Ashtanga Yoga Dictionary

Dharana: Concentration. The sixth limb of the Ashtanga or Raja Yoga system.

(See also: Dharana ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Raja-Yoga:

Raja-Yoga: a system of Yoga generally taken to  be the one propounded by Patanjali Maharishi, i.e., Ashtanga Yoga.

(See also: Raja-Yoga , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Ashtanga Yoga: The "eight-limbed" Yoga of Patanjali consisting of yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi (see separate entries for each "limb").

(See also: Ashtanga Yoga , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Dharana:

practice of concentration; sixth of the eight fold path in ashtanga yoga

(See also: Dharana ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Ashta-anga-yoga, ashtanga-yoga:

Ashta-anga-yoga, ashtanga-yoga ("eight-limbed union"): the eightfold yoga of Patanjali, consisting of moral discipline (yama), self-restraint (niyama), posture (asana), breath control (pranayama), sensory inhibition (pratyahara), concentration (dharana), meditation (dhyana), and ecstasy (samadhi), leading to liberation (kaivalya)

(See also: Ashta-anga-yoga, ashtanga-yoga ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

ashtanga-yoga:

ashtanga-yoga (ashtaanga-yoga). Eight-fold discipline of yoga to destroy ignorance and reach state of communion with Self, as taught by Sage Patanjali.

(See also: ashtanga-yoga , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Ashtanga: The eight parts or stages into which the sage Patanjali divided Yoga.  He wrote a structural and functional analysis of the techniques, called the "Yoga Sutras" which to this day are still considered to be the single most definitive treatise on the subject.

(See also: Ashtanga ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

ashtanga-yoga

The eight-phase system of yoga practice taught by the sage Patanjali in his Yoga-sutras.

(See also: ashtanga-yoga , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

yoga: (Sanskrit) "Union." From yuj, "to yoke, harness, unite."

The philosophy, process, disciplines and practices whose purpose is the yoking of individual consciousness with transcendent or divine consciousness. One of the six darshanas, or systems of orthodox Hindu philosophy.

Yoga was codified by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras (ca 200 bce) as the eight limbs (ashtanga) of raja yoga. It is essentially a one system, but historically, parts of raja yoga have been developed and emphasized as yogas in themselves.

Prominent among the many forms of yoga are

-       hatha yoga (emphasizing bodily perfection in preparation for meditation),

-       kriya yoga (emphasizing breath control), as well as

-       karma yoga (selfless service) and

-       bhakti yoga (devotional practices) which could be regarded as an expression of raja yoga's first two limbs (yama and niyama).

See: Yoga, austerity, bhakti yoga, danda, hatha yoga, jivanmukta, raja yoga, shad darshana, siddha yoga, siddhi.

(See also: Yoga , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Ashtanga:

Ashtanga: eight limbs.

(See also: Ashtanga , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Pranayama:

Pranayama: regulation and restraint of breath;  the fourth limb of Ashtanga Yoga.

(See also: Pranayama , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Patanjali: (Sanskrit) "Possessed of reverence."

A Saivite Natha siddha (ca 200 bce) who codified the ancient yoga philosophy which outlines the path to enlightenment through purification, control and transcendence of the mind. One of the six classical philosophical systems (darshanas) of Hinduism, known as Yoga Darshana. His great work, the Yoga Sutras, comprises 200 aphorisms delineating ashtanga (eight-limbed), raja (kingly) or siddha (perfection) yoga. Still today it is the foremost text on meditative yoga.

See: Kailasa Parampara, raja yoga, shad darshana, yoga, Patanjali yoga sutras, patanjali.

(See also: Patanjali , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

yamas

The first eight regulations observed from the beginning of the ashtanga-yoga system.

(See also: yamas , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

To attain jitendriyata is to achieve full control over ones senses. This leads to what is called God-realisation. In this controlled state all pain and suffering cease permanently.

There are different paths to achieve this height: Gyan yoga, karma yoga, bhakti yoga, raja yoga, hatha yoga, swara yoga, nada yoga, astanga yoga; all of these lead to the same goal of achieving communion with God. The shortest and most suitable path ordained in this Kali Yuga is bhakti yoga.

