The core of Patanjali’s Yoga
Sutra is an eight-limbed path that forms the structural framework for yoga practice. Upon practicing all eight limbs of the path it becomes self-evident
that no one element is elevated over another in a hierarchical order. Each is
part of a holistic focus which eventually brings completeness to the individual
as they find their connectivity to the divine. Because we are all uniquely
individual a person can emphasize one branch and then move on to another as
they round out their understanding.
In brief the eight limbs, or steps to yoga, are as follows:
1.
Yama
: Universal morality
2.
Niyama
: Personal observances
3.
Asanas
: Body postures
4.
Pranayama
: Breathing exercises, and control of
prana
5.
Pratyahara
: Control of the senses
6.
Dharana
: Concentration and cultivating inner
perceptual awareness
7.
Dhyana
: Devotion, Meditation on the Divine
8.
Samadhi
: Union with the Divine
I. Yamas (Universal Morality)
Ahimsa – Compassion for all living things The word ahimsa literally mean not to injure or show cruelty to any
creature or any person in any way whatsoever Ahimsa implies that in every
situation we should adopt a considerate attitude and do no harm. Satya – Commitment to Truthfulness :Satya means "to speak the truth," yet it is not always
desirable to speak the truth on all occasions, for it could harm someone
unnecessarily.. Satya should never come into conflict with our efforts to behave with ahimsa. This precept is based on the understanding that honest
communication and action form the bedrock of any healthy relationship,
community, or government, and that deliberate deception, exaggerations, and
mistruths harm others.
Asteya - Non-stealing :Steya means "to steal"; asteya is the opposite-to take
nothing that does not belong to us.Non-stealing includes not only taking what
belongs to another without permission, but also using something for a different
purpose to that intended, or beyond the time permitted by its owner
Brahmacharya - Sense control :Brahmacharya is used mostly in the sense of abstinence, particularly in
relationship to sexual activity. Practicing brahmacharya means that we use our
sexual energy to regenerate our connection to our spiritual self. It also means
that we don’t use this energy in any way that might harm others.
Aparigraha - Neutralizing the desire to
acquire and hoard wealth :Aparigraha means to take only what is necessary, and not to take
advantage of a situation or act greedy. We should only take what we have
earned; if we take more, we are exploiting someone else. Aparigraha also
implies letting go of our attachments to things and an understanding that impermanence and change are the only constants.
Niyama
means "rules" or "laws." These are the rules
prescribed for personal observance.Like
the yamas,the five niyamas are not exercises or actions to be simply studied.
They
represent
far more than an attitude.Compared with the yamas, the niyamas are more
intimate and
personal. They refer to the attitude we adopt toward ourselves as we create a code for
living soulfully
Sauca - Purity
The first niyama is sauca, meaning purity and
cleanliness. Sauca has both an inner and an outer aspect.
Outer cleanliness simply means keeping ourselves clean. Inner cleanliness has as
much to do with the healthy, free functioning of our bodily organs as with the clarity of our
mind.
Santosa - Contentment
Another
niyama is santosa, modesty and the feeling of being content with what we have. To be at peace within and content
with one's lifestyle finding contentment even while experiencing life’s difficulties for
life becomes a process of growth through all kinds of circumstances.
Tapas – Disciplined use of our energy
Tapas refers to the
activity of keeping the body fit or to confront and handle the inner urges without outer show. Literally
it means to heat the body and, by so doing, to cleanse Attention to body posture,
attention to eating habits, attention to breathing patterns – it’
these are all tapas.
Svadhyaya – Self study The fourth niyama is svadhyaya. Sva
means "self' adhyaya means "inquiry" of"examination". Any activity
that cultivates self-reflective consciousness can be considered svadhyaya. It means to intentionally
find self- awareness in all our activities and efforts even to the point of welcoming and
accepting our limitations.
Isvarapranidhana - Celebration of the
Spiritual
Isvarapranidhana means
"to lay all your actions at the feet of God." It is the contemplation
on God (Isvara) in order to become
attuned to god and god's will. It is the recognition that the spiritual suffuses everything and
through our attention and care we can attune ourselves with our role as part of the
Creator.
III. Asanas (Body postures)
Asana is the practice of physical
postures. It is the most commonly known aspect of yoga for those unfamiliar with the other
seven limbs of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra. The practice of
moving the body into postures has widespread
benefits; of these the most underlying are improved health, strength, balance
and flexibility.
IV. Pranayama (Breath
Control)
Pranayama is the measuring,
control, and directing of the breath. Pranayama controls the energy (prana) within the organism,
in order to restore and maintain health and to promote evolution. Pranayama, or breathing
technique, is very important in yoga. It goes hand in
with the asana or pose. In the Yoga
Sutra, the practices of pranayama and asana are hand considered to be the highest form of
purification and self discipline for the mind and the body, respectively.
Pratyahara means
drawing back or retreat. The word ahara means "nourishment"; pratyahara translates as
"to withdraw oneself from that which nourishes the senses." In yoga, the term pratyahara
implies withdrawal of the senses from attachment to external objects. It can then be seen as
the practice of non-attachment to sensorial distractions as
we
constantly return to the path of self realization and achievement of internal
peace.
VI. Dharana (Concentration
and cultivating inner perceptual awareness)
Dharana means "immovable
concentration of the mind". The essential idea is to hold the concentration or focus of attention in one
direction. "When the body has beentempered by asanas, when the mind has been
refined by the fire of pranayama andwhen the senses have been brought under control by
pratyahara, the sadhaka (seeker)reaches the sixth stage, dharana. Here he is
concentrated wholly on a single point or on a task in which he is completely engrossed.
VII. Dhyana (Devotion ,
Meditation on the Divine)
Dhyana means worship, or
profound and abstract religious meditation. It is perfect contemplation. It involves
concentration upon a point of focus with the intention of knowing the truth about it. The
concept holds that when one focuses their mind in concentration on an object the
mind is transformed into the shape of the object.
VIII.
Samadhi (Union with the Divine
The final step in the eight-fold
path of Yoga is the attainment of Samadhi. Samadhi means "to bring together,
to merge." In the state of samadhi the body and senses are at rest, as if asleep, yet the
faculty of mind and reason are alert, as if awake; one goes beyond consciousness Thus, samadhi refers to
union or true Yoga. There is an ending to the separation that is
created by the "I" and "mine" of our illusory perceptions
of reality. The mind does not
distinguish between self and non-self, or between the object contemplated and the
process of contemplation.
The achievement of samadhi is
a difficult task. For this reason the Yoga Sutra suggests the practice of
asanas and pranayama as preparation for dharana, because these influence mental
activities and create space in the crowded schedule of the mind. Once dharana has
occurred, dhyana and samadhi can follow.These eight steps of yoga
indicate a logical pathway that leads to the attainment of physical, ethical,
emotional, and psycho-spiritual health. Yoga does not seek to change the individual;
rather, it allows the natural state of total health and integration in each of us
to become a reality.
Sources:
HolisticOnLine http://www.holisticonline.com/Yoga/hol_yoga_home.htm
Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit, by Donna
Farhi
Light On Yoga, by B.K.S. Iyengar
Yoga Mind & Body, Sivananda Yoga
Vedanta Center
The Essence of Yoga,
Reflections on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, by Bernard Bouanchaud
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