The Yoga Path

Krisha Mitra Das said:
Yoga is a tiny word with a huge amount of meaning.
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No-one is contesting that. Have some patience with us poor blind people who have just now chanced upon this magnificent elephant of yours :)

Still, having read about the eightfold path described on that side, training of the mind and mental faculties is a recurring theme. It may be a bit coarse to lump all such training together under "meditation", but here we are, just starting to discover.

Question: in most traditions that use Sanskrit that I'm aware of, "brahmacarya" does actually imply celibacy, but the text you linked gives a more abstract, generalized explanation about good relationships. Is this a modern or westernizing development?
 
Cino said:
Question: in most traditions that use Sanskrit that I'm aware of, "brahmacarya" does actually imply celibacy, but the text you linked gives a more abstract, generalized explanation about good relationships. Is this a modern or westernizing development?
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In the broadest sense, a couple can still engage in sexual union, but leading to having a better and closer union with God. Everything has to be for the benefit of getting closer to God.

This link explains more:

https://www.maitreyiparadigm.com/bl...ion-yoga-of-the-male-female-energy-principles
 
There are some obvious similarities between Yama/Niyama and the Ten Commandments (and the Buddhist analogue, the Precepts).

How do you observe the Niyamas?
 
God meets me where I am?

But I think people are more interested in my own words and personal point of view than if I post links and videos, which often get just a quick skim at best.

Links and videos may be good to illustrate, but it's like: read this, watch that ...
 
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Krisha Mitra Das said:
Great to post long explanations if one has the time. I don't.
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No worries, this is a site for personal dialogue, not systematic teaching. We can all google terms like Niyama, but only you can share your own personal perspective on your faith, which is what everyone here is interested in.
 
Krisha Mitra Das said:
Great to post long explanations if one has the time. I don't.
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Hey, it's great to have you on the forums. I think the word is just a tag for the experience anyway.

Water is water but there are different words in different languages and it appears in different ways: in rivers and seas and so on. Perhaps it's the same with spiritual experience? Once I have touched water I know what it is, but until then it's just a word to me.

I read something and think: 'Oh yes, I can relate'

Something like that?
 
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Cino said:
No worries, this is a site for personal dialogue, not systematic teaching. We can all google terms like Niyama, but only you can share your own personal perspective on your faith, which is what everyone here is interested in.
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OK. For me that comes in time. I'm not one to quickly talk about my personal experiences on a public forum until I feel comfortable enough to share it.

Thanks for the explanation.
 
Krisha Mitra Das —

Krisha Mitra Das said:
I like to start off by saying the Yoga path is a philosophy...
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Yes, I think that's a safer path in the West.

Of course there are two sides to every coin — Buddhism, it is often said, is a philosophy, not a religion, which is bunkum really, as Buddhism ticks all the boxes of a religion (if not confined to a particularly narrow, monotheist sense), and all religions contain, in more or less explicit manner, a philosophy.

The distinctions between 'religion' and 'philosophy' are largely a western, post-Enlightenment classification, and ever since it's become fashionable to declare that the philosopher isn't constrained by religious superstition, and the religious isn't troubled by thinking for him/herself! :D

Krisha Mitra Das said:
Yoga means union in Sanskrit, specifically a path of deeper union with the Divine/God.
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Precisely.

Krisha Mitra Das said:
Yoga has been popularized as just poses, stretches or exercises ...
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Consumerism does this: it looks to see how it can monetise everything that falls within its gaze. So it's tough to sell traditional yoga, it's a lot easier to sell keep fit. Same with meditation. Now it's almost as if mindfulness is the be-all and end-all of meditation practice.

The yogas you mention are, of course, universal, and are there to a greater or lesser degree in all religions.

Speaking as a Christian, I think it's a pity that 'the body' has accrued such negative connotations. We've lost so much via this process, and you have to look quite hard to find the equivalence, usually locked away in monastic practice.
 
Bhakti most of the time is not silent, devotional songs. Whatever type of meditation it is, people will generally begin with a chant. My observation.
 
Aupmanyav said:
Bhakti most of the time is not silent, devotional songs. Whatever type of meditation it is, people will generally begin with a chant. My observation.
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You may be right, as I don't have stats on this, but I did mention chanting being important in Bhakti Yoga as well. Thanks for the comment! :)
 
