Yoga and Meditation

Yoga means to "unite" or "join" the aspects of ourselves which were never really divided in the first place. It also means to "yoke" or to engage ourselves in a self-training program. Yoga means working with each of the levels or aspects of our being individually, and then unifying all of those into their original whole, or Yoga. Yoga is a Sanskrit word coming from the root "yuj" and relates to both the processes or practices referred to as Yoga and also the goal itself, which is also called Yoga. As the goal, the word Yoga is virtually one and the same with the word Samadhi, the deep, transcendent realization of the highest truth or reality.

Terms for the Goal of Yoga: The goal or destination of Yoga is Yoga itself, union itself, of the little self and the True Self, a process of awakening to the preexisting union that is called Yoga. Yoga has to do with the realization through direct experience of the preexisting union between Atman and Brahman, Jivatman and Paramatman, and Shiva and Shakti, or the realization of Purusha standing alone as separate from Prakriti. Each of these terms relates to the subtleties of Yoga as described in the various paths of Yoga, Vedanta, and Tantra.

Art and Science of Yoga Meditation: Yoga Meditation is the art and science of systematically observing, accepting, understanding, and training each of the levels of our being, such that we may coordinate and integrate those aspects of ourselves, and dwell in the direct experience of the center of consciousness. There is a 16-page description of traditional Yoga Meditation, which explains the process in practical terms, and simple language.

Yoga and Six Schools of Indian Philosophy: To understand the true nature of Yoga as a path of spiritual realization, it is necessary to have some small understanding of the six classical schools or systems of Indian philosophy, of which Yoga is one. By understanding Yoga in that context, it is easier to more fully delve into Yoga as the enlightenment practice that it actually is, rather than the mere physical fitness program it has come to be known as.

Yoga Darshana: Yoga darshana is one of the most ancient darshanas. The word darshana comes from the root drishyate anena which means, “that through which you can see.” That particular system through which you can see Reality is called darshana. Just as you can see yourself in the mirror, so also, through Yoga darshana, the Yoga Sutras, can you see the Self. Darshana is not the same thing as philosophy. Philosophy is a compound word meaning “love for knowledge.” Darshana is not a mere love for knowledge. This is one difference between oriental and occidental philosophy: the ultimate goal of darshana is to see Reality. Yoga science is based on Samkhya philosophy, which is the very basis of all sciences. Samkhya (samyag akhyate) means, “that which explains the whole.” Samkhya embraces the whole universe—how the universe came into existence, and all relationships within the universe.


Yoga Meditation Visualized:
1) Awareness Manifests Outward to the World
Yoga, Sankhya, Vedanta, and Tantra view the human as manifesting outward step-by-step, whereby the subtler consciousness projects evermore outward, and then gradually forgets those subtler levels. Genesis also explains this outward movement when seen through the eye of the Yogi or mystic. (Sankhya, Vedanta, Tantra, Adhyasa)
2) In Yoga Each Aspect is Trained
Yoga is complete unto itself. In Yoga, each level of our being is trained independently, while also being trained to flow together. The systematic processes deal one-by-one with our actions in the world, senses, body, breath, and and both the conscious and unconscious aspects of mind.
3) Awareness Recedes to the State of Yoga
Yoga or "Union" is attained by first training, balancing, and purifying each of the aspects of our being individually, and then systematically receding attention inward through those levels, expanding so as to experience the state of Union, Yoga, Samadhi, or Turiya.

Body and Breath:
The Yoga practices with Body and Breath bring health benefits and balance in life. However, many people stop at the Breath, and are unwilling to explore or train the Mind. It is like building a wall between the Yogic stages of Breath and Mind. Some sincere seekers delay out of fear. Others incorrectly believe that Yoga is only about physical fitness. The key for the sincere seeker of the highest joy of Yoga is to be gentle and loving towards yourself, and persist with all levels of Yoga, including directly dealing with the Mind itself.

Yoga is a Science: Yoga science does not tell you what to do and what not to do, but teaches you how to be. Yoga science is a science of life that helps you to know the known and unknown parts of life, that helps you to liberate yourself from pains and miseries, and that helps you to attain that state which is free from pains and miseries.

Maslow and Yoga Psychology: Abraham Maslow introduced a model of developmental psychology that has become extremely well known not only in the field of psychology, but also in management and other human sciences. It describes five developmental stages, which are based on what Maslow calls human needs. Thus, his model is known as Maslow's Needs Hierarchy. In his later years, he expanded his model to include the higher levels of human experience. The comparison of the stages of Yoga Psychology to the stages of Maslow's Needs Hierarchy is being presented here as a way of explaining the nature of Yoga as a process of developmental self-awareness or unfoldment, which reaches still higher levels of human development or experience. Yoga Psychology deals with living in the world and also with transcendence into and through the higher reaches of human consciousness.

