Γιόγκα

What is Yoga:

The word Yoga is first mentioned in the oldest sacred Hindu text, the Rig Veda, dated around the middle of the 2^nd millennium BCE. It derives from ‘yuj’ = ‘to yoke’ and it symbolically refers to the yoking of the Self in the rays of spiritual Dawn, the synchronization of thoughts or mind activity with Divine truth or else, Cosmic reality. Yoga means union, completion, realization. With roots well over 3500 years ago, the oral tradition of the Vedas seems to have been transcribed into a somewhat crystalized text form between 800-600 BCE (quite like the Homeric poems). Yoga focuses on the union of the self (spirit, body and mind) as well as the union of the individual self with the universal Self. Aiming at the final liberation from the restrictions of a particular, time & space-bounded self, it is a journey towards self-awareness and self-realisation that brings wholeness and contentment. In short, yoga is a philosophical as well as experiential path based on pre-Vedic traditions (Bronze Age), that cleanses body and mind, lifts the spirit, and restores physical, emotional and mental health.

The school of Vedanda (6^th daarshana) summarises wisdom acquired by the Vedas and incorporates views from the other 5 darshanas (schools of thought in Hindu philosophy). It sees 4 paths to approach the goal of yoga, each found more appealing to different types of the human nature: Jnana yoga, Bhakti yoga, Karma yoga & Raja yoga. However, even though they are distinct paths, they are interconnected and were taught as 1 yoga by the great Gurus of the revival of yoga (end of 19^th century/early 20th in India) and by their students who travelled abroad soon after in order to spread the message of yoga. Raja (or Royal) yoga is the scientific approach followed by most Gurus who travelled in the west and involves 8 steps or limbs (this is why it is also called Ashtanga yoga, Asthanga = 8; it should not be confused with K.P. Jois’s system known as Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga). Different names given to yoga may be linked to different stages of Raja yoga (e.g  limbs 3 & 4 are Hatha yoga), variations in focus (kundalini yoga, laya yoga, mantra yoga)  as well as the different styles of yoga developed by the different students of the great Gurus of the turn of the 20^th century (e.g. Sivananda yoga, Kriya yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga, Iyengar yoga, Kundalini yoga etc).

History & philosophy – a summary

Yoga may be traced back to the pictorial art of the 3^rd millennium BCE Indus Valley civilization. This was a highly developed civilization that preceded the Vedas and is linked to population changes of the 2^nd half of the 2^nd millennium BCE and the Indo-Aryan migration into the Indian peninsula. Veda means ‘knowledge, wisdom’ and Vedas form the sacred writings of Hinduism, believed to have always existed but they were actually apprehended by sages in deep meditative state some time prior to 1500 BCE. They represent the oldest Sanskrit scripts and most are believed to have been composed between 1500BCE and 300 BCE. In effect, they are a large body of ‘sacred’ texts comprising of hymns, chants, comments on liturgy and ritual, mystical exegeses (interpretations), guidance on everyday procedures (e.g. weddings)  as well as discussions on philosophical matters. There are 4 Vedas: Rig veda, Yajur veda, Sama veda and Atharva veda and they all include 4 kinds of texts: Samhitas (mandras and benedictions), Brahmanas (commentaries on Vedic hymns, instructions and explanations of rituals and ceremonies), Aranyakas (mythical, symbolic & philosophical aspects of rituals), and the Upanisads (texts in the form of dialogues discussing meditation, philosophy & spirituality, 7^th century BCE – 1500 CE). The Upanishads form the core of the Hindu philosophy shared among Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, but many concepts are also shared by Christian thought, as well as by the ancient Greek and western European philosophical thought (e.g. Pythagoras and Schopenhauer). They are represented mainly in Vedanta philosophy, the last and most influential of the 6 schools of Hindu philosophy or Darshanas (ways to look at things).

