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>> Yoga Simplified >> Yoga Practice |
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1. What is Yoga?
There are a number of meanings in use for the word Yoga such as union, fortune,
contribution, meeting, relationship, meditation, addition etc.
The effort made to unite Atma with Paramatma, i.e. the soul with the Supreme soul (God) is
called meditation. Concentration is the base for meditation. One should have faith and
belief in meditation, which is an important component in the science of Yoga. The answer
for the question why one should meditate? Is for uniting the soul with the Supreme soul or
realizing the self (Soul)? Is it possible? Yes, it is, provided one conquers the inner
enemies of the self like lust, anger, greed, passion, conceit, proud etc. the father of
modern Yogashashtra Patanjali Maharshik, defines Yoga as 'Yogaschitta Vrutti Nirodhaha'
i.e., Yoga is controlling the nature of the mind. |
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2. The Importance of
Yogashashtra or the Science of Yoga:
Yoga education has started with the birth of the first human on this Earth. Yoga is a way
of life. Yoga not only provides health, vigour, brightness and alertness to the body and
mind, it also fills the life with happiness and pleasure. What is the use of any wealth if
health is not well?
It is said that Parameshwar (God) is the first preacher of Yoga education. Many Yogis,
Munis, Rishis, Mahrishis, Bramharishis have blessed the world with Yoga education.
Maharishi Patanjali had probed into the existing Yoga techniques, practiced them and with
his own experiences he Manu scripted the" Yoga Darshan "the great science of
Yoga.
Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Japa Yoga, Gyan Yoga, Karma Yoga, Hath Yoga etc., all these are
related to the science of Yoga.
Lord Krishna, the Geetacharya preached that one should do his duty leaving the result to
the God.
Swamy Matsyaendranath and Gorakhnath have proposed Hath Yoga. That is Kundalini - serpant
power can be energized with the co-ordination of Eda….., Pingala…. Sushumna -
Nadis. Such power awakens the hidden divine power in the man making the life worth Living.
During the course of time Tantrikas, Kapalikas……entered the Yoga field and tried
to mislead the Yoga education for their personal benefits declaring that the state of
pleasure, that men and women derive from sexual acts as the Yoga Samadhi. But the society
did neither accepted it nor appreciated this theory of Kapalikas. Yoga Shastra acquired
spiritual importance in India and is flourished till date.
Today Yoga has received the appreciation of modern science as well. Many intellectuals,
Doctors and other experts have entered the field of Yoga education and are contributing a
lot in developing Yoga therapy or Yoga treatment. They have served and are serving for the
physical and psychological development of mankind. |
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