8 limbs of Yoga

Yoga like practices are mentioned in the Rigveda (one of the oldest sacred texts) which dates back to early first millenium BCE. However systematic yoga concepts, particularly those associated with meditations and ascetic practices, began to take a shape between 5th-6th centuries BCE.

The formalization of yoga into a structured system from Vedas and verbal knowledge, started with Patanjali's Yoga Sutras*(Patanjali a scientist from India), written around 325 CE.

He introduced the eight-fold path of yoga.

It is a set of prescriptions designed to guide individual towards self-realization, ultimate freedom and purposeful life.

*https://www.gita-society.com/wp-content/uploads/PDF/Patanjali-yogasutra.IGS.pdf

The fundamentals of todays Yoga

1. Things you should not do while interacting with the world around are called YAMAS.

   • Ahimsa - non violence (in terms of literal translation as well as diet -vegetarianism)

   • Satya - truthfulness (speak the truth, support others to do so and be honest with yourself)

   • Asteya - non stealing (not only material things but also time,

   • Brahmacharya - celibacy / minimalizm (the meaning is controlling your energy and impulses. Interpretation is quite wide but it can be living in such a way that you have things only what you really need to survive for example eating habits)

   • Aparigraha - non attachment, non possessiveness (letting go of ego and envy)

2. Things you should do as a personal habits are called NIYAMAS.

   • Saucha - purification (there are specific methods in yoga to clean your body - in my opinion many are quite heavy to handle)

   • Santosa - contentment (being "happy" with whatever you have

   • Tapasa - self discipline (consistency in whatever you are doing no matter how hard it is)

   • Svadhyaya - self study (learning new things, read books but also have introspective and self reflections)

   • Ishvara Pranidhana - dedication to the divine (submission to a teacher or higher force)

3. According to Patanjali, ASANA is Comfortable sitting position. Nowadays this term got wider meaning and means physical postures performing during the practise.

4. Breathing exercises and techniques which control your Prana-life force are called PRANAYAMA.

5. Isolating consciousness from the distractions of the world offered by engagement with the senses is PRATYAHARA. It is final preparation to meditation.

6. First stage to inner journey toward freedom from suffering is called DHARANA. It is an art of effortless concentration.

7. After many hours of practices, DHYANA can be achieved - state of mind where all focus and attention is on one single object without interruption of oughter and inner world. The object itself is not specified as long as it happens without fluctuations.

8. The last stage where total merge with the object happens is called SAMADHI. It is complete harmony with universal consciousness where there is no differentiation between object and self. Ego, identity and concept of "I" disappear. For people who believe in higher force - it is union with the divine.*

*Miller, Barbara Stoler. Yoga: Discipline of Freedom: The Yoga Sutra Attributed to Patanjali. University of California Press, 1996.

Why it is important?

A human being while developing through the time evolved from surviving state to transcendental. Since millennials ago people need a religion for individual reasons. But those who does not believe in such thing, it is necessary to find a purpose in this world as Life Force within us is driven by motives.

Yoga gives an option with ready roadmap for personal transformation, guiding individuals toward inner peace and life without suffering.

And as we all know, life is mostly suffering and struggles (on different levels).

Not only Yoga gives us physical and mental health but also all these limbs are compass to nurturing the holistic well being of the whole society with harmony to all.

For me that is enough good reason to escape suffer through practising yoga.

Conclusion

Patanjali who was one the scientists and practitioners of yoga, set up a group of ingredients and fundamentals of practices to achieve the ultimate goal for human being.

Through personal code of conduct and moral restrains, including physical activities, mental focus and discipline to finally stilling the fluctuations of the mind we are able to unite with our the divine. Yoga even thou it is not a religion, it accepts a supreme being.

The definition of yoga by Patanjali says "Yoga is blocking of mental modifications so that the consciousness re-identifies with the (higher) Self."

Sutra 1.2: "Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodhah"