David gives a philosophy talk on Book 2: Sutra 1. Talk highlights:

*insightful explanations of the Sanskrit words that make up Yoga Sutra Ch 2 verse 1-Tapas, Svadhyaya, Isvara Pranidhana, and Kriya Yoga

*Exploration of Kriya Yoga as medicine that a yogi takes in order to realize samadhi (absorption, 8th limb) and overcome pain caused by the Klesha’s or 5 root causes of pain.

*Analysis of the 5 Kleshas and the role that kriya yoga plays in helping the yogi lessen their detrimental effects. The kleshas consist of: 1 Avidya (Spiritual Ignorance), 2 Asmita (Egoism), 3 Raga (attachment to pleasure), 4 Dvesa (hatred of displeasure) 5 Abhinivesha (Clinging to life, fear of change/death).

*ideas on using kriya yoga to discover the positive naturing of pursuing samadhi—making your practice about being actively engaged in identifying what you love, inquiring into what are the most meaningful or important ways of investing your time and energy—and then following through into positive action and committing yourself to realizing your most profound, sacred desires.

*squaring on the necessity to routinely identify when you are in pain, to be clear when the Klesha’s are active within you—and then be able to apply yourself to kriya yoga as the corrective medicine instead of spiraling down into a cycle of indulgence and/or ignorance.

*Looking at Svadhyaya that consists of both perusing the sacred texts and finding one’s own ideas about what represents the highest, the most profound or sacred, the pith or core essence of one’s life, the most noble or worthy pursuits or desires

*Exploring Isvara Pranidhana as learning to trust, befriend, follow the forces or aspects of your life that are beyond your control. Finding meaning and purpose in embracing whatever of life hands you regardless of whether your ego likes or understands it or not.