Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita < ...

Including:

• Bhagavad Gita - Bhagavad Gita in General
• Bhagavad Gita - Bhagavad Gita as a Yoga Scripture
• Bhagavad Gita - On The Goal Of Yoga
• Bhagavad Gita - On Bhakti Yoga
• Bhagavad Gita - On Karma Yoga
• Bhagavad Gita - On Nishkam Karma Yoga
• Bhagavad Gita - On Jnana Yoga
• Bhagavad Gita - On Raja Yoga
• Bhagavad Gita - Overview

Read more here: » Bhagavad Gita: Encyclopedia - Bhagavad Gita

See also:

Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavad Gita - Bhagavad Gita in General, Bhagavad Gita - Bhagavad Gita as a Yoga Scripture, Bhagavad Gita - On The Goal Of Yoga, Bhagavad Gita - On Bhakti Yoga, Bhagavad Gita - On Karma Yoga, Bhagavad Gita - On Nishkam Karma Yoga, Bhagavad Gita - On Jnana Yoga, Bhagavad Gita - On Raja Yoga, Bhagavad Gita - Overview

Read more here: » Bhagavad Gita: Encyclopedia II - Bhagavad Gita - Bhagavad Gita as a Yoga Scripture

The Gita describes the best Yogi as one who constantly thinks of God. The Gita addresses the discord between the senses and the intuition of cosmic unity. It speaks of the Yoga of equanimity, a detached outlook. The term Yoga covers a wide range of meanings, but in the context of the Bhagavad Gita, describes a unified outlook, serenity of mind, skill in action, and the ability to stay attuned to the glory of the Self (Atman), which is of the same essence as the basis of Being (Brahman). According to Krishna, the root of all suffering ...

See also:

Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavad Gita - Bhagavad Gita in General, Bhagavad Gita - Bhagavad Gita as a Yoga Scripture, Bhagavad Gita - On The Goal Of Yoga, Bhagavad Gita - On Bhakti Yoga, Bhagavad Gita - On Karma Yoga, Bhagavad Gita - On Nishkam Karma Yoga, Bhagavad Gita - On Jnana Yoga, Bhagavad Gita - On Raja Yoga, Bhagavad Gita - Overview

Read more here: » Bhagavad Gita: Encyclopedia II - Bhagavad Gita - Bhagavad Gita as a Yoga Scripture

The Bhagavad Gita has been universally hailed by the learned as truly reflecting the essence of all the Vedas. Its depth, richness and rationality of philosophy have universal appeal.

It teaches man that the true goal of life is union with God or the Supreme Impersonal-Personal Brahman, and the principal means to attain it are the four paths of karma or work, jnana or knowledge, yoga or psychic control and bhakti or loving devotion.

(See also: Bhakti Yoga, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

For the living, death is certain and for the dead, birth is certain. Since death is definite for all embodied beings, the Bhagavad Gita enjoins the seeker to aspire for that state of attainment, after which there is no return or rebirth.

Among the paths leading to the deathless state, Krishna discusses jnana -yoga, the path of contemplation, and karmayoga , the path of action. All actions, he says, finally culminate in knowledge.

For the common man, whose senses and desires are rooted in this world and who craves desired results, the shrutis - the Vedas and the Upanishads - prescribe various types of yajnas . Among the yajnas , the Maharudrabhisheka is accorded high status.

(See also: Mantra, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

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

Quite often we are faced with the dilemma of having to decide what is right and what is wrong. Our instinct tells us one thing, whereas our conscience tells us something else. Which are the good qualities that must be developed and which are those undesirable ones that must be abandoned?

Lord Krishna addresses this problem in chapter 16 of the Bhagavad Gita . Krishna explains that there are two basic types of inherently opposite dispositions in people - the daivic or divine and the asuric or demonic. Daivic qualities are the cause of liberation ( moksha ), and asuric qualities, the cause of bondage. Krishna lists 26 qualities as divine, which are self-explanatory. Fearlessness tops the list as the prime virtue. It is all encompassing.

