YAMA, NIYAMA AND ASANA (YOGA)

                       THE THREE  LIMBS OF YOGA

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                       YAMA, NIYAMA, AND  ASANA 

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                          💟 YAMA 💟

                                   THE FIRST LIMB, YAMA, DEALS WITH ONE'S ETHICAL STANDARDS AND SENSE O INTEGRITY, FOCUSING ON OUR BEHAVIOR AND HOW WE CONDUCT OURSELVES IN LIFE. BEING IN THE FIRST LIMB OF YOGA, THE FIVE YAMAS ARE THE FOUNDATION OF SPIRITUAL LIFE ON WHICH THE SUPER-STRUCTURE OF SAMADHI IS BUILT. FOLLOWING THE YAMAS MEANS STICKING TO IDEALS AND PRINCIPLES. IT IS ABOUT DEVELOPMENT OF POSITIVE TRAITS THAT WILL TRANSFORM THE HUMAN NATURE INTO A DIVINE NATURE AND ANNIHILATE CRAVINGS AND NEGATIVE QUALITIES. WHEN THE YAMAS ARE TRULY PRACTISED, THE HEART IS FILLED WITH COSMIC LOVE, GOODNESS AND LIGHT. 

                                 THERE ARE FIVE YAMAS IN YOGA-

•          AHIMSA

•          SATYA

•           ASTEYA 

•          BRAHMACHARYA

•         APARIGRAHA      

                      HUMAN MIND IS UNSTABLE. IT CHANGES WITH A FLICK OF A SECOND. THE INTENTION BEHIND"YAMA YOGA" IS TO EMBRACE THE JOY OF LIFE AND GIVE A MEANINFUL DIRECTION TO LIFE. HUMAN BEINGS HOLD ONLY LIMITED AMOUNT OF ENERGY WITHIN. WITH AGE, THIS ENERGY STARTS DRAINING. THE MAIN AIM OF YOGA IS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS ACCUMULATE THIS ENERGY AND TO BE ABLE TO USE IT FOR MEANINGFUL PURPOSES.

                     💟 NIYAMA 💟

                       NIYAMA, THE SECOND LIMB, HAS TO DO WITH SELF-DISCIPLINE AND SPIRITUAL OBSERVANCES. THE FIVE NIYAMAS OR RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES AND HABITS FOR A HEALTHY LIVING INCLUDE :

1. SAUCHA: CLEANLINESS
2.  SAMTOSA : CONTENTMENT
3.  TAPAS : HEAT, SPIRITUAL AUSTERITIES
4.  SVADHYAYA : STUDY OF THE SACRED SCRIPTURES AND OF ONE'S SELF
5.  ISWARA PRANIDHANA : SURRENDER TO GOD

                     NIYAMA IS A REFLECTION OF ONE'S OWN PERSONALITY. FOLLOWING THESE IMPACTS A SENSE OF PURITY AND DIVINITY  WITHIN AN INDIVIDUAL, IT INDICATES A LIFESTYLE THAT IS ORGANIZED WELL AND DISCIPLINED.

                  💟 ASANA 💟

                    ASANAS, THE POSTURES PRACTICED IN YOGA, COMPRISE THE THIRD LIMB. IN THE YOGIC VIEW, THE BODY IS A TEMPLE OF SPIRIT, THE CARE OF WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT STAGE OF OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH, THROUGH THE PRACTICE OF ASANAS, WE DEVELOP THE HABIT OF DISCIPLINE AND THE ABILITY TO CONCENTRATE, BOTH OF WHICH ARE NECESSARY FOR MEDITATION.

                         THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS AWARE OF THIS LIMB OF YOGA. MOST PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT FOLLOWING SPECIFIC POSTURES BY BENDING/ TWISTING/TURNING BODY IS "ASANA" . IRONICALLY, NONE OF THESE ARE MENTIONED AS A PART OF ASANAS BY PATANJALI IN YOGA SUTRA. PATANJALI'S BASIC ADVICE IN YOGA SUTRA IS PRETTY SIMPLE STHIRA SUKHAM ASANAM (ASANA SHOULD BE STEADY AND STAY COMFORTABLE). IT MEANS THAT ANYTHING THAT KEEPS YOU STABLE AND STAY COMFORTABLE IS ASANA. IN ORDER TO EXPERIENCE MAXIMUM BENEFITS OF THIS THIRD LIMB OF YOGA, ONE MUST PRACTICE AND FOLLOW THE FIRST TWO LIMBS (YAMA, NIYAMA).  EARLY TEXTS HAVE MENTIONED THAT PRACTISING OF ASANAS IN PERFECT ORDER IS SCIENCE. EXPERIEMENTS AND RESEARCH BY SCIENTISTS HAVE PROVED THAT PRACTICE OF ASANAS HAVE POSITIVE EFFECT ON HUMAN BODY.

                     RESEARCHERS AND SCIENTISTS HAVE STUDIED HUMAN BODY AND ITS BEHAVIOUR CLOSELY. THE EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED HAVE REVEALED THE HUMAN MIND REACTS DIFFERENTLY IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS SUCH AS WHILE STANDING ERECT, SEATED, LYING, STRAIGHT, LYING ON THE BACK, ETC. STABILITY OF MIND WAS OBSERVED CLOSELY AND  THE RESULTS REVEALED DIFFERENT LEVELS FOR DIFFERENT POSTURES. HUMAN MIND IS AT ITS MOST UNSTABLE STATE WHILE STANDING ERECT.

