Patanjali Raj Yoga

Maharishi Patanjali lived in the 2nd Century BC and is one of the 18 Siddhars in Tamil Siddha tradition.

He is the compiler of the Yoga Sutras, an important collection of aphorisms on Yoga practice.

The Yoga Sutras are considered to serve as a base for yogic techniques. Maharishi Patanjali, “The Father of Yoga”, compiling 195 sutras, which serve as a framework for the integration of Yoga into your daily routine that leads to an ethical life. The exact date of compilation of the Yoga Sutras is not known, but is believed to have been written sometime in the 200 BC.

The essence of the teachings of Patanjali is located in the “Eight Paths of Yoga”. These paths show us the way to live a better life through Yoga. How to find Peace and get free from suffering.

Rishi Patanjali was the first Raj Yogi who collected the experiences and methodology for the Raj Yoga in a text which he called “Asthang Raj Yoga” or “The Eight Limbs of Yoga.” In short, they are:

1 – YAM: enunciates the five rules that guide a Raj Yoga seeker in its interaction with the outside world . The five rules are: – Satya (Honesty), – Ahimsa (Non-Violence), – Asteya (Do not Steal), – Aparigrah (Not Own), – Brahmcharya (Control of the Senses).

2 – NIYAM: Summarizes the five rules to live in the inner world i.e. Mental level. They are: – Sauch (Purity), – Santosh (Contentment), – Tapas (Austerity), – Swadhyara (Auto Studio), – Ishwar Pranidhan (Surrender to God).

3 – AASAN: They are physical postures practiced to control the physical body. These are as psychophysical exercises excellent to have a good physical health and achieve the ability to sit still as a stone for a long period (of time) . This helps the Mind to leave or get rid of the physical body.

4 – PRANAYAM: In the human body, breathing is the most subtle of actions that physical body makes. With the practice of Pranayam, the practitioner develops complete control over breathing. Prana is the most original Cosmic energy and a reason for the survival of the entire Cosmos. Oxygen is the simple physical manifestation of the Cosmic energy i.e. Prana. So with the practice of Pranayam, the practitioner connects with the Cosmic energy. The Pranayam is like a physic-psychic breathing practice used for total control over the movement of prana in the physical body of the practitioner. In the human body, Cosmic energy has its own well in the form of Psychic energy. This state is also called “Kundalini Shakti” (spiritually speaking). This psychic energy remains inactive in normal humans.

This psychic energy has the ability to create anything of this material world. Question is: How? This psychic energy is nothing but cosmic energy and the material world is merely a physical manifestation of this cosmic energy. Once this psychic energy is released, many mystical powers are available to the practitioner. This is a trap for seekers. They must avoid it and have to move on.

While you practice the four limbs above [from (I) to (IV)] , the practitioners still have the connection with the physical body , and through the physical body with the outside world . Remember that our final destination is the inner world (or fine world).

5 – PRATYAHAR: The literal meaning of this Sanskrit word is: Orient the senses inwards (Introversion). Only when one detaches his mind from the outside world (material), you can advance in any spiritual path. Pratyahar is done detaching the mind from the outside world, forcing her to move in the subtle world (inside). Mind is connected in a special way to the outside world through the five subtle senses of knowledge. Then, through the practice of Pratyahar, the practitioner withdraws subtle ways, and as a result the mind off from the outside world.

The last three practices (Dharana, Dhyan, and Samadhi) are totally related to the inner world. Pratyahar acts as a bridge between the two groups of practices. Therefore, the practitioner must grope to stay in Pratyahar (senses withdrawal) at any time during its period of Sadhana (Practice).

6 – DHARANA (Concentration): The word “Dharana” is derived from the Sanskrit root (Dharana), which means to carry, hold. Once the mind is forced inward, a series of thoughts and images begin to appear on the mental plane. The practitioner needs to calm this continues activity of Mind. Through this practice, the mind is forced to remain at a thought or an image. The Guru decides which object to be easy, for the disciple, to keep his mind, starting from the characteristics and nature of the disciple. Through intense practice, the mind begins to calm down and stand on one imagine or thought. We say the mind begins to concentrate for a certain time. So the mind is taken in a certain order in the inner world.

7 – DHYANA (Meditation): Once we have been perfected the Dharana, the practitioner tries to keep the mind on a certain thought or image for a longer period of time with a steady, uninterrupted flow. Only there is one who sees (practitioner), a scene (a thought or image) and the act of seeing (act of observing the thought or image). In this condition there is nothing for the Mind, with the exception of these three conditions. The mind forgets all of his physical body. Once this state is reached, the practitioner reaches the state of Dhyan (meditation). The Dhyan is simply a maturation of Dharana. In Dharana, the practitioner spends mental energy to bring the mind into a state of reasonable control or concentration. But, the Dhyan is an invigorating practice. During the Dhyan, the body of the practitioner is charged with cosmic energy.

Remember: Dhyana is not something obtained by our will, but it just happens.

8 – SAMADHI (Equanimity): When Dhyan (Meditation) is accrued at a high level, the practitioner reaches a level where it begins to lose the trinity (the one who sees a scene, the act of seeing) and this trinity is dissolved. This state is known as “SAMADHI”. This Sanskrit word literally (Samadhi) is derived from two roots: “Sam”, which means equanimity and “Dhi” which means the Intellect. Samadhi is a state whose Intellect is a state of equanimity at all stages of life. This is the culmination of the practices of “Asthang Raj Yoga.”

In the world of Yogi, Dharana, Dhyan and Samadhi are addressed as “Samyam”. This Samyam refers entirely to the inner or fine world and it is a thing of pure experience. Once we enter the subtle world, all things in the physical world begin to disappear, including the words. In the state of Samadhi there are only the experiences of the inner world. Once the practitioner from Samadhi returns to his physical body brings with him the memories of his experiences who find it difficult to express exactly in words. That’s why yogis normally keep silent on these experiences, to always stay in communication with them. They do not want to lose the bliss of the experience of Samadhi.