Read more here: » Bhakti Yoga: Lasting Happiness Through Bhakti Yoga

Meditation Experiences by Sarasvati Buhrman PhD - Part II

Sometime after 350 B.C. a great yogi sage wrote the "Yoga Sutra". This brief translation should wet your appetite. This describes the transformation of mind that will unfold over a course of sadhana (spiritual practice), focusing on the relationship between the mind and the object of meditation.

Read more here: » Meditation Experiences: Meditation Experiences According to the Ashtanga Yoga Tradition with Commentary on Patanjali's Yoga Sutra - Part II

Meditation Experiences by Sarasvati Buhrman PhD - Part I

Sometime after 350 B.C. a great yogi sage wrote the "Yoga Sutra". This brief translation should wet your appetite. This describes the transformation of mind that will unfold over a course of sadhana (spiritual practice), focusing on the relationship between the mind and the object of meditation.

Read more here: » Meditation: Meditation Experiences According to the Ashtanga Yoga Tradition with Commentary on Patanjali's Yoga Sutra

The Vedas 

The Vedas are the Divine scriptures of ancient India and in modern times can be traced as least as far back as 12,OOO B.C. a lthough it is generally accepted tat the Vedas appear at different times of the cosmic creation forte benefit of human society. They are considered to be the revelations of the Divine nature, and its relationship within and without us. "Mantra" is the term used to mean Divine sound vibration or the word of God. There are teachings of mantras (hymns), teachings of ritual, theology, and philosophy at the root of all the vedic sciences. The point of all is the knowledge of the soul called "atma vidya", being our real "self" and separate and distinct from the material body , and the material world which surrounds us.

Read more here: » The Vedas: Divine scriptures of ancient India - The Vedas

Hatha Yoga: Hatha Yoga Styles

Hatha Yoga is the branch of Yoga that focuses on the physical well-being of a person and sees the body as the driver of the spirit. Each of these styles of yoga use Asanas or poses to balance the body, mind and spirit. However, some emphasise the alignment of the body while others concentrate on co-ordinating the movement and breath. Ten of the most common styles of Hatha Yoga are described: Ashtanga Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Viniyoga, Bikram Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Ananda Yoga, Anusara Yoga, Jivamukti Yoga, Sivananda Yoga and Svaroopa Yoga.

Read more here: » Hatha Yoga: Hatha Yoga Styles

The different yoga schools simply adhere to different applications of inner discipline, all of which ultimately lead to the liberation of the soul and to a unique understanding of the Divine Unity. The schools are merely named according to the yogi's objective of self-transformation and the instrument chosen for such anticipated change. The yoga schools are: Ashtanga Yoga, Purna Yoga, Integral Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Mantra Yoga,and Tantra Yoga.

Read more here: » Yoga Schools: The different Schools of Yoga

Dhyana-yoga of Bhagavad-Gita

In this chapter the Lord explains that the process of the eightfold yoga system (astanga-yoga) is a means to control the mind and the senses. This practice culminates in samadhi, full consciousness of the Supreme. However, this is very difficult for people in general to perform, especially in the Age of Kali. Although astanga-yoga is recommended in this chapter, the Lord emphasises that the process of bhakti-yoga, is better.

Read more here: » Dhyana Yoga: Dhyana-yoga of Bhagavad-Gita

Yoga Philosophy explained thru the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. The roots of Yoga can be traced back roughly 5,000 years to the Indus Valley civilization, where seals depicting people performing asanas (yoga postures) were used in trade along the river. The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word "Yuj" meaning to yoke, join or unite. It is the union of all aspects of an individual: body, mind and soul. Hence, Yoga reunites all opposites - mind and body, stillness and movement, masculine and feminine, sun and moon - in order to bring reconciliation between them. Yoga is one of the six branches in Indian philosophy and is referred to throughout the Vedas – the ancient scriptures of India. There is a legend that says that the knowledge of Yoga was first offered by Lord Shiva to his wife Parvati and then passed on to the world.

Read more here: » Patanjali: Yoga Philosophy and the Patanjali Yoga Sutras