                     MANY SCIENTIST HAVE ALSO REVEALED THAT FORCE OF GRAVITY HAS A MAJOR EFFECT ON HUMAN BODY. VARIOUS STUDIES ON PYRAMID HAS REVEALED THAT THE SHAPE OF THE PYRAMID IS AN AMPLIFIED-RECEIVER OR RESONATOR OF VERIOUS KINDS OF ENERGY FIELDS SUCH AS COSMIC RAYS, ELECTRO-MAGNETIC WAVES, ELECTRICAL DISCHARGES, GRAVITATIONAL WAVES, ETC. THE ENERGY RECEIVED INSIDE THE PYRAMID INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER. THE SHAPE OF  A PYRAMID IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF A TEMPLE (BROADER AT THE BOTTOM AND NARROW ON TOP). THE ASANAS COMPRISING OF DHYANA YOGA - SUKHASANA, PADMASANA, SIDDHASANA ETC. ALSO MAKE UP FOR A PYRAMID STRUCTURE. THESE ARE BROADER ON BOTTOM AND GET NARROWER AS THEY MOVE UPWARDS. THE SCIENTISTS HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THESE POSES WORK TOWARDS PROMOTING MENTAL STABILITY AND KEEP NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF FORCE OF GRAVITY ON BODY.

THE EIGHT LIGHT WAYS OF YOGA !

 

                            THE SCIENTIFIC BASIS

                                         OF YOGA

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                                  YOGA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION. MANY MYTHS AND SPECULATIONS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH YOGA SINCE AGES. ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS BEHIND THIS IS INCOMPLETE KNOWLEDGE OR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AMONG PEOPLE ABOUT YOGA. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN YOGA WAS CLASSIFIED AS A MIRACULOUS TECHNIQUE INVOLVING PRACTICES SUCH AS WALKING ON BROKEN PIECES OF GLASS, FIRE, BREAKING IRON CHAIRS, BURYING ONESELF ALIVE IN THE GROUND, EXTINGUISHING FIRE WITH BARE HANDS, ETC. HOWEVER, THESE WERE JUST SUPERSTITIONS SPREAD BY PEOPLE DUE TO LACK OF KNOWLEDGE. THIS IS NOT ALL. YOGA WAS ALSO CONSIDERED AS A FORM OF PHYSICAL EXPERIMENT MEANT ONLY FOR SAGES. SO, THERE WERE LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS FOR YOGA.

                          THANKFULLY, GREAT MEN OF INDIA LIKE SWAMI VIVEKANANDHA, SWAMI KUVALYANANDA, SWAMI SHIVANANDA, MAHARISHI YOGI, ACHARYA SHRI RAJNEESH, DR.ISHWAR BHARADWAJ (PROF. AND HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF YOGA, GURUKUL KANGRI UNIVERSITY), MORARJI DESAI YOGA INSTITUTE DELHI, BABA RAMDEV ETC. HAVE BUSTED ALL THE MYTHS ASOCIATED WITH YOGA. THESE AMAZING PERSONALITIES HAVE ALSO REVEALED THAT ALL OF THE SPECULATIONS AND SUPERSTITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH YOGA ARE ABSOLUTELY WRONG. THEY HAVE MADE DEDICATED EFFORTS TO ENLIGHTEN PEOPLE ABOUT THE HOLISTIC EFFECTS OF YOGA, TODAY, PEOPLE ARE MORE AWARE OF YOGA AND ITS BENEFITS.

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                        UNDERSTANDING THE SCIENTIFIC CONNECTION OF YOGA WILL HELP ONE ACHIEVE ITS TRUE BENEFITS. IN INDIA, THE KNOWLEDGE OF YOGA AMONG PEOPLE IS RESTRICTED TO CERTAIN ASANAS AND A SET OF PRANAYAMA. THE MODERN AGE HAS EMERGED AS A PARAGON FOR ADVANCED HEALTHCARE, MEDICINES AND RESEARCH. RECENT STUDIES AND RESEARCH HAVE PROVED THAT YOGA CAN CURE MANY DISEASES. HOWEVER, YOGA IS NOT JUST ABOUT STAYING HEALTHY AND ENJOYING A DISEASE FREE LIFE. YOGA CAN BE INTEGRATED TO ONE'S  LIFESTYLE AS A COMPLIMENTARY THERAPY. AFTER ALL, EACH TYPE OF HEALTH THERAPY AND TREATMENT METHOD HAS ITS OWN VALUE. THE TRUE GOAL OF YOGA IS TO FACILITIATE CONNECTION WITH THE ALMIGHTY AND FREEING ONESELF FROM THE CHAIN OF DEPRESSION.

                             

                             YOGA - A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH

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                           DIFFERENT STYLES AND TYPES OF YOGA ARE PREVALENT AMONG PEOPLE THESE DAYS. SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR ONES INCLUDE:

•                JNANA YOGA

•                KARMA YOGA

•                SANYAS YOGA

•                HATHA YOGA

•                MANTRA YOGA

•                TANTRA YOGA

•                KUNDALINI YOGA

•               BHAKTI YOGA

                            NOW THE QUESTION THAT ARISES IS WHICH OF THE ABOVE LISTED CAN BE CATEGORISED AS SCIENTIFIC APPROACH OF YOGA?