The 6 Darshanas are:

• Nyayapromotes logic procedures and dialectics to uncover the truth. It states that only correct knowledge frees man from the suffering of his delusions and leads to understanding the true nature of soul, self, and reality. This is humanly feasible through 4 pramanas (means of gaining knowledge): perception, inference, comparison and analogy, as well as testimony of reliable sources. Nyaya sutras (a most influential collection of texts) dates from the 6^th century BCE – 2^nd CE. The association with the dialectics approach developed by Socrates in the 5^th century BCE Athens as well as with the modern Western philosophical and scientific thought is noticeable.
• Vaisheshika(6^th BCE-2^nd CE) accepts as useful means of inquiry only perception and inference and holds the belief that a complete understanding of the world of experience leads to knowledge and liberation. It is a first form of empiricism, the school of thought that governs science today. It uses logic to differentiate between things based on the difference of their characteristics and believes in naturalism and atomism in natural philosophy. However, it accepts the unquestionable value of the Vedas.
• Samkhyaschool of philosophy is dualist and believes that the universe consists of Purusha (the soul, spirit and cosmic consciousness that remains unchangeable) and Prakrti (energy in the form of matter, which constantly changes). It relies on reason and accepts the 3 main pramanas of perception, inference, and the use of reliable sources. According to Samkya, Purusha and Prakrti may be fused and thus create buddhi (intellect) and ahankara (ego), seen in jivas (living beings). The bondage between different elements such as the senses and the mind, create imbalance. Liberation is the end of this bondage. Samkhya pursues knowledge through the analysis of an object from surface to essence and sees the Gunas (innate qualities or tendencies) as of 3 types. Sattva is pureness, goodness, positivity, illumination. Rajas is activity, chaos, passion that may be good or bad. Tamas is darkness, lethargy and negativity.
• Yoga shares much of its epistemology with Samkhya and many central ideas with Advaita Vedanta. It is however, a form of empirical mysticism, having developed physical, mental and spiritual practices that aim at discovering and liberating oneself. The theoretical framework and practical guidance of Raja (royal) yoga is encapsulated in the yoga sutras attributed to sage Pantajali probably c. 200CE or sometime between c. 100BCE – c.500CE).
• Karma mimamsainvestigates the nature of actions and dharma. Dharma is understood as cosmic law, but also social rules and the right way of living that make life and the universe possible.  It is based on the first Vedas accepting the eternal nature of the soul and includes ritual practices.
• Vedanta (Veda=knowledge, Anta=end) means ‘the apogee of a process of knowledge’ and is considered to be the culmination of Vedic wisdom, based mainly on the Upanishads. It completes Samkhya and Yoga darshanas and emphasizes the study of knowledge and spirituality. Vedanta is an umbrella term for all sub-traditions springing from the principle Upanisads, the Brahma Sutras(a systematic summary of the philosophy in the Upanisads written between 400 BCE – 200 CE) and the Bhagavad-Gita (an epic text based on the yogic philosophy). Having adopted ideas from the other darshanas it has held a historically central role.

In Vedanta philosophy there are 4 main paths which may lead to the ultimate experience of the union of personal and cosmic consciousness (Samanthi).

• Jnana yoga: the path of philosophy where the seeker learns to discriminate between the real and the unreal (also in ancient Greek philosophy).
• Karma yoga: the path of selfless service when one is totally freed from the ego.
• Bhakti yoga: the path of love and devotion to God through the practice of rituals.
• Raja yoga: the yoga of science where one learns to bring his body and mind, his actions and thoughts, under control. Raja yoga is also called Asthanga yoga, the path of 8 limbs towards Samanthi, the ultimate aim of yoga.

The Yogic philosophy is based on the same ethical principles and life values as most religious and humanitarian philosophies.

Raja (Royal) Yoga

Its basic theoretical text is Patanjali Maharshi’s Yoga Sutras, consisting of 4 books. Patanjali was a philosopher, doctor and yogi who probably lived around the 2^nd century BCE. He wrote a series of 196 aphorisms or guidelines to the Sadhaka, the yoga student, on how to raise his consciousness beyond the everyday mental restrictions and low-energy thoughts and actions, guiding him to self-liberation. Yoga is a group of physical, mental and spiritual practices that aim at the ultimate balance, the union between body, mind and spirit, and the state of absolute contentment, when personal consciousness feels one and the same with cosmic consciousness.

