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Ashtanga Yoga - Eight Limbs to Union The great sage Patanjali wrote four chapters on how to find true freedom. A core of his teachings is presented in the eight limbs. A brief summery is presented here. • Yamas: restraints, or social conduct and universal moralities, serve as the basis for all ethical behavior. ·The Yamas indicate the attitude towards others and the surroundings, with one main message: Do no harm. 1. Ahimsa or non-violence. Living a life of peace. Caring for others so that we bring no harm onto them in thought, speech or action. Practicing kindness and compassion to all that surrounds us, from creatures to things. Extending this to our own body and self. 2. Satya or truthfulness. Living an honest life, from the way we think to our actions and speech. Being true with every action and thought without bending the truth to suit one’s needs. When we live in truth, there is no fear, and we are happy to be transparent with all we do and think. 3. Asteya or non-stealing. Acting with complete awareness as to what we take, ask for or demand. Respecting others and their belonging, whether physical, mental or emotional. The respect can extend to all levels, even other people’s time, the way we touch others, or ideas that were shared and were not meant to be shared on. 4. Bramacharya or right use of energy. Traditionally used to describe abstinence. A protection from misuse of powerful energy such as the sexual energy. It is not about complete avoidance of anything, but rather finding a life of moderation, balance and action out of love. Practicing self-control. Within sexual relationship we make sure our actions are not selfish, and we take care of the other as much as we take care of our self. 5. Aparigraha or non-possessiveness. Living a life free from greed and obsessive accumulation. Learning to live simply and taking only what is necessary. Not hording or clinging, to things, people or ideas. • Niyamas – personal observances, the positive attitude, action and way we treat ourselves. 1. Sauca or purity - cleanliness. Living a life of purity, both in and out. For outer cleanliness, we maintain a clean body, home and surrounding. Inner cleanliness includes our inner organs as well as a clear mind, pure thoughts and actions; purifying the mind of emotions such as hatred, anger, jealousy, greed, delusion and pride. 2. Santosha or contentment. Living with humility, modesty and acceptance. Finding contentment with what we have and who we are. It is not about stagnation or laziness, but rather an acceptance of what is today, even while we strive to improve. Living with gratitude towards all we have, and finding the beauty in the details. 3. Tapas or austerity. Disciplined use of our energy. Keeping the body fit and in good condition. Literally it means to create heat in the body, and thus burn out the bad and clean the body. Tapas is practiced through disciplining the body, speech and mind to engage in life in a clear, healthy and enthusiastic way. We practice good eating habits, maintaining good posture, awareness of breath, etc. 4. Svadhyaya or study of the sacred text and of one's self. As we see our self clearly, learn about our nature in this body and beyond, we practice self-awareness in all we do. Through self-inquiry we learn to understand who we are and accept all aspect of this self, our strengths and our limitations. As we go deeper to search the true self, we learn to discover the greater self, and the connection with a broader energy. 5. Isvarapranidhama or living with an awareness of the Divine. Practicing surrender, allowing the false sense of control to drop and find connection to a greater power, a larger force that flows through the entire universe. • Asanas: body postures, practicing the presence of mind within the poses. Through the practice of different Asana we learn to move with ease, to find a clear state of mind in motion. We prepare our body to have ease in sitting meditation, and keep it healthy so we can bring our ease our attention beyond it. • Pranayama: Control of life energy through the practice of breathing. We have a powerful source of energy living within us, we may be using some of it, but there is so much more we can tap into. Through breath work, we learn to bring our prana from its Kundalini seat up through the chakras into our system. We learn to find balance between our masculine and feminine through the practice of the breath. • Pratyahara: Withdrawal of the senses from external distractions. Our senses allow for external info to come to the mind. This info is part of reality and of what the world consists of. It is when the mind translates this info into words, and ads labels and emotions to it, that it becomes a hinder. When we attach to a form of sense, and either want more or less of it, which it leads to a distraction. We learn to operate without the control of the senses. We use them as needed, and withdraw from them when needed. • Dharana: Concentration on a single object (Ekagraha) to control the mind. As the mind tends to wonder, we seek to find a way to train it to be still. It is the first step in mastering our minds. The mind can use the simple mantra of the breath to focus on, as a tool to steadiness. As we go about our life, we can practice being fully present with our actions and keeping them limited. While rolling the mat, we simply keep the mind completely aware of this simple action, without wondering. We can practice this while drinking tea or driving. • Dhyana: Meditation. Once the mind has learned to stay still, it allows for deeper states of consciousness to arrive. It is through allowing, not forcing, through acceptance with joy and ease that the minds “melts” away. As with our legs, when we need to walk, they are moving, when we go to sleep they rest, so with the mind, when thinking is not needed, it finds rest and allows the consciousness to shift into a deeper state. A state beyond time and place, beyond the sense of self. • Samadhi: Bliss, total freedom. Freedom from all the hindrances and sufferings of this life. We find Liberation from all levels of identities, from worry, attachments and all that holds us back. We realize our life beyond the realms of space and time, beyond the limitation of the body or mind. Samadhi is the state of total absorption, of exquisite balance, of melting the self into the universe. Samadhi – perfect meditation Sama – complete Dhi (dhiyana) – meditation Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. Materials and products presented on this site are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
©2008- 2010 Doron Hanoch |
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