Yoga is a medium to attain realization of God through controlling
the mind, body and senses. Yoga is one of the six philosophical systems of
attaining ultimate knowledge and the ‘Yoga Sutras’ composed by Sage Patanjali form
the most prominently known scriptures elucidating this system.
The process of attaining realization through
action (Karma Yoga), devotion (Bhakti Yoga) or knowledge seeking (jnana Yoga)
were also termed as ‘Yoga’ each being seen as a mode of worshipping to reach
God. However the method described in the ‘Yoga Sutras’ which is known as ‘Raja
Yoga’ lay out another fourth complimentary path and parts of this philosophy
are most commonly referred to as ‘Yoga’ today.
Raja Yoga balances the physical, mental and spiritual sides
of man through prescribed methods, rules and discipline in daily life in order
to overcome the ego of one’s ‘self’. This system also called ‘Ashtanga Yoga’ is
described in eight specific successive steps to enlightenment in the ‘Yoga
Sutras’. The eight parts of ‘Ashtanga Yoga’ are as follows:
- Yama (restraint whilst dealing with our external world) shown through the doctrines of non violence (Ahimsa), not lying (Satya), not stealing or aspiring to acquire what is undeserved (Asteya), not being lustful (Brahmacharya) and not hoarding out of greed (Aparigraha)
- Niyama (rules of living for internal discipline) including cleanliness and purity (Shaucha), contentment with life (Santosha), austerity and simple living (Tapa), continuous self learning (Swadhyaya) and divine worship (Ishwar –Parnidhan)
Niyama and Yama are thus the ‘Dos’ and ‘ Don't s’ given as a
starting point of ‘Ashtanga Yoga’.
- Asana meaning physical postures to keep the body fit and the life force energy within it, helps to improve self control and focus the mind too so as to enable one to concentrate in meditation. Asana maintain the internal functioning of the body organs and overall good health.
- Pranayama means maintaining the health of the ‘Prana’ which is the life force through breathing exercises
- Pratyahara practised with chanting mantras and visualizing beyond the senses helps to withdraw from the current world and go beyond the senses. This enables to break free from the cycle of rebirths.
- Dharana means complete focus by concentrating on objects such as internal ‘Chakras’ (circles or auras of energy in our body)
- Dhyana is complete meditation where the state of the mind has reached the highest level of self awareness and unaware of all external distractions
- Samadhi is the final stage of leaving the conditioning of the ego, mind, physical senses and entering into a one ness with the supreme reality.
Yogasana and Pranayama are the most popular aspects of
‘Yoga’ practised today for good health and mental well being. These aspects of
Asana and Pranayama are covered in ‘Hatha Yoga’ which may be seen as a subset
of the above and also includes purification procedures, use of ‘Mudras’ (hand
gestures to improve physical fitness and mental concentration) and use of
Kundalini or Chakra.
Another popular form of yoga is ‘Kundalini yoga’ also
utilising some of the above techniques described in the ‘Yoga Sutras’. Kundalini is considered as the life force
energy originating from the base of the spine visualised as a coiled serpent. This
energy is ‘awakened’ to attain enlightenment by techniques such as Asana,
Pranayama, chanting mantras and meditation.
Some slightly varying systems from ‘Ashtanga Yoga’ also
exist such as Pancadashânga-Yoga, Shadanga-Yoga, Saptânga-Yoga describing the
five, six, seven steps of yoga which are comparatively less well known.
