Core of the Yoga Sutras: The Definitive Guide to the Philosophy of Yoga by BKS Iyengar

Core of the Yoga Sutras: The Definitive Guide to the Philosophy of Yoga is written by B.K.S. Iyengar. It includes a foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and presents a guide to the philosophy of yoga through the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

Key details

• Author: B.K.S. Iyengar
• Foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
• Focuses on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali as a foundational text of yoga philosophy
• Covers 196 aphorisms, each presented as Sanskrit text, transliteration and English translation
• Includes Iyengar’s commentary and explanations for modern readers

Synopsis

B.K.S. Iyengar applies the precision and clarity associated with his teaching to the philosophical core of yoga: the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The sutras are presented as 196 concise aphorisms, each only a line or two long, forming a foundational text of yoga philosophy.

In this book, Iyengar translates each sutra and follows it with commentary and explanation, linking themes across the text. Each entry is shown in Sanskrit, with transliteration and an English translation, before the accompanying notes. The book also sets out Iyengar’s view of how yoga practice can support personal transformation through the gradual development of mind, body and emotions, as part of spiritual evolution.