𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩: 𝑺𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝑺𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒀𝑶𝑮𝑨

The word 'YOGA' is derived from the Sanskrit word "yuj".

It means 'to link' or 'to connect'

Conventional understanding of Yoga

Asanas,Pranayama,Dhyana

Yoga is not only restricted to

* Breathing exercise

* Physical exercise for healthy body

* Going to Himalayas

* Better facility for sense enjoyment

Yoga is redefined

➢Question: So what is real meaning of Yoga?

●Answer: The process of linking ourselves with God.

YOGA LADDER

(a) KARMA-KANDA

• Encourages regulated sense gratification

• Meant to bring general mass of people to the platform of religiosity

• Purifies the practitioner in many ways:

1.Regulations brings detachment which fosters knowledge

2.Gradually Vedas expose him to Jnana and Upasana sections

3.Results of Yajna gives them faith in Sastras

4.Motivates him to associate with Brahmanas

• Gradually the practitioner finds the ‘futility of material life’ and makes ‘transcendence as his goal’

(b) SAKAMA-KARMA-YOGA

Understand transcendence as the goal

• Frustration in material life / Desires purification

• Attempts to renounce fruits of labor

• But attachment to material desires (fruits) still linger on

Gives up the attachment to the fruits of work, but still attached to the

work itself

(d) JNANA-YOGA

• Platform of philosophical enquiry

• Detached from both, ‘action’ and the ‘fruit of action’

(e) ASTANGA-YOGA

• Achieved when jnana-yoga elevates to the point of meditation

(f) BHAKTI-YOGA

• Can permeate any of the stages mentioned above other than Karma Kanda , but generally doesn't fully manifest before the deep realisation evolved at the Jnana stage

Different Levels - Different Destinations!

Yoga is named differently according to different methods adopted

● If linking process is predominantly fruitive acts – called Karma yoga

● If linking process is predominantly empirical – called Jnana yoga

● If linking process is predominantly devotional – called Bhakti yoga.

Bhakti-yoga is the ultimate perfection of yoga – anything short of that is imperfect

● Ascetics without self knowledge – imperfect

● Empiric knowledge without surrender – imperfect

● Karma-yoga without Krishna Consciousness – waste of time

Conclusion of Yoga Ladder – It all starts from Karma-yoga without fruitive results (Niskama-karma-yoga)

◆ Niskama-karma-yoga + knowledge and renunciation = ‘Jnana-yoga’

◆ Jnana-yoga + meditation = ‘Astanga-yoga’

◆ Astanga-yoga + realisation of Krishna in devotion = ‘Bhakti-yoga’

COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT YOGA SYSTEMS

SL.No	Karma, Jnana, Astanga Yoga etc	Bhakti-yoga
1	●They are different steps on Yoga ladder ●They are progressions towards the destination of Bhakti-yoga	●Goal of Yoga is Bhakti-yoga ●Therefore Yoga actually means Bhakti yoga
2	●Selfish interests ●Possess material desires	● Selfless ● Free from all material desires
3	●May fail to achieve success ●They may stick to onepoint and fail to progress and thus they are called by that particular name	●Guaranteed success ●Definitely makes progress because means and end are same
4	●When Karma yoga increases in knowledge and renunciation it is called Jnana yoga ●When Jnana yoga increases in meditation,it is Astanga yoga	●When Astanga yoga comes to the point of realizing Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that is Bhakti yoga ●Analogy: Krishna Consciousness is the highest rung of Yoga – e.g. Mount Everest is the highest peak of the Himalayas.