(See also: Peace on Earth, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Sahaja Yoga: The Living Tradition of Sahaj Marg

The Raja Yoga system known as "Sahaj Marg" is still relatively obscure in the West, even among Yoga aficionados. This is largely due to the fact that Sahaj Marg has been a low-key, word-of-mouth practice. Works by the lineage of Sahaj Marg Masters, published under the auspices of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM), are difficult to locate, and beyond the abhyasis or practitioners of Sahaj Marg, few are aware that SRCM centers have been established worldwide since the Mission was founded in India fifty years ago.

Read more here: » Sahaja Yoga: The Living Tradition of Sahaj Marg

Mantra that Helps Conquer Death

For the living, death is certain and for the dead, birth is certain. Since death is definite for all embodied beings, the Bhagavad Gita enjoins the seeker to aspire for that state of attainment, after which there is no return or rebirth.

Read more here: » Mantra Yoga: Mantra that Helps Conquer Death

Susan, a telephone service representative for a large health insurance company, once taught us an extremely important lesson about "work as a spiritual practice."

She was known as one of the best at her job. Whenever she received a call from an angry person complaining that a huge bill had not yet been paid, she silently kept a spiritual mantra going in her head as she listened to the caller. It helped her maintain a peaceful mind and reminded her that the caller was a spiritual being in his or her own right. She kept connecting with the caller, heart to heart, in every word she said and patiently demonstrated her accurate listening. Soon, angry callers became calm, and began to trust that she would really do her best to help them.

See also: Spirituality At Work, Work As A Spiritual Practice, Spiritual Based Leadership)

Bhakti yoga is the Hindu term for the spiritual practice of fostering of loving devotion to God, called bhakti. Traditionally there are 9 forms of bhakti yoga. Hindu movements in which bhakti yoga is the main practice are called bhakti movements. Bhakti yoga is generally considered the easiest of the four general paths to liberation, or moksha (the others being Karma, Raja and Jnana Yoga). Bhakti yoga - The Philosophy and Development of Bhakti. Bhakti is the Hindu term that signifies a blissful, selfless an ...

Including:

• Bhakti yoga - The Philosophy and Development of Bhakti
• Bhakti yoga - The Bhagavad Gita

Read more here: » Bhakti yoga: Encyclopedia - Bhakti yoga

Yoga is a family of ancient spiritual practices that originated in India, where it remains a vibrant living tradition and is seen as a means to enlightenment. Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Raja Yoga are considered the four main yogas, but there are many other types. In the West, yoga has become associated with the asanas (postures) of Hatha Yoga, which are popular as fitness exercises. Yoga as a means to enlightenment is central to Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and has influenced other religious and spiritual pr ...

Including:

• Yoga - Yoga practice and intention
• Yoga - The word yoga
• Yoga - Diversity of yoga
• Yoga - Yoga and religion
• Yoga - Common themes
• Yoga - Origins
• Yoga - Hindu yoga
• Yoga - Bhagavad Gita
• Yoga - Patanjali
• Yoga - God in Yoga philosophy
• Yoga - Hatha yoga
• Yoga - Natya yoga
• Yoga - Buddhist yoga
• Yoga - Yoga and tantra
• Yoga - Notable Yogis

Read more here: » Yoga: Encyclopedia - Yoga

Jñāna is the Sanskrit term for knowledge. In Buddhism, it refers to pure awareness that is free of conceptual encumbrances, and is contrasted with vijnana, which is a moment of 'divided knowing'. Jnana yoga is one path (marga) towards moksha (liberation). jnana yoga involves obtaining knowledge through studies of sacred texts and learning from a teacher, however experiential knowledge is usually emphasized. The other margas are the karma (ac ...

Read more here: » Jnana: Encyclopedia - Jnana

Karma yoga, or the "discipline of action" is based on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, a holy scripture of Hinduism. One of the four pillars of yoga, Karma yoga focuses on the adherence to duty (dharma) while remaining detached from the reward. It states that one can attain Moksha (salvation) by doing his duties in an unselfish manner. Karma Yoga - Concept. The Bhagavad Gita is the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna just before the battle of Mahabharata, a war between the virtuous Pan ...

