Chapter 2

Yoga

Yoga

The act of reunifying with the Spirit through various paths and practices to achieve oneness with the Spirit and oneself.

Hatha Yoga

The yoga of the physical body, focusing on health and vitality through postures (asanas) and originating from Lord Shiva's teachings.

Raja Yoga

A technical system created by Patanjali with eight limbs, aiming for samadhi, the conclusion of meditation, and oneness with the Spirit.

Karma Yoga

The yoga of positive, spiritual, and selfless action, offering the benefits of labor to the universe or God without seeking anything in return.

Bhakti Yoga

The yoga of loving the Divine through devotion, prayer, and faith, emphasizing humble love and unwavering faith in the Divine.

Gyana Yoga

The yoga of wisdom, intuition, and inner truth, focusing on positive discrimination, aligning with truth, and building wisdom through experience.

Kriya Yoga

A technique involving specific meditation, breathing, and energy transformation practices for unifying the soul with the Spirit, considered a powerful meditation technique.

Mantra (Japa) Yoga

Involves continuous repetition of God's name, like chanting "Aum" or "Hare Krishna," to focus the mind, change subtly, and connect with the soul and Spirit.

Yoga Philosophy

Emphasizes the importance of physical health in personal, mental, and spiritual development, highlighting the body as the vehicle for life's journey.

Asana

Refers to yoga postures that aim to strengthen the physical body for meditation, focusing on correct positions for meditation and allowing energy flow.

Yamas and Niyamas

Ten disciplines of yoga, with Yamas focusing on public codes of conduct like non-violence and Niyamas on personal codes like purity and contentment.

Pranayama

Involves controlling the life force (prana) through practices beyond breathing exercises, including thought control and total control of all aspects, aiding in cleansing and health benefits.

Pratyahara

Acts as a bridge for conscious change, transitioning from the physical world led by senses to the spiritual world of the soul, often practiced through relaxation and inner journey.

Dharana

Concentration in yoga, gathering consciousness in one place or direction, essential for meditation and success in various yoga practices.

Meditation

Focuses on directing concentration towards the soul or spiritual aspects, excluding stimulation from senses for a strictly spiritual experience.

Samadhi

The ultimate aim of the Ashtanga Yoga System, involving the liberation of the soul into Spirit, aiming for union with the Divine and spiritual elevation.

Yoga and the Sanatan Dharma

Yoga is part of the Sanatan Dharma, the Eternal Truth/Way, a metaphysical and spiritual path open to all individuals, not limited to a specific religion.

The Word "Teacher"

Differentiates types of teachers in Sanskrit based on their abilities, such as Adhyapak/Upadhyaya for knowledge, Acharya for skills, Pandit for deep insight, Dhrishta for vision, and Guru for awakening wisdom.

Shruti

Divinely ordained literature ascribed to God, non-debatable, non-changeable, and eternal, such as the Vedas.

Smriti

Materially composed literature ascribed to humans, contemporary spiritual commentaries, not necessarily eternal, like the Manusmriti.

Vedas

Sacred texts divided into Samhita, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads, including Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Artharva Veda.

Upanishads

Philosophical summaries of the Vedas, focusing on metaphysics and expounded by teachers to students.

Vedangas

Supplementary Vedic literature covering sciences like Kalpa, Siksha, Vyakarana, Nirukti, Chandas, and Jyotisha.

Upavedas

Additional Vedic texts on arts and sciences such as Ayurveda, Gandharvaveda, Dhanurveda, and Shilpaveda.

Samkhya Philosophy

Dualistic school explaining the meeting of maya and the soul, a key part of Sanatan Dharma.

Pradipika

Something that sheds light on a subject.

Sutra

A rulebook.

Itihasa

Timeless and eternally applicable events like the Mahabharata epic.