Spiritual Disciplines
Yoga “Yug” – yoke or union
State of “living in the divine”
Four Paths
Bhakti Yoga “To Share”
Most common path
Path of Devotion or Love
Ishta Mantra
Japam
Jnana Yoga
Path of Knowledge
Way of Wisdom
Intellectual Orientation; Spiritual Insight
Who am I?
Neti-Neti “not this, not this”
Karma Yoga
Path of Selfless Action
Putting yourself to work helping others without any thought to your own reward
Every act part of the divine that we all share
Raja Yoga Raj – reintegration
Path of Stillness
Samadhi or union with the divine is your goal
Sadhanas or “practices” Date back in time Coherent system finally
developed by 2nd century
Pantanajali’s sutras or threads (196 total – eight steps)
First, the body The body is full of energy
(kundalini)
Seven chakras or circles. They move energy
Must move energy through the body in order to reintegrate and reach higher consciousness
Chakras
Mooladhara or “base”
Swadishthan or “sacral”
Nabhi (Manipura) or “solar plexus”
Anahat, Anahata or “Heart”
Vishuddhi or “throat”
Agnya or “brow”
Sahasara or “crown” – 1000-petal lotus
Step One
Yamas Self-control
Five Abstentions Ahimsa or “non-injury” Satya Bramacharya No Greed No Theft
Step Two
Niyamas or observances
5 observances Cleanliness Contentment Self-Control Studiousness Contemplation of the
Divine
Works with step one
Clears your visual field by removing you from concerns of this world
Step Three
Asanas or posture
Most common is the lotus (padmasana)
Align chakras for good energy flow
Step Four Pranayamas or breath
control
Prana is life energy
Three basic types of breath Clavicular Thoracic Deep Abdomina
Step Five
Pratyahara or sense control
Learning to control all of the data you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch
Step Six
Dharana
Steadying the Mind
Working to Focus on One Thing
Mantras again are helpful as are ishtas
Yantras – linear image
Step Seven
Dhyana
Meditation
Start Experiencing Loss of Self
Step Eight
Samadhi Sam = with Adhi = divine or Lord
Higher Consciousness or Illumination