Patanjali's Eight Limbed Ashtanga Yoga System
FIRST LIMB: YAMA (Five Universal
Moral Codes) |
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The
Yamas are the moral virtues that purify human nature
and contribute to the health and happiness of the
individual as well as the health and happiness of
society. |
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Ahimsa - Compassion for all living things:
Ahimsa literally means non-violence - to not injure
or show cruelty to any living creature in any way
whatsoever. However, Ahimsa also implies adopting an
attitude of friendliness, consideration and
compassion towards others as well as ourselves in
all situations.
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Satya
- Commitment to Truthfulness: This precept is
based on the understanding that honest communication
and action forms the foundation of all healthy
relationships and that deliberate deception,
exaggerations, and mistruths are destructive to the
deceiver as well as the deceived. Satya should never
come into conflict with our efforts to behave with
ahimsa.
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Asteya - Non-stealing: Non-stealing means
not only taking what belongs to another person
without permission but also borrowing something
beyond the time permitted by the owner or using it
for a purpose other than for which it is intended.
Asteya also means keeping other’s confidences as
well as consciousness regarding how we spend others’
time. Demanding another’s attention when it is not
freely given is in effect, stealing.
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Brahmacharya – Fidelity: Brahmacharya is
typically described as practicing abstinence for the
purpose of channeling our creative sexual energy
towards connection to the Divine Self. Brahmacharya
also suggests fostering relationships built upon
supporting our highest truths and that we don’t use
this energy to harm anyone in any way.
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Aparigraha – Defusing the desire to acquire
and hoard wealth: Aparigraha means
non-greediness. The yogis believe that hoarding
implies a lack of faith in the abundance of the
Divine Spirit. We need only take what we have earned
without exploiting anyone. Letting go of attachments
and understanding the impermanence of the manifest
world frees the aspirant from suffering.
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SECOND LIMB: NIYAMA (Five Personal
Observances)
Niyama means “rules” or “laws” prescribed for personal
observance. They refer to the attitude we adopt toward
ourselves in order to create a code for living soulfully.
The Yamas are intimate and personal.
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Sauca
– Purity and Cleanliness: Sauca has both an
inner and outer quality. Maintaining a physical
environment free of clutter is as important to the
clarity of the mind as cleansing it of disturbing
emotions like delusion, anger, hatred, lust, pride
and greed. Also keeping the physical body strong,
centered and calm with asana and pranayama are
essential means of cleansing both the inner and
outer sauca.
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Samtosha – Contentment: Samtosha embraces the
concept of “karma” that life’s lessons have a
purpose, to cultivate peace and contentment, even
delight, while experiencing life’s challenges.
Accepting that there is a “purpose for everything”
means being happy with what we have rather than
being unhappy about what we don’t have.
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Tapas
– Disciplined use of our energy: Tapas means to
bring discipline and ardor to all that we do, that
is to direct our energy to enthusiastically engage
life and achieve our ultimate goal of creating union
with the Divine. Literally, tapas burns up all the
desires that stand in the way of this goal.
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Svadhyaya – Self study: Svadhyaya literally
means “self-study or self-inquiry.” Any activity
that cultivates self-reflective consciousness can be
considered svadhyaya. Self-inquiry is a process that
teaches us to accept our limitations and cultivate a
non-reactive mind.
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Ishvarapranidhana – Devotion to the Divine Spirit:
Ishvarapranidhana means "to lay all your actions
at the feet of the Divine”. It is the recognition
that everyone and everything is infused with Divine
Consciousness. With positive thoughts and actions we
attune our self to the Spirit of Divine
Consciousness within. By doing so we honor that
force which is greater than our individual self.
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THIRD LIMB: ASANA (Posture)
Asana literally means “seat”. A steady and comfortable
meditative pose; Also a specific position of the body which
channels prana (life force) by opening the nadis (energy
channels) and chakras (pranic/psychic vortex in the body)
and removing granthis, (pranic/psychic knots in the subtle
energy body.)
FOURTH LIMB: PRANAYAMA (Breath control)
Pranayama are techniques of breathing and breath retention
that increase the pranic energy. The word is composed of two
Sanskrit words, Prāna which means life force, or vital
energy, particularly, the breath; and “āyāma” which means to
lengthen or extend. It is often translated as control of the
life force.
FIFTH LIMB: PRATYAHARA (Sense
withdrawal)
Pratyahara is the first stage of concentrating the mind by
withdrawing attachment to the five senses. At this stage,
the consciousness of the individual is internalized in order
that the sensations from the five senses (taste, touch,
sight, hearing and smell) don’t reach their respective
centres in the brain. With this, the sadhaka (disciple) is
free to mediate without distractions.
SIXTH LIMB: DHARANA (Concentration)
Dharana is the initial step of deep concentrative
meditation, where the object being focused upon is held in
the mind without consciousness wavering from it. The object
of meditation, the meditator and the act of meditation
remain separate. In the state of Dharana, the meditator is
conscious of the act of meditation.
SEVENTH LIMB: DHYANA (Meditation)
Dhyana is one-pointed absorption of the mind through
concentration on an object of meditation such as a form,
thought or sound. As the meditator becomes more advanced,
consciousness of the act of meditation disappears and only
the consciousness of being/existing and the object of
concentration exist in the mind.
EIGHTH LIMB: SAMADHI (Enlightenment)
Samadhi is the culmination of meditation; state of oneness
of the mind with the object of concentration: supramental
consciousness. It is the eighth and final limb of the Yoga
Sutras of Patanjali and comprises the pinnacle of
achievements in Samyama which is the
three-tiered practice of meditation comprised of dharana,
dhyana and samadhi.
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