The sage Patanjali postulated an eight-fold system of spiritual yogic practice for achieving the divine goal. It comprises:
- Yam (Controls)
- Niyam (Rules and regulations)
- Asan (Bodily Postures)
- Pranaayam (Breath Control Exercises)
- Pratyahaar (Sense control)
- Dharana (Concentration)
- Dhyaana (Meditation)
- Samadhi (Mergence)
Yams (Behavior Controls)
"Avoid...unrighteous behavior." All our behavior should be based on a disciplined approach when we interact with others. There are five behavioral controls as postulate by sage Patanjali. These are: Ahimsa (Non - violence) Satya (Truthfulness) Brahmachaarya (Celibacy) Asteya (Non stealing) Aparigraha (Non-covetousness). These five behavior controls have to be followed by the Sadhaka (Yogic practitioner) with strong dedication and diligence.
"Avoid...unrighteous behavior." All our behavior should be based on a disciplined approach when we interact with others. There are five behavioral controls as postulate by sage Patanjali. These are: Ahimsa (Non - violence) Satya (Truthfulness) Brahmachaarya (Celibacy) Asteya (Non stealing) Aparigraha (Non-covetousness). These five behavior controls have to be followed by the Sadhaka (Yogic practitioner) with strong dedication and diligence.
Niyams (Rules and regulations)
"Follow correct moral precepts."
"Follow correct moral precepts."
All our interactions require a degree of purity, acceptance and surrender. Sage Patanjali detailed five ' Niyams ' as under:
Maintain cleanliness in body and speech. Be Content with what you have Perform austerities Study the Scriptures regularly Surrender every action of yours to the Universal Spirit These five regulations help you to achieve purity in body and mind, making you morally and spiritually fit to take up the yogic pathway to enlightenment.
Asanas (Body Postures)
"Learn to be still...in body and mind." The body is a 'storehouse' for mental and spiritual energy. It must be therefore kept in proper shape through correct posture. Sage Patanjali advocates a posture, which is comfortable to the physical body. A cross-legged posture with the spinal cord kept straight.
Pranayam (Breath control exercises)
"As you breathe...so you live."
Breathing affects your mental state. Likewise your state of mind affects your breathing. For instance, when your mind is emotionally perturbed you will notice that you breathe faster than normal. Similarly, after running for a distance, there is rapid breathing, and you will not be able to concentrate the mind for a while. Sage Patanjali advocates a deep, slow and rhythmic breathing pattern.
The process is as under: Breathe in deeply for a few seconds Hold the breath for a few seconds Breathe out again for a few seconds Now wait for a few seconds Repeat this process (from S. No. 1) again. This type of slow rhythmic breathing gives your mind, a control over the senses, Simultaneously inducing a feeling of relaxation to the body and improving mental concentration to a great extent. The effects can be practically felt, when you practice it regularly, over a period of time.
Pratyahar (Control of senses) "Sense control...is mind control."
Control of senses can be through three ways: Absence of desire for sense objects. Enjoying sense objects strictly as per scriptural injunctions. A strong sense of detachment. But according to sage Patanjali, it is not merely the absence of desire for sense object or mere detachment, but a complete absence of any awareness of the object itself! So, even though the object is present, the
mind should be firmly fixed to give any attention to the sense objects.
Dhaaranaa (Concentration)
"Concentration is...unbroken contemplation."
When the body, mind and breath are under control, by following the earlier steps, then you can start fixing your attention at one place. Different commentaries on Sage Patanjali's yoga sutras advocate different ways of fixing the gaze. But primarily, for improving your concentration, you should sit in a quiet place try focussing your gaze on a jyoti (light e.g. candle flame) or a suitable
object. For improving the concentration, you should keep bringing the mind back to that object inspite of its natural tendency to wander away, as soon and as many times as is required and the ultimate objective is to attain sustained and fixed attention at will.
Dhyan (Meditation)
Dhyan is the final step towards samadhi.
Samadhi (Mergence)
"The only goal...is realisation of your Self." This is the spontaneous final union of the individual soul with the Oversoul or God or Universal Spirit. The sadhak (spiritual practitioner) forgets his individuality and external environments and gets deeply absorbed into the cosmic wholeness with an intensity which encompasses his whole being!
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