According to Patanjali Raja yoga consists of 8 limbs of practice and this is why it is also called Ashtanga yoga (Ashtanga = 8 limbs):

1. Yamas: self-control and code of ethics that reflect our respect for the others. Patanjali refers to: 1. Ahiṃsā: non violence, 2. Satya: no lying, 3. Brahmacarya: marital fidelity, the wise use and not the waste of sexual energy, 4. Asteya: no jealousy and no stealing, 5. Aparigraha: no acceptance of presents (not allowing dependence on others). Five extra sutras appear in several other Hindu texts: 6. Kṣamā: patience and forgiveness, 7. Dhrti: strength and resilience, perseverance, 8. Dayā: compassion, Ārjava: sincerity, non-hypocrisy, and Mitāhāra: modest diet/way of living.
2. Niyamas: code of etchics and recommended activities that promote a healthy and worthy way of living, that reflect our self-discipline. They involve: 1. Sauca: internal and external purity, 2. Santosa: contentment, 3. Tapas: austerity, 4: Svadhyaya: study of spiritual scripts, 5: Isvara-pranidhana: abandonment of the Ego, adoration of God (or else the wholeness of creation) and not the Self.

Yamas & Niyamas are moral values expressing the most basic intellectual achievement that the  Self is part of and therefore depends on the well-being of a greater whole. They represent respect to all creation, give reason to our existence, feel our hearts with contentment and elevate us above a basic, animalistic-instinctual level. It’s important to remember that moral codes have formed the core of all philosophy throughout history and in fact they define the foundations of social living.

1. Asanas: body postures performed in relation to conscious breathing and a concentrated mind. They train body and mind, increase concentration and will-power, balance emotions and help us gain physical, emotional and mental health. They are part of Hatha Yoga.
2. Pranayama: the science of breathing and the control of prana or vital energy. Through breathing exercises we act upon our physical and astral fields. Cleansing and restoring, pranayama brings health and balance on body, soul & mind. It is part of Hatha Yoga.
3. Pratyahara: the withdrawal and freedom from the loud and controlling presence of the senses.
4. Dharana: the silent rest of the mind on a single picture, sound or thought. The peace of mental concentration.
5. Dyana: deep meditation where the mind is free from here and now. Meditation helps to gain control of our life and live in serenity. Dyana is the door that opens the way to the ultimate experience of oneness.
6. Samanthi: self-realization or the experience of completeness, where there is no longer division between the Self and an exterior world. It transcends space, time and causality.

Raja Yoga sees a direct link between the mind and prana and aims at their control. Patanjali Maharshi in his Yoga Sutras claims that by controlling the mind we also gain control of the prana. Raja Yoga includes Kundalini Yoga (awakening of prana), Hatha Yoga (kriyas, asanas, pranayama, mudras, bandhas), Mantra Yoga (meditation yoga focusing on mandra singing), Yantra Yoga (Thibetan yoga), Nada Yoga (meditation on external and internal sounds), Laya Yoga (control of prana).

Asanas

Asana comes from Sanskrit  -as, which means ‘to be, stand or remain in a certain position.  The aim is to work at a level where we keep a posture with ease for some time so as to profit the most from its beneficial actions. Two main qualities are necessary for a body posture to be called an asana:  sthira → to remain in that posture (steadiness & precision) and sukha → to hold a posture with ease (& therefore pleasure). When we perform yoga asanas, we train both our body and our mind. Movement and physical strength are combined with breathing, concentration and will power. Asanas rejuvenate our physical body by strengthening bones & muscles, and activating glands & internal organs. They help us to explore our physical as well as energetic entity in an experiential way. They stimulate our brain, but also calm our mind. They improve our emotional balance.  They develop understanding of our body, mind and consciousness.

Asanas have multiple positive effects on our physical body:

• They improve blood circulation.
• They stretch and strengthen muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints.
• They correct posture and strengthen our skeletal system; a healthy musculoskeletal system not only boosts our self-esteem as our body looks fit, it also eases movement, combats pain and ensures the well-being of our internal organs.
• They improve suppleness.
• They have a positive impact on our nervous system.
• They can balance our endocrinal system.
• They massage internal organs.
• They release stress levels
• They calm the mind and

They revive the whole organism

Pranayama

Pranayama comes from the word -prana, which means life force and -ayama, which means distribution. It is the process of regulating and controlling breath and through it prana, or life force, or chi, or vital energy, which is the essence of both the individual and the whole universe.

