The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali The Book of the Spiritual Man

THE YOGA SUTRAS OF PATANJALI“The Book of the Spiritual Man” Translation & Interpretations Charles Johnston General Introduction Paul SmithThe Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are 194 Indian sutras (aphorisms) that constitute the foundational text of Raja Yoga. Yoga is one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy. Various authorities attribute the compilation to Patanjali 2nd century BCE. In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali prescribes adherence to eight ‘limbs’ or steps to quiet one’s mind and liberation. The Sutras not only provide yoga with a thorough and consistent philosophical basis, they also clarify many important esoteric concepts that are common to all traditions of Indian thought, such as karma. Pages 173COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH’S VERSION OF HAFIZ’S ‘DIVAN’.“It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished. If he comes to Iran I will kiss the fingertips that wrote such a masterpiece inspired by the Creator of all.” Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. “Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz.” Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author). “Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith.” Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator of many mystical works in English into Persian and knower of Hafiz’s Divan off by heart.Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of over 80 books of Sufi poets from the Persian, Turkish, Arabic, Pashtu and other languages of Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, Obeyd Zakani, ‘Attar, Sana’i, Jahan Khatun, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Mu’in, Rudaki, Nesimi, Yunus Emre and many others, as well as poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children’s books and screenplays.