's learn what the sūtras mean and unpack them together?
And get this... what most people in the west call "yoga" is actually a pretty loose idea of āsana (postures/poses), and of Patañjali’s 196 yoga sūtras (195 according to some sources), only 3 directly address what's meant by āsana. The question we should be asking is: WHAT DO THE OTHER 193 SŪTRAS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT YOGA? If we want to fulfill the promise of what YOGA offers, shouldn't we know this? Join me and let's learn what the sūtras mean and unpack them together?
YOGA IS A SYSTEM AND SCIENCE FOR ACTUALIZING OUR FULLEST POTENTIAL
AND BEING LIBERATED FROM OUR SHORTCOMINGS.
AND BEING LIBERATED FROM OUR SHORTCOMINGS.
INTRIGUED? These challenges are intended as an appetizer AND springboard to broaden and jumpstart a deepening of your understanding and knowledge of the True meaning of YOGA, which is far beyond what happens on a mat with postures, poses, deep breathing, and sweating. While that’s all good (I know I love yoga on the mat), YOGA goes far beyond the mat and with proper practice gets a gazillion times more fruitful and fulfilling.
Participate in the #ChantBackChallenge of the season for an authentic taste of a Yoga Sūtra STUDY PRACTICE so that you may become the word in the flesh. |
In the challenges, I chant the sūtra so you can hear it, then challenge you to record yourself chanting it back on your Instagram (IG) feed using the hashtag #ChantBackChallenge, sharing with other enthusiastic participants as we proceed. Let’s have fun with this, TAKING OUR YOGA PRACTICE TO THE NEXT LEVEL!
EACH DAY OF THE CHALLENGE, I'LL SUPPLEMENT MY INSTAGRAM POSTS BY...
- supplying you with a video where I give the word-for-word (W4W) meanings of the day’s sūtra, another opportunity to repeat after me (CALL & RESPONSE), as well as the pitch marks (svaras or demarcations) indicating whether to chant a high, middle, or low note -- you can jot these down on the space provided on your worksheets (you have to SIGN UP to receive these); and
- sharing a post with 7 different interpretations of the current day’s sūtra from 7 different respected and renowned authors.
By sharing the word-for-word meanings of each sūtra, my hope is that you’ll be empowered to translate the whole sūtra in your own words and not need anyone else to interpret it for you (what if they get it wrong?). When we rely on interpreting someone else’s interpretation of what something means rather than interpreting the source itself, we run a greater risk of drifting further away from the true message intended. Just think about the game telephone for a minute… Who’s more likely to repeat the message closest to the exact words of the original message? The first person after the one who initiates the message OR the 10th person down the line after the message has passed through 9 other people? Exactly -- the first person. This challenge is designed to connect you with THE SOURCE as authentically as possible, so that you may interpret Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras in the purest way "possible" using your own choice of words and syntax.
You missed the Instagram #ChantBackChallenge for Chapter 1 (Samādhipādaḥ), but there's still time to catch up on what you missed. Just hover over CHANT BACK CHALLENGE under the RESOURCES tab and you will notice the seven sūtras of this challenge popup. Those tabs give you access to videos and worksheets covering the 7 sūtras we covered. The NEXT instagram #ChantBackChallenge will cover the first 7 sūtras of Chapter 2 (Sādhanapādaḥ ), so you want to catch up on these while I still have them posted (I'll be taking them down at least a few weeks prior to the next challenge). Anywho, below are 7 questions addressed in the first seven sūtras of Chapter 1. Enjoy and let me know if you should have any questions.
Understanding these sūtras is fundamental to building and experiencing a truly sound and optimally fruitful YOGA practice. And having an optimally fruitful YOGA practice means an optimally fruitful Life (with a capital "L").
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QUESTION #1: What commences upon serious study of this text?
QUESTION #2: What is YOGA? QUESTION #3: What happens in YOGA? QUESTION #4: What happens when not in a YOGA state? QUESTION #5: How many activities of the mind are there and what do they lead to? QUESTION #6: What are the activities of the mind? QUESTION #7: What are the criteria for the first and most important activity of the mind? AREN'T YOU AT LEAST A BIT CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT THE ANSWERS ARE?
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HERE’S HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CHALLENGE (when it's held)...