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                         A NUMBER OF LITERARY WORKS BELONGING TO THE ANCIENT AGE HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED IN THIS RESPECT INCLUDING "GORAKHSASHATAK" AND "SIVA SAMHITA". THESE LITERARY TREASURES EXPOSES THE POWER OF YOGA, THE COMPLEX PHYSIOLOGY, DIFFERENT ASANAS, ABSTRACT YOGIC PHILOSOPHY, MUDRAS, AND A LOT MORE. "RAJA YOGA" IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OF ALL YOGIC PHILOSOPHIES MENTIONED IN THESE ANCIENT BOOKS AS IT IS INCLUSIVE OF ALL YOGAS, AND ITS PHILOSOPHY GOES BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE MANY SYLES OF YOGA TODAY. "RAJA YOGA" IS ANOTHER NAME FOR MAHARISHI PATANJALI'S "ASTANGA YOGA".

                              MAHARISHI PATANJALI IS OFTEN REGARDED AN INNOVATOR OR PIONEER OF "YOGA DARSHAN". "PATANJALI SUTRA" OR "YOGA SUTRA" IS THE PRINCIPLE ANCIENT INDIAN TEXT COMPOSED AND COMPILED BY MAHARISHI PATANJALI. "ASHATANGA YOGA" IS A COMBINATION OF TWO DIFFERENT TERMS IN SANSRIT  "AHTA" (MEANING EIGHT) AND "ANG" (LIMB) . TOGETHER , THE TERM MEANS, "YOGA THAT COMPRISES OF 8 DIFFERENT LIMBS (BRANCHES) . THE EIGHT LIMBS OF "ASHTANGA YOGA" INCLUDE:

•     YAMA

•      NIYAMA

•     ASANA

•    PRANAYAMA

•    PRATYAHARA

•   DHARANA

•   DHYANA

•   SAMADHI                   

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                          THE ABOVE LISTED 8 LIMBS OF YOGA TOGETHER MAKES FOR THE COMPLETE SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION OF YOGA. FOLLOWING AND PRACTICING THESE BRANCHES IN ORDER AND RIGHT WAY EXPLAINS YOGIC SCIENCE. ALL LIMBS OF "ASHTANGA YOGA" ARE CO-RELATED. THESE EIGHT STEPS BASICALLY ACT AS GUIDELINES ON HOW TO LIVE A MEANINGFUL AND PURPOSEFUL LIFE. THEY SERVE AS A PRESCRIPTION FOR MORAL AND ETHICAL CONDUCT AND SELF-DISCIPLINE, THEY DIRECT ATTENTION TOWRD ONE'S HEALTH, AND THEY HELP US TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF OUR NATURE. MOST PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD HAVE INTEGRATED THIRD AND FOURTH LIMB INTO THEIR LIVES. HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ONE FOLLOWS "ASHTANGA YOGA" AS A COMPLETE YOGA PRACTICE ACCORDING TO THE ORDER MENTIONED BY YOGA GURUS TO BE ABLE TO REAP MAXIMUM BENEFITS OUT OF THE REGIME.

JNANA YOGA, BHAKTI YOGA AND KARMA YOGA

                           THE THREE TYPES OF YOGA

                              JNANA YOGA, BHAKTI YOGA, AND KARMA YOGA

                                      JNANA YOGA

                               JNANA YOGA IS THE YOGA OF TRUE KNOWLEDGE. IT AIMS AT THE REALIZATION OF THE ONENESS OF THE INDIVIDUAL SELF AND THE ULTIMATE SELF. USE OF ONE'S INTELLECT TO REALIZE THE ULTIMATE POWER, TRUTH, AND ESSENCE AND REACH TO A DECISION ONLY AFTER APPLYING THE FACTS IS PRECISELY WHAT CULMINATES INTO JNANA YOGA PRACTICE. HERE, THE YOGI EMPHASISES ON KNOWING A SPECIFIC THING THAN ADOPTING. FOR A YOGI, THE TRUTH IS ONLY THE KNOWLEDGE HE ACQUIRES AND EXPERIENCES HE GAINS. THE KNOWLEDGE OF A GYANI CAN BE CATEGARISED INTO TWO TYPES - TAKE OFF ONE'S ATTENTION FROM SOMETHING THAT IS NOT "HIM OR A REFLECTION OF WHO "HE" AND REALIZING / BEING DETERMINED TO GET SOMETHING THAT "HE" IS - THE ONE AND ONLY SACHIDANANDA PARMATMA. JNANA YOGA IS NOT TECHNIQUE TO LEAVE OR RENOUNCE THE WORLD BUT STAYING DETACHED LIVING IN THIS WORLD. GYANA YOGA FAVOUS USING WISDOM.

                          THOSE WHO SEE WITH EYES OF KNOWLEDGE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE KNOWER OF THE BODY, AND CAN ALSO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS OF LIBERATION FROM BONDAGE IN MATERIAL NATURE, ATTAIN TO THE SUPREME GOAL. GYANA HAS TO DO WITH KNOWING BY EXPERIENCING . IT IS UNIQUE TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND NOT REPRODUCIBLE ALWAYS. KNOWLEDGE THAT ALSO CENTERS THE INDIVIDUAL IS GYAN YOGA. THE YOGA LOOKS INTO THE TRUTH ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING. THE FULL REALIZATION OF THIS TRUTH BRINGS ENLIGHTENMENT. IT OFFERS A DIRECT ROAD TO ENLIGHTEMENT IF FOLLOWED FULLY.

