WHAT IS YOGA?

Yoga means union. Union on many levels. Most people understand this as the union between the body, mind and soul, but the yogic scriptures explain that it is the merging of the individual self with the Cosmic Self.

Every being has an individual consciousness. This individual consciousness makes us feel different and separated from other people, other species, nature, the rest of the world, God, etc. Sometimes while taking a walk in the woods, or under other similar circumstances, you can experience a sense of unity with the environment: the trees, the sky, the moon, etc. This is a little glimpse of the state of yoga. Yoga teaches that there is one supreme reality, an infinite and eternal consciousness. This spirit or consciousness is our true Self.

So yoga denotes a state of consciousness, which is to be achieved; the goal, but also the techniques that help us reach that goal.

THE FOUR PATHS OF YOGA

To better understand this concept, picture the summit of a mountain. The peak of the mountain represents the spiritual goal, self-realization or union. Now imagine there are four people standing on each side of the mountain. To reach the summit, the same destination, each person has to walk in a different direction. Likewise, each of us symbolically stands at a different place spiritually according to our temperament and personality. So each of us needs to take a customized path to the top.

From the explanation above it is easily understood that there truly are as many paths as there are people. Practically speaking, there are a few hundred yogas or practices. They are categorized into four main paths. These paths are:

JNANA YOGA: the path of wisdom and knowledge. The jnani or sage uses his will and power of discrimination to cut through the veil of ignorance and attain the truth. For the jnani the goal is absolute Truth. This path appeals to the philosophical and intellectual temperament.

BHAKTI YOGA: the path of love and devotion. The bhakta or devotee uses the combined energies of all emotions and transmutes them, sublimates them, into the highest of all emotions: prem. Prem is pure, unconditional, divine love. For the bhakta, or devotee, the goal is pure love. The path of bhakti appeals to the emotional temperament.

RAJA YOGA: the path of self-control and self-mastery. The raja yogi controls his mind until it becomes perfectly still, at which time there is no more wall between himself and his own divine nature. The main practice in Raja Yoga is meditation. For the raja yogi the goal is perfect mind control. Raja appeals to the psychological, mystical and scientific temperaments.

Hatha yoga falls under this category (i.e., Raja Yoga). It is the best known and most widely practiced yoga in the West. Hatha yoga aims at controlling the mind through the control of the physical body and the subtle life force called prana.

KARMA YOGA: the path of selfless service. For the karma yogi the main problem is our inherent selfishness based on spiritual ignorance, or avidya. The key is to practice selfless actions without any selfish expectations and, thereby, opening your heart and seeing God in all beings. For the karma yogi the goal is complete selflessness. This path appeals to the active temperament.

THE YOGA of SYNTHESIS

Swami Sivananda (1887-1963) stands as one of the great yoga masters of the 20th century. He is credited for having revived the concept of the yoga of synthesis.

Since every human being has an intellect, a heart, an active nature and a mind, everyone should practice daily a little of each of the four paths of yoga explained above. This will contribute to a harmonious growth of your whole being. Furthermore, you should specialize in and practice more intensely the yoga of your choice – the yoga which feels most natural and which you like the best.

HOW TO PRACTICE

In this series of articles I will always conclude with some easy to follow instructions to allow the reader to put these teachings into practice. As Swami Sivananda said: “An ounce of practice is worth tons of theory.”

So if you would like to change your lifestyle and start being a yogi, try to practice the following every day for the next month and see what happens.

JNANA YOGA: For a few minutes every day think about the part of yourself that has not changed since you were a young child. Every ten or twenty years you can witness a substantial transformation in your physical body, your health, your emotions, your beliefs and more. Yet something deep within is still the same. Try to connect with that unchanging part of yourself.

BHAKTI YOGA: For a few minutes per day do some religious or spiritual chanting. If you know some chants or songs in a tradition you feel comfortable with, that’s great. Otherwise I recommend you use the Krishna Das CD’s available in many stores and on Amazon.com. Also you can contact us at YogaAdvaita.org to acquire the AYA “Sanskrit Mantras” CD and/or kirtan book to follow the words.

RAJA YOGA: Sit down five minutes a day in a cross-legged position. Use a pillow for comfort. Relax your body and face including the eyes. Breathe rhythmically, deeply at first and then more naturally. Just observe the air moving through the nostrils. This will turn your mind inward. If your mind wanders away bring it back to the breath again and again. Whisper a prayer and then get up and resume your life in the outside world.

KARMA YOGA: Dedicate a few minutes every day to perform some good deeds. Try to unselfishly expect nothing whatsoever in return: no money, no praise, no thanks, not even an acknowledgement for your good deeds. Then watch your mind and your reaction as people shower you with gratitude, praise, criticism or ignore you totally. Your mind should be even in any and all circumstances. This is called surrendering the fruits of the action.