Spiritual Disciplines

Yoga “Yug” – yoke or union

State of “living in the divine”

Four Paths

Bhakti Yoga

“To Share”

Most common path

Path of Devotion or Love

Ishta Mantra

Japam

Jnana Yoga

Path of Knowledge

Way of Wisdom

Intellectual Orientation; Spiritual Insight

Who am I?

Neti-Neti “not this, not this”

Karma Yoga

Path of Selfless Action

Putting yourself to work helping others without any thought to your own reward

Every act part of the divine that we all share

Raja Yoga

Raj – reintegration

Path of Stillness

Samadhi or union with the divine is your goal

Sadhanas or “practices” Date back in time Coherent system finally

developed by 2nd century

Pantanajali’s sutras or threads (196 total – eight steps)

First, the body

The body is full of energy (kundalini)

Seven chakras or circles. They move energy

Must move energy through the body in order to reintegrate and reach higher consciousness

Chakras

Mooladhara or “base”

Swadishthan or “sacral”

Nabhi (Manipura) or “solar plexus”

Anahat, Anahata or “Heart”

Vishuddhi or “throat”

Agnya or “brow”

Sahasara or “crown” – 1000-petal lotus

Step One

Yamas Self-control

Five Abstentions Ahimsa or “non-injury” Satya Bramacharya No Greed No Theft

Step Two

Niyamas or observances

5 observances Cleanliness Contentment Self-Control Studiousness Contemplation of the

Divine

Works with step one

Clears your visual field by removing you from concerns of this world

Step Three

Asanas or posture

Most common is the lotus (padmasana)

Align chakras for good energy flow

Step Four

Pranayamas or breath control

Prana is life energy

Three basic types of breath Clavicular Thoracic Deep Abdomina

Step Five

Pratyahara or sense control

Learning to control all of the data you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch

Step Six

Dharana

Steadying the Mind

Working to Focus on One Thing

Mantras again are helpful as are ishtas

Yantras – linear image

Step Seven

Dhyana

Meditation

Start Experiencing Loss of Self

Step Eight

Samadhi Sam = with Adhi = divine or Lord

Higher Consciousness or Illumination