Yoga is the core principle of Santan Dharma and one of the six philosophies, The Darshana. This Yoga in present form is formulated by great Sage Maharishi Patanjali in Patanjali Yoga Sutram. This is known as Ashtanga Yoga.
Ashta means eight. Yoga has eight limbs and that is why it is known as Ashtanga Yoga. In this post we would discuss all 8 limbs of Yoga in brief.
Yama
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Yama means the restrains, for yoga some restraints are required.
Yama is further classified as follows:
o Ahimsa - Non-violence
o Satya - Truthfulness
o Brahmacharya - Control of the senses and celibacy
o Asteya - Non-stealing
o Aparigraha - Non-covetousness and non-acceptance of gifts
Niyama
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Niyama means discipline. Human should try to keep some discipline in their life, Minimum discipline are further classified as follows:
o Saucha - Purity, cleanliness
o Santosha - Contentment
o Tapas - Austerity
o Swadhyaya - Self-study, study of scriptures
o Ishwara Pranidhana - Surrender to God's will
Asana: Body posture
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Asana is a body posture combined with the breathing. I don't think anybdoy can have any doubts that healthy body can be the only mean to achieve anything by human.Asanas make our body healty. There are many Asanas. It is not possible to confirm the exact number of all Asanas(one can confirm it from somewhere), this is not very relevant though to count them. Asanas are one of the limbs which is extremely popular world wide.
Pranayama : Control of prana or life force
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Pranayam = Pran(life) + Ayam(the base, the power).. Pranayam are second most important after meditation. As name prescribes, it provide uncounted benefits and strengthen tp the very life force. It directly effects vital system of our body, like nervous system, respiratory and hormonal system. Pranayam also provides entry to the Meditation. One who master Pranayam can easily get into the state of meditation which otherwise if diffcitul to achieve.
Pratyahara :Withdrawal of the senses.
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This method is complementary method for the meditation. The natural tendency of the senses is to go out towards the objects of the world. In doing so they pull the mind out and away from the inner Self and create powerful waves on the lake-mind. Therefore, the yogi must be able to pull the senses within if he is to keep a balanced and peaceful mind.
Dharana: Concentration.
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This is another complementary process to meditation. The meditator is fully focused on the object of concentration, his mind as still as the flame of a lamp in a windless room. When this state is maintained long enough, it will lead to dhyana(Meditation).
Dhyana :Meditation
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This is the state of complete peace. When body stay still thoughts in mind stops, human heart and soul get purified in same manner as impurity get settled on the base of still water. This is the sate when mind exist in its maximum capacity and human feel extreme peace, the peace which can hardly be defined by any words.Only those know about meditation who gets into this state. And once they able to reach to this state, they are completely changed. They know that whatever they knew through the body and mind was just a fraction of what exist as complete truth.
Samadhi - Super-conscious state
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This is higher state of meditation and extremely rare to achieve. Only counted yogis and Sanyasis can achieve it. Once human able to reach state, he develops super human capabilities.
Sunday, 19 July 2015
Ashtanga Yoga: YAMA
If you want to seriously practice yoga, you should practice Yama and Niyama. These two limbs of yoga have been practiced by great yoga teachers since time immemorial. It helped them become disciplined, focused, and happy in life. Let's have a look at the Yama's:
*** The ten Vedic Restraints ***
Yama 1
Practice noninjury, not harming others by thought, word or deed, even in your dreams. Live a kindly life, revering all beings as expressions of the one divine energy. Let go of fear and insecurity, the sources of abuse. Knowing that harm caused to others unfailingly returns to oneself, live peacefully with God's creation. Never be a source of dread, pain or injury. Follow a vegetarian diet.
Yama 2
Adhere to truthfulness, refraining from lying and betraying promises. Speak only that which is true, kind, helpful and necessary. Knowing that deception creates distance, don't keep secrets from family or loved ones. Be fair, accurate and frank in discussions, a stranger to deceit. Admit your failings. Do not engage in slander, gossip or backbiting. Do not bear false witness against another.
Yama 3
Uphold the virtue of nonstealing, neither thieving, coveting nor failing to repay debt. Control your desires and live within your means. Do not use borrowed resources for unintended purposes or keep them past due. Do not gamble or defraud others. Do not renege on promises. Do not use others' names, words, resources or rights without permission and acknowledgement.
Yama 4
Practice divine conduct, controlling lust by remaining celibate when single and faithful in marriage. Before marriage, use vital energies in study, and after marriage in creating family success. Seek holy company. Dress and speak modestly. Shun pornography, sexual humor and violence.
Yama 5
Exercise patience, restraining intolerance with people and impatience with circumstances. Be agreeable. Let others behave according to their nature, without adjusting to you. Don't argue, dominate conversations or interrupt others. Don't be in a hurry. Be patient with children and the elderly. Minimize stress by keeping worries at bay. Remain poised in good times and bad.
Yama 6
Foster steadfastness, overcoming nonperseverance, fear, indecision and changeableness. Achieve your goals with a prayer, purpose, plan, persistence and push. Be firm in your decisions. Avoid sloth and procrastination. Develop willpower, courage and industriousness. Overcome obstacles. Never carp or complain. Do not let opposition or fear of failure result in changing strategies.
Yama 7
Practice compassion, conquering callous, cruel and insensitive feelings toward all beings. See God everywhere. Be kind to people, animals, plants and the Earth itself. Forgive those who apologize and show true remorse. Foster sympathy for others' needs and suffering. Honor and assist those who are weak, impoverished, aged or in pain. Oppose family abuse and other cruelties.
Yama 8
Maintain honesty, renouncing deception and wrongdoing. Act honorably even in hard times. Obey the laws of your nation and locale. Pay your taxes. Be straightforward in business. Do an honest day's work. Do not bribe or accept bribes. Do not cheat, deceive or circumvent to achieve an end. Be frank with yourself. Face and accept your faults without blaming them on others.
Yama 9
Be moderate in appetite, neither eating too much nor consuming meat, fish, shellfish, fowl or eggs. Enjoy fresh, wholesome vegetarian foods that vitalize the body. Avoid junk food. Drink in moderation. Eat at regular times, only when hungry, at a moderate pace, never between meals, in a disturbed atmosphere or when upset. Follow a simple diet, avoiding rich or fancy fare.
Yama 10
Uphold the ethic of purity, avoiding impurity in mind, body and speech. Maintain a clean, healthy body. Keep a pure, uncluttered home and workplace. Act virtuously. Keep good company, never mixing with thieves or other impure people. Keep away from pornography and violence. Never use harsh, angered or indecent language. Worship devoutly. Meditate daily.
*** The ten Vedic Restraints ***
Yama 1
Practice noninjury, not harming others by thought, word or deed, even in your dreams. Live a kindly life, revering all beings as expressions of the one divine energy. Let go of fear and insecurity, the sources of abuse. Knowing that harm caused to others unfailingly returns to oneself, live peacefully with God's creation. Never be a source of dread, pain or injury. Follow a vegetarian diet.
Yama 2
Adhere to truthfulness, refraining from lying and betraying promises. Speak only that which is true, kind, helpful and necessary. Knowing that deception creates distance, don't keep secrets from family or loved ones. Be fair, accurate and frank in discussions, a stranger to deceit. Admit your failings. Do not engage in slander, gossip or backbiting. Do not bear false witness against another.
Yama 3
Uphold the virtue of nonstealing, neither thieving, coveting nor failing to repay debt. Control your desires and live within your means. Do not use borrowed resources for unintended purposes or keep them past due. Do not gamble or defraud others. Do not renege on promises. Do not use others' names, words, resources or rights without permission and acknowledgement.
Yama 4
Practice divine conduct, controlling lust by remaining celibate when single and faithful in marriage. Before marriage, use vital energies in study, and after marriage in creating family success. Seek holy company. Dress and speak modestly. Shun pornography, sexual humor and violence.
Yama 5
Exercise patience, restraining intolerance with people and impatience with circumstances. Be agreeable. Let others behave according to their nature, without adjusting to you. Don't argue, dominate conversations or interrupt others. Don't be in a hurry. Be patient with children and the elderly. Minimize stress by keeping worries at bay. Remain poised in good times and bad.
Yama 6
Foster steadfastness, overcoming nonperseverance, fear, indecision and changeableness. Achieve your goals with a prayer, purpose, plan, persistence and push. Be firm in your decisions. Avoid sloth and procrastination. Develop willpower, courage and industriousness. Overcome obstacles. Never carp or complain. Do not let opposition or fear of failure result in changing strategies.
Yama 7
Practice compassion, conquering callous, cruel and insensitive feelings toward all beings. See God everywhere. Be kind to people, animals, plants and the Earth itself. Forgive those who apologize and show true remorse. Foster sympathy for others' needs and suffering. Honor and assist those who are weak, impoverished, aged or in pain. Oppose family abuse and other cruelties.
Yama 8
Maintain honesty, renouncing deception and wrongdoing. Act honorably even in hard times. Obey the laws of your nation and locale. Pay your taxes. Be straightforward in business. Do an honest day's work. Do not bribe or accept bribes. Do not cheat, deceive or circumvent to achieve an end. Be frank with yourself. Face and accept your faults without blaming them on others.
Yama 9
Be moderate in appetite, neither eating too much nor consuming meat, fish, shellfish, fowl or eggs. Enjoy fresh, wholesome vegetarian foods that vitalize the body. Avoid junk food. Drink in moderation. Eat at regular times, only when hungry, at a moderate pace, never between meals, in a disturbed atmosphere or when upset. Follow a simple diet, avoiding rich or fancy fare.
Yama 10
Uphold the ethic of purity, avoiding impurity in mind, body and speech. Maintain a clean, healthy body. Keep a pure, uncluttered home and workplace. Act virtuously. Keep good company, never mixing with thieves or other impure people. Keep away from pornography and violence. Never use harsh, angered or indecent language. Worship devoutly. Meditate daily.
Yoga : Suspension of Mind
Patanjali defines Yoga as the suspension of all the functions of the mind.
Yoga is a science that teaches us the method of joining the individual soul and the Supreme Soul. It is the merging of the individual will with the Cosmic or Universal Will.
Yoga is a science that teaches us the method of joining the individual soul and the Supreme Soul. It is the merging of the individual will with the Cosmic or Universal Will.
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