Paths of Yoga
Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti Yoga is the path of channelling the emotions and feelings
to realise the transcendental and divine nature inherent in every
human being. Many people describe this as the yoga of devotion and
give it a religious bent, however, it is through Bhakti Yoga that
it becomes possible to experience the unity of all life.
The stages of Bhakti Yoga can be classified as follows:
- meditation, to realise and channel emotional energy
- mantras and kirtans, to open the heart
- identification with the source of inspiration and life, God
- experiencing transcendental human qualities in daily life
The validity and depth of Bhakti Yoga can only be understood by
realising the experiences of union that masters have had over the
course of their lives. The Bhakti Yoga Sagar series describes this
process of the human journey towards divinity in a clear and concise
form.
Hatha Yoga
The term Hatha Yoga has been commonly used to describe the practice
of asana (postures). The syllable ha denotes the pranic (vital) force
governing the physical body and tha denotes the chitta (mental) force
thus making Hatha Yoga a catalyst to an awakening of the two energies
that govern our lives. More correctly the techniques described in
Hatha Yoga harmonise and purify the body systems and focus the mind
in preparation for more advanced chakra and kundalini practices.
The Hatha Yoga system includes asana along with the six shatkarmas
(physical and mental detox techniques), mudras and bandhas (psycho-physiological
energy release techniques) and pranic awakening practices. Fine tuning
of the human personality at increasingly subtle levels leads to higher
states of awareness and meditation.
Hatha Yoga has been described in several classic texts, notably
Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Gherand Samhita.
Jnana Yoga
Jnana Yoga is the process of converting intellectual knowledge into
practical wisdom. It is a discovery of human dharma in relation to
nature and the universe. Jnana Yoga is described by tradition as
a means to obtain the highest meditative state and inner knowledge.
Jnana literally means 'knowledge', but in the context of yoga it means the
process of meditative awareness which leads to illuminative wisdom. It is not
a method by which we try to find rational answers to eternal questions, rather
it is a part of meditation leading to self-enquiry and self-realisation.
Some of the components of Jnana Yoga are:
- not believing but realising
- self-awareness leading to self-analysis
- experiencing knowledge
- realising the personal nature
- developing intuitive wisdom
- experiencing inner unity
Classical books on this subject are Yoga Darshan, Yoga Sadhana Panorama
series, Prashnopanishad, Nirvanopanishad and others.
Karma Yoga
Karma Yoga is a system which develops immunity to the reactive and
negative components of an action. This awareness of action leads
to a greater ability to manage mental associations in the form of
desires, ambitions, ego and other personality complexes.
The aim of Karma Yoga is to gain freedom from the bondage of karma
which restricts and inhibits dynamic, creative and constructive expression
in life. In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna has emphasised the need
for action as a means to become truly human and attain divine grace.
Karma Yoga is a sadhana and not a practice. The state of Karma Yoga
can be attained through seva (selfless involvement in all activities),
the spirit of which can be imbibed under the guidance of a competent
master.
The concepts of Karma Yoga, as a means to enhance human spirituality,
have been described in Karma Sannyasa, Eighteen Yogas of the Gita,
the Teachings series by Swami Satyananda Saraswati, and the Yoga
Sadhana Panorama series.
Kriya Yoga
The practices of Kriya Yoga were propagated by Swami Satyananda
Saraswati from secret teachings described in the Yoga and Tantra
Shastras. The kriyas, as taught by Satyananda Yoga™, are one
of only two systems of Kriya Yoga recognized the world over, the
other being that of Paramahamsa Yogananda.
The word kriya means 'activity' or 'movement' and refers to the
activity or movement of consciousness. Kriya also refers to a type
of practical or preliminary practice leading to total union, the
final result of practice. Kriya Yoga does not curb mental fluctuations
but purposely creates activity and awakening in consciousness. In
this way all faculties are harmonised and flower into their fullest
potential.
Kriya Yoga originated in antiquity and evolved over time through
practise and experience. The full form of Kriya Yoga consists of
over 70 kriyas out of which only 20 or so are commonly known.
The kriya practices are inscribed in numerous tantric texts written
in Sanskrit. To date only a few of these have been translated into
other languages. The most authoritative magna opus on the subject
of Kriya Yoga today is A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric
Techniques of Yoga & Kriya, its companion volume is Kundalini
Tantra.
Raja Yoga
Raja Yoga usually refers to the system of yoga that is described
in the Yoga Sutras of Sage Patanjali. In this ancient text Sage Patanjali
describes eight stages of yoga which are known collectively as Raja
Yoga.
Raja Yoga is a comprehensive yoga system which deals with the refinement
of human behaviour and personality through the practice of the yamas
(restraint) and niyamas (disciplines); attainment of physical health
and vitality through asanas (postures) and pranayamas (pranic breathing
techniques); management of mental and emotional conflicts and development
of awareness and concentration through pratyahara (sensory withdrawal)
and dharana (concentration); and developing the creative aspect of
consciousness for transcendental awareness through dhyana (meditation)
and samadhi (absorption in the universal identity).
A detailed description of the above mentioned yoga system has been
given in Four Chapters on Freedom.
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