Integrating Ancient Wisdom in Modern Life: External and Internal Limbs
- Patanjali describes an eight-fold path to right living that is called The Eight Limbs of Yoga, or Ashtanga in Sanskrit. Ashta means eight and Anga means step or limbs-branches. If we take Anga as a step then we can learn eight folds one by one, sequentially. If we take Anga as limbs then all the eight folds can be learned simultaneously. They support and empower each other. Yoga means to unite. Ashtanga Marg Yoga means union between mind, body and spirit. Either practised as a step or as a limb you will be introduced to your Self-Nature.
- Purpose of Ashtanga Marg Yoga: higher discerning wisdom, ignorance be destroyed, know yourself and end of the cycle of karma. The Eight Limbs of Yoga can be divided in two parts. External are Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama and Pratyahara. And internal are Dharna, Dhyan and Samadhi.
- External limbs create atmosphere, foundation, base for internal limbs by stabilising the fluctuating mind. This is also called Karma Yoga. Internal limbs will purify the mind. It is called Upasana Yoga. So that we can see ourselves as pure consciousness.
- Yama means lack. Yama means practising five universal, ethical and moral standards to live life by (nonviolence, truthfulness, non-stealing, continence and non-possessiveness) to connect surroundings and feeling with peace. With this, interrelationships will become more graceful.
- Niyama: Five spiritual and self-discipline observances for self-relationship with body, mind and spirit (Purity, Contentment, Austerities, Self-Study and Surrender to God).
- Asana: Disciplined posture. The pleasant stability of the body is called asana. This will help the body learn to focus and take care of the physical self, which is a temple of the spirit.
- Pranayama: Regulated breathing. Slow, deep and rhythmic breath in and out is Pranayama. Regulated and controlled breath gives vitality, focused thought and long life.
- Pratyahara: Control over the five senses through the practice of transcending the external world or stimuli, by bringing the focus inward. Making the mind internal focused.
- Dharana: Qualitative and quantitative concentration on any object external or inner with inner awareness is called Dharna. Start from the gross object to the subtler object. Then move from a subtler object to self and I-ness.
- Dhyana: Qualitative and quantitative repeated, uninterrupted and continuous concentration on self is Dhyana. Dhyana needs effort.
- Samadhi: Absorption. Emptiness happens with the union of meditation and patience. Samadhi happens effortlessly.