                               BHAKTI YOGA

                              FOR THOSE WHO ARE MOST EMOTIONAL AND SENSITIVE, BHAKTI YOGA IS RECOMMENDED. IT IS THE PATH OF DEVOTION, THE METHOD OF ATTAINING GOD THROUGH LOVE AND THE LOVING RECOLLECTION OF GOD. MOST RELIGIONS EMPHASIZE THIS SPIRITUAL PATH BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST NATURAL. AS WITH OTHER YOGAS, THE GOAL OF THE BHAKTA, THE DEVOTEE OF GOD, IS TO ATTAIN GOD-REALIZATION - ONENESS WITH THE DIVINE.

                            BHAKTI YOGA IS ONE OF THE TYPES OF YOGA MENTIONED IN THE ANCIENT INDIAN SCRIPTS WHICH DENOTES THE SPIRITUAL PRACTICE OF LOVINGLY DEVOTING ONESELF TO A PERSON FORM OF GOD. BHAKTI IS A SANSRIT TERM FOR DEVOTION. ACTUALLY, BHAKTI YOGA IS THE SCIENCE OF EXTREME LOVE.

                      IN DEVOTION, ONE CAN EXPERIENCE TOTAL FREEDOM FROM FEAR AND WORRY. A DEVOTEE TRANSCENDS WORLDLY SORROWS AND PAINS. A TRUE DEVOTEE HAS NO SELFISH DESIRES, INCLUDING THE DESIRE FOR LIBERATION. DEVOTION IN ONE'S HEART IS KINDED BY THE GRACE BY THE GRACE OF THE GURU, BY BEING IN THE COMPANY OF OTHER DEVOTEES AND BY READING AND LISTENING TO THE STORIES OF OTHER DEVOTEES.

                       THE BENEFITS OF BHATI YOGA ARE IMMENSE, AS SWAMI SIVANANDA WRITES, "BHAKTI SOFTENS THE HEART AND REMOVES JEALOUSY, HATRED, LUST, ANGER, EGOISM, PRIDE AND ARROGANCE. IT INFUSES JOY, DIVINE ECSTASY, BLISS, PEACE AND KNOWLEDGE. ALL CARES, WORRIES AND ANXIETIES, FEARS, MENTAL TORMENTS AND TRIBULATIONS ENTIRELY GET VANISHED. THE DEVOTEES IS FREED FROM THE CYCLE OF REBIRTHS AND DEATHS. HE ATTAINS THE IMMORTAL ABODE OF EVERLASTING PEACE, BLISS AND KNOWLEDGE".

                           THE ULTIMATE GOAL IN THE PRACTICE OF BHAKTI YOGA IS TO REACH THE STATE OF RASA (ESSENSE) A FEELING OF PURE BLISS ACHIEVED IN THE DEVOTIONAL SURRENDER TO THE DIVINE.

                               KARMA YOGA

                                   KARMA YOGA IS THE PATH OF "ACTION", PUTTING IN 100 PERCENT EFFORT, WITHOUT BEING ATTACHED TO THE OUTCOME. KARMA YOGA CAN BE APPLIED TO EVERYTHING YOU DO, FROM THE MOST TRIVIAL, ORDINARY TASKS TO GREATER, MORE CHALLENGING WORKS. WHEN ACTION IS PERFORMED SELFLESSLY, WITH FULL FOCUS AND ATTENTION, IT BRINGS FULLFILLMENT AND FREEDOM. ACTING WITHOUT BEING ATTACHED TO THE FRUITS OF ONE'S DEEDS - THIS ALONE CAN LEAD TO UNION WITH THE SELF, WHICH IS THE GOAL OF YOGA.

                        YOGI IS A HOUSEHOLDER, HE WILL ACCEPT THAT ROLE AS MUCH AS HE WOULD ACCEPT THE ROLE OF A SERVANT TO ANY IN NEED, WITHOUT SEEKING ANY REMUNERATION IN THE SHAPE OF WEALTH, SATISFACTION, NAME OR FAME.

                         KARMA MEANS ACTION, INCLUDING ALL ACTS DONE BY THE INDIVIDUAL FROM BIRTH TO DEATH.

                         KARMA PERFORMED BY RIGHT MEANS DOES NOT HARM ANYBODY AND IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF DHARMA. THAT IS KARMA YOGA. TO DROP THE DOER FROM THE ACTION IS KARMA YOGAM. TO SEE ONESELF AS A MERE TOOL OF THE DIVINE AND TO OFFER THE FRUIT OF OUR ACTIONS TO THE DIVINE, IS KARMA YOGA. KARMA YOGA IS AN EXPRESSON OF DIVINE LOVE, OF THE UNITY OF EVERYTHING THAT IS YOGA. KARMA YOGA MEANS TO HELP, HEAL, AND SHARE.

