“In the East, people say that suffering can be avoided—it’s not necessary. Life is a blessing! Do you know why? Because wisdom, yoga, and meditation are the means by which you can avoid suffering before it even comes.”
– Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Sutra (from Sanskrit) literally means “thread” or “string” that connects things, just like a strand of pearls. Metaphorically, it refers to an aphorism, a rule, or a collection of such concise teachings.
Patanjali is the author of the Yoga Sutras—a great work composed of aphorisms that convey practical and philosophical wisdom about the path of yoga. Just as a kite can soar to incredible heights when held by a single thread, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are threads of life, each filled with knowledge, tools, and techniques. These Sutras guide not just the mind but the entire being toward realizing its full potential, even in the fast-paced life of the 21st century.
Join us every Wednesday throughout the year as we explore the power of each sutra together.
Commentaries by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
“In the Yoga Sutras, Maharishi Patanjali says that the goal of yoga is to stop suffering before it arises.”
– Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
In December 1994, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar began explaining the ancient Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. He brought to light the profound wisdom contained in the Sanskrit texts of Patanjali. The audience consisted of course participants in Weggis, Switzerland. Amid the bliss of such profound knowledge, someone from the group recorded these beautiful talks.
Over the last 17 years, the insightful and often humorous commentaries of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar have helped thousands of people understand and apply this wisdom, enriching their everyday lives. Yoga enthusiasts from around the world continue to enjoy these talks through books and video recordings.
For the first time, the transcripts of these discourses will be shared on our website.
We hope that readers will engage with this knowledge and share their personal experiences of how they’ve applied it in their own lives.
