Viniyoga and Prayoga

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

Would it be correct to interpret Viniyoga as Ritualistic Application

(meaning a puja with mantras, dhyana, etc) and Prayoga as a Yogic

Application (meaning an asana or dharana, but without the focus on puja

and liturgical mantra invocations)?

 

Dhanyavaada,

 

Kailash

[Guest guest]

OM Jesse

 

Viniyoga does not mean `ritualistic application' but rather `right

appication'. An action cannot be applied the same in all

situations because its effect will be different in different

situations. Attention must be paid to as many factors as possible

in a situation before deciding on an appropriate action. The

emphasis is on cultivating adaptability, equinimity, serentiy,

discrimination, dispassion and selfless service in order to make

the appropriate action demanded by a situation.

 

In order to cultivate all of the above virtues, one must spiritualize

their life and being. One must have a spiritual practice. The

spiritual practice must be comprehensive, including, as Swami

Vishnudevananda has said:

 

1. Proper breathing or knowledge of pranayama.

2. Proper exercise (designed to balance and stimulate the

chakras and nadis) such as yoga or chi gong.

3. Proper diet - vegetarian, of course, but also one attuned to

your particular balance of vatta, pita and kapha and also a bland

one devoid of rajasic or tamasic elements.

4. Proper relaxation on a mental, physical and spiritual levels.

5. Positive thinking about oneself , the people one encounters

and the universe

6. Meditation.

 

There is nothing ritualistic about implementing these virtues

and practices but there is discipline and vigilance required.

These virtues and practices are actually ingrained and only

obscured by our ego choices. Discipline and vigilance are

needed to weed out the influence of the ego and sensory data.

 

In hatha yoga terms, the viniyoga of TKS Desikachar seeks to

adapt a yoga class to the realities of the participants and the

instructor as they exist at that time. Desikachar has echoed

Swami Vishnu's injunctions and has said, ""Like everything,

Yoga must be presented intelligently. It should be spoken of

carefully and offered with due regard for the aspirations, needs

and cultural background of the individual. This must be achieved

in stages. The appropriate application of Yoga - involving

physical exercises, deep breathing, relaxation, meditation,

lifestyle, food, studies and so forth - is, for me, what is

represented by the word Viniyoga."

 

OM Namah Sivaya

 

Omprem

 

 

 

 

, "Jesse Arana"

<jessearana@a...> wrote:

> Namaste,

>

> Would it be correct to interpret Viniyoga as Ritualistic

Application

> (meaning a puja with mantras, dhyana, etc) and Prayoga as a

Yogic

> Application (meaning an asana or dharana, but without the

focus on puja

> and liturgical mantra invocations)?

>

> Dhanyavaada,

>

> Kailash