BASICS OF YOGA OF PATANJALI

[Guest guest]

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: 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). – http://spirituality.indiatimes.com