The Eight Limbs of Yoga
The Eight Limbs of Yoga is a scientific, documented, and proven way to achieve enlightenment. The word Yoga means union. Yoga is about obliterating the boundaries of your individuality and becoming one with the cosmos. It is not just the various exercise postures that especially the western world has come to think of Yoga as.
Throughout the ages in India, countless Yogis have attained enlightenment. That was more true in ancient India when almost every guru was an accomplished Yogi, and a realized being. But unfortunately, due to being invaded and ruled by foreign powers for more than a thousand years, the ancient knowledge of Yoga suffered a tremendous decline.
Patanjali, the ancient sage, documented the Yogic process in Sutras or rules. If you wonder how long someone might take to read that document, let me surprise you to tell that the entire Yoga Sutras of Patanjali consists of only 196 short sentences. You cannot have something so profound documented with such simplicity.
The many enlightened beings who have lived through the ages are proof of the transformation you can bring to yourself by following these principles of Yoga.
The eight limbs of Yoga, also known as the “ashtanga” or “eight-limbed path,” are a set of guidelines as outlined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. These eight limbs are:
Yama The First of The Eight limbs of Yoga
Yama is the first of the eight limbs of Yoga, as outlined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. You can translate it is as “ethical guidelines” or “moral disciplines.” It refers to ethical guidelines for relating to others.
The five Yamas are:
- Ahimsa: Non-harming or non-violence towards all beings
- Satya: Truthfulness or honesty
- Asteya: Non-stealing
- Brahmacharya: Self-control and moderation, especially regarding sexual behavior
- Aparigraha: Non-hoarding or non-possessiveness
The Yamas are important principles for living a meaningful and fulfilling life, as they promote a sense of compassion, honesty, and self-control. In addition, they are a foundation for Yoga practice, as they help practitioners to cultivate a sense of inner peace and clarity.
Practicing Yamas requires being mindful of your actions and words and cultivating compassion and respect for all beings.
Niyama Are The Guidelines for The Eight Limbs of Yoga
Niyama is the second limb of the eight limbs of Yoga, as outlined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. It is often translates as “ethical guidelines” or “moral disciplines” and refers to ethical guidelines for relating to oneself.
The five Niyamas are:
- Saucha: Cleanliness or purity
- Santosha: Contentment
- Tapas: Self-discipline or self-control
- Svadhyaya: Self-study or introspection
- Ishvara pranidhana: Surrender to a higher power or surrender to the present moment
Practicing the Niyamas requires reflecting on your behavior and making changes to align with these ethical guidelines.
Asana The Most Common of The Eight Limbs of Yoga
Asana is the third of the eight limbs of Yoga, according to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. It often translates as “posture” or “seat” and refers to physical postures and movements practiced in Yoga.
Asana involves holding various yoga poses, such as downward facing dog, warrior pose, and child’s pose. It is an important aspect of Yoga, as it helps to improve flexibility, strength, and balance and can also help to reduce stress and promote relaxation.
Asana prepares the body physically for the next steps on the Yogic path. In the western world, it is mostly Asana that people understand Yoga to be.
Pranayama
Pranayama is the fourth of the eight limbs of Yoga, as outlined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Many translate it often as “breath control” or “breath extension,” referring to techniques for controlling the breath.
Pranayama involves using specific techniques to regulate the breath and improve respiratory function. It is an important aspect of yoga practice, as it is to have various physical and mental health benefits, such as reducing stress and anxiety, improving concentration and memory, and increasing feelings of well-being.
There are many pranayama techniques, including diaphragmatic breathing, alternate nostril breathing, and kapalabhati (skull-shining breath). These techniques involve focusing on the breath and using various techniques to regulate the inhale, exhale, and retention of breath.
Pratyahara
Pratyahara is the fifth of the eight limbs of Yoga, as outlined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. It is often translated as “sense withdrawal” or “sense control” and refers to the ability to withdraw the senses from external stimuli and focus inward. As a result, when you become adept at Pratyahara, there are no temptations for you. Whatever you do is a conscious action rather than a reaction.
Dharana
Dharana is the sixth of the eight limbs of Yoga, as outlined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. It is often translated as “concentration.” Therefore, it refers to focusing on a single point, such as the breath or a mantra.
You can use many different techniques to practice Dharana, including concentration, mindfulness, and Transcendental Meditation. These techniques involve focusing on a single point. Therefore, it involves letting go of distractions and may involve sitting in a comfortable position and closing the eyes.
Dharana is when you can focus for relatively short periods. It is the beginning stage of the next stage, called Dhyana.
Dhyana
Dhyana is the seventh of the eight limbs of Yoga, as outlined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. It is often translated as “meditation.” It refers to the sustained concentration on a single point, such as the breath or a mantra.
Dharana becomes Dhyana when one can maintain focus for an hour or more.
When the practice of Dhyana reached China, it became Chhana. And, when it reached Japan, it became Zen.
Samadhi
Samadhi is the eighth and final of the eight limbs of Yoga, as outlined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. It is often translated as “enlightenment” or “absorption.” And it refers to a state of consciousness in which the individual self is fully merged with the universal self. In this state, the ego is transcended, and the individual experiences a sense of unity with all things.
Samadhi is the ultimate goal of Yoga. It is to bring about lasting peace and happiness. However, it is also a difficult state to achieve, as it requires a high level of concentration and discipline.
There are different levels of Samadhi, and practitioners may experience different levels of Samadhi at different times in their practice. The Yogis tell us that the experience of Samadhi can bring about a sense of liberation and understanding of the true nature of reality. Additionally, when you realize the true nature of reality, you become a realized or enlightened being. Gautam Buddha, Krishna, Rama, and Jesus Christ were all enlightened. In today’s world, Sadhguru is a living example of an enlightened being.
Enlightenment is used in various spiritual traditions to refer to a state of ultimate understanding or realization. People associate it with a sense of liberation or freedom. It is to bring about a sense of lasting peace and happiness.
Enlightenment is often difficult and elusive to achieve and requires high concentration and discipline. However, it is also a state that is available to all individuals. It is to bring about a sense of liberation and understanding of the true nature of reality.
The Yoga Sutras are universal. Everyone is capable of becoming an enlightened person. And that is the beauty of Yoga. The boundaries of your individuality are obliterated.
That is why Hindus have been practicing Yoga for thousands of years and are the most peaceful people. For them, the world is their family. So where is the need to fight?