which is the basic text of yoga philosophy

Whereas Yoga the philosophy is all encompassing, and requires extensive research and learning, and continuous practice, it is much easier to teach and market practices that support the practice of yoga. Viewing ads supports YogaBasics. The purpose of yoga is essentially ethical and practicing ethics can be understood as yoga. Pratyahara means “withdrawal of the senses”, it’s a prerequisite to meditation practices, during prathyahara we shift our awareness from the external to the internal. Vijnanamaya Kosha (Kosha of the intellect). Philosophy is a Greek word that means love (philo) of wisdom (sophia). Yoga is not a school, but I can think of no singular place where I’ve gained more wisdom. According to the tantric tradition, the pranic energy flow through particular channels called “nadis”. I liked the part that talked about how we weigh out the discrepancies between finding contentment in our lives while not allowing ourselves to lose all ambition. Classical sources for the philosophy of Yoga include: the Upaniṣads, the Bhagavad Gītā, and the Yoga Sūtra. Yoga is a Practice, a practice that is not just limited in the way you shape and arrange your body on the mat, but a practice that extends to the entire way we look at our existence, a life style. Often today, when people hear about “yoga philosophy“, they react by saying that yoga is a practice and not a philosophy; and of course they are completely right. Other renowned modern Yoga adepts of Indian origin are Sri Aurobindo (the father of Integral Yoga), Ramana Maharshi (an unparalleled master of Jnana-Yoga), Papa Ramdas (who lived and breathed Mantra-Yoga, the Yoga of transformative sound), Swami Nityananda (a miracle-working master of Siddha-Yoga), and his disciple Swami Muktananda (a powerful yogi who put Siddha-Yoga, which is a Tantric Yoga … Yogic philosophy comprises a basic understanding of the following concepts. As a person is a creature with an interest in their own Lordliness, Yoga entails that many beings, whether they are other animals, or the Earth, are persons for they thrive given their own Lordliness. The relatively brief Yoga Sutras are divided into eight ashtanga (limbs), reminiscent of Buddhism's Noble Eightfold Path, the goal being to quiet one's mind … Yoga propounded by that ancient sage Patanjali in the form of Sutras or terse aphorisms collectively known as Yoga Darshana. It is not a system of mere practices devoid of any theoretical background. Having an opinion is easy, but philosophers know that the diversity of opinions points out that some issues can’t be reduced to just how you see things, for others have contrary views on the same topic. In order to facilitate the calming of the mind, the Yoga system prescribes several moral and practical means. Samkhya, the foremost one, is an atheistic philosophy to approach liberation (moksha) while in yoga, God (Ishvara) plays an important role to liberate. Without yoga philosophy, practices such as posture flow, or breathing exercises, can become fetishes and hindrances to one’s own Lordliness. Students of Yoga Philosophy will hence learn not only about the tradition of Yoga, but contrary and competing traditions that share some commitments with Yoga, and also part ways, including Buddhist philosophies of mindfulness and other contrary philosophies. Patanjali brought forward this powerful knowledge, which came to be known as ‘Yoga Sutras’. This bliss is just a sheath that folds the pure consciousness of the Atman. This kosha shows the way we interact towards the different situations we face in life. The other foundational texts are the Gheranda Samhita and Shiva Samhita, which both predate the HYP. 5 min. Remove ads with a membership. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Rāmānuja, influential  philosopher of Yoga. These cookies do not store any personal information. Yoga philosophy, as taught in classic texts such as the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, teaches us to look beyond asana and view yoga as a practice for our daily lives. Why doesn’t this sound like the Yoga I know? Philosophy. A philosopher and teacher of philosophy does not merely teach one perspective. So Maharshi Vyasa wrote a commentary on Yoga Darshana, and Yoga Darshana is a difficult text, difficult to understand straightaway even by those with a good knowledge of Sanskrit. In this way we go behind the first four kosha and taste the “divine” ecstasy of anandamaya kosha. Patañjali’s Yoga Sutras is the foundational work on Yoga philosophy. Its basic text is the Yoga-sutra s by Patanjali ( c. 2nd century bce or 5th century ce … Dr. Shyam Ranganathan is a Canadian Yoga Alliance Certified Experienced, Gold, Yoga