Ashtanga yoga according to Maharshi Patanjali
Ashta + anga is Ashtanga in Sanskrit, “Ashta” means Eight and “Anga” means limbs, so it means eight limb path, Ashtanga yoga s based on yoga philosophy of patanjali.
The philosophical basis of Ashtanga yoga can be found in the “Yoga Sutra” Sutra means a brief statement which explains the ancient Spiritual texts of threaded, string, line, short rule etc. According to western Indian the yoga sutra was written between 400 BC and 200 AB. the yoga sutra is the most important text of classical yoga. The author, Patanjali, collected and systematized the existing techniques and knowledge of his time in this work. The yoga sutra defines yoga as “the quieting of the mind” (Yogas Chitta – Vritti- Nirodha). Only with a calm mind can the true nature of existence be realized, in the yoga sutras, Patanjali describes adherence to eight “limbs” or steps (the sum of which constitute “Ashtanga Yoga” the title of the second chapter) to quiet one`s mind and reach kaivalya (Solitariness or detachment), which is the ultimate goal of yoga.
Patanjali divided his yoga sutras into 4 chapters or books (Sanskrit pada) containing in all 196 aphorisms.
Samadhi Pada(51 sutras). Samadhi refers to a blissful state where the yogi is absorbed into the one. Samadhi is the main teqnique the yogi leans by which to dive depths of the mind to achieve kaivala. This chapter contains the famous definitional verse “yogas Chitta- Vritti-nirodha” (yoga is the restraint of mental modifications).
Sadhana Pada(55 Sutras) Sadhana is the Sanskrit word for “practice or discipline, here the author outlines two forms of yoga: Kriya yoga (action yoga) and Ashtanga yoga (eightfold or eightlimbed yoga). Ashtanga yoga describes the eight limbs that together constitute RajaYoga.
VibhutiPada(56 Sutras)
KaivalyaPada(34 Sutras)
Roots of the vinyasa systems of Ashtanga yoga can be found even earlier. They date back to the first written document of mankind, the Vedas, altogether there are four Vedas: the Rig-Veda,TheYajur-Veda, the Sama Veda and the Atharva- Veda, two of them include references to the Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga practice/System.
The Eight limbs of yoga
Ashtanga Yoga consists of the following limbs:
The first five are called external aids to yoga (Bahiranga Sadhana)
1. - Yama refers to the five abstentions
The first limb consists of a set of ethics, which ensures that the yogi interacts in a harmonious way with the surrounding community.
The ethical precepts are not to harm others, to be truthful, not to steal, to engage in intercourse only with one`s partner and to abstain from greed.
- Ahimsa: non violence
- Satya: truth in word and thought
- Asteya: Non-covetousness.
- Brahmacharya: abstinence, particularly in the case of sexual activity. It necessarily implies celibacy, also responsible behavior with respect to our goal of moving toward the truth.
- Aparigraha: non-possessivness
2. - Niyama refers to the five observances
The second limb consists of observances, which ensure that body and mind are not polluted once they have been purified. Purification in yoga has nothing to do with Puritanism. Rather it refers to the propensity of the body/mind.
Stain ability is the propensity of the body and mind to take on a conditioning or imprint from the environment. The observances are physical and mental cleanliness, contentment, simplicity, study of sacred texts and acceptance of the existence of the Supreme Being. The first two limbs are initially implement eel from the outside, and they form a platform from which practice is undertaken, once we are established in yoga they become our second nature: they will arise naturally.
- Shaueha:cleanliness of body and mind
- Santosha: Satisfaction
- Tapas: austerity and associated observances for body discipline and thereby mental control.
- Svadhyaya: study of the vedic scriptures to know about God and Soul, which leads to introspection on a greater awakening to the soul and God within.
- IshvaraPranidhana: Surrender to God, or worship of God.
3. - Asana Discipline of the body:
rules and postures to keep it disease – free and for preserving vital energy. Correct postures are a physical aid to meditation, for they control the limbs and nervous system and prevent them from producing disturbances.
Many obstacles to knowing one`s true nature are manifested in the body, for example disease, sluggishness and dullness. The body profoundly influences and it in bad condition impinges on the functioning of mind and intellect.
Through the practice of yoga asanas the body is made strong and light like the body of a “Lion”. Only then it will provide the ideal vehicle on the path of yoga.
As the yoga sutra explains, every thought, emotion and experience leaves a subconscious imprint (Sanskara) in the mind.
These imprints determine who we will be in the future. The body we have today is nothing but the accumulation of our past thoughts, emotions and actions. In fact our body is the crystallized history of our past thoughts.
Asana is the method that releases us from past conditioning, stored in the body, to arrive in the present moment.
It is to be noted that if you practicing forcefully it will only super impose a new layer of subconscious imprints based on suffering and pain. It will also increase identification with the body. In yoga identification with anything that is impermanent is called ignorance (avidya).
Since the body is our vehicle of our past we want to practice asana to the point where it serves us well, while releasing and letting go of the past that is stored in it.
Yoga is the middle path between two extremes. We can go to the extreme of practicing fanatically, striving for an ideal while denying the reality of this present moment.
The problem with this is that we are only ever relating to ourselves as what we want to become in the future and not as we are right now.
The other extreme is focus on highlighting past traumas. If we do this, these traumas can increase their grip on us, and we relate to ourselves as we have in the past, defining ourselves by the stuff that’s coming up and the process that we are going through.
