- Yoga deals with providing answers (based on practice) to the basic quests of life.
- It leads to the unification of the web of dualities and bipolar existence.
- Various aspects of Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma) namely rituals, mantra japa, music, dance, etc. are also connected to the process of Yoga.
- The important tools of a human being namely mind, breath, speech, and body are used in the process of yoga to achieve God Realization, thereby, resulting in pure bliss.
- Yoga is not merely restricted to poses or asanas and acrobatic postures with impressive demonstrations. Indeed, the sole purpose of yoga is to meditate and start the journey for self-realization.
Yoga can be explained in different forms. They are:
- Bhakti Yoga (Devotion)
- Karma Yoga (Selfless effort to achieve)
- Mantra Yoga (Mantra chanting)
- Naada Yoga (hearing transcendental sacred cosmic vibrations)
- Raja or Ashtanga Yoga (eight-limb methodology)
- Jnana Yoga (self-realization and identifying)
Another way of differentiation is explained as:
- Yama – Human conduct towards others
- Niyama – Ethical conduct towards own self
- Asanas – Aim to increase focus by different poses
- Pranayama – Breathing exercises used to control mind
- Pratyahara – Effort to withdraw one’s attention from self(body and senses)
- Dharana – Concentration of mind
- Dhyana – Practice of Meditation
- Samadhi – Uninterruptable introspection of self and reality
The five modes of acquiring knowledge described by Patanjali Maharishi in his book “Patanjali Sutra” are:
- Pramana (true cognition based on three means of validity namely direct perception, inference and verbal testimony from a trustworthy person)
- Viparyaya (false cognition)
- Vikalpa (merely verbal-based cognition)
- Nidra (through sleep)
- Smriti (through memory)gh sleep)
- Smriti (through memory)
Also, various operations of the mind (referred as vrittis) are given by five modes. Among these, the three undesirable modes are:
- Kshipta in which mind is wavering through happy, turbulent and unhappy states.
- Moodha in which mind is operating in negative states.
- Vikshipta in which mind appears positive but can be taken over by the negative tendencies.
The two desirable states are:
- Ekaagra in which single-minded absorption in God (Paramaatman).
- Niruddha, which is beyond the state of single-mindedness with a total restraint of mental operation.
- It is also important to note that Maharishi Patanjali has given the various obstacles that a seeker would face in one’s own all-round development and the final realization through Yoga.
The two desirable states are:
- Disease (Vyaadhi)
- Mental laziness (Styana)
- Doubt (Samshaya)
- Lack of enthusiasm and delusion (Pramaada)
- Lethargy (Aalasya)
- Reluctance to give up the craving for sense pleasures (Avirati)
- Erroneous perception (Bhranti-Darshana)
- Despair due to progress in concentration (Alabdha Bhoomikatva)
- Inability of retaining a level of concentration once obtained (Anavasthitatva)