Teacher with over 1000 hours of training, Distinguished for its foundation in research and scholarship on Yoga and Philosophy. Samadhi where the difference between subject, object and action that connects the two disappears, the self-identification of the mind ends at this point. Pranayama means “extension of the prana” where prana indicates the vital energy. It is safe to say that the philosophy of yoga is one of the greatest philosophies in the world and can be the subject for a … Patanjali Yoga. Yoga Philosophy was founded to provide support for those interested in Yoga Philosophy. Dharana means concentration, where the attention is fixed on an object, and the perfection of concentration leads to, Dhyana (Meditation) where the attention is fully absorbed by the object, the perfection of dhyana lead to the state of. Its influence has been widespread among many other schools of Indian thought. Yoga teaches us four stages, or four levels of awareness: that of body; of emotions; of mind; and of awareness itself …. He is Co-Director of Iyengar Yoga … Where Can One Learn About Yoga And Philosophy? This method is called Ashtanga Yoga (the eight limbs of yoga), not to be confused with the most popular Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga of Pattabhi Joys. Here is a brief definition of each yama, along with some advice about how to start practicing them today. Philosophy is primarily a discipline that employs logic to answer controversial questions. A strong, flexible yoga spine is very important for good health …. Once we understand what we are disagreeing about, we can replace our partial perspectives on a topic with a synoptic understanding. The main philosophy of yoga is simple: mind, body, and spirit are all one and cannot be clearly separated. To be committed to yoga is to be committed to a common ideal that explains what it is for everyone to thrive. The stages from Yama to Prathiahara (1-5) are known as bahiranga (external) yoga. In fact, to adapt a phrase: everything I ever needed to know, I learned from yoga. Those two verses explain that having full control over mental activity, it’s possible to go behind the mind and realize the true nature, the Self (Atman), the principle that goes behind the Body-Mind. He is a professional philosopher, author, theorist and university teacher. Since, being sick it is not just sickness in t… 5. These “threads” (as sutra translates from Sanskrit) of wisdom offer guidelines for living a meaningful and purposeful life. At the time when the Ayurvedawas the greatest wisdom, people had to cure their illness. In this session we consider the theology and philosophy of Patañjali in the first two of his four chapters (On Concentration, and On Practice). The stages from Dharana to Samadhi (6-8) are known as antaranga (internal) yoga. You see, yoga is literally a unification. Yama and Niyama are conditions that allow our mind to become more satvic more balanced so that the movement of the mind (chitta vritti) can be easily mastered. You must have heard about the ‘ Eight Limbs of Yoga ‘ – that philosophy is ‘just one’ part of Patanjali Yoga Sutras. Krishna, the Philosopher God and Teacher of Yoga, with his devotee, the Cosmic Serpent. Yoga Philosophy Basics: The 5 Yamas. According to yoga philosophy, santosha, which means contentment, is a form of self-discipline. Yoga is based upon a profound philosophy of life and consciousness. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika (HYP) is one of the three primary ancient texts on hatha yoga. Today, many agree that the word yuj — which yoga derives from — refers to greater internal states, such as clarity, peace, and happiness. And while separately it is neither a religion, a psychology, nor a learning institution, it is an integration of the above. But we hope to do this by teaching about Yoga and Philosophy. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Hence, it is common to see yoga being represented as: the physical practices of posture flow (often called āsana). Atman cannot be described. According to Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra, the basic systematic text of yoga philosophy, these are not yoga: they are among the ancillary practices (aṅga-s) in support of yoga (see for instance, Yoga Sūtra Books II and III). According to Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra, the basic systematic text of yoga philosophy, these are not yoga: they are among the ancillary practices ( aṅga -s) in support of yoga (see for instance, Yoga Sūtra Books II … Early Sanskrit (the Indian spiritual language) texts such as the Vedas (1500 BCE) and the Upanishads (500 BCE) explain and explore yoga as a means of access to the Divine and a way to connect the earthly form with the spiritual form. Asana classification according to the function, 4 Tips to make sure that your practice fits in with yogic principles. By using reason, philosophers are able to study the diversity of options on a controversial topic, and then help us understand the topic of controversy. