Yogs Sutras of Patanjali

For some time now I have been reading a lot more Eastern spiritual writings. The Tao Te Ching, The Dhammapada,  The Bhagavad Gita, and in particular lately, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. 

The Yoga Sutras are short aphorisms on the spiritual path compiled by one named Patanjali. The translation I use, Edwin Bryant's, dates it around the second or third century C.E, but some date it as early as 5th century B.C.E and as late as the fifth century C.E, but there is no scholarly consensus from what little I know. These terse aphorisms on the path of Yoga depend on a commentarial tradition to bring out what would have been just short mostly memorized teachings. For me the heart of the Yoga Sutras is contained in the second chapter on the practice of the Yoga Sutras. In the second chapter he outlines a path to spiritual liberation referred to as the Eight Limbs of Yoga or Astangayoga .  This classical path of yoga, or royal path (rajayoga ) has captivated me more then the Buddha's eight fold path which it is similar to. Like the Buddha's, this approach puts a strong emphasis on the practice of meditation. For me meditation practice of various sorts has become a main focal of my life. The yoga sutras gives a grounding on the various aspects of the spiritual path including ethics or what are called the five yamas and the five Niyamas. The first of the yamas, non violence, is central to the practice. A niyama that has become important to me is the practice of santosa or contentment. The Yogin should be content with what he or she has or as they say one should count ones blessings. As well Patanjali's path includes devotion to a higher power, what is referred to as Isvara.  This contrasts with the Buddhist position which denies both God and the soul. 

Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and its meditative emphasis are often counted as one of the central paths of Yoga along with Karma Yoga, the path of action,  Bhakti Yoga, the path of devotion and Jnana yoga, the path of knowledge. 

After reading the Yoga Sutras I became much more interested in studying Indian philosophy and will take a course at the University of Manitoba on it. I am a total novice when it comes to the yoga sutras but I have a devotion to learning and a desire for spiritual liberation.