Patanjali Yoga

Patanjali’s eight-step discipline to Yoga

1.       YAMA – Restraining harmful thoughts and impulses

2.       NIYAMA – Cultivating good habits

3.       ASANA – Learning sitting posture for prolonged time

4.       PRANAYAMA – Learning techniques of rhythm breathing

5.       PRATYAHARA – Withdrawing senses from their Objects of Enjoyment

6.       DHARANA – Fixing the mind on object of Contemplation

7.       DHYANA – Uninterrupted Contemplation – Meditation

8.       SAMADHI – Total absorption of mind in object of contemplation

The first two steps, Yama and Niyama purify and strengthen our minds through moral and ethical exercises.

The third step, Asana is assuming postures that allow us to sit comfortably and meditate for at least an hour or two.  Continuously sitting in Yoga posture for three hours is called ASANA-SIDDHA.

The four step, Pranayama, is a breathing technique to control our mental and physical energies.

The fifth step, Pratyahara, is withdrawing our minds from all other objects of meditation.

The sixth step, Dharana, is holding our minds with great concentration on the object of meditation.

The seventh step, Dhyana, is more mature form of Dharana.

The eighth step, Samadhi, is concentration par excellence. 

For more information and guidance, visit http://www.ramakrishnavedantamath.org or mail to ramakrishnavedantamath@vsnl.net

Note – The above points are notes I have scrubbed down while reading the book “Meditation – Mind and Patanjali’s” written by Swami Bhaskarananda. I am blogging this material only to encourage the readers who see my blog to read the book and is not meant for any commercial purpose. It is just sharing information about a good book.

Regards,

Tirumalanath

tirumalanath@gmail.com