                        DOING SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU WITH TOTAL INVOLVEMENT IS WHAT BREAKS THE KARMIC STRUCTURE. KARMA MEANS ACTION. IF ACTION HAS TO BECOME YOGA, ACTION SHOULD BE LIBERATING. IF YOUR ACTIVITY HAS BECOME A PROCESS OF BINDING YOURSELF, IT IS KARMA. SO THE QUESTION IS NOT ABOUT HOW MUCH ACTIVITY YOU DO. HOW YOU ARE PERFORMING THE ACTIVITY IS WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE. IF YOU ARE DANCING THROUGH YOUR WORK, THAT IS KARMA YOGA. EVEN HE ACCEPTS HIS FAILURES TOO, BECAUSE HE LEARNS A LOT FROM THEM.

MANTRA YOGA, HATHA YOGA AND THE RAJA YOGA

 

                               THE DIFFERENT TYPES

                                              OF YOGA

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                        MANTRA YOGA, HATHA YOGA,

                                      AND RAJA YOGA

  

                                   MANTRA YOGA

                               MANTRA YOGA IS A TYPE OF YOGA THAT USES MANTRAS TO AWAKEN THE SELF AND DEEPEN THE MEDIATIVE ASPECTS OF A PHYSICAL YOGA PRACTISE. MANTRA YOGA IS AN EXACT SCIENCE THAT IS MEANT TO ENGAGE THE MIND THROUGH FOCUSING ON SOUND, DURATION AND NUMBER OF REPETITIONS. REPETITION OF THE MANTRA IS A MEANS TO GET CLOSER TO THE DIVINITY WITHIN, AND IT CREATS POSITIVE VIBRATIONS THAT BENEFIT BOTH THE ONE WHO CHANTS AND THE ONE WHO LISTENS.

                   

                      MANTRA YOGA NEUTRALIZES RAJAS (AGITATION) AND TAMAS (INERTIA), WHICH ALLOWS THE PRACTITIONER TO MOVE INTO A MORE PURE STATEOF CONSCIOUSNESS. CHANTING MANTRAS CALMS THE MIND, BRINGS FOCUS AND IS GREAT FOR CONTROLLING THE BREATH. MANTRA YOGA IS HIGHLY BENEFICIAL TO THE PRACTITIONER AS IT IMPROVES OVERALL HEALTH AND MENTAL STABILITY.

                         ALTHOUGH MANTRA YOGA IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED AN INNOVATION OF HINDUISM, IT HAS BEEN ADOPTED AND DEVELOPED BY OTHER RELIGIONS AS WELL. RELIGIONS LIKE BUDDHISM AND HAINISM HAVE EMBRACED MATRA YOGA AS PART OF THEIR OWN EFFORTS TO REACH ENLIGHTENMENT.

                       MANRA YOGA CAN BE PRACTICED IN THREE WAYS.

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• THE FIRST WAY IS CALLED BAIKHARI, WHEREIN THE MANTRA IS CHANTED IN A LOUD MANNER. THIS TYPE OF CHANTING IS ADVANTAGE FOR REMOVING UNWANTED THOUGHTS FROM THE MIND IN ORDER TO MAKE THE MEDITATION PROCESS EASIER. 

• THE SECOND METHOD OF CHANTING IS CALLED UPANSHU, IN WHICH THE MANTRA IS CHANTED IN A VERY LOW VOICE THAT ONLY THE PRACTITIONER CAN HEAR. 

• THE THIRD IS CHANTING THE MANTRA SILENTLY TO ONE' SELF. THIS IS CALLED MANASIC AND IT IS USED BY ADVANCED PRACTITIONERS. INDIVIDUALS MAY ALSO LIKE TO USE MALA (YOGA BEADS) TO KEEP COUNT OF THEIR REPETITIONS. SHAIVAS USE ROSARY BEEDS WHERE VAISHNAV USE TULSI BEEDS.

                      HATHA YOGA 

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                            THE WORD "HATHA" MEANS " A STRONG DETERMINATION OR THE YOGA OF ACTIVITY AND PASSION, BECAUSE IT REQUIRES A LOT OF PHYSICAL EFFORT. HATHA PRACTISES ARE DESIGNED TO ALIGN AND CALM YOUR BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT IN PREPARATION FOR MEDITATION. THE PRACTITIONER IS REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE PATH OF MAUNA (SILENCE) FASTING FOR PURIFYING THE MIND, MEDITATION, PATIENCE, ETC. TO GAIN CONTROL OVER MIND.

                      THE MIND AIM OF HATHA YOGA IS TO STRENTHEN AND NOURISH BODY TO HELP IT TOLERATE THE MOST SEVERE SITUATIONS. IT HELPS BODY STAY HEALTHY. ACCORDING TO A HATHA YOGA EXPERT, A YOGI MUST AIM AT STRENGTHENING THE BODY BY CONSISTENT EFFORTS AND TESTING ITS LIMITATIONS TO TOLERATE PAIN. THE MORE ONE DOES THIS, HIGHER THE ENERGY LEVELS. THIS IS NOT ALL! ACCORDING TO A BELIEF, PRACTICING HATHA YOGA WITH FULL DEDICATION WILL PLEASE ONE'S DEITY AND ALL WISHES ARE FULLFILLED. THE DEITY WILL BLESS YOGI WITH DESIRED BOON.