Krisha Mitra Das said:
But reaching that depth is extremely difficult. The deeply devout person who enters the path of Yoga with the goal of reaching its summits as just mentioned in the previous paragraph will give themselves up entirely to Yoga, give to Yoga all their time and all their energy, all their thoughts, feelings and motives. They must strive to harmonize themselves, to achieve an inner unity with the Divine....avoiding distractions, like strivings, moods, and desires, self-gratifications...Its focusing one's powers to serve one aim: Total union with God. Yoga demands all this, but Yoga also helps to attain it by showing the means by which it can be reached. Some of the ways are these four major types of Yoga in life to help a person along to reach the deepest union with God are:
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Krisha Mitra Das said:
But reaching that depth is extremely difficult. The deeply devout person who enters the path of Yoga with the goal of reaching its summits as just mentioned in the previous paragraph will give themselves up entirely to Yoga, give to Yoga all their time and all their energy, all their thoughts, feelings and motives.
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Krisha Mitra Das said:
But reaching that depth is extremely difficult. The deeply devout person who enters the path of Yoga with the goal of reaching its summits as just mentioned in the previous paragraph will give themselves up entirely to Yoga, give to Yoga all their time and all their energy, all their thoughts, feelings and motives.
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You say all the right words. But the practice of spiritual flows and mentality is not just a concept and you are describing it to be. In all honesty as a Christian meditation doesnt involve all the works of God. You are making it out to be something which is totally spiritually incorporated but are not speaking in active detail on how exactly a person connects with the God or how it harmonises motivates and promotes good effective long term feelings, or controls thoughts. Explain the practical incorporation of these things within meditation?
 
Krisha Mitra Das said:
I like to start off by saying the Yoga path is a philosophy. Yoga means union in Sanskrit, specifically a path of deeper union with the Divine/God.

Yoga has been popularized as just poses, stretches or exercises; it's much more deep and complex, although the poses, called Asanas, are a very important part of Yoga. The Asanas usually accompanies Pranayama (breathing exercises). Both Asanas and Pranayama are in a category of Yoga called Hatha Yoga.

The main reason for the Asanas is to get equipped and healthy mentally and physically for one's journey to the summit of whatever other Yoga one is doing. The Asana poses help the physical body to be able to be mentally healthy to endure the intensity of all the other Yogas in controlling of consciousness and mind, and reaching the higher psychic forces, called Siddhis, that doesn't happen in ordinary, everyday life. Once a person reach these heights--or to better phrase it--reach this closeness to God, they are known as Siddhas. Satgurus (not "gurus") are individuals who are Siddhas.

But reaching that depth is extremely difficult. The deeply devout person who enters the path of Yoga with the goal of reaching its summits as just mentioned in the previous paragraph will give themselves up entirely to Yoga, give to Yoga all their time and all their energy, all their thoughts, feelings and motives. They must strive to harmonize themselves, to achieve an inner unity with the Divine....avoiding distractions, like strivings, moods, and desires, self-gratifications...Its focusing one's powers to serve one aim: Total union with God. Yoga demands all this, but Yoga also helps to attain it by showing the means by which it can be reached. Some of the ways are these four major types of Yoga in life to help a person along to reach the deepest union with God are:

Bhakti Yoga: Worshiping the Divine--God--directly. One can worship God anywhere but most do this by going to their altar or anywhere and sit silently in meditation. Bhakti Yoga is the path of devotion, emotion, love, compassion, and service to God and others. All actions are done in the context of remembering the Divine, and seeing God in others. Also, chanting mantras is an essential part of Bhakti Yoga.

Jnana Yoga: Studying God or studying oneself inward. It's a time of quiet reflection. Jnana Yoga is the path of knowledge, wisdom, introspection and contemplation. It involves deep exploration of the nature our being by systematically exploring and setting aside false identities. It's realizing who we really are, and only: Soul. Soul is the part of us that is God, similar to everyone being like a raindrop to eventually go back to union with God ("Ocean").

Karma Yoga: The path of action, service to others, and remembering the levels of our being while fulfilling our actions in the world. It helps you to see yourself in others. When we help others, we are also serving God. Performing these actions are done selflessly--without thinking of success or reward of any kind (called Seva). It helps purify the heart and reduces the ego.

Raja Yoga: The science of controlling body and mind. Raja Yoga is silent meditation, where bodily and mental energies are gradually transformed into spiritual, Godly energy. It directly deals with the encountering and transcending thoughts of the mind. Hatha Yoga is often included as part of Raja Yoga but many also see it as separate and complete.

These four Yoga paths do not represent separate paths. Each path is closely related to the other.

Related information:

Siddhi - Wikipedia

The four primary types of yoga
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I like how you described yoga as a path rather than just a practice. The balance of bhakti, jnana, karma, and raja really shows how wide it is. For me, even small daily acts, whether service, study, or meditation, feel like they’re part of that same union.
 
Yoga means heavy work (deed, kamma), it's related to yoke, carry a yoke. It's not about work or not, but about which work would lead to an end of work.

If body, and what comes along with it, is subject to break apart, worthy to seek union in what's subject to decay?

If feeling isn't lasting, is subject to break apart, worthy to seek union in what's subject to decay?

It's because being seek for union in what's subject to decay, that they do not escape the yoke.

Every single daily act requires food (suffering, debt). One might not be aware till the moment the "bill" comes along.
 
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