YOGA

Of the six systems of Hindu Philosophy, Yoga is gaining popularity in modern  times.   The Yoga Patanjali is a Meta-Psychological technique based upon the  philosophy of Sankhya. It is based upon the principles that the  outward reality  has its roots in the inward and hat the realizaton of thea ultimate  TRUTH is therefore is the REALIZATION of the  most INWARD BEING in man, namely  the ATMAN. 

By Meditating on this ATMAN one can obtain Salvation or  Moksha. Meditation is enhanced Devotion to this Atman. Since every thing is due  to the tansformation of Reason, ( Chitta, Budhi,) Yoga consists f controlling these  transformations. Control over Chitta gives the power of control over every thing. Control does not mean killing Chitta but fixing it  constantly on some thing. Such a fixing is called CONCENTRATION. This has FIVE STAGES

THE LIMBS YOGA:. 

• YAMA: This is the First limb of Yoga. This consists a code of DO’S like what to observe in daily conduct. These are    A- Truth-fulness,   B- Non-stealing, C-Celibacy.   D- Non-injury,  And  Non-acceptance of gifts from others.

• NIYAMA: This is the Second limb of  Yoga. This consists a code of  DON’TS  like what to avoid.  These are A- Driving the impurities from the Mind.     B- Avoiding all the bad actions etc. 

• ASANAS:  These constitute the Third limb of  Yoga. Asanas are the practice of BODILY POSTURES. These will enable the body to sit in meditation for a long time and to maintain a balanced health in a Yogi.  

• PRANAYAMA: This is the Fourth limb of Yoga.  Controlling /regulation of Breath / Breathing. This includes a series of breathing exercises  practicing  under the guidance of an Adept. This furthe attunes the body for meditation purposes. 

• PRATYAHARA:  This is the Fifth limb of Yoga. It is withdrawal of the inward movements of the  Mind from the Object to Reason. Thus there may be colours in front but the eyes may not see them because the Mind is fixed  upon some thing else. 

• DHARANA: This is the Sixth limb of the Yoga. It means “Holding on,” the Mind to an object or keeping attention continously on a single object or ideal concentrated continously. It is uninterupted attention to the object without disturbances or agitations.

• DHYANA: This is the Seventh limb of Yoga. It means MEDITATION. It is the spontaneous flow  of the process of the CHITTA (Mind.) in the pattern of the object of Concentration. 

• SAMADHI: This is the Eighth limb of Yoga. It is the Spiritual Ecstacy or the Trance experienced by the Yogi. In it the Meditator becomes the object of the Meditation itself. In   otherwards it is THE UNION WITH GOD.  

THE PERFECT YOGIS:

  The Perfect Yogis achieve ASHTA SIDHIS or the Eight Great Powers. THESE ARE:

• Materialisation of Objects (Aport,) That is bringing objects just from the air by mere wish.

• Clairvoyance. (Jnana Dhrishti,) That is looking at distand objects and events through the inner eye and explaining them  clearly.

• Clair-audience. That is listening to sounds and speeches at long distances and narrating them.

• Anima: That is capacity to reduce one-self in to the size of an atom or any small size and shape.

• Garima: Expanding oneself to any large size or shape.

• Mahima: Wishing any amount of energy.

• Levitation: Floating as a feather in to the Air.

BUT THE PERFECT YOGIS DESPITE THEIR MASTERY OVER HATHA  YOGA will not  perform   such miracles. They are least  bothered of publicity or popularity. They will display their  powers unless there is absolute need for it.