Samkhya Yoga.

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SAMKHYA
YOGA
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Yoga ?
The word Yoga derives from the Sanskrit root
yuj to yoke or combine. The underlying idea
is that of the combination of the micro and
macrocosmic spiritual realities and thus
liberation from samsara.
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The idea of Yoga that we are familiar with was
invented by the sage Patanjali who combined two
pre-existent ideas the Philosophy of Samkhya,
and the Practice of physical postures
meditation techniques that had been developed by
the renouncers.
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PROTO - YOGA.
Spiritual attainment through the control of Prana
Breath / Energy in the body. This is achieved
by Meditation, Use of specific postures Breath
control. Ultimately to free the spirit from the
world (articulated in different ways)
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Holding the body steady with the three upper
parts erect, causing the senses to enter into the
heart by means of the mind. The wise man with
the boat of Brahman should cross all the streams
that bring fear. Suppressing the breaths here in
the body his movements controlled, he should
breath through his nostrils with diminished
breath. As he would a chariot yoked to bad
horses, so should a wise man diligently restrain
his mind. Shvetashvatra Upanishad II8-9
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Know the Self to be sitting in the chariot, the
body to be the chariot, the intellect (buddhi)
the charioteer, and the mind the reins. The
senses they call the horses, the objects of the
senses their roads... But he who has
understanding and whose mind is always firmly
held, his senses are under control, like good
horses of a charioteer. He who has no
understanding, who is unmindful and always
impure, never reaches that place, but enters into
the round of births.' Katha Upanishad 33-7
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When the five instruments of knowledge stand
still together with the mind, and when the
intellect does not move, that is called the
highest state. Katha Upanishad 69-10
"The practical method for coming to this oneness
consists in breath-control, withdrawal of the
senses from their objects, meditation,
concentration, analytic discrimination and
"enstasy" this is known as Yoga Maitri
Upanishad, 18-19
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Samkhya Philosophy
Brahman is manifested as Ishvara (the Lord
Brahman Saguna). Jiva / Atman (the self)
Prakriti (Nature)
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Samkhya Philosophy
Prakriti (Nature) is composed of three strands
(Gunas)
Sattva (purity) Rajas (passion) Tamas (inertia)
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He who has gunas, is a doer of deeds that bear
fruit, and enjoyer of what he has done Following
the three paths, characterized by the three
gunas, and assuming all forms, he roams about in
successive rebirths according to his actions.
The embodied one (Atman) chooses forms, gross and
subtle according to his qualities. Because of his
union with these forms brought about by the
qualities of his actions and his embodied self he
is seen as something other than he
is. Shvetashvatra Upanishad V.7, 12-13
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Samkhya Yoga
Patanjali combines these two systems in his Yoga
Sutra his synthesis is variously known as
Samkhya Yoga Astanga Yoga Citta-vritti-nirdoha.
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Patanjali
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Yama
The first step is Yama self control, not doing
bad things. This is to do with your relationships
with others in society and the Gods.
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Niyama
Niyama is also to do with ethics and
relationships, but this is more disciplined, it
is about doing good things following religious
teaching, doing pujas, reading texts, learning
from gurus etc.
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Asana
Asanas are the postures that one thinks of when
one thinks of Yoga
Of great benefit to mental and physical health,
but also designed to ease the flow of prana
round the body, and prepare for spiritual effort.
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ASANA
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Pranayama
Pranayama is usually thought of as breath control
or conscious awareness of breathing.
There are many complex techniques.
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Pratyahara
Pratyahara means the withdrawal of the senses
inward concentration.
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Pratyahara
When in recollection he withdraws all his senses
from the attractions of the pleasures of sense,
even as a tortoise withdraws all its limbs, then
his is a serene wisdom. Bhagavad Gita 258
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Dharana
Concentrating the mind upon a single object of
thought.
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Dhyana
Meditation concentration without an object.
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Samadhi
Samadhi is the ultimate goal of yoga to be
beyond all consciousness Entasy.
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What is the point?
Patanjalis system of Yoga is designed to slowly
disengage Purusha from Prakriti, so that at
Samadhi, there is only Purusha, which may then
achieve liberation.
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Liberation
Liberation in Patanjalis system is unique it
is described as Kevalatva Isolated Bliss (no
union with anything)