Kundalini Awakening and Yoga: At the base of the spine, subtler than the physical body, lies the Kundalini energy, or spiritual energy, in a latent form. Regardless of what religious, spiritual, or meditation tradition one follows, the awakening of this energy, by whatever name you call it, is a most innate and essential part of spiritual advancement, unfoldment, or realization. While some use a specific terminology "Kundalini Yoga" for certain practices, all of Yoga actually leads to the activation of Kundalini. Thus, in a sense, all of Yoga is Kundalini Yoga, regardless of whether you use that specific name.

Money, Sex, Fame, Health and Yoga: Everybody wants happiness. However, we usually seek it in ways that are dependent on external stimulus, as if an outer cause leads to an inner effect of happiness. Surely this process of stimulus-response works to some degree; we have all experienced this in different ways, where getting what we want seems to make us feel good, and not getting what we want seems to make us feel bad. However, what if we knew how to be happy without any stimulus whatsoever? What if you could just rest in the deepest feeling of joy, regardless of the external circumstances?

Meaning and Purpose of Yoga: Like many arts and sciences that are profound, beautiful, and powerful, Yoga has suffered from the spiritual poverty of the modern world--it has been trivialized, watered down, or reduced to cliches. The deep and eternal essence of Yoga has been misrepresented and packaged for personal profit by clever people. At the hands of some, Yoga has been reduced to the status of just another exercise program available on videotape. In other contexts, Yoga has been presented as a cult religion, aimed at attracting "devotees." Such a haze of confusion has been created around the clear and pure concept of Yoga that it is now necessary to redefine Yoga and clarify its meaning and purpose. Yoga defines itself as a science--that is, as a practical, methodical, and systematic discipline or set of techniques that have the lofty goal of helping human beings to become aware of their deepest nature. The goal of seeking to experience this deepest potential is not part of a religious process, but an experiential science of self-study.

Yoga and the Stages of Life: In the ancient Indian tradition, one planned the years of life in four ashrams or stages, with the style of Yoga practiced in each stage chosen to match the circumstances of that stage. A life of 84+ years was sought, with each of the four stages being 21 years. Some have revised these into four stages of 25 years, seeking a life of 100+ years. The purpose for this life planning is to attain the direct experience of Self-realization, Yoga or enlightenment here, in this world, in this very life. While our lifestyles may have changed since then, the basic idea of these four stages is as sound today as it was then.

Asana or Posture in Yoga: The third of the eight rungs (Yoga Sutra 2.29) of Yoga is Asana, or sitting posture for the later rungs. The word Asana comes from the root ~as, which means "to sit". Yoga has been defined as the mastery of the thought patterns of mind field (Yoga Sutra 1.2), so that Self-realization can be experienced (Yoga Sutra 1.3). To be able to do the meditation practices that allow this, it is essential that the posture be (Yoga Sutra 2.46) steady and comfortable.



Pratyahara and Yoga: Pratyahara is the withdrawal of the senses (indriyas) of cognition and action from both the external world and the images or impressions in the mind field (2.54). The senses are said to follow the mind in the same way the hive of bees follows the queen bee. Wherever she goes, they will follow. Similarly, if the mind truly goes inward, the senses will come racing behind. Pratyahara is rung five of the eight rungs.

Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi, and Yoga: The last three rungs of Yoga are Dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi. Dharana is concentration, the process of holding or fixing the attention of mind onto one object or place (Yoga Sutra 3.1). Dhyana is meditation, sustained concentration, whereby the attention continues to hold or repeat the same object or place (Yoga Sutra 3.2). Samadhi is the deep absorption, wherein only the essence of that object, place, or point shines forth in the mind, as if the mind were devoid even of its own form (Yoga Sutra 3.3).

: The fourth of the eight rungs (Yoga Sutra 2.29) of Yoga is Pranayama, which is regulating the breath so as to make it slow and subtle (Yoga Sutra 2.50), leading to the experience of the steady flow of energy (prana), which is beyond or underneath exhalation, inhalation, and the transitions between them (Yoga Sutra 2.51). The three pranayamas are exhalation, inhalation, and the transition (Yoga Sutra 2.50). However, the fourth pranayama is that continuous prana which surpasses, is beyond, or behind the others (Yoga Sutra 2.51). The experience and repeated practice of this fourth pranayama thins the veil of karma, which usually clouds the inner light, allowing that to come shining through (Yoga Sutra 2.52). To successfully practice and attain the full benefits of breath control and pranayama, it is necessary that it be built on the solid foundation of a steady and comfortable sitting posture (Yoga Sutras 2.46-2.48). Through these practices and processes of pranayama the mind acquires or develops the fitness, qualification, or capability for concentration (dharana), which is the sixth rung (Yoga Sutras 3.1-3.3).