YOGA AND ITS PRACTICEYOGA AND ITS PRACTICE

(based on the YOGA SUTRAS of PATANJALI)(based on the YOGA SUTRAS of PATANJALI)

YOGA SUTRASYOGA SUTRAS

• Short but masterly work of PatanjaliShort but masterly work of Patanjali

• One of the six (6) systems of vedic One of the six (6) systems of vedic philosophyphilosophy

• Upheld by the Upanishads as one of Upheld by the Upanishads as one of the efficacious methods for achieving the efficacious methods for achieving direct perception of Truthdirect perception of Truth

Six Systems of vedic Six Systems of vedic PhilosophyPhilosophy

• NYAYANYAYA

• VAISESIKAVAISESIKA

• SANKHYASANKHYA

• YOGAYOGA

• MIMAMSAMIMAMSA

• VEDANTAVEDANTA

YOGA SYSTEM OF YOGA SYSTEM OF PATANJALIPATANJALI• Known as the eightfold path or eight limbs Known as the eightfold path or eight limbs

of YOGAof YOGA• Yoga is the control of thought waves in the Yoga is the control of thought waves in the

mindmind• The limbs of yoga are various spiritual The limbs of yoga are various spiritual

disciplines or rules and practices to observe disciplines or rules and practices to observe in order to clear the mind of impuritiesin order to clear the mind of impurities

• Removal of impurities which are obstacles Removal of impurities which are obstacles to the knowledge of the ATMAN is the sole to the knowledge of the ATMAN is the sole purpose of the spiritual disciplinespurpose of the spiritual disciplines

• If obstacles are removed, the ever-present If obstacles are removed, the ever-present ATMAN is revealedATMAN is revealed

EIGHT LIMBS OF YOGAEIGHT LIMBS OF YOGA

FIRST STEPSFIRST STEPS

• YAMA – moral conduct or the various YAMA – moral conduct or the various forms of abstention from evil-doingforms of abstention from evil-doing

• NIYAMAS – various religious NIYAMAS – various religious observancesobservances

• ASANA – postureASANA – posture

• PRANAYAMA – control of the pranaPRANAYAMA – control of the prana

• PRATYAHARA – withdrawal of the mind PRATYAHARA – withdrawal of the mind from sense/external objectsfrom sense/external objects

LAST STEPS ( or Forms of YOGA LAST STEPS ( or Forms of YOGA PROPER)PROPER)

• DHARANA – concentration or DHARANA – concentration or holding the mind to one thoughtholding the mind to one thought

• DHYANA – meditationDHYANA – meditation

• SAMADHI – absorption in the Atman SAMADHI – absorption in the Atman or superconscious experienceor superconscious experience

YAMAYAMA

• Non-injury to others – no harm or pain is Non-injury to others – no harm or pain is caused by our thoughts, words or deeds caused by our thoughts, words or deeds to any other beingto any other being

• Truthfulness – words and thoughts must Truthfulness – words and thoughts must always be truthful, always in conformity always be truthful, always in conformity with factswith facts

• Non-stealing – abstention from theft or Non-stealing – abstention from theft or covetousness for persons or objectscovetousness for persons or objects

• Continence- chastity in word, thought Continence- chastity in word, thought and deedand deed

• Abstention from greed – taking more Abstention from greed – taking more from the world than we need, full and from the world than we need, full and proper use of goods, things and personsproper use of goods, things and persons

NIYAMASNIYAMAS

• Purity – physical and mental cleanliness Purity – physical and mental cleanliness ( proper diet, personal hygiene, regulation of ( proper diet, personal hygiene, regulation of reading materials, conversation, etc.)reading materials, conversation, etc.)

• Contentment – acceptance of one’s Contentment – acceptance of one’s circumstances in lifecircumstances in life

• Mortification – self-discipline ( moderation in Mortification – self-discipline ( moderation in eating, sleeping, fasting, recreation, etc.) eating, sleeping, fasting, recreation, etc.)

• Study- contemplation ( study/reading of the Study- contemplation ( study/reading of the scriptures and practice of japam, or the scriptures and practice of japam, or the repetition of the name of GOD)repetition of the name of GOD)

• Devotion to God – dedicating one’s work to Devotion to God – dedicating one’s work to God; every action is an offering to God without God; every action is an offering to God without attachment or personal gain/motiveattachment or personal gain/motive

ASANAASANA

• Refers to the posture that one must Refers to the posture that one must practice which is a sitting position practice which is a sitting position that is firm and relaxed; most famous that is firm and relaxed; most famous is the lotus position where one sits is the lotus position where one sits cross-legged with the feet drawn in cross-legged with the feet drawn in to rest against the top of the thighs.to rest against the top of the thighs.