                           RAJA YOGA

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                              SOUL IS AN INTERGRAL PARTS OF THE ALMIGHTY. IT NEVER DIES OR TAKES BIRTH. REALIZING THIS FACT, WHEN A YOGI TRIES TO KNOW "WHO HE IS" "WHERE HE COMES FROM", "WHERE WILL HE GO", AND UNITES THE SOUL WITH THE CREATOR OF UNIVERSE, THE PRACTICE IS REFERRED TO AS "RAJA YOGA", SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS THE "ROYAL YOGA", IT IS INCLUSIVE OF ALL YOGAS, AND ITS PHILOSOPHY GOES BEYOND AND BOUNDARIES OF THE MANY STYLES OF YOGA TODAY. RAJA YOGA EMPHASIZES THE BENEFITS OF MEDITATION FOR SPIRITUAL SELF-REALIZATION AND THE PURPOSEFUL EVOLUTION OF CONSCIOUSNESS.

                                RAJA YOGA IS REFERRED TO AS THE MENTAL YOGA, OR THE YOGA OF THE MIND, BECAUSE OF ITS EMPHASIS ON AWARENESS OF ONE'S STATE OF MIND. IT IS THROUGH THIS PRACTICE OF CONCENTRATION THAT ONE LEARNS TO CALM THE MIND AND BRING IT TO ONE POINT OF FOCUS. IT IS AT THIS POINT THAT ONE DIRECTS THEIR ATTENTION INWARDLY, THE TRUE NATURE, WHICH IS DIVINE.

                              THE BASIC PREMIRE OF RAJA YOGA IS THAT ONE'S PERCEPTION OF THE DIVINE SELF IS OBSCURED BY THE DISTURBANCES OF THE MIND. IN CASE, THE MIND CAN BE MADE STILL AND PURE, THE SELF WILL AUTOMATICALLY, INSTANTANEOUSLY, SHINE FORTH. RAJA YOGA IS VIEWED AS THE "ROYAL PATH" THIS CLASSIFICATION OF YOGA IS SO HIGHLY REVERED BECAUSE IT ATTAINS ENLIGHTENMENT FROM DIRECT CONTROL AND MASTERY OF THE MIND.

THE BITTER TRUTH ABOUT OUR DEATH!

                         WHY THE PEOPLE WILL DIE IN

                                ACCIDENT AND ILLNESS!

                                     THE VIBRANT OF YOUR ENERGY BODY!

                          

                            WHAT HAPPENS TO BEINGS WHO HAVE DIED WHEN THEIR ENERGY BODY IS STILL VIBRANT?

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•                     ANS : IF THE PRANIC OR ENERGY BODY IS STILL VIBRAN, SUCH A BEING CANNOT FIND ANOTHER BODY FOR SOME TIME. THE ENERGY BODY NEEDS TO SETTLE DOWN.  

• THIS IS WHY THOSE WHO DIE IN AN ACCIDENT, OR SUICIDE, OR WHO CONTRACT SOME SUDDEN ILLNESS SOMETIMES LINGER ON IN A DISEMBODIED STATE. 

• SUCH A PRANIC BODY STILL CARRIES DESIRES, LONGINGS, STRONG INCLINATIONS. THESE HAVE TO RUN THEIR COURSE. IT IS A LIMBO CONDITION, AND TRADITIONALLY IN INDIA SEVERAL RITUALS WERE PERFORMED TO HASTEN THE COURSE OF SUCH A BEING.

•  SOME OF THESE RITUALS WERE JUST ABOUT PSYCHOLOGICAL SOLACE FOR THE LIVING. BUT EVEN TODAY, IF THESE RITUALS ARE PERFORMED BY THOSE WHO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING, THEY CAN ACCELERATE THE PROCESS FOR SUCH A BEING.

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                     PEOPLE LONG TO DIE PEACEFULLY FOR THIS REASON. THE PRANA OR LIFE ENERGY HAS RUN ITS FULL COURSE CAN EASILY DISENTANGLE ITSELF. IT IS LIKE A RIPE FRUIT FALLIG OFF A TREE. THE MOMENT IF FALLS, WITH THE RIPE FRUIT AROUND IT, THE SEED WILL IMMEDIATELY TAKE ROOT WITH THE NECESSARY FOOD AROUND IT. SEE, THE SEED HAS THE NECESSARY MANURE AROUND IT, FRUIT IS ACTUALLY MANURE FOR THE SEED - WE JUST HAPPEN TO EAT IF BEFORE IT ACTUALLY BECOMES MANURE! ANOTHER FUNCTION CARRY IT ELSEWHERE AND DROP IT IN PLACES WHERE IT CAN TAKE ROOT AGAIN.  SO WHEN PEOPLE DIE AFTER A FULL LIFE CYCLE, THEY FALL WITHOUT A STRUGGLE, DISEASE, OR INJURY. THE PRANA REACHES A CERTAIN LEVEL OF SEDATENESS AND DISENTANGLES ITSELF .

                         NOW WHAT WE CALL MAHASAMADHI IS THE REVERSE, TO BRING THE PRANA TO A CERTAIN STATE OF INTENSITY AND MATURITY IN THE STRUCTURE SO THAT IT CANNOT BE HELD IN THE PHYSICAL FORM ANYMORE. THE REASON YOGIS SEEK SUCH A DEATH IS BECAUSE IT IS NATURAL, EFFORTLESS. IF YOU DIE WITH A DISEASE OR ACCIDENT, THERE IS VIOLENCE IN THE DEATH. THE RESIDUAL IMPACT OF THAT VIOLENT ENDURES IN SO MAY WAYS IN THE SUBTLE BODY.

