yoga

The Meaning of Yoga

What is Yoga?

Is this Yoga?

A mere physical exercise for shaping the body, good health & long life?

Or an emaciated renunciate in meditation? Or a man with some extra-ordinary powers?

Yoga – Definition“Union”in love between individual consciousness

(soul) & Supreme consciousness (God).

“One must become a Yogi” (BG 6.46)

A yogi is a person whose life and activities are oriented towards re-establishing his relationship

with the Supreme Source.

Different Types of Yogas

Yoga according to the Bhagavad Gita

Karma Yoga - A process whereby one performs his work for GOD, without selfish desire for personal gain.

Jnana Yoga - A process of elevation to spiritual consciousness through cultivation of philosophical knowledge.

Astanga Yoga - Mechanical meditation practice meant to control the mind and the senses to help focus one’s concentration on the Supreme.

Bhakti Yoga - The yoga of selfless, ecstatic, love of GOD through transcendental devotional service.

Jnana Yoga

• Impersonal transcendentalist

• Engaged in speculative knowledge

• Troublesome path

• Promoted to Bhakti Yoga through the association of a pure devotee

Astanga Yoga

• Mechanical meditative process for controlling mind and senses, for focusing on the Supreme

• Eight fold mystic yoga - yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi

• Strict rules and regulations

• Inherent danger of falling into the trap of the eight Siddhis

• Nearly impossible to perform in the age of Kali

Hatha-Yoga system Yama - practicing self-restraint Niyama - control and discipline Asana - sitting posture Pranayama - trance induced by stopping all breathing Pratyahara - withdrawing the senses from sense objects Dharana - transcendental meditation (steady the mind) Dhyana - concentrate (meditate) on Supreme

Personality of Godhead Samadhi - complete trance

Karma Yoga The art of working without

entanglement

Offer results to Vishnu/Krishna

Always be aware of one’s constitutional position

Work without - - any desire for fruits - a feeling of proprietorship - laziness

Bhakti Yoga The easiest means to revive our dormant,

inherent constitutional position Includes three terms – Source, connection

(bhakti) and part. Nine processes of devotional service Culmination of all yogas Attained through two ways :

- Gradual- Direct

Kirtan (Mantra) Yoga

The Highest Form of Meditation

All Vedic processes are included in the process of Mantra-Yoga

“…Of sacrifices I am the chanting of the holy names [japa]…”

(Bhagavad Gita, 10.25)

And of all yogis, he who always abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimately united with Me in yoga

and is the highest of all. (BG. 6.47) 

The Highest form of Yoga

“…as the sun alone illuminates all this universe, so does the living entity, one

within the body, illuminate the entire body by consciousness.”

(BG. 13.34)

“One whose happiness is within,

who is active and

rejoices within,

and whose aim is inward is actually the

perfect mystic (yogi).”

(BG. 5.24)

Mantra – Yoga Hare Krishna ∞ Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna ∞ Hare Hare Hare Rama ∞ Hare Rama Rama Rama ∞ Hare Hare