EIGHT-FOLD PATH (ASTANGA YOGA)

[Guest guest]

   EIGHT-FOLD PATH(ASTANGA YOGA)

 

The practice includes eight steps.So this is called Astanga yoga.Asta means

eight.The word eight comes from Asta.In between, there is a word

Octa.’Octagon’  ‘Octopus’.That comes from ‘Asta’ and from Octa,

comes the word ‘eight’ in English.What are the eight steps ? The first is

called ‘Yama’. i.e regulation of the human faculties.The second is

‘Niyama’ , a rectification of the  defects of the instruments, this four

–fold instrument, of course, all these things, we are not going to tackle

today. We give only the names and their meanings and the main practice what to

do. The third is Asana. Asana here is not Padmasana, Siddhasana,Sheershasan,

etc.No, not at all.The Asana of the eight angas is no at all the asana of the

Hatha yoga. ‘’Sthira Sukham Asanam’’, saya  patanjali.This is the

definition of Asana . That means practicing stability in ease.’’ Sthiram

asanam Athmanaha’’ says , the Lord in the Gita. Asana is

for Atma and not for the body.Then you begin to practice,aneasy  attitude at

all times and establish that attitude, so that it may become stable.It is called

Asana.When you are able to maintain that attitude as long as you want, according

to your own will, that is called ‘Asana’ So you should practice a sweet

attitude, towards nothing,not any particular thing.So whatever may be the thing

around you, it will be sweet.If you practice sweetness of mind, any thing around

you will be sweet .Seeking happiness form something else will be a miserable

failure.

 

The fourth is pranayama.Many types of pranayama are described by many. Some

methods are very rough and horrible else.But be careful.The person who proposed

the Astanga yoga has not given all those things in pranayama.Either   patanjali

or the Bhagavadgita has not accepted these nasty methods of pranayama.What we

have described yesterday about our respiration, is what is required exactly.

Patanjali and the Gita prescribed the neutralization of Prana and Apana i.e .

,  the pulsations that cause inhalation and exhalation and the establishment of

their equilibrium.That is what I have explained to  you .All the other things

like inhaling and stopping breathe, counting a number and inhaling are not

prescribed by the seers.What we described yesterday, that is pranayama.

 

The fifth is  Pratyahara( All these steps I have given as lectures .Geneva

people will be able to give  lectures on this.Tomorrow I propose five minutes

lectures each.why not ?)Senses will be towards outside. They are traveling from

within.That is called ‘Pratyahara’ .You have to attract the senses to the

mind. You cannot call five boys and threaten them  and ask them to sit down at

a place . You can make them sit down by Chocolate or something else. So these

five senses should be made like that.That process is called ‘Pratyahara’

..This is to bring the senses back slowly from the objects of senses, in artistic

way,not in a rough way.(Here Master again explained ‘Yama’).’Yama’ ,

i.e. , the regulation of human faculties is the first thing.To make the mind and

senses practice what we prescribe, not what they practice.That is

called’Yama’.The mind and senses are already doing some practice, some

malpractice.Wherever we come across the

name of a god,’Yama’ ,in the puranas or the Upanishads, there the subject

relates to the first step of Yoga practice, i.e ., Yama.

 

The sixth step is ‘Dharana’ .It is to suspend the change in mind and to

sustain the proposed picture in the mind as long as you order it.The seventh

step is ‘Dhyana’.

 

If you are looking at a banana, if a boy is looking at a banana, if a Botony

professor is looking at a banana, all these three are different from one

another. The boy has only one thing with the banana.What is it ? Experience .

 

 

Continues…….

 

 

COURTESY-MASTER E.K’

 

Regards

Bharathi.A