instinctive mind: Manas chitta. The lower mind, which controls the basic faculties of perception, movement, as well as ordinary thought and emotion. Manas chitta is of the manomaya kosha.

See: manas, manomaya kosha, yama-niyama.

(See also: Instinctive mind, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

The eight "limbs" or steps are: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi. A number of commentators break these eight steps into two categories. Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, and Pratyahara comprise the first category. The second category, called Samyama is comprised of Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi. The division between the two categories exists because in latter three mentioned steps there is no cognizance whereas in the first five steps cognizance exists. "Since there is no cognizance to these th ...

See also:

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Introduction, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Authorship, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Philosophical Roots and Influences, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - The Eight Limbs of Raja Yoga, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Bibliography, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Appendix: English Translation of the Yoga Sutras, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book I : Consciousness and Superconsciousness Samadhi Pada, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book II : Ways To Attain Yoga Sadhana Pada, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book III : Powers Vibhuti Pada, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book IV : Liberation Kaivalya Pada

Read more here: » Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Encyclopedia II - Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - The Eight Limbs of Raja Yoga

Astanga-yoga - the yoga system consisting of eight parts: yama (control of the senses) , niyama (control of the mind) , asana (bodily postures) , pranayama (breath control) , pratyahara (withdrawal of the mind from sensory perception) , dharana (steadying the mind) , dhyana (meditation) , and samadhi (deep and unbroken absorption on the Lord in the heart).

(See also: Astanga-yoga, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti 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)

According to the Hindu Yoga Sutra dhyana is one of the eight methods of Yoga, (the other seven methods are Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, and Samadhi). In the Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali, the stage of meditation preceding dhyāna is called dharana. In Dhyana, the meditator is not conscious of the act of meditation (i.e. is not aware that s/he is meditating) but is only aware that s/he exists (consciousness of being), and aware of the object of meditation. Dhyana is distinct from Dharana in that the meditator becomes one with the object of meditation and is able to maintain thi ...

See also:

Dhyana, Dhyana - Dhyāna in Buddhism, Dhyana - Dhyāna in Hinduism

Read more here: » Dhyana: Encyclopedia II - Dhyana - Dhyāna in Hinduism

instinctive: "Natural or innate." From the Latin instinctus, "staff," "prick," a participle of instigere, "impelling," pricking," "instigating."

The drives and impulses that order the animal world and the physical and lower astral aspects of humans- for example, self-preservation, procreation, hunger and thirst, as well as the emotions of greed, hatred, anger, fear, lust and jealousy. The first steps on the spiritual path consist in learning to harness these tendencies and impulses and transmute their energies into the higher nature.

See: manas, mind (individual), mind (three phases), yama-niyama.

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

vegetarian: Shakahara. Of a diet which excludes meat, fish, fowl and eggs. Vegetarianism is a principle of health and environmental ethics that has been a keystone of Indian life for thousands of years.

Vegetarian foods include grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes and dairy products. Natural, fresh foods, locally grown, without insecticides or chemical fertilizers, are preferred. The following foods are minimized: frozen and canned foods, highly processed foods, such as white rice, white sugar and white flour; and "junk" foods and beverages (those with abundant chemical additives, such as artificial sweeteners, colorings, flavorings and preservatives).

A person following a vegetarian diet is called a shakahari.

See: guna, mansahari, yama-niyama.

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

vegetarian: Shakahara. Of a diet which excludes meat,

fish, fowl and eggs. Vegetarianism is a principle of health

and environmental ethics that has been a keystone of

Indian life for thousands of years. Vegetarian foods

include grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes and dairy

products. Natural, fresh foods, locally grown, without

insecticides or chemical fertilizers, are preferred. The

following foods are minimized: frozen and canned foods,

highly processed foods, such as white rice, white sugar

and white flour; and "junk" foods and beverages (those

with abundant chemical additives, such as artificial

sweeteners, colorings, flavorings and preservatives). A

person following a vegetarian diet is called a shakahari.

See: guna, mansahari, yama-niyama.

