THE SCIENCE OF YOGA

1. THE SCIENCE OF YOGA THE TOPMOST YOGA SYSTEM

2. The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga system In B.G. 6.46. Krishna says, Austere person Tapasvi bhyo ‘dhiko yogi Knowledgeable person Jnanibhyo ‘pi mata dhika A working person Karmabhyas ca ‘dhiko yogi Tasmad yogi bhavarjuna

3. The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga system Yoga – What it Is Not ! • It is not mere • physical exercise for • shapely body, good • health & long life • Emaciated Renunciate in meditation • Man with some extra-ordinary mystic powers

4. The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga system Yoga – What it Actually Is ? • “Union” in love between the individual • consciousness & Supreme • consciousness I.e. between Soul & God • Yogi is a person whose life & activities are • oriented towards re-establishing his • relationship with God

5. The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga system Different Types of Human Beings Human Beings Law Abiders Law Breakers Karmis Jnanis Dhyanis Bhaktas Sakama Niskama

6. The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga system Law Breakers • Hard working materialists • Sophisticated animals conditioned to the bodily concept of life • Don’t believe in soul, rebirth, God & Spiritual world • Don’t discriminate between sinful & pious activities • eg Charvak (sweet for ear) philosophy

7. The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga system Law Breakers …..contd • Make futile attempts at being controller & Enjoyer ……… Eg. Sand Castles • Jesus Said, “Don’t built your castles on sand built them on hard rock” • Krishna Said, “Keep focus on the soul, whatever you do for the soul is eternal • B.G. 3.27 • prakrateh Kriyamanani • gunaih karmani sarvasah ahankarah vimudhatma Kartaham iti manyate • B.G. 9.21 • Moghasa mogha karmano • mogha jnana vicetasah rakshasim asurim caiva prakritim mohinim sritah

8. The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga system Law Abiders Sakama Karmis • Kama – material desires • sakama- with material desires • Perform pious activities with a fruitive intent • Don’t know that both good and bad karma are binding • In the madness, forget the goal of life. • eg. Indra as a pig • It is meant for gradual elevation & not an end in itself • Mostly worship demigods, with material desires.

9. The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga system Different Types of Yoga • According to Bhagavad-Gita there are four types of Yoga: • - Karma Yoga, • - Jnana Yoga, • - Astanga Yoga & • - Bhakti Yoga. Bhakti Dhyana Jnana Karma • These are not different paths but are • different rungs of the same ladder. • “All other yoga's are subsets of these four yoga's”

10. The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga system Niskama Karma Yoga • B.G. 3.30 • Mayi sarvani karmani • sannyasyadhyatma cetasah • Nirasir nirmamo bhutva • yudhyasva vigata jvarah • O Arjuna, • surrendering all your works unto • me with full knowledge of Me, • Without desires of profit, • With no claims to proprietorship & • Free from lethargy,……… fight

11. The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga system Niskama Karma Yoga …..contd • Process of performing work without selfish desire for personal gain • Art of working without entaglement • B.G…. “Karmanyevadhikaraste……..”

12. The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga system Jnana Yoga • Impersonal, Transcendentalist • Eg. Frog in the well • Elevation process to spiritual • consciousness through the • cultivation of philosophical • knowledge • Troublesome path • Promoted to bhakti-yoga only through association of devotees • eg. Four kumaras & Sukhdev Gosvami

13. The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga system Astanga Yoga • Mechanical meditative process meant to • control the mind & senses to focus one’s • concentration on the supreme • Ashta – Eight anga - limbs • Yama, niyam, asana , pranayam, • Pratyahara, Dharana, dhyana & Samadhi

14. The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga system Astanga Yoga • Strict rules and regulations which are • impractical in Kali-Yuga • Arjuna rejects Astanga Yoga • “Cancalam hi manah Krsna….” • Dangers of falling in the trap of siddhis • eg. Saubhari muni • Perfection of Astanga Yoga is to focus on • the paramatma within our heart.

15. The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga system Three levels in understanding God • 1 – Brahmajyoti – Jnana Yoga • 2 – Paramatma realization – Astanga Yoga • 3 – Personal form of the Lord – Bhakti Yoga • Eg. Seeing a mountain from various distances

16. The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga system Bhakti Yoga • Yoga for selfless, ecstatic love for God • through transcendental devotional service • to the Lord • Easiest means to derive our dormant, • inherent constitutional position • Includes three terms – servitor, served & • service

17. The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga system Bhakti Yoga • Nine processes of Devotional service • 1. Sravanam (Hearing) • 2. Kirtanam (chanting) • 3. Smaranam (remembering) • 4. Pada-sevanam (serving the lotus feet) • 5. archanam(worship) • 6. Vandanam (Offering Prayers) • 7. Dasyam (servant) • 8. Sakhyam(friendship) • 9. Atma-nivedanam (surrendering) • The most powerful of the nine process of • bhakti is the Hearing & Chanting of the • Lord’s holy name • “Culmination of all yogas”

18. The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga system Bhakti Yoga …..contd • Lord Krishna Says in B.G. 3.30 • Yoginam api sarvesam • Mad-gatenantaratmana • Sradhhavan bhajate yo mam • Sa me yuktatamo matah • Translation: “Of all the yogis , the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of Me within himself, and renders transcendental loving service to Me is the most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is My opinion.

19. The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga system Methods of attaining Bhakti Yoga • Gradual Method • STEP 0 : Astanga Yoga + Loving devotional service to the lord (Bhakti Yoga) • STEP 3 : Renouncing fruits + Knowledge + Control of mind & Senses by eight fold path + Meditation on Paramatma(Supersoul in the heart • (Astanga Yoga) • STEP 2 : Renouncing fruits + Speculative Knowledge about Brahman + Austerity • (Jnana Yoga) • STEP 1 : Renouncing the fruits of ones labor • (Karma Yoga/Niskama Karma) • STEP 0 : Fruitive worker performing rituals(Karma Kanda)

20. The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga system Direct Method • Devotional service in Krishna consciousness • is the Direct Method • Two Stages involved : • - Vaidhi Bhakti • - Raganuga bhakti • The direct method is like taking an elevator • for going up, instead of walking up all the • steps.