O Yoga-Sūtra como ciência do autoconhecimento: uma abordagem teosófica

Abstract

This thesis aims at doing a reading of the Yoga-Sūtra of Patañjali (2nd century BC), according to the hermeneutic tradition of Theosophy, which emerged in the context of the foundation of the Theosophical Society in 1875, presenting it as a Science or self-knowledge wisdom, with its own method targeting the Liberation of the human being from suffering. Patañjali and other ancient sages considered ignorance as the cause of evil or suffering; therefore, the attainment of wisdom must be the path of Liberation (kaivalya). The theosophical approach, supported by modern science, helps to investigate the ancient method of Yoga-Sūtra, which culminates in meditation with the purpose of reaching direct perception through Samādhi (Ecstasy) as the foundation of the hypothesis or ideal of Scientific Religion. Thus, searches on find some corroborative marks of possible correlations with studies of parapsychological phenomena or scientific research related to the main theoretical concepts and practices of Patañjali's Yoga were conducted. The study of this Science or wisdom of Being, in the light of the theosophical approach, encompasses works by Blavatsky, Besant, Leadbeater, Krishnamurti and Taimni, can motivate the aspirant or sādhaka to practice Yoga.