Streams of Yoga
Gyana Yoga:
The first is the intellectual system in which man employs his
human faculties in a supreme exercise: the realisation of the Truth. This is
known as Jnana Yoga or the Yoga of Intellect. One listens to the expositions of
the nature of God, acquires an understanding of the Reality, then by reflecting
upon it again and again, ultimately, one penetrates into it through the power
of reason in the depths of meditation.
The steps involved here are as follows:
1.
Sravana: The first exposure to knowledge in any form
(reading a book, listening to a lecture, watching a video).
2.
Manana:
Revisiting the knowledge for further understanding.
3.
Nididhyasana:
The phase of contemplation & experimentation.
Bhakti Yoga:
The second system is known as Bhakti Yoga or the Yoga of
Devotion or Love. This is a very sweet path, one which is peculiarly suited and
easily adapted to the emotional temperament. One grows into close relationship
with the Supreme Being by constantly thinking about Him, praying to Him,
worshipping Him, feeling Him close, so close that one naturally walks with Him,
talks with Him, lives, moves and has one's being in Him. A link is set up
whereby pure love is directed to God. In this exercise, the human being becomes
totally integrated. There are 9 form of Bhaktis: Sravanam,
Kirtanam, Smaranam,
Padasevanam, Archanam, Vandanam,
Dasyam, Sakhyam, Atmanivedanam.
Karma Yoga:
In the third system, all phases of life's activities are
dedicated to God. On an unselfish basis, man's duties are thus integrated. This
is known as Karma Yoga or the Yoga of selfless service. The prime and crucial
act in this system is the shedding of the ego. When the personal ego is
completely abnegated, all creatures upon earth are clearly apprehended as
visible manifestations of God, as moving temples in which the Divine is
enshrined. The service of others then becomes natural and easy, and every act
is performed not as a secular act, but as an act of worship. Engaged in the
transmutation of dynamism into divine realisation, one may do his worship
everywhere. The teacher in the school, the doctor in the hospital, the farmer
in the field, the businessman in the stock-exchange, everyone engaged in
professional activity, can transmute his dynamism into pure devotion by
adopting a humble and worshipful inner attitude.
Actions are categorized as:
1.
Tamasik: If they are binding, deteriorating, violent
and is a result of state of delusion and confusion.
2.
Rajasik:
When performed with craving for desires, with egoism and a lot of effort.
3.
Sattvik:
When it is free from attachment and done without love or hatred.
The essence of karma yoga is to convert kamya karma (action with
desires) into yogic karma by inculcating detachment and committing one's energy
to unceasing work.
Raja Yoga:
In the fourth system, man is employed in a very special
process in which all thought is made to merge in God. One becomes more and more
aware of God as the Centre of being. This is a very beautiful path also. It is
known as Raja Yoga or the Yoga of Concentration and Meditation. Thought is
movement of the mind-stuff. Movement of the mind-stuff is produced by motion of
the vital-life, force within called Prana and by movement of the body. Thus,
thought, Prana and the body are all interconnected. Total subdual and control
of the body may be brought about by keeping it in a fixed and steady posture.
Subdual and control of the inner psychic energy may be obtained by practising
techniques of breath-control. And ultimately, all the scattered rays of the
mind may be withdrawn from the multifarious universe and made to concentrate
solely upon the one idea of God. In this culminating process, man is raised
above the level of the mind, taken into a state of superconsciousness in which
the experience of oneness with God is realised, and he is released forever from
the bondage to the body and from death itself. There are many heartening signs
that this Yoga is being considered by many seekers in the West to be the most
suitable method for the solution of the perplexing problems of their
civilisation.
According to Patanjali’s yoga sutra, yoga is practiced to
gain mastery over the mind. There are two types of practices under raja yoga:
1.
Bahiranga Yoga offers rules and regulations at the
behavioral level (yama and niyama) as well as physical practices to gain better
control over the body and the mind (asanas and pranayama).
2. Antaranga Yoga comprises of dharana (concentration),
dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (consciousness – which deals directly with the
mind).
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