Including:

• Karma Yoga - Concept
• Karma Yoga - References in Hindu Scriptures

Read more here: » Karma Yoga: Encyclopedia - Karma Yoga

Books: Life Divine, Synthesis of Yoga, Savitri, The Mother, Letters, Agenda Teachings: Involution, Evolution Integral yoga, Triple transformation Physical, Vital, Mental, Psychic, Spirit Overmind, Supermind Sacred Structures: Matrimandir Communities:Including:

• The Synthesis of Yoga - History of the Book

Read more here: » The Synthesis of Yoga: Encyclopedia - The Synthesis of Yoga

Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita Gita Go ...

Read more here: » Hatha Yoga Pradipika: Encyclopedia - Hatha Yoga Pradipika

Integral yoga or purna yoga (Full or complete yoga) refers in Sri Aurobindo's teachings to the union of all the parts of one's being with the Divine, and the transmutation of all of their jarring elements into a harmonious state of higher divine consciousness and existence. Integral yoga - The yoga of synthesis. Sri Aurobindo describes the nature and practice of integral yoga in his opus The Synthesis of Yoga. As the title of that work indicates, his integral yoga is a yoga of synthesis, inten ...

Including:

• Integral yoga - The yoga of synthesis
• Integral yoga - The aim of integral yoga
• Integral yoga - Other Integral Yogas
• Integral yoga - Quotes

Read more here: » Integral yoga: Encyclopedia - Integral yoga

Samkhya Nyaya Vaisheshika Yoga Purva Mimamsa Advaita Vedanta Vishishtadvaita Dvaita Carvaka Jain Buddhist Logic The main objective of the Purva ("earlier") Mimamsa school was to establish the authority of the Vedas. Consequently this school's most valuable contribution to Hinduism was its formulation of the rules of Vedic in ...

Read more here: » Mimamsa: Encyclopedia - Mimamsa

The history of Yoga spans from four to eight thousand years ago to the current day. From hints of it's practice in pre-vedic times, the first elucidations and detailed elaborations in Hindu texts, absorption into Buddhist and Jain philisophies, upto it's modern suffusion into secular life, it's applicability has stood the test of time. History of Yoga - Pre-Vedic ca. 6000 - 3000 BCE [?]. Older findings are believed by some to show that "yoga" existed in some form well before the establishment of vedas in the India ...

Including:

• History of Yoga - Pre-Vedic ca. 6000 - 3000 BCE [?]
• History of Yoga - Vedic ca. 2000-1500 BCE
• History of Yoga - Upanishadic ca. 800-100 BCE
• History of Yoga - Bhagavad Gita
• History of Yoga - Classical - Patanjali's 'Yoga Sutras' ca. 200 CE
• History of Yoga - Yoga-bhasya 450 - 850 CE
• History of Yoga - Hatha Yoga Pradipika 1350 - 1400 CE
• History of Yoga - Today
• History of Yoga - Modern growth of yoga in the West

Read more here: » History of Yoga: Encyclopedia - History of Yoga

In Yoga, Self-realization is knowledge of one's true self. This true self is also referred to as the atma to avoid ambiguity. The term "self-realization" is a translation of the Sanskrit expression atma jnana (knowledge of the self or atma). The reason the term "realization" is used instead of "knowledge" is that jnana refers to knowledge based on experience, not mere intellectual knowledge. As discussed in the article on yoga, while the goal of self-realization is the same in all yoga paths, the means used to ach ...

Including:

• Self-realization - Self-realization in Sahaja Yoga
• Self-realization - Self-realization in Reiki Tummo
• Self-realization - Self-realization according to Paramhansa Yogananda
• Self-realization - Self-realization in Surat Shabd Yoga
• Self-realization - Note

Read more here: » Self-realization: Encyclopedia - Self-realization