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Description
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| Essence of Maharishi Patanjali''s Ashtang Yoga |
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Author : J. M. Mehta
Language : English
ISBN : 81-223-0921-6
Pages : 90
Description : In the present day world, Yoga is being propagated as a combination of physical and breathing exercises (Asana and Pranayam).
* But Ashtang Yogais much more than that. It is a comprehensive yogic discipline which includes physical, mental and spiritual aspects.
* This book mainly deals with Ashtang Yogafounded by Maharishi Patanjali, the author of Yoga Darsan or Yoga Sutra.
* Besides, treating the subject of Yoga in a general manner, the book briefly explains the eight partsof the ancient yogic discipline, which consist of:
1) Yamas and Niyamas (moral and social conduct)
2) Asana (physical postures)
3) Pranayam (regulation of breath),
4) Pratyahara (withdrawal of senses)
5) Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi (inner yogic discipline).
* ’Ashtang`, in fact, means eight limbs or parts, hence the name,Ashtang Yoga.
* The emphasis of this Yoga is on the inner and intangible disciplinewhich leads to the perfection or liberation of the soul
...and this alone is the highest or the ultimate goal of human life.
About the author:
* The author, J. M. Mehta is a student of Yoga and its practitioner for several years.
* He has tried his best to compile information on the various aspects of the discipline of Yoga in this small book.
* He feels that as one grows into life, one tries to search for somethingand the author has felt that his search has ended in Yoga.
* In fact, the author has tried to incorporate the results of his search, i.e., Yoga and the various parts of Yoga in the book, Essence of Maharishi Patanjalis Ashtang Yoga.
The Wisdom of the Gitais also one of his popular books published by Pustak Mahal.
CONTENTS
• Preface
• An Introduction to Yoga
• What is Yoga?
• Yoga as Defined in the Gita
• Karma Yoga [Path of Action]
• Selfless Action (Nishkam Karma)
• Path of Knowledge (Gyan Yoga)
• Bhakti Yoga or Path of Devotion
• Synthesis of Yoga
• Yoga under Different Names
• Ashtang Yoga or Eight Fold Path of Yoga
• Satya (Truth)
• Asteya (Non-stealing)
• Brahmacharya (Celibacy)
• Aparigraha (Non-greed or non-accumulation of material objects)
• Niyamas
• Asana
• Pranayam (Regulation of Breath)
• Dharana
• Pratyahara (Withdrawal of Senses)
• Dhyana
• Samadhi
• The Aim and Benefits of Yoga Discipline
• Obstacles in the Path of Yoga
• Some Helpful Hints for Yoga Practice
• Epilogue
AN EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK IS AS FOLLOWS:
What is Yoga?
The correct word is ‘Yog’ as in ‘Lok’ (of Lok Sabha) or Yoke. It has become a common practice to add ‘a’ to make it Yoga- which has now become prevalent and is in popular use. The word, Yog is derived from its Sanskrit root, Yuj which means to bind or join or to unite or forge a union. Yog or Yoga,
therefore, implies the union of individual soul with the supreme soul.
In simple words, Yoga means experience of the Supreme or God.
Yoga, in reality is not merely a set of physical postures or breathing
exercises for good health and body fitness. It is a spiritual
discipline, a process of transforming life through life. Yoga is that
stage in which the mind, body and senses are under complete control of
the Self which is established in God. It is a stage of self-mastery and total bliss.
It is also the stage of total renunciation but this does not mean
retirement from the world. One does not necessarily have to go to a
forest or a mountain, in order to learn Yoga. Escape from life is not
the aim of life; it is rather the fulfilment or achievement of its
perfection. It involves an entire change of attitude towards the
external world. It is a state of stable intelligence, where the mind is
undisturbed. Actually, it is a stage of thoughtlessness (a free mind),
when the individual’s soul is altered to God.
Yoga involves a harmonious development of the body and mind and is a conscious and constant effort towards perfection or self-realisation. It is the stage where one realises his/her true identity which is different from the material body. In short, Yoga is the clearest path forGod-realisation—which is the ultimate aim of human life.
The Gita has explanied the concept of Yoga in a comprehensive manner
and we shall deal with these in separate chapters. However, some
prominent views on Yoga as expressed by a few saints and enlightened
persons are quoted below.
According to Maharishi Patanjali, Yoga is the control of the activities of the mind. He is the founder of Ashtang Yoga—which is a spiritual discipline consisting of like parts or steps. Here is another of his famous work, known as Yog Darshan or Yog Sutra which explains different parts of his Eight-fold Yoga System.
Maharishi Ved Vyas, who is believed to be the author of the Gita, describes Yoga as Samadhi which
implies the final stage of meditation in which the individual soul
experiences the Divine or God. In this state, the meditator attains
Ananda or supreme happiness, i.e., bliss and freedom from pain and
misery.
According to the Jain view, Yoga helps to attain Moksha (salvation)—which means freedom from birth and death.
Maharishi Arvind says that Yoga achieves unity with the Supreme.
It is the realisation of one’s own divine nature or divine
consciousness. He goes on to say that “All life is Yoga”, wherein we
can gradually build the presence of God in and around us. However, the
real credit of codifying the contents of Yoga goes to Maharishi
Patanjali. It is his exposition of Yoga which is also known as Patanjal
Yoga. It defines Yoga as the control of the activity of the mind and is
perhaps, the most specific definition. We shall deal with this topic in
a separate chapter titled Ashtang Yoga.
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