Blog site of Chandra Gadre

   What is Yoga?(2/21/2011):

   There is a general understanding that the Yoga means body postures. Yoga is a Sanskrit word which means bond together. In Sanskrit, Yoga is meant for Jiva (soul on earth) to bond with Shiva (God, eternal truth). Yoga is a process and it is very well described in Ashtanga (eight steps) Yoga by Sage Vamana Rishi. Body Postures is just one of the eight steps of the complete Yoga process. Here are those eight steps in a summary:

1. Yama: It means being reighteous. There are five Yamas aka Moral Codes: Non-killing, Truthfulness, Non-Stealing, Continence and Non-receiving of any kind of Gift from anynone. Remember, these codes to be observed physically AND mentally.
2. Niyama: Niyamas are the rules to be observed to purify mind and body. These are as follows: Cleanliness, Contentment, Mortification, Wisdom through Study and Self-surrender to God.
3. Asana: It means Body Postures. This is what most people call as Yoga. It really means Yoga-asana.
4. Pranayam: Controlling vital forces of the body including breath control.
5. Pratyahara: Making our mind Introspective. It's an exercise to control our mind which is always thinking and finding pleasure in material objects. Turning it away, detaching it from worldly subject and attaching it to the Godly subject.
6. Dharana: It means Concentrating on single Godly object, either imagined within body, for example heart, or outside the body, for example, picture or statue.
7. Dhyana: Means Meditation. This is a higher stage of Dharana. Meditation is when the concentration on single Godly object, imagined within our body, is stretched for 10s of minutes to an hour or even longer.
8. Samadhi: Samadhi is the meditation which is stretched for hours and in which mind is completely blended with the Godly object.

For more information, please read Raja Yoga

© Blog site of Chandra Gadre

Thank you for visiting!