The Eightfold Path of Yoga
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Yama ~ Social behavour, or moral principles
- Ahimsa (Nonviolence) Do not harm other beings in thought or deed
- Satya (Truth) Be honest with yourself and others
- Asteya (Nonstealing) Do not take what is not yours, tangible or not
- Bramacharya (Nonlust) Not a vow of celibacy, but avoidance of meaningless relationships
- Aparigraha (Nonpossesiveness) Free yourself from thoughts of greed and possesiveness, again both tangible and intangible
Niyama ~ Inner discipline and responiblity
- Shauca (purity) The practice of the 5 yamas, in order to keep the mind clean, your body is your temple.
- Santosha (Contentment) Seek happiness in the present moment, also the agknowledement of one's own actions, and the growth from that point
- Tapos (Austerity) The discipline of mind, body, and speech
- Svadhyaya (Study of Sacred text) Whatever text interests you, and you identify with, (not nessicarily the yoga sutras),
- Ishvara-pranidhana (living with an awareness of the Divine)Whether it be God, Buddha, ect. be devotedto what you consider divine
Asana ~ The postures, or poses of yoga
Not only for the excersize of it, but to prepare the mind and body for meditation.
Pranayama ~ The control of breath
Prana, or life force
Pratyahara ~ The withdrawal of senses
Directing one's attention inward, such as while meditating or practicing the asanas
Dharana ~ Concentration
"Concentration is binding thought in one place"-Pantajali
Dyana ~ Meditation
Uninterupted meditation without an object or distractions
Samadhi ~ Absolute bliss
This is the ultimite goal of the eightfold path, a state of enlightened conciousness where you feel one with the universe. Also sometimes called a god-union
