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Yoga
and its origin are believed to date back to pre-Aryan times. Yoga is defined as that state of mind in which the individual soul (atman) unites with Brahman, the cosmic soul. The purpose of yoga is the joining of mind and body in order to achieve perfect unity, leading to moksha, the final concentration of the spirit and its ‘escape’ from the cosmos. |
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The
system of yoga, as now known, is attributed to Patanjali who’s Yogasutra
(5th century AD) is still the final authority on the subject.
Today,
the yoga system of training is intellectual as well as moral. Before
beginning training, these 10 virtues are to be cultivated within one:
1.
Non-violence (ahinsa), 2. Speaking the truth (satya), 3. Not stealing (assteya),
4. Celibacy (brahmacharya), 5. Disowning possessions (aparigraha), 6.
Purity (sucha), 7. Contentment (santosha), 8. Fortitude (tapas), 9. Study
(svadhya), 10. Devotion to god (Ishwar-pranidhan).
After
practicing self-control as defined above, the student is ready for the
first of the two stages of yogic training. The preparatory stage consists
of asana (posture), pranayama (breath control) and pratyahara (withdrawal
of senses from their object). The second stage comprises of dharana
(establishment), dhyana (concentration) and samadhi (profound meditation).
Asana,
or sitting down in a particular pose (there are eighty-four poses), is the
beginning of yogic studies. The five most important postures are: Padmasana,
Bhadrasana, Vajrasana, Virasana and Svastikasana. These poses,
most of which need training to achieve, are basis on which a person can
practice meditation. Apart from their spiritual value these postures help
in treating or curing many ailments.
Apart
from Patanjali’s system, other systems have been adopted to yoga. The
most important of these are:
Hatha:
a technique employed by traditional dancers, which results in
extraordinary mind-and-body co-ordination.
Mantra:
the muttering of Mantras in meditation.
Laya:
reintegration of the mind with the cosmic soul by the practice of breath
control.
Bhakti:
reintegration through love and unswerving devotion to a chosen deity.
Jnana
(gyana): reintegration through knowledge.
Karma:
reintegration through action, or doing one’s duty and fulfilling one’s
obligations as a human being to the best of one’s ability.
Raja:
when the yogi loses all sense of self and mental agitation is
stilled. This is the highest form of yoga.
Training
in yoga is a very elaborate process. It involves the practicing of various
postures (which takes the major part of the day), controlling the breath
in a prescribed way, concentration on a deity (sagun) or on infinity (nirgun).
Yoga
also involves a controlled diet. Various texts prescribe the ideal food
for yogis: barley, gruel, milk, buttermilk, fruit, roots, grain, oil cakes
and barley water. In addition to strict dietary control, many yogis
subject themselves to endurance tests. Such a strenuous system of training
helps an ordinary person achieve a balanced mind and body and encourages
spiritual growth.
The
physical and psychological benefits of yoga have made it acceptable not
only to Hindus but to Jains and Buddhists. While true yogis aim for the liberation of the soul, others practice yoga to attain peace or simply to improve their general health. There are many yogic centers to teach such lay students, while advanced spiritual seekers need to find and be accepted by a proper guru.
Here
are two sites to learn more about Yoga postures. http://www.yogasite.com/postures.html#Cobra |
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