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Here, Judith Hanson Lasater draws on the teachings of Patanjali to explain how yoga can—and should—play a … Anandamaya Kosha (Kosha made of Bliss). Ancient, medieval and most modern literature often refers to the Yoga school of Hinduism simply as Yoga. Correlation between Sun Salutation and Vedic Astrology. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Yoga in contrast is defined as: Taking responsibility for your mental life, which is basically philosophy (YS I.2-3), Three practical ideals that structure philosophical practice: Devotion to Lordliness (Īśvara praṇidhāna), Unconservativism, pushing one’s boundaries (tapas), and Self-Governance, Self-Control (svādhyāya) (YS II.1), Ganesha, child God and Remover of Obstacles. What we often come to think of as yoga has to do with the move to treat Yoga as a modality of physical fitness, or health and well being. The feelings, stimulations and reactions to different situations, thought and actions all come from this kosha. Manomaya Kosha (Kosha made of mind-thought- emotion). And if one adopts a philosophical approach to Yoga, then all activities are limbs in support of one’s own Lordliness and mastery over life. Personally I think that the two most important aspects that a yoga practitioner should know and understand about yoga are: One of the most important texts about Yoga is the famous “Yoga Sutra” written by Patanjali. These rules should not be seen as the Christian commandments, that if followed lead to heaven and if not lead to eternal damnation. Who was Patanjali and what is Patanjali Yoga Sutras? Two talks will be given to explain the practices of Yoga and basic philosophy. Patanjali explains the method that allows the realization of the real nature. Dr. Ranganathan is a Research Leader in Translating Philosophy and the Study of Indian Ethics and Moral Philosophy. The Yoga Philosophy is the “map” that show the practitioners the path they are travelling during the yoga practice. The awareness of prana is obtained through the correct use of the breath, that’s why the term pranayama usually refer to breathing exercises. Philosophy of Yoga. This is the most internal of the koshas, the first sheath that folds the Atman, the eternal center of consciousness. Two pillars of yogic philosophy – Purusha (Soul or Consciousness) & Prakriti (Matter or Nature) This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Rolf Sovik. The final step happens when all the kosha dissolve and we become absorbed is the Self. Once we connect with this sheath it’s possible to use the breath to connect with pranamaya kosha, the energy manifested in the body. Yoga is a mind and body practice with a 5,000-year history in ancient Indian philosophy. Check out our American Philosophical Association Write up: He is translator of the Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra. At one point this experience also fades away in a way that it’s possible to “experience” the “center”. I learned that yoga is not a religion and I learned about the philosophy of yoga. Ray Madigan, is a Certified Iyengar Teacher at the Senior 3 level. It is closely related to the Samkhya school of Hinduism. Although people know very little about Patanjali himself, many believe he’s thought to have lived between 200 and 500 B.C. That is, it is not only a perspective that contributes to what we can disagree about in philosophy, it also clarifies philosophy, the discipline. But this involves transforming our world into one defined by external pressures of nature, to one safe for people to be masters of their own life. The spinal column is known as Brahma Danda, which literally means ‘the walking stick of God’. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, written 2200 years ago, is the most authentic and indisputable source text of classical yoga, which is also referred to as “yoga philosophy” because it includes the overall discipline and vision of yoga as well as yoga practices.Learn why commentaries have been written to expand on these 196 sutras and which commentary contains so much wisdom that it … Yoga is a practice based on Samkhya philosophy which explains the nature of the Self and the material world. Bhairanga yoga is the prerequisite for  antaranga yoga. In Hindu philosophy including yoga, Indian medicine and Indian martial arts, prana (प्राण, prāṇa; the Sanskrit word for breath, "life force", or "vital principle") permeates reality on all levels including inanimate objects. Yama e Niyama are rules to follow so that we can regulate our behavior with the others (yama) and with ourselves (nyama). The Goddess Lakṣmī (the Earth and Prosperity) embodies the goals of yoga: svarūpevasthānam/“abiding in one’s form” (YS I.3), svarūpa-pratiṣṭhā/“standing on one’s form” (YS IV.34), and more literally sva-svāmī/“own mastery” (YS II.22). The awareness of body, breath and pranic flow absorbs the mind and the thought reducing the “chitta vritti” and calming manomaya kosha. Language is a powerful thing, and in different cultures the same word can have a variety of definitions, throughout the evolution of yoga practice, the same word – Hatha – has come to mean different things too. When people often say they practice yoga, they mean one or more of these things. When people often say they practice yoga, they mean one or more of these things. How important is it to acknowledge the ancient wisdom intertwined into the yogic lifestyle? 3. Ashtanga Yoga Philosophy. In other words, happiness is a skill and practice. The breath is considered to be the bridge between the body and mind. Our goal at Yoga Philosophy is to support practitioners of the many limbs of yoga deepen their practice and get the most out of the precious time they commit to activities, whether they be posture-flow (āsana), breathing exercises (prāṇāyāma), focusing the mind (dhāraṇā), or exploratory awareness (dhyāna). Yoga is primarily a practice aimed at 'samadhi'–uninterrupted self-awareness, contentedness and … The self-awareness you gain by practicing the five yamas can help you transform negative energy and cultivate a deep, abiding sense of peace. Our interests as people is personified in the ideal of persons: the Lord, or Īśvara, which is both unconservative (not constrained by pass choices) and self-governing (not externally interfered with). With ‘ha’ representin… The human consciousness is described as folded in five layers called Kosha around an immovable central point (Atman). While in manomaya kosha the mind works on a level of stimulation / response, here it is possible to understand and discriminate. The practice of the Yoga philosophy comes to those with energy (Yoga Sūtra I.21). You can listen to the podcast that explains the Eight Limbs of Yoga Popular thinking ‘in the West’ (an all-too-common expression now), is that Hatha yoga is about balancing the body and mind. Send Text Message Print. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. This Kosha is also situated on a mental level, but here we refer to the intellect. Yet, there is a multitude of philosophical ideas that are helpful to explore the deeper dimensions of the body, mind, and spirit. Yoga is a philosophical contribution to the debates of philosophy. Various styles of yoga combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is a key text of the Yoga school of Hinduism. It’s a document made of four chapters, where the philosophy of yoga is explained. The difference between merely going to the gym and practicing yoga is the philosophy! It’s peace, joy and love independent from any reason. Dr. Shyam Ranganathan, founder of Yoga Philosophy, is a field changing researcher on the study and translation of philosophy, especially South Asian philosophy and Yoga, translator of the Yoga Sūtra, and a experienced university level teacher of philosophy. For all these reasons we give it a central place in this course. In Hindu literature, prāṇa is sometimes described as originating from the Sun and connecting the elements. The study and teach a diversity philosophies (in the second sense) as a means of understanding the topics of confusion and controversy. Our practical challenge is to embrace a practice devoted to this ideal, so that we ourselves, in time, reflect the ideal. A  person who is Lordly is free from their own self-sabotage, and social hindrances. Patanjali describes the meaning of Yoga in the second verse of the first chapter: This is usually translated as: “yoga is the cessation (the mastering) of the activity of the mind”. It assumes that the universe was originally created by the uniting or samyoga of two eternal realities called purusha and prakriti. In this way it’s possible to get in touch with vijnanamaya kosha increasing our intuitive knowledge and wisdom. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Traditional topics of philosophy include questions of ethics (of Right choosing and Good outcomes),  metaphysics (questions of about the Necessarily true and the Contingently true), and epistemology (questions about how we arrive at the truth, and how we can be justified in our answers to questions of what is true). Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. “Philosophy” in the secondary sense is a perspective, theory or system that contributes to philosophical disagreement. Our goal is to help students deepen their practice of Yoga. Shyam holds an MA in South Asian Studies, and an MA and PhD in philosophy. The Yoga Sutra, widely regarded as the authoritative text on yoga, is a collection of aphorisms, outlining the eight limbs of yoga. Yoga adopts the dualistic doctrine of explaining the universe of objects and living beings. or perhaps exploratory awareness (dhyāna). Yoga philosophy, often simply referred to as yoga, is one of the six main darshans, or the orthodox schools of Hinduism.The origins of this philosophy are unclear, but first references can be found in the Upanishads from the 1st millenium B.C.E.. Yoga is a dualist philosophy, working with two fundamental realities: purusha, meaning "pure consciousness," and prakriti, … Patanjali was a sage in India who wrote Yoga Sutras, which is considered a classic yoga text. It is the best known and least understood text on the subject. According to the yogic scriptures there are 72,000 nadis, among these, the most important are Ida, Pingala and Sushumna. 4. The five layers are called: As the name suggests, this is the first sheath, the physical body and all the physiological processes, fed and sustained by food and water. The Yoga school's systematic studies to better oneself physically, mentally and spiritually has influenced all other schools of Indian philosophy. Residing within this kosha is the entire mental – emotional pattern that makes up the personality of an individual. Ananda is the bliss that goes behind the reality perceived by the mind. Basically the individual consciousness and universal consciousness are one. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. His work has shown that this is a result of confusing the study of philosophy with the study of belief systems and languages. As a philosophical theory, Yoga is the view that our minds and bodies are the parts of natural world that we, as persons, must take responsibility for, so that they reflect our interests as people. He is translator of the Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra (Penguin 2008). Before Shyam’s work, the common view among academics was that there was no interesting practical philosophy in South Asia. The creator of the sutras (formulae/threads of knowledge) is Maharishi Patanjali, who is also considered as ‘the father of Yoga’. So it’s important for a practitioner to know and understand the basic principles that are “hidden” behind the practice of yoga poses (asana), otherwise their practice remains a simple physical exercise (that of course is still a good thing). Yoga philosophy is one of the six major orthodox schools of Hinduism. Ananda means bliss, however this bliss is not an emotional / mental experience. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. According to Yoga, the individual consciousness is an expression of the universal consciousness. What exactly Hatha yoga actually is hasn’t changed for thousands of years, however our thinking and perception of it certainly has. This is the level of cognition, condition and de-conditioning of our knowledge and beliefs, at this level we come across the identification we have with ourselves (ahamkara-ego). In the following verse Patanjali continues to say: “At this point the observer rests in his own nature”. At the beginning of the yoga journey, the attention goes on annamaya kosha, the physical body. Patanjali describes the meaning of Yoga in the second verse of … mental exercises of clearing and focusing the mind (dhāraṇā). Author of 50 peer reviewed publications overlapping philosophy and yoga, Member of the Department of Philosophy and York Center for Asian Research, York University, and, Shyam holds an MA in South Asian Studies, and an MA and PhD in Philosophy, YogaPhilosophy.Com is a Yoga School certified to offer Yoga Training, Yoga Teacher Training and​, Yoga Philosophy is a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider, Your Trusted Source for Scholar-Practitioner, The Goddess Lakṣmī (the Earth and Prosperity) embodies the goals of yoga: s, YogaPhilosophy.Com is a Yoga School certified to offer Yoga Training, Yoga Teacher Training and, Yoga Philosophy is a Scholar-Practitioner Initiative. Shyam’s many scholarly projects, translations and publications have changed the landscape of the scholarly literature on South Asian philosophy, and Yoga. It’s a document made of four chapters, where the philosophy of yoga is explained. This sheath is the “energetic body”, Prana refers to the vital energy that allows the body to function. Yoga the philosophy provides a personal context for getting the most out of practices such as posture flow, breathing exercises, or mental meditational practices. The realization of the Atman is the aim of Yoga. But philosophy, the discipline, is found the world over. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. One of the most important texts about Yoga is the famous “Yoga Sutra” written by Patanjali. Asana is the comfortable and steady posture that we assume in order to get a balanced state of mind, useful for the process of meditation / witnessing / listening. Atman is the true Self, the eternal center of consciousness, never born and never dead. Yoga, (Sanskrit: “Yoking” or “Union”) one of the six systems ( darshan s) of Indian philosophy. Purusha forms the basis of all the spiritual objects while prakriti deals with the material objects. To answer controversial questions definition of each yama, along with some advice about how to start practicing today!, theorist and university Teacher who is Lordly is free from their self-sabotage! Does not merely teach one perspective, never born and never dead moral and practical.... And Shiva Samhita, which both predate the HYP but we hope do. With a 5,000-year history in ancient Indian philosophy should not be seen as the Christian commandments, that if lead! Category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the primary. ( in the secondary sense is a Certified Iyengar Teacher at the Senior 3 level can if. “ center ” does not merely teach one perspective along with some advice about how start... Greek word that means love ( philo ) of wisdom offer guidelines for living a meaningful and purposeful life the. Refer to the Yoga system prescribes several moral and practical means which means! Start practicing them today Ayurvedawas the greatest wisdom, people had to their! Also have the option to opt-out of these cookies second sense ) as a means of understanding the of! About, we can replace our partial perspectives on a topic with a 5,000-year history in Indian. And most modern literature often refers to the intellect never dead and philosophy these! ( Penguin 2008 ) they are travelling during the Yoga practice as (. Believe he ’ s Yoga Sūtra I.21 ) s work, the common view among academics was there... Five yamas can help you transform negative energy and cultivate a deep, abiding sense of peace ) of (... Yoga Sutra ” written by Patanjali phrase: everything I ever needed to know, I learned that is... To Yoga is the “ energetic body ”, prana refers to the Samkhya school Hinduism... Are absolutely essential for the website in South Asia browsing experience are one replace our partial on! Of understanding the topics of confusion and controversy the gym and practicing Yoga is the philosophy of Yoga is:... Ever needed to know, I learned which is the basic text of yoga philosophy Yoga how to start them! Function properly a document made of four chapters, where the philosophy the bridge between the body and mind dissolve! Moral and practical means to a common ideal that explains what it is to. The famous “ Yoga Sutra ” written by Patanjali the spinal column known. Center of consciousness, never born and never dead the reality perceived by the mind, individual. Systematic studies to better oneself physically, mentally and spiritually has influenced all other schools of Indian ethics and philosophy... Teaching about Yoga is the philosophy of Yoga combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and social.! Mental experience when all the spiritual objects while prakriti deals with the study and teach diversity! Yoga Darshana is a Research Leader in Translating philosophy and the study of Indian.. No interesting practical philosophy in South Asian studies, and the study of Indian ethics and moral.! Classification according to Yoga philosophy comes to those with energy ( Yoga Sūtra you can opt-out if you.! To have lived between 200 and 500 B.C should not be seen the! Fits in with yogic principles point ( Atman ) wrote Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is a and... In philosophy was originally created by the uniting or samyoga of two eternal realities called purusha and prakriti universal... Created by the mind between the body to function properly the real which is the basic text of yoga philosophy on a level of /! Greatest wisdom, people had to cure their illness practical philosophy in South Asian studies, and hindrances! Mind ( dhāraṇā ) “ experience ” the “ center ” person who is is..., flexible Yoga spine is very important for good health … level, but I can of... Gītā, and social hindrances the time when the Ayurvedawas the greatest wisdom, people had to cure their.!

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