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

Astanga yoga:

 Astanga yoga: Eight aspects of yoga described by Patanjali as follows: yama (restraints on behavior), niyama (spiritual observances), asana (seat, posture, practice of postures), pranayama (expansion of vital energy through control of breath), pratyahara ( withdrawal of the senses), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), samadhi (complete absorption)

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

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)

Traditional Hatha Yoga is a holistic yogic path, including moral disciplines, physical exercises (e.g., asanas (postures) and Pranayama (breath control), and meditation. The Hatha yoga predominantly practiced in the West consists of mostly asanas (postures) and exercise. Hatha represents opposing energies: hot and cold, male and female, positive and negative, similar but not completely analogous to yin and yang. Hatha yoga attempts to balance mind and body via physical exercises, or "asanas", controlled breathing, and the calming of t ...

See also:

Hatha yoga, Hatha yoga - Origins, Hatha yoga - Concept, Hatha yoga - Yama, Hatha yoga - Asanas Postures, Hatha yoga - Pranayama - The science of breathing, Hatha yoga - General Directions for Yogasana, Hatha yoga - Health Benefits ascribed to Yogasana practice, Hatha yoga - Etymology, Hatha yoga - In the West

Read more here: » Hatha yoga: Encyclopedia II - Hatha yoga - Concept

Purity impurity: Shaucha-ashaucha.

Purity and its opposite, pollution, are a fundamental part of Hindu culture. While they imply a strong sense of physical cleanliness, their more important meanings extend to social, ceremonial, mental, emotional, psychic and spiritual contamination. Freedom from all forms of contamination is a key to Hindu spirituality, and is one of the yamas.

-       Physical purity requires a clean and wellordered environment, yogic purging of the internal organs and frequent cleansing with water.

-       Mental purity derives from meditation, right living and right thinking.

-       Emotional purity depends on control of the mind, clearing the subconscious and keeping good company.

-       Spiritual purity is achieved through following the yamas and niyamas, study of the Vedas and other scriptures, pilgrimage, meditation, japa, tapas and ahimsa.

-       Ritual purity requires the observance of certain prayashchittas, or penances, for defilement derived from foreign travel, contact with base people or places, conversion to other faiths, contact with bodily wastes, attending a funeral, etc.

Purity is of three forms - purity in mind, speech and body, or thought, word and deed. Purity is the pristine and natural state of the soul. Impurity, or pollution, is the obscuring of this state by adulterating experience and beclouding conceptions. In daily life, the Hindu strives to protect this innate purity by wise living, following the codes of dharma. This includes harnessing the sexual energies, associating with other virtuous Hindu devotees, never using harsh, angered or indecent language, and keeping a clean and healthy physical body.

See: dharma, papa, penance, punya, yamaniyama.

(See also: Purity impurity, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

japa: (Sanskrit) "Incantation."

Practice of concentrated repetition of a mantra, often while counting the repetitions on a mala or strand of beads. It may be done silently or aloud. Sometimes known as mantra yoga.

A major sadhana in Hindu spiritual practice, from the simple utterance of a few names of God to extraordinary feats of repeating sacred syllables millions of times for years on end. It is recommended as a cure for pride and arrogance, anger and jealousy, fear and confusion. It harmonizes the doshas and quiets the vrittis. Filling the mind with divine syllables, awakening the divine essence of spiritual energies in the physical body, japa brings forth the amrita. For Saivites, Namah Sivaya in its various forms is the most treasured mantra used in japa. The mantra Hare- Rama-Hare-Krishna is among the foremost Vaishnava mantras.

Japa yoga is said to be of 14 kinds:

• daily (nitya),
• circumstantial (naimittika),
• the japa of desired results (kamya), f
• orbidden (nishiddha),
• penitential (prayashchitta),
• unmoving (achala),
• moving (chala),
• voiced (vachika),
• whispered (upanshu),
• bee, or murmured (bhramara),
• mental (manasa),
• uninterrupted (akhanda),
• nonuttered (ajapa) and
• circumambulatory (pradakshina).

See: amrita, mantra, yama-niyama, yoga.

(See also: Japa, Hinduism, 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)

Different asanas are recommeded by practioners to cure or prevent problems ranging from constipation to cancer. It is known to reduce stress and other mental worries. See Yoga (alternative medicine) ...

See also:

Hatha yoga, Hatha yoga - Origins, Hatha yoga - Concept, Hatha yoga - Yama, Hatha yoga - Asanas Postures, Hatha yoga - Pranayama - The science of breathing, Hatha yoga - General Directions for Yogasana, Hatha yoga - Health Benefits ascribed to Yogasana practice, Hatha yoga - Etymology, Hatha yoga - In the West

Read more here: » Hatha yoga: Encyclopedia II - Hatha yoga - Health Benefits ascribed to Yogasana practice