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                          SO FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED WITHOUT LIVING OUT A FULL LIFE CYCLE, THE ALLOTTED KARMA, OR PRARABDHA, HAS TO WEAR ITSELF OUT. THE PRANIC BODY HAS TO COME TO A CERTAIN STATE OF PASSIVITY OR INERTNESS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS NO LONGER ANY ACTIVE KARMIC SUBTANCES. NOW, THE NEW ALLOTMENT, OR INSTALLMENT OF PRARABDHA, WILL BEGIN TO MANIFEST ITSELF. AS THIS HAPPENS, THE ENERGY BODY REGAINS ITS VIBRANCY AND WILL THEN TAKE ON ANOTHER PHYSICAL BODY.

HOW TO AVOID JUDGEMENTAL MENTALLITY?

                       THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 

                              WITNESS AND CHOICELESS

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                                WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WITNESSING AND CHOICELESS AWARENESS? WITNESSING IS CHOICELESS AWARENESS.  IF YOU CHOOSE, YOU ARE NOT WITNESSING. YOU HAVE LIKED, DISLIKED. YOU HAVE CHOSEN, YOU HAVE BECOME IDENTIFIED. 

                     FOR EXAMPLE, IN YOUR MIND THERE ARE A FEW THOUGHTS MOVING. WITNESSING MEANS YOU SIMPLY STAND THERE SEEING THAT THEY ARE MOVING, LIKE CLOUDS MOVING IN THE SKY OR THE TRAFFIC MOVING ON THE ROAD. YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CHOICE. YOUR DON'T SAY, THIS IS GOOD-LET ME KEEP IT. AND THAT IS BAD LET IT GO". IF YOU TALK THIS WAY YOU ARE DOT WITNESSING. YOU ARE GETTING INVOLVED, YOU ARE GETTING IDENTIFIED. YOU ARE CREATING LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIPS. AND WHEN YOU RELATE, YOU CANNOT BE A WITNESS. WITNESSING MEANS CHOICELESS AWARENESS!

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                                        THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT FEAR!

                              GHOSTS ARE SIMPLE PEOPLE, VERY SIMPLE.IN FACT, THEY ARE THE SAME PEOPLE LIKE YOU, THEY JUST DON'T HAVE BODIES SO THE CAN'T DO MUCH HARM.

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                    BUT THE FEAR DOES NOT COME FROM GHOSTS THE FEAR IS THERE, OUT OF FEAR COME THE GHOSTS. YOU ARE AFRAID AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROJECT YOUR FEAR SOMEWHERE OR OTHER BECAUSE TO BE AFRAID WITHOUT ANY REASON TO BE AFRAID MAKES PEPLE MORE FRIGHTENED. JUST TO BE AFRAID WILL BE TOO MUCH, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BEAR IT. YOU NEED SOMETHING TO BE AFRAID OF. SO PEOPLE CREATE THEIR GHOSTS. 

                     IN AMERICA THEY ARE AFRAID OF THE COMMUNISTS. IN RUSSIA THEY ARE AFRAID OF THE CAPITALISTS, AND SO ON THE SO FORTH. PEOPLE CREATE THEIR GHOSTS. HINDUS ARE AFRAID OF MOHAMMEDANS, MOHAMMEDANS ARE AFRAID OF HINDUS. EVERYBODY IS AFRAID OF EVERYBODY ELSE. MAN IS AFRAID OF WOMAN, THE WOMAN IS AFRAID OF MAN. CHILDREN ARE AFRAID OF THEIR PARENTS, AND PARENTS ARE VERY DEEPLY AFRAID OF THEIR CHILDREN. STUDENTS ARE AFRAID OF THEIR TEACHERS, AND TEACHERS ARE VERY MUCH AFRAID AND TREMBLING INSIDE BECAUSE OF THEIR STUDENTS.

                      

HAVE YOU KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF YOGA?

 

                               UNDERSTANDING THE YOGA

                                     AND ITS IMPORTANCE

                                       

                           YOGA IS ONE OF THE MAJOR IDENTITIES OF ANCIENT INDIAN EXISTENCE. IT IS THE SCIENCE THAT HELPED INDIA EMERGE AS "THE GOLDEN BIRD" AND "VISHWAGURU" (WORLD TEACHER) IN THE PAST . LORD SHIVA, AMONG THE GREAT DEITIES OF HINDUISM, MOST PERSONALITIES THE PRACTICE OF YOGA. AS YOGESHWAR, THE GREAT LORD OF YOGA, HE RULED OVER ALL ASPECTS OF YOGA RELATIVE TO BODY, MIND AND CONSCIOUSNESS. AFTER THE LORD, IT WAS THE VEDIC SAGES AND HERMITS WHO ARE CONSIDERED AS THE PIONEERS OF YOGA. LATER ON, LORD KRISHNA, LORD BUDDHA, AND LORD MAHAVIRA GAVE THEIR INPUTS TO THIS VAST FIELDS. SAGE PATANJALI COLLECTED MATERIALS ABOUT YOGA AND INPUTS FROM THESE GREAT PERSONALITIES AND COMPILED THE YOGA SUTRAS IN AROUND 400 CE. THE YOGA SUTRA PROVED TO BE A BOON FOR MANKIND.

