BASICS OF YOGA OF PATANJALI:

July 9, 2008

prof laxmi narain (prof_narain)

Source and courtesy: Sri Ramana Kendram, Hyderabad

This article was published in Sri Ramana Jyothi,

monthly magazine of the Kendram

BASICS OF YOGA OF PATANJALI: The eight limbs of Patanjali yoga are:

yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratayahara,dharana dhyana, and

samadhi. Abstaining from evil-doing is yama. Niyamas are purity,

contentment, tapas, study and devotion to God. Asana or right posture

is important so that the body does not become a stumbling block in

the natural flow of life force during meditation. Pranayama is

controlling the prana or breath. The body slows down and we benefit

physically by adding days and years to our lives (it is said our

breaths are counted and not years). Pranayama sends the vast mass of

energy stored at the base of the spinal cord upwards to the crown of

the head. Pratyahar is withdrawing attention from the objects of

sense organs. Like the lotus that remains submerged in the muddy

waters but keeps its leaves and flowers unstained my mud. Dhyana is

fixing the consciousness in the heart, which is on the right side of

the chest. Unbroken (like the flow of oil from one vessel to another)

and intense dhyana changes into dharna and the body consciousness

evaporates. The consciousness of self melts into the larger

consciousness and becomes on with cosmos. Finally, one attains

samadhi, a state of absolute peace. The Buddha calls it shunyata.We

know it as ananda (bliss). It has also been called as cool radiance

of a million suns. After attaining samadhi the tiny drop (atman)

merges with the mighty ocean (Brahman). –

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