Yoga ?
The word “Yoga” derives from the
Sanskrit root “yuj” – to yoke or
combine. The underlying idea is that
of the combination of the micro and
macrocosmic spiritual realities – and
thus liberation from samsara.
The idea of Yoga that we
are familiar with was
invented by the sage
Patanjali – who combined
two pre-existent ideas; the
Philosophy of Samkhya,
and the Practice of
physical postures &
meditation techniques
that had been developed
by the renouncers.
“PROTO - YOGA”.
Spiritual attainment
through the control of
Prana – Breath / Energy
in the body. This is
achieved by Meditation,
Use of specific postures
&Breath control.
Ultimately to free the
“spirit” from the “world”
(articulated in different
ways)
Holding the body steady with the three upper
parts erect, causing the senses to enter into
the heart by means of the mind. The wise
man with the boat of Brahman should cross
all the streams that bring fear.
Suppressing the breaths here in the body his
movements controlled, he should breath
through his nostrils with diminished breath.
As he would a chariot yoked to bad horses, so
should a wise man diligently restrain his
mind.
Shvetashvatra Upanishad II:8-9
Know the Self to be sitting in the chariot, the
body to be the chariot, the intellect (buddhi)
the charioteer, and the mind the reins. The
senses they call the horses, the objects of
the senses their roads... But he who has
understanding and whose mind is always
firmly held, his senses are under control,
like good horses of a charioteer. He who has
no understanding, who is unmindful and
always impure, never reaches that place,
but enters into the round of births.'
Katha Upanishad 3:3-7
When the five instruments of knowledge
stand still together with the mind, and
when the intellect does not move, that is
called the highest state.
Katha Upanishad 6:9-10
"The practical method [for coming to this
oneness consists in]: breath-control,
withdrawal [of the senses from their objects],
meditation, concentration, analytic
discrimination and "enstasy": this is known as
Yoga…
Maitri Upanishad, 18-19
Samkhya Philosophy
Brahman is manifested as:
Ishvara (the Lord – Brahman
Saguna).
Jiva / Atman (the self)
Prakriti (Nature)
Samkhya Philosophy
Prakriti (Nature) is composed
of three strands (Gunas) –
Sattva (purity)
Rajas (passion)
Tamas (inertia)
He who has gunas, is a doer of deeds that
bear fruit, and enjoyer of what he has done;
Following the three paths, characterized by
the three gunas, and assuming all forms, he
roams about {in successive rebirths}
according to his actions. The embodied one
(Ātman) chooses forms, gross and subtle
according to his qualities. Because of his
union with these forms brought about by the
qualities of his actions and his embodied self
he is seen as something other than he is.
Shvetashvatra Upanishad V.7, 12-13
Samkhya Yoga
Patanjali combines these two
systems in his Yoga Sutra – his
synthesis is variously known as –
Samkhya Yoga
Astanga Yoga
Citta-vritti-nirdoha.
Patanjali
Yama
The first step is Yama – self
control, not doing bad
things. This is to do with
your relationships with
others in society and the
Gods.
Niyama
Niyama is also to do with ethics
and relationships, but this is more
disciplined, it is about doing good
things – following religious
teaching, doing pujas, reading
texts, learning from gurus etc.
Asana
Asanas are the postures
that one thinks of when
one thinks of “Yoga”
Of great benefit to mental
and physical health, but
also designed to ease the
flow of “prana” round the
body, and prepare for
spiritual effort.
ASANA
Pranayama
Pranayama is usually
thought of as breath
control – or conscious
awareness of
breathing.
There are many
complex techniques.
Pratyahara
Pratyahara means
“the withdrawal
of the senses” –
inward
concentration.
When in
recollection he
withdraws all his
senses from the
attractions of the
pleasures of
sense, even as a
tortoise
withdraws all its
limbs, then his is
a serene wisdom.
Bhagavad Gita
2:58
Pratyahara
Dharana
Concentrating
the mind
upon a single
object of
thought.
Dhyana
Meditation –
concentration
without an
object.
Samadhi
Samadhi is the
ultimate goal
of yoga – to be
beyond all
consciousness
– Entasy.
What is the point?
Patanjali’s system of Yoga is
designed to slowly disengage
Purusha from Prakriti, so that
at Samadhi, there is only
Purusha, which may then
achieve liberation.
Liberation
Liberation in Patanjali’s system
is unique – it is described as
Kevalatva – Isolated Bliss
(no union with anything)