Yoga Philosophy
Patanjali - The eightfold path of yoga
One of the significant scriptures on yoga are The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali consisting of 195 verses or aphorisms, written about 250 A.D. In the yoga sutras, Patanjali describes Ashtanga Yoga or the eight limbs of yoga:
1.YAMA (interaction with others)
Ahimsa (non violence) :
To refrain from causing pain to any living being, including oneself. Every action, word, or thought that causes pain to another - any thought containing anger, gread, lust, or attachment - is a form of violence. With the perfection of ahimsa, one`s non violent nature and peace radiate to others.
Satya (truthfulness) :
To develop honesty, to avoid deceiving others and oneself. Cultivating truthfulness requires the aspirant to avoid exaggeration, rationalisation, pretense and all other variants of deceit. When truthfulness is perfected one`s words and blessings always come true.
Asteya(non-stealing) :
To avoid any kind of misappropriation of material or non-material things, such as acceptance of undeserved praise. When non-stealing is perfected, one is freed from the illusion of ownership: me/mine, you/yours.
Brahmacharya (continence) :
To conserve and redirect the sexual energy. Litarally translated, brahmacharya means "To walk on God`s path". Perfect celibacy is, above all, an attitude of mind-purity of thought, word and deed. To aid in the practice of celibacy one should eat sattvic food and avoid wordly situations and environments. When continence is perfected, one gains physical, mental and spiritual strength.
Aparigraha (non-hoarding) :
To avoid the accumulation of unnecessary possesions. Its purpose is to become free not from possesions themselfes, but from attachment to them so that one is unaffected by their gain or loss. Perfection of non-hoarding gives dispassion and one gains knowledge of the past, present and future.
2.NIYAMA (interaction with yourself)
Saucha(purity) :
Cleanliness of the body and purity of the mind. As the mind and body are interdependent, purification of the body is a means of controling the mind. External cleanliness on the gross level includes daily bathing, wearing clean clothes, living in a clean house; on the subtle level it is purity of action or selfless sevice. Internal cleanliness on the gross level includes the system of "shat karma" (six purifications); on the subtle level it is the eradication of negative qualities and thoughts from the mind. By observing cleanliness one becomes less attached to one`s own body, and loses desire for phisical contact with others. When purity is perfected, one gains control of the senses and becomes cheerful, one-pointed and fit for self-realization.
Santosha (contentment) :
More than a passive state of mind, contentment is a virtue to be activley cultivated in order to free the mind from the effects of pleasure or pain. When contentment is perfected, one becomes desireless and attains unexcelled happiness.
Tapas (austerity) :
Litarally means "to burn"; in Yoga Tapas implies the burning of all desires by means of discipline, purification, and penance. Fasting, enduring heat or cold and observing silence are methods of Tapas. Pranayama (breath-control) is considered to be the highest austerity, as it requires great restraint of the normal, life-giving breath. Whern austerity is perfected one achieves control over the body and senses.
Svadhyaya (scriptural studies) :
Study of the scriptures pertains especially to the Vedas, it also includes study of the lives and teaching of the saints. Self-Inquiry is done by reflecting deeply on the question: "Who am I?" Satsang is association with spiritually oriented people and places. Through Svadhyaya one can contact the form of God that one desires to worship.
Ishvarapranidhana (surrender to God) :
Recognition that the limited ego-self is an illusion, channeling of energies toward the the relization of truth or God. One who sees the Self in all beings and who has surrendered the ego of being the "doer" is the true practitioner of Ishvarapranidhana. Perfection of Ishvarapranidhana brings success in Samadhi (superconsiousness).
3.ASANA (Physical exercise or pose)
The word Asana is commonly translated as "posture", but its literal meaning is "seat", referring particulary to meditation postures, which promote concentration of the mind. Asanas help to balance the physical body by regulating glandular secretions, toning muscles and nerves, massaging internal organs and improving circulation and digestion. Asanas increase endurance, will power and resistance to diseases. Through regular practice the mind becomes calm and undesireable thoughts gradually diminish.
4.PRANAYAMA (breath control)
The word Pranayama is made of two words: prana : "vital energy" - that which makes all life and all physical activity possible; and ayama : "expansion". Pranayama is a method of breathing through which life-supporting energy is expanded. Yoga (union) is achieved by stopping thought waves in the mind. Mental activitiy is correlated to breath; the more breath there are, the more thoughts rush through the mind. The practice of Pranayama which involves a series of breathing exercices, drastically deduces the number of breaths taken in a given period. By calming the mind, it thus prepares one for concentration and meditation.
5.PRATYAHARA (abstaction)
Withdrawel of the senses from external objects
6.DHARANA (concentration)
Fixing the attention on a single object
7.DHYANA (meditation)
Contemplation of the nature of the object of meditation
8.SAMADHI (oneness - inner bliss)