Asana is an invitation to say goodbye to these extremes and arrive at the truth of the present moment.
How do we do to past emotions, thoughts and impressions manifested in the body?
If we consciously let go of the anger, the emotion will disappear, if not, it will surface in some other form, possibly as an act of aggression or as a chronic disease.
Asana invites us to acknowledge the past and let it go. This will in turn bring us in to the present moment and allow us to let go of limiting concepts such as who we think we are.
4. - Pranayama
Control of breath beneficial to health, steadies the body and is highly conducive to the concentration of the mind.
Prana is the life force, also referred to as the inner breath. Pranayama means extension of prana.
The pulsating or oscillating of prana happens simultaneously with the movements of the mind (Chittavritti). The practice of pranayama is the study and exercise of one`s breath to a point where it is appeased and does not agitate the mind.
In the vinyasa system, pranayama is practiced through applying the ujjayi breath. By slightly constricting the glottis, the breath is stretched long. We learn to let the movement follow the breath, which eventually leads to the body effortlessly riding the waves of breath. At this point it`s not we who move the body, but rather the power of prana. We become able to breathe into all parts of the body which is equivalent to spreading the prana evenly throughout, this ayama –the extension of the breath.
In a yogic point of view, proper breathing is to bring more oxygen to the blood and to the brain and to control prana or the vital life energy.
Pranayama Yoga also goes hand in hand with the asanas.
The union of these two yogic principles is considered as the highest form of purification and self-discipline, covering both mind and body.
5. - Pratyahara
Withdrawal of senses from their external objects, in Vinyasa Yoga, sense withdrawal is practiced through drishti- focal point. Instead of looking around while practicing asana, which leads to the senses reaching out we stay internal by turning our gale towards prescribed locations, these are: towards the nose
Towards the centre of the forehead (third eye)
Towards the navel,
Towards the fingertips,
Towards the toes,
Towards the side, towards the thumb upwards
6. - Dharana
Concentration of the chitta upon a physical object, such as a flame, the midpoint of the eyebrows, this is used in meditation, the training of concentration enables us to stay focused or whatever object us to stay focused on whatever object is chosen.
First, simple objects are selected which in turn prepare us for the ultimate object, formless consciousness which is nothing but pure awareness.
Concentration in vinyasa yoga is practiced by focusing on the bandhas (bonding). On an external level the focus is on mala and uddiyanaBandha(Pelvic and Lower abdominal locks)
But on an internal level it is on the bonding together of movement, breath and awareness. To archive this bonding, we have to let go of the beta brain-wave pattern, which normally accompanies concentration.
Instead we need to shift to an alpha pattern, which enables multiple focus and leads into simultaneous awareness of everything, or being in this moment which is meditation.
7. - Dhayana
Meditation means to rest, uninfluenced, between the extremes of the mind and suddenly just be instead of becoming. The difference between this and the previous limb is that in concentration, there is a conscious effort to exclude all thoughts that are not relevant to our choose object. Typical objects choose are the inner sound, the breath the body.
8. - Samadhi
Oneness with the object of meditation, there is no distinction between act of meditation and the object of meditation.
Samadhi is the highest form of yoga there is two kinds objective and objective less. Objective Samadhi is when the mind for the first time, clear reflects faithfully what it is directed at and does not just produce anothersimulationofreality.
Objectless Samadhi is the highest form of yoga. It does not depend on an object but rather witnessing subject or awareness which is our true nature is revealed.
In this Samadhi the thought waves are suspended which leads to knowing of that which was always there, consciousness or the divine self. The final state is beyond achieving, beyond doing, beyond practicing. It is a state of pure ecstatic being described by the tern kavalya a state in which there is total freedom and independence from any external stimulation whatsoever.
- Yama (dealing with others)
- Niyama (dealing with oneself)
- Asana (position)
- Pranayama (breath control)
- Pratyahara (fasting with the senses)
- Dharana (concentration)
- Dhyana (meditation)
- Samadhi (self-awareness))
The yoga as stated by Patanjali is enumerated through Sanskrit and hence contains only the main and the important thoughts. The first abhorism of the first pada(part) introduces yoga as:
Athayoganushasanam
That means the anushasan of Yoga(description) is stated hence forth. That is to be understood and followed. The next aphorism states the purpose of the yoga.
Yoga chittavrittinirodhah
This means that yoga means controlling the thought waves of the mind. The thoughts, feelings, emotions arising in the mind are vrittis (nature), which should be controlled, this is called yoga.
The broader perspective is expected and the word chitta here means individual consciousness, which cover all states conscious, sub conscious and unconscious.
While trying to control the vrittis (thoughts, emotions, feelings), certain disturbances are created which stop or divert the growth. Patanjali has addressed them as Antary (Disturbances) creating chittavikshepa.
- Vyadhi - Disease
- Styan - Dangour
- Samshay - Doubt
- Pramad - carelessness
- Alashya - Laziness
- Bharanti - Hallucinations
- Alabdhabhoomikatva - Non achievement of stage
- Anavasthitattva - instability
This is some background of Ashtanga yoga stated by Patanjali.
There is so much more to write about Ashtanga yoga and Patanjali so I could write even more pages.
But with this I am finishing the assignment of Ashtanga yoga according to Maharshi Patanjali.
