RAJA YOGA

RAJA YOGA

Raja Yoga aims at controlling all thought waves or mental modifications. Raja Yoga is so-called because it is primarily concerned with the mind, which is traditionally conceived as the "king" of the psycho-physical structure that does its bidding. Because of the relationship between the mind and the body, the body must be first "tamed" through self-discipline and purified by various means. A good level of overall health and psychological integration must be attained before the deeper aspects of yoga can be pursued. Humans have all sorts of addictions and obsessions and these preclude the attainment of tranquil abiding (meditation). Through restraint (yama) such as celibacy, abstaining from drugs and alcohol, and careful attention to one's actions of body, speech, and mind, the human being becomes fit to practice meditation. This yoke that one puts upon oneself (discipline) is another meaning of the word yoga.

Eight limbs of Raja/Ashtanga Yoga

The eight limbs of Raja/Ashtanga Yoga are:

  • Yama - Code of conduct - self-restraint

  • Niyama - religious observances - commitments to practice, such as study and devotion

  • Āsana - integration of mind and body through physical activity

  • Pranayama - regulation of breath leading to the integration of mind and body

  • Pratyahara - abstraction of the senses, withdrawal of the senses of perception from their objects

  • Dharana - concentration, one-pointedness of mind

  • Dhyana - meditation (quiet activity that leads to samadhi)

  • Samadhi - the quiet state of blissful awareness, superconscious state

Yama

Yama ("abstentions") refers to five prohibited activities for the yoga practitioner: they must avoid hurting others through thought, word, or deed (ahimsa); avoid falsehood (satya); avoid stealing (asteya); avoid passions and lust (brahmacharya); and avoid avarice (aparigraha). Put in another way, Yama involves Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (not stealing), Brahmacharya (celibacy), and Aparigraha (non-covetousness).

Niyama

Niyama ("observances") involves five practices that a yoga practitioner should actively cultivate: 1) external and internal purification (shaucha), 2) contentment (santosa), 3) austerity (tapas), 4) study (svadhyaya), and 5) surrender to God (Ishvara-pranidhana). It is said that a person who practices meditation without ethical perfection, without the practice of Yama-Niyama cannot obtain the fruits of meditation. One must purify one's mind first to practice regular meditation.

Asana

Asana (Sanskrit: "Seat" or "seal") refers to various body postures that are practiced for disciplining the senses. This term literally means "seat," and originally referred mainly to seated positions. With the rise of Hatha yoga, it came to be used for yoga "postures" as well.

Pranayama

Pranayama ("breath-control") checks the outgoing tendencies of the mind. Prana means life force, while Yama means to gain control. Control of prāna or vital breath.

Pratyahara

Pratyahara ("Abstraction") gives inner spiritual strength. It removes all sorts of distractions. It develops willpower. Vyasa describes it like that by which the senses do not come into contact with their objects and, as it were, follow the nature of the mind.

Dharana

Dharana ("Concentration") involves fixing one's attention on a single object. Concentration is a preliminary step to meditation. At this level, the yogi focuses on retention of breath, Brahmacharya, Satvic (pure) food, seclusion, silence, Satsanga (being in the company of a guru), and not mixing much with people are all aids to concentration. Concentrating on Trikuti (the space between the two eyebrows) with closed eyes is preferred. The mind can be easily controlled, as this is the seat for the mind.

Dhyana

Dhyana ("Meditation") The undisturbed flow of thought around the object of meditation. The mind passes into many conditions or states as it is made up of three qualities-Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Kshipta (wandering), Vikshipta (gathering), Mudha (ignorant), Ekagra (one-pointed), and Nirodha (contrary) are the five states of the mind. Control the mind by Abhyasa (practice) and Vairagya (dispassion). Any practice which steadies the mind and makes it one-pointed is Abhyasa. Dull Vairagya will not help a person in attaining perfection in Yoga. One must have Para Vairagya or Theevra Vairagya, intense dispassion.

Samadhi

Samadhi: “Concentration.” Super-conscious state or trance (state of liberation) in which the mind is completely absorbed in the object of meditation. Samadhi is of two kinds: 1) Savikalpa, Samprajnata or Sabija; and 2) Nirvikalpa, Asamprajnata or Nirbija. In Savikalpa or Sabija, there is Triputi or the triad (knower, known, and knowledge). The samskaras are not burnt or freed. Savitarka, Nirvitarka, Savichara, Nirvichara, Sasmita, and Saananda are the different forms of Savikalpa Samadhi. In Nirbija Samadhi or Asamprajnata Samadhi there is no triad.

A Raja Yogi practices Samyama or the combined practice of Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi at one and the same time and gets detailed knowledge of an object.


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