Breath is the essence of life. The moment it stops, life ceases. It was of crucial importance not only in the yogic tradition, but also for the ancient Greeks, the Tibetans, the Chinese and many tribal cultures in Africa. However, the ancient yogis evolved a scientific approach to breathing. Pranayama is not simply deep breathing. Great gurus describe it as the practice that allows us to control prana and thus, also the mind.

Pranayama involves inhalation and retention of breath, which distribute energy throughout the body, and exhalation, which can also be combined with retention, which excretes poisoning toxins. Prana, the breath and the mind are closely linked to each other, therefore pranayama is the practice through which we gain control of the distribution of breath and through it also of energy; in other words, we unite the breath with the mind. Pranayama quiets the mind and brings it under control. It generates and distributes energy (in biology terms ATP) making it an indispensable tool in the path of holistic health. Its benefits apply to all, the physical, mental and emotional levels and can be felt from skin to soul.

The Breath consists of :

• Inhalation (symbolically linked to Brahma or the creator)
• Kumbaka or Retention after inhalation (linked to Visnu or protector)
• Exhalation (linked to Maheswara or destroyer, who destroys enemies in the body and sustains life) and,
• Kumbaka or Retention after exhalation (which allows one to surrender the mind to the soul)

In short, through breathing and specific hand and body locks (mundras & bandhas), pranayama cleanses body & mind; it controls the flow of our vital energy or prana, which is everything there is in the world since everything in nature (even matter) is, in fact, energy. Pranayama leads to health, understanding and tranquility. It brings us closer to our real Self.

Meditation

The word meditation comes from the latin root ‘meditatum’ = to ponder, and was used to describe the study, reflection or contemplation, the focus of attention and concentration, traditionally assisted via the repetition of a sound or rhyme. Meditation has been a fundamental part of all spiritual practices and religions across the globe and throughout time.

In greek, the word ‘Διαλογισμός’ (Dialogismos = meditation) comes etymologically from the preposition ‘dia’, which denotes movement and relationships between entities, situations etc, and the word ‘logos’, a concept that according to the ancient Greek philosophy expresses a) the causal order of cosmos b) man’s discriminating ability through the intellect (reason), which is the highest level of energy vibration. Logos also means ‘speech’, denoting the relationship between logic and its expression through language. Logos is innate in us just as in the entire universe. ‘Dialogismos’ therefore, (which in religious terms relates to honest, selfless prayer), means the mental process that unites the ‘I’ with the ‘whole’, that releases the mind from unworthy thoughts of a time and spatially restricted social experience and brings us closer to the real essence of things. The mind usually suffers by the low and constant vibrations of instincts and passions cultivated within problematic social environments; meditation calms the mind and leads it to the freedom and harmony of understanding and reason.

Meditation, thus, is the technique of cleansing the mind. It involves self-observation, which leads to self-awareness and results to peace of mind and serenity. It is an escape from the restrictive space of a socially bounded mind, it approaches ‘now’ and ‘the eternal’, the Self and nothing and all. Our minds are the core of our energy; therefore, a clean mind and thought mean clean energy in body and soul, a road for health and the transcendence of the Self.

In Raja yoga there are 4 stages in meditation:

• Pratyahara: the withdrawal from the dominating character of our sensory perceptions. We turn our focus of attention on the inside rather than the outside.
• Dharana: the concentration of the mind on one point (inside or outside of the body), one sound, one image. The mind and the focus of concentration become one.
• Dyana: deep meditation, when time ceases to have a meaning.
• Samanthi: the transcendence of the mind. The ego ceases to exist and the individual experiences wholeness; there is no separation from the object of concentration.

In short, the mind is like a stormy sea from endless thoughts that prohibit us from resting as much physically, as mentally and emotionally. Meditation trains us to concentrate on the sSelf. It is the art of calming the mind and transforming the storm into tranquil waters that through their clarity allow us to see the ocean floor, namely the truth of our existence. Focusing on the ‘inside’ rather than the ‘outside’ it leads to uniting with the Self and Cosmos. It leads to certainty and the strength for self-redefinition, it leads to peace. This is yoga.