Patanjali System Of Yoga
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The
sage Patanjali postulated an eight-fold system of spiritual yogic practice for
achieving the divine goal. It
comprises:
Yam
(Controls)
Niyam
(Rules and regulations)
Asan
(Bodily Postures)
Pranaayam
(Breath Control Exercises)
Pratyahaar
(Sense control)
Dharana
(Concentration)
Dhyaana
(Meditation)
Samadhi
(Mergence)
Yams
(Behavior
Controls)
"Avoid...unrighteous
behavior."
All our behavior should be based on a disciplined approach
when we interact with others. There are five behavioral controls as postulate by
sage Patanjali. These are:
Ahimsa
(Non
– violence)
Satya
(Truthfulness)
Brahmachaarya
(Celibacy)
Asteya
(Non stealing)
Aparigraha
(Non-covetousness) These
five behavior controls have to be followed by the Sadhaka (Yogic practitioner)
with strong dedication and
diligence.
Niyams
(Rules and regulations)
"Follow correct moral
precepts."
All our interactions require a degree of purity,
acceptance and surrender. Sage Patanjali detailed five
‘
Niyams
’
as under:
Maintain cleanliness in body and speech. Be Content with
what you have Perform austerities Study the Scriptures regularly Surrender every
action of yours to the Universal Spirit These five regulations help you to
achieve purity in body and mind, making you morally and spiritually fit to take
up the yogic pathway to
enlightenment.
Asanas
(Body Postures)
"Learn to be
still...in body and mind."
The body is a ‘storehouse’ for
mental and spiritual energy. It must be therefore kept in proper shape through
correct posture. Sage Patanjali advocates a posture, which is comfortable to the
physical body. A cross-legged posture with the spinal cord kept
straight.
Pranayam
(Breath control exercises)
"As you
breathe...so you live."
Breathing affects your mental state.
Likewise your state of mind affects your breathing. For instance, when your mind
is emotionally perturbed you will notice that you breathe faster than normal.
Similarly, after running for a distance, there is rapid breathing, and you will
not be able to concentrate the mind for a while. Sage Patanjali advocates a
deep, slow and rhythmic breathing pattern. The process is as under: Breathe in
deeply for a few seconds Hold the breath for a few seconds Breathe out again for
a few seconds Now wait for a few seconds Repeat this process (from S. No. 1)
again. This type of slow rhythmic breathing gives your mind, a control over the
senses, Simultaneously inducing a feeling of relaxation to the body and
improving mental concentration to a great extent. The effects can be practically
felt, when you practice it regularly, over a period of time.
Pratyahar
(Control of senses)
"Sense control...is
mind control."
Control of senses can be through three ways: Absence of
desire for sense objects. Enjoying sense objects strictly as per scriptural
injunctions. A strong sense of detachment. But according to sage Patanjali, it
is not merely the absence of desire for sense object or mere detachment, but a
complete absence of any awareness of the object itself! So, even though the
object is present, the mind should be firmly fixed to give any attention to the
sense objects.
Dhaaranaa
(Concentration)
"Concentration
is...unbroken contemplation."
When the body, mind and breath are
under control, by following the earlier steps, then you can start fixing your
attention at one place. Different commentaries on Sage Patanjali’s yoga
sutras
advocate different ways of
fixing the gaze. But primarily, for improving your concentration, you should sit
in a quiet place try focussing your gaze on a
jyoti
(light e.g. candle flame) or a suitable object. For improving the
concentration, you should keep bringing the mind back to that object inspite of
its natural tendency to wander away, as soon and as many times as is required
and the ultimate objective is to attain sustained and fixed attention at
will.
Dhyan
(Meditation)
Dhyan is the final step towards samadhi.
Samadhi (Mergence)
"
The only goal...is realisation of your
Self.
" This is the spontaneous final union of the individual soul with
the Oversoul or God or Universal Spirit. The
sadhak
(spiritual practitioner) forgets his individuality and external
environments and gets deeply absorbed into the cosmic wholeness with an
intensity which encompasses his whole being!
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