                           WHAT IS YOGA? WELL, MOST OF US WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION AS AN OLD SAGE OR A YOGI SITTING IN A MEDIATATIVE POSITION. IN FACT, MOST PEOPLE CONSIDER YOGA AS A TECHNIQUE INVOLVING SOME HARD TO ENACT MUDRAS AND BENDING/TWISTING BODY PARTS IN A CERTAIN WAYS. YOUNGER GENERATION CONSIDERS YOGA AS A FORM OF EXERCISE FIT FOR OLDER PEOPLE.

                             HOWEVER, YOGA DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH AGE, RELIGION, OR PRACTISING A SPECIFIC ASANA. IN FACT, IT IS A SCIENTIFIC METHOD WHICH UNITES US WITH THE OUTER ENVIRONMENT AND HIDDEN ENERGY WITH US. YOGA IS NOT JUST AN ASANA PRACTICED BY ANY INDIVIDUAL TO TARGET A BODY BUT A TECHNIQUE THAT FACILITATES "UNION". THE WORD "YOGA" COMES FROM THE SANSKRIT ROOT "YUJ" WHICH MEANS "TO JOIN" OR "TO YOKE". YOGA IS A PRACTICAL AID, NOT A RELIGION. YOGA IS AN  ANCIENT ART BASED ON A HARMONIZING SYSTEM OF DEVELOPMENT FOR THE BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT. IT SIMPLIFIES LIFE AND ADDS POSITIVITY. SINCE ASANAS PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN THIS INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL UNION, MOST OF US BELIEVE THAT YOGA IS NOTHING MORE THAN AN ART OF TWISTING AND BENDING VARIOUS PARTS OF BODY.

                      THE MULTIPLE WAYS OF YOGA

                             THE VERY MENTION OF TERM "YOGA" MAKES ONE THINK OF VARIOUS ASANAS, PRANAYAMA ETC. MOST PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT YOGA IS ALL ABOUT ASANA. HOWEVER, ASANAS ARE ONLY A PART OF YOGA AND DOES NOT DEFINE IT ENTIRELY. THE LITERAL MEANING OF YOGA IS "UNION". THE WORD "YOGA" COMES FROM THE SANSKRIT ROOT "YUJ", WHICH MEANS "TO JOIN" OR "TO YOKE". THIS REFERS TO THE FUSION OF BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT THROUGH MEDITATION, BREATHING AND PHYSICAL POSTURES.

                          

              ASANAS TARGETTED TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF BODY HELPS ONE CONNECT WITH NATURE. IT ALSO HELPS THE INNER EXISTENCE (IDENTITY) TO ESTABLISH CONNECTION WITH OUTER EXISTENCE. HOWEVER, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF YOGASANA GETS DEEPER WHEN IT IS PRACTISED TO UNITE ONESELF WITH THE ALMIGHTY, ABSOLUTE PEACE, SUPREME HAPPINESS, ABSOLUTE POWER AND TRUTH.

                         EACH INDIVIDUAL IS UNIQUE AND DISTINCT FROM THE OTHER. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE DIFFERENT NATURE, VIEWS, GOALS, DESTINATIONS, AND PRINCIPLES FROM THE OTHER. SOME ARE INTROVERTS WHILE OTHERS ARE EXTROVERTS. SOME PRACTISE THEISM WHILE OTHERS ARE ATHEISTS. SOME PEOPLE ARE INFORMAL WHILE OTHERS ARE FORMAL UNDER ALL SITUATIONS. OTHER DIFFERENCE AMONG PEOPLE EXIST DUE TO RELIGION, CULTURE, STATE THEY BELONG TO, ETC. HOWEVER, DESPITE SO MANY DIFFERENCE AMONG PEOPLE, THERE ARE CERTAIN COMMON DESIRES EACH OF THEM NURTURE IN THEIR HEARTS. EVERYONE IS IN SEARCH OF INNER PEACE. THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT THE WISH OF A THEIST IS TRANSFERED TO THE ALMIGHTY THROUGH EMOTIONS AND THOUGHTS WHEREAS THAT OF AS AETHIST TRAVELS THROUGH THE PATH OF LOGIC AND PRACTICALITY OF REACH DESTINATION.

                    BOTH HAVE A COMMON GOAL - TO REACH THE PINNACLE (ABSOLUTE PEACE, HAPPINESS, IDENTITY, OR FREEDOM) . EVERYONE WANTS TO REACH OUT TO THE HIGHEST POINT IN THEIR LIFE.

                     THIS IS THE REASON THAT DIFFERENT PATHWAYS HAVE BEEN ALLOTTED TO HELP INDIVIDUALS FROM DIFFERENT WAYS OF LIFE AND MENTALITY TO REACH THE PINNACLE. THESE PATHWAYS ARE PRESENTLY PRACTISED AS DIFFERENT YOGASANAS. THESE DIFFERENT YOGA SADHANAS HELP PEOPLE REACH OUT TO THE PEAK. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE DIFFERENT PATHS OF YOGA BUT THEY ALL LEAD TO A COMMON DESTINATION. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS HATHA YOGA, MANTRA YOGA, RAJA YOGA, KARMA YOGA OR JNANA YOGA, EACH ONE HAS A DIFFERENT START YET THE SAME END. THE NAMES AND PATHS DIFFER FROM EACH OTHER.

                     IT IS IMPORTANT TO LEARN, HOW DIFFERENT THESE YOGA PRACTISES ARE FROM OTHER.