- Follow @damongivehand on Instagram* (IG) to make sure you don’t miss the 7 daily prompts;
- SIGN UP to be reminded of the challenge and to receive the Inner Circle challenge handouts for your notes;
- Share this image on your IG feed to spread the word;
- Listen to me chant the sūtra for the day on IG (and my wife @kialagives might even #chantback on some days as a fun example);
- Join in the fun by posting a quick vid or audio each day of you chanting the #SutraOfTheDay on your IG feed using the hashtag #ChantBackChallenge;
- In IG, search the hashtag(s) and engage with others by liking, commenting, sharing insights, and asking questions. For easy reference, the hashtags are #ChantBackChallenge #ChantBack #SutraOfTheDay #WeChantYogaSutras.
You can even enter to possibly win a FREE SEAT in the 4-week Master Class that follows the challenge and covers the chapter which includes the sūtras of the challenge.
More on the Master Class info further down the page.
*Don't have an Instagram account? Signup here.
One of the lessons of YOGA is that of “non-attachment” or “letting go” which is appropo for these chantback challenges, since there is a bit of a learning curve. If you’ve never chanted the sūtras before (which MOST have not, so you are not alone if this will be your first time) then recording yourself and posting it on your Instagram feed will take COURAGE to “let go” of appearing silly or feeling insecure about “not chanting the sutras right,” and “not being attached” to “sounding perfect.” In the beginning, the only way to chant incorrectly is to NOT chant at all.
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The right way to chant at first, is to make the effort and attempt, regardless of natural and expected newbie mistakes. Improvement will come with practice, I’m proof LOL! This is why I want you to have fun with this... fun is often more powerful than fear.
And, don’t worry if you miss days… just join in the fun whenever you can, however you can! No pressure, but I'll be absolutely delighted if you show up every day :-)
If you don’t have an IG account yet, head on over and get setup, then search for @damongivehand and follow me so the daily prompts will show up automatically on your IG HOME FEED (where posts from the people you follow appear).
Also, CLICK HERE TO BE ADDED TO MY INNER CIRCLE EMAIL LIST where you'll get updates on everything I offer which includes being reminded of THIS CHALLENGE.
If you don’t have an IG account yet, head on over and get setup, then search for @damongivehand and follow me so the daily prompts will show up automatically on your IG HOME FEED (where posts from the people you follow appear).
Also, CLICK HERE TO BE ADDED TO MY INNER CIRCLE EMAIL LIST where you'll get updates on everything I offer which includes being reminded of THIS CHALLENGE.
WHAT'S NEXT?
AFTER THESE 7-DAY CHALLENGES...
If you wish to continue and go further with a serious study of Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras, I will be teaching 4 week Master Classes throughout the year following select ChantBack Challenges.
Registration details for these Master Classes are forthcoming. Sign up to be notified. By completing these Master Classes, yoga instructors/teachers and serious students are sure to be catapulted in front of the yoga game, no doubt about it. Even anyone who is BRAND SPANKING NEW TO YOGA will thrust themselves far beyond those who have practiced on a mat for years but have never delved into Patañjali’s wisdom.
If you wish to continue and go further with a serious study of Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras, I will be teaching 4 week Master Classes throughout the year following select ChantBack Challenges.
Registration details for these Master Classes are forthcoming. Sign up to be notified. By completing these Master Classes, yoga instructors/teachers and serious students are sure to be catapulted in front of the yoga game, no doubt about it. Even anyone who is BRAND SPANKING NEW TO YOGA will thrust themselves far beyond those who have practiced on a mat for years but have never delved into Patañjali’s wisdom.
My hope is that by chanting Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras for you to repeat and helping you learn the word-for-word meanings of the sūtras, you will learn what YOGA truly means and be drawn in to studying and applying this profound and practical wisdom every moment of every day thereby eventually actualizing your fullest potential. If you are a yoga teacher/instructor, you will be equipped to help your students even more by planting and watering seeds of this wisdom that will surely sprout and blossom in their lives. Even if you don't teach, this material is meant for you, as this is meant for all everyday people. YOGA is for everyone who wants to make the most of themselves!!!
Ok, that’s it for now…
See you on the #ChantBackChallenge!
Shalom, Shanti, Peace, Hotep, Namaste...
~Damon
Ok, that’s it for now…
See you on the #ChantBackChallenge!
Shalom, Shanti, Peace, Hotep, Namaste...
~Damon