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Patanjali Yoga and Scientific Value System-Part II-(The Eight Limbs Of Yoga)
1)Yama
and
Niyama
These
constitute
the
very
first
steps
one
has
to
take
in
the
long
journey
towards
Self-realization.
They
are
like
kindergarten
classes,
with
which
any
secular
education
commences.
In
this
sense,
most
of
us
are
tiny
toddlers
in
the
field
of
spirituality.
Yama
consists
of
Ahimsa
(non-injury),
Satya
(truthfulness),
Asteya
(non-covetousness),
Brahamacharya
(continence
or
self-control)
and
Aparigraha
(non-receipt
of
gifts).
Niyama
comprises
of
Shaucha
(external
and
internal
purity),
Santosha
(contentment),
Tapas
(austerites),
Swadhyaya
(study
of
scriptures)
and
Ishwara-pranidhana
(surrender
to
the
Divine).
There
is
no
necessity
here
to
go
into
details,
since
they
are
well
explained
in
books
on
Raja
Yoga,
especially
the
one
by
Swami
Vivekananda.
For
our
current
study
here,
the
most
important
is
the
last,
viz.,
surrender
to
the
Divine.
Patanjali
does
not
insist
on
faith
in
one
particular
form
of
God,
as
in
sectarian
religions.
What
is
needed
is
the
appreciation
of
the
fact
that
there
is
a
higher
power
which
governs
our
lives
and
one
should
consciously
or
otherwise
offer
one"s
prayers
to
it.
2)Asana
and
Pranayama
These
are
physical
practices
enjoined
by
Patanjali
to
train
one"s
body
and
mind,
which
are
the
media
available
to
us
for
Self-realisation.
Asana
means
simply
a
firm
posture,
in
which
one
can
sit
for
long
periods
of
time
in
meditation,
without
feeling
bodily
discomfort.
The
multifarious
Asanas
now
in
use
are
all
meant
to
make
the
body
supple
and
healthy,
so
that
one
can
do
yoga
more
effectively.
Pranayama is one of the most misunderstood of the yogic steps. It has been equated to breath control. It is much more than that. It is the voluntary control of energy within the body. Again, details are available in the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda.
3)Pratyahara
&
Dharana
These
are
mental
exercises,
which
help
in
withdrawing
the
mind
from
the
external
world
and
in
turning
it
inwards.
As
mentioned
in
the
Kathopanishad,
it
is
only
a
rare
soul
who
is
bold
enough
to
turn
his
gaze
inwards
to
realise
the
Atman
within.
This
process
is
two-fold.
The
first
step
is
to
shut
out
the
external
world.
The
mind,
however,
by
nature,
abhors
vacuum.
Hence,
the
external
world
so
shut
out
must
be
replaced
by
something
internal
and
this
process
needs
a
support.
The
particular
object
on
which
the
mind
is
now
focused
or
concentrated
is
purely
the
business
of
the
individual
concerned.
It
is
a
matter
between
the
individual
and
the
Maker,
and
has
nothing
to
do
with
the
religion,
sect,
gender
or
age
of
the
person
concerned.
Raja
Yoga,
in
this
sense,
is
all
encompassing
and
gives
total
freedom
to
an
individual.
4)
Dhyana
and
Samadhi
The
last
two
stages
are
Dhyana
(meditation),
which
is
the
unbroken
or
uninterrupted
flow
of
thought
on
the
object
of
contemplation,
and
Samadhi,
which
is
the
ultimate
state
of
oneness
with
the
absolute.
These
are
concepts
which
cannot
be
described
in
words,
but
only
experienced.
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