Modules 1 - 2

Yoga

Union. Reunifying with the Spirit

What do souls do?

Some reconnect fully and liberate themselves whilst others remain estranged without the full connection.

Suffering or loss is due to what?

The fact that we are estranged from Brahman.

Hatha Yoga

Yoga of the physical body.

Raja Yoga

Use of the eight limbs of yoga: asana, yamas, niyamas, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi.

Karma Yoga

The yoga of positive and spiritual action without seeking anything in return. These people humbly dedicate their life to looking after their family and tend to have good relationships with people.

Examples of Karma Yoga

Selfless service, giving/donating, listening, teaching or preaching.

Bhakti Yoga

Yoga of loving the Divine through devotion, prayer, faith and belief. It’s having blind faith and love for God.

Examples of Bhakti Yoga

Prayers, Reading the gospel, praise, worship, bhajans, aarti, fasting and festivals.

What does fasting do?

It shows discipline and faith in the soul’s energy, as opposed to temptation, desire and habit.

Gyana Yoga

Yoga of wisdom, intuition and inner truth

Wisdom

Positive discrimination, the ability to choose correctly and distinguish the good actions from the bad.

What is wisdom?

1 of the 5 aspects of the soul. A feeling, not a thought and cannot be heard until the mind is still. It comes from the soul.

What does wisdom give?

It will give direction and guidance in tune with the soul and the eternal rights and wrongs of the universe.

What can practicing Gyana yoga do?

It can help you align to wisdom and truth. Helps you be closer to union with God’s consciousness and with practice this can become a samskara.

Samskara

Behavioural pattern.

Gyana Yogi’s

They eventually know and understand everything as they are aligned with wisdom.

Kriya Yoga

Yoga of meditation, breathing and energy. They use techniques that are performed for the unification of the soul with the spirit.

Mantra Yoga

The yoga of sound. Its continuous chanting to settle the mind and to be completely focused. It’s able to open your chakras.

Asana

Physical work, disciplines and observances.

Yama

Public codes of conduct

Niyama

private codes of conduct

Pranayama

Control of life force, energy/chi in the body

Pratyahara

Sense of withdrawal

Dharana

The concentration of consciousness

Dhyana

Meditation, concentration on the soul, spirit

Samadhi

Liberation of the soul into the Spirit; the aim of yoga.

Why is asana important?

You need a strong, healthy body so you are able to develop spiritually. It allows you to grow at a better and quicker pace.

Ahimsa

Yama, non-violence.

Asteya

Yama, non-stealing

aparigraha

Yama, non-coveting/non-hoarding

Brahmacharya

Yama, Observance of God’s will

Satya

Yama, truthfulness

Saucha

Niyama, purity

Santosha

Niyama, contentment

swadhyaya

Niyama, study of self

Ishwarapranidhana

Niyama, deovtion/worship of aum

Tapas

Niyama, fiery determination/control/transformation

What is prana

It is life force and can be found everywhere in creation (air, food, water, space).

How do you practice pranayama

By thought control, control of intake of food and water, control of heat and control of breathing.

Benefits of breath control

Slows the mind, preserves energy and temporarily withdraws the consciousness back to its source. It can help you stay healthy

What is pratyahara

The bridge that takes us from one side (physical) to the other side (spiritual) and is practised by relaxation.

How do you practise dharana

By concentrating and focussing the energy, willpower and consciousness in what we are doing.

What is samadhi

When you have dissolved your ego back into the soul and the soul back into the spirit.

Why do you attain samadhi?

Purely to elevate your soul towards God.

Sanatan Dharma

Eternal Truth

What is Sanatan Dharma

Its a metaphysical and spiritual path leading towards understanding, alignment and liberation into Brahman.

manusmriti

An ancient scripture that is claimed to be a smriti. Its a guide book for how to create and maintain a civil sociological structure.

samkhya philosophy

Explains the meeting of maya and the soul and is technical as a key metaphysical and scientific part of Sanatan Dharma.

pradipika

something which casts light on a subject

sutra

rulebook

Itihasa

A timeless, ever present and eternally applicable event (Mahabharata)

Hatha Yoga pradipika, Gheranda Samhita, Vasistha Samhita

Manual of Yoga

Yoga Sutras

Patanjali’s update on yoga

Bhagavad Gita

Lord Krishna’s exposition of Sanatan Dharma

Ramayana

Lord Rama’s exposition of Sanatan Dharma

ChiKri 8 limbs

Physical exercise

Diet and Health

Breathing Exercises

Inspiration

Science

Creativity

Service

Liberation