• Position in which one can sit Position in which one can sit absolutely still and erect, holding the absolutely still and erect, holding the chest, neck and head in a straight chest, neck and head in a straight line, but without strainline, but without strain

PRANAYAMAPRANAYAMA

• Refers to the control of prana or the vital energy by Refers to the control of prana or the vital energy by which we live; this energy is obtained primarily by which we live; this energy is obtained primarily by breathingbreathing

• Practice of stopping the motions of inhalation and Practice of stopping the motions of inhalation and exhalation to induce calmness of the mindexhalation to induce calmness of the mind

• Breathing exerciseBreathing exercise• close the right nostril with the right thumb and breathe close the right nostril with the right thumb and breathe

in deeply thru the left nostril sending the current down in deeply thru the left nostril sending the current down to the ida nerve of the kundalinito the ida nerve of the kundalini

• hold the breath repeating the sacred syllable OMhold the breath repeating the sacred syllable OM• as you release the right nostril, close the left nostril with as you release the right nostril, close the left nostril with

the forefinger, exhale thru the right nostril and imagine the forefinger, exhale thru the right nostril and imagine expelling all the impurities of your bodyexpelling all the impurities of your body

• still keeping the left nostril closed, inhale through the still keeping the left nostril closed, inhale through the right nostril sending the current down the pingala nerveright nostril sending the current down the pingala nerve

• repeat the process in reverserepeat the process in reverse

PRATYAHARAPRATYAHARA

• Refers to the practice of complete Refers to the practice of complete mastery over the senses resulting mastery over the senses resulting from a strong and controlled mindfrom a strong and controlled mind

• When the mind is withdrawn from When the mind is withdrawn from sense objects, the sense organs sense objects, the sense organs also withdraw themselves from also withdraw themselves from their respective objects and thus their respective objects and thus are said to imitate the mindare said to imitate the mind

DHARANA DHARANA Fixing the mind upon the Inner Light within one of Fixing the mind upon the Inner Light within one of the seven (7) centers of spiritual consciousness in the seven (7) centers of spiritual consciousness in the body, or holding it on some divine form, either the body, or holding it on some divine form, either within the body or outside it.within the body or outside it.

DHYANADHYANAUnbroken flow or thought toward the object of Unbroken flow or thought toward the object of concentration ( prolonged concentration) or concentration ( prolonged concentration) or meditationmeditation

SAMADHISAMADHIWhen in meditation, the true nature of the object When in meditation, the true nature of the object shines forth, not distorted by the mind of the shines forth, not distorted by the mind of the perceiver, this is Absorption or SAMADHI.perceiver, this is Absorption or SAMADHI.Samadhi is more than perception, it is direct Samadhi is more than perception, it is direct

knowledge.knowledge.

SAMYAMASAMYAMA

• When these three- concentration, When these three- concentration, meditation and absorption are brought to meditation and absorption are brought to bear upon one subject, they are called bear upon one subject, they are called SAMYAMA.SAMYAMA.

• Mastery of Samyama produces the light of Mastery of Samyama produces the light of knowledgeknowledge

• The practice of Samyama must be done The practice of Samyama must be done stage by stage, beginning with the worship stage by stage, beginning with the worship of GOD with form and culminating in the of GOD with form and culminating in the realization of the Oneness of the ATMAN and realization of the Oneness of the ATMAN and the BRAHMANthe BRAHMAN

• The first 5 limbs of Yoga are only a form of The first 5 limbs of Yoga are only a form of training to prepare oneself for the practice of training to prepare oneself for the practice of SAMYAMASAMYAMA

• The mind and the senses have to be purified and The mind and the senses have to be purified and the body strengthened in order that it maybe the body strengthened in order that it maybe able to undergo the tremendous experiences that able to undergo the tremendous experiences that await it.await it.

• The mind’s flow is calm if there are no longer The mind’s flow is calm if there are no longer thoughts or visions and this becomes continuous:thoughts or visions and this becomes continuous:– to flow uninterrupted for 12 seconds: Concentrationto flow uninterrupted for 12 seconds: Concentration– to flow uninterrupted for 2 minutes and 24 seconds: to flow uninterrupted for 2 minutes and 24 seconds:

MeditationMeditation– to flow uninterrupted for 28 minutes and 48 to flow uninterrupted for 28 minutes and 48

seconds: Lower Samadhiseconds: Lower Samadhi– to flow uninterrupted for 5 hours and 45 minutes: to flow uninterrupted for 5 hours and 45 minutes:

Nirvikalpa SamadhiNirvikalpa Samadhi

“ “ Spiritual Life begins after SAMADHI”Spiritual Life begins after SAMADHI”