THE TREE OF LIFE – BASED ON THE – EIGHT ASPECTS OF YOGA

– AN HEURISTIC, RECURSIVE METAPHOR OF THE YOGA DARŠANA – THE PHILOSOPHY AND VISION OF YOGA

T HE EIGHT ASPECTS OF YOGA can be studied by use of the tool of metaphor, but, discrimination is necessary. In discussing the metaphor of a great tree in the

representation of a philosophy and theory of yoga it will here not be used in the traditional manner, as it would in a discussion of schools of yoga.

It will here be used in such a way as to display the structure of Yoga as an algorhythmie*, and as a manual of the dynamic for the traverse of the outer and inner.

Yoga Cat

I mean business!

The Paradigm

of Yoga:

Rest & Activity

T he categories of Yoga (and the

subcategories implied therein) presented in the schemata of the metaphor of “The Tree of Life” and in the traditional listings all refer to the process of Yoga as such and are not to be ideologically transferred to any other domain, their qualities will rather become infused into our life and into our living depending on what application gives and what circumstance brings.

Yoga creates well-being.

Tools for Thinking

Three Metaphors

A ladder / stair

Sequence

1 2 3 1

?

* Algorhythmy ~ The dynamic of yogic process as one mentally and physically proceeds from activity unto deep rest, back an’ forth, back an’ forth; an effortless spiralling into The Deep according to the mechanism of yoga.

Line drawings: India ink on paper – Magnus Malmsten; Sun / Moon logo and Pikeboros – Nina Aidas; Conceptualizations: ‘The Tree of Life’, ‘Paradigm’, and ‘Tools for Thinking’ – Juri Aidas (‘Albatross’ of the Cyber)

Yogi

http://issuu.com/albatross

An Hariolation on the Interconnectivities of the Eight Aspects of Yoga focused on understanding the Grounds of Knowledge conducive to effortless subjective and objective experience of The Deep.

Juri Aidas – 18 April 2013 (Updated 4 July 2015)

A Theistically neutral

approach

Mudras?

îshvarapranidhâna

tapas

shaucha contentment

refinement

surrender to the Lord

purification

simplicity

santosha

swâdhyâya

touch

taste

smell

sight hearing

brahmacharya

truthfulness

asteya non-attachment

non-violence

integrity

chastity

aparigraha

satya ahimsa

inwards

outwards

inwards

twist, roll, turn, etc.

and others as the cobra

f. ex. padma âsana

or hala asana .

massage, stretch, bend,

or sun greeting, etc. .

flow

suspended

rythm in

out

Samâdhi Dynamic Bliss

Dhâranâ Focusing

Retracting of the Senses

Pratyâhâra

Âsana Posture

Prânâyâma The Breathing

Niyama Morals, The Laws of Life

Yama Ethics, The Rules for Living

Dhyâna Meditation

Sat, Chit, Ananda

Existence, Intelligence, Bliss

Nirbîja Samâdhi

Samâdhi without object

Samâdhi with object

Prakriti Manifest

Unmanifest

Purusha

Transcendent

Virtual Self-referential Field

sense of wonder

restraint

stimularatory

stability balance

stamina

endurance

Meditation Dhyâna

Focusing Dhâranâ

The Breath Prânâyâma

Absorption Pratyâhâra

The Body Âsana / Posture

Attitude Yama, The Rules for Living

The Deep Samâdhi, Restful Alerness

Conduct Niyama, The Laws of Life

Withdrawal of the senses

Ethics

Sat, Chit, Ananda Existence, Intelligence, Bliss

Transcendent Virtual Self-Referential Field

Beyond Perplexitie Beyond any concept of the beyond!

•

A Grand Piano / Table

Interconnectivity

2

1 2 3

fade

‘Hariolation’ ~ Speculative guesswork rooted in plausibilities.

Morph of ‘Ladder’ metaphor into ‘Tree’.

A Tree of Life

Dynamic

3

1 2 3

Seal of Mohenjo-daro

Morals

(Detail)

Stamp seal with a seated male figure

Ca. 2000–1900 B.C.

Harappan. Indus Valley

Material:

Tan steatite

Dimensions: 2.65 x 2.7 cm

Thickness:

0.83 to 0.86 cm

Mohenjo-daro

DK 12050

Islamabad Museum

NMP 50.296

AAAP: 58, Issuu, 4:3

In t

his

, a p

roto

typ

e o

f th

e Tr

ee

of

Life

met

aph

or?

Categories and sub-categories, the Eight Aspects of Yoga: sourced by Patanjali, here rephrased.