DOCSLIB.ORG

Yamas and Niyamas – Suggest the Values and Behaviours Likely to Lead to a Fulfilled, Contented and Productive Life

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Yamas and Niyamas – Suggest the Values and Behaviours Likely to Lead to a Fulfilled, Contented and Productive Life Yamas + Niyamas yamas niyamasand – ancient yogic truths for the 21st century 1 australian yoga life Yamas + Niyamas With asana practice occupying most attention in a typical yoga class, it’s easy to forget that yoga offers not just a path to physical health but also a framework for all- round life management. Yoga’s ethical guidelines – the yamas and niyamas – suggest the values and behaviours likely to lead to a fulfilled, contented and productive life. Take your yoga a little deeper and explore how you can integrate these values into your everyday life. By Trish Brown. The yamas and niyamas are rarely help you to contain your energy to make someone in the eye when they make you discussed in asana classes but they are you balanced and more focused by angry. It also applies to how we treat the keys to living a life of fullness, self- encouraging you to avoid problematic ourselves, for example, not beating discovery and inner peace. They help us behaviours. Observances (directives) ourselves up and thinking we’re stupid to achieve the ultimate state of balance include practices to add to your life, to when we make a mistake. and harmony, both within ourselves and enhance your wellbeing and build up Physical violence is the grossest twith the world around us. your energy. expression of humanity’s baser instincts. These principles are contained in Yamas (controls) are like the brakes But every thought, word or action that the first two limbs of Patanjali’s eight on a car. They help us gain control over causes pain to another is really a form of limbs of yoga, known as the Eightfold our lives and restore homeostasis to violence. The aim is to have balanced Path. This ancient system of yogic body and mind. Niyamas (directives) are ambition, which means not running over instructions (sutras) can be applied to like the accelerator, propelling us in the other people to get ahead and not our yoga practice today and also to how right direction. harming or neglecting yourself either. we live our life in modern society. In Rather than just intellectualising Ask yourself a simple question: Do my fact, these values underpin the life of the application of the yamas and actions, thoughts and intentions reflect dedicated yogic aspirants and have done niyamas, let’s broaden our knowledge of peacefulness? If you are unsure, think about for thousands of years. them and take these universal values to a where you spend your time. When we In his Yoga Sutras, Patanjali lists 10 deeper and more personal level – and associate with people who live by high important yamas and niyamas. However, into our daily practice. Yoga becomes standards, they feed us with high the ancient treatise, the Srimad truly holistic when we take it ‘off the thoughts and compassionate actions. Bhagavatam, describes 24 in a mat’ and embrace its principles in our When we associate with angry or violent remarkable dialogue between a warrior day to day living. To get you started, prince and his elite student. Patanjali’s people, or expose ourselves to the here’s a short explanation of each of the version focuses on how to ennoble barrage of media violence, our minds principles, along with a tip or two for yourself: how to refine your life to assist can develop the habit of violence too. how to cultivate each one in daily life. your development, and what to add to Cultivating good association and your life so you can experience greater YAMAS watching or reading things that nurture wellbeing. The principles in the Srimad 1. Ahimsa: non-violence us can be essential if we want to create a Bhagavatam also focus on encouraging Ahimsa refers to non-violence, which peaceful life. you to make positive contributions to includes the non-killing, non-injuring Cultivate consumer awareness. Question the world. and non-harming of others. True ahimsa whether the products you choose are The yamas and niyamas are is being aware of the energy you put out. healthy or ethical and whether animals or sometimes referred to as restraints and This can mean anything from not humans have been hurt in the making of observances. Self-restraints (or controls) polluting the earth to not punching that product. australian yoga life 2 Yamas + Niyamas 2. Satya: truthfulness done more hours than you have, or Moderation in all things is the key to Truthfulness is about being real and not cheating on your taxes despite a healthy lifestyle. Uncontrolled desires seeing things the way they really are. The the temptation to short change lead to the abuse of the senses, which in more truthful we are, the more we come the government! turn can lead to addictions of all kinds – to know ourselves. At the highest level In yogic philosophy the very desire drugs, alcohol, overeating, pornography of truth we can begin to recognise that to have more wealth than one needs is or relationships where there is sex much of our life is impermanent. also seen as stealing. But there are without love. These addictions create suffering at every level and distract us from the truth we seek as yogis. Yoga becomes truly holistic when we take The next time you have a craving ask yourself: If I fulfil this desire will it help me it ‘off the mat’ and embrace its principles or hinder me on my yogic path? You may be amazed at how yoga can transform in our day to day living. the energy of a desire. For example, ask yourself: Is there is a yoga posture I can do before I give in to the temptation to However, on an everyday level we soon reasons why people steal even when they have a chocolate? discover that truth is in the eye of the know it’s not right. Desiring something 5. Aparigraha: not wanting what beholder. Most people see the world the that does not belong to us, for example others have way they would like it to be, rather than someone’s job or car, is an indication The yama of aparigraha urges us to resist the way it is. In any conflict, the truth is that we are not content with what we the desire to pursue and hoard stuff. usually somewhere between what both have, or more importantly, we are not Hoarding or collecting arises from fear parties believe. Misinterpreting or content with who we think we are! about the future. We’re afraid that if we taking the situation personally can lead The nature of the ego is to grasp at don’t accumulate and protect what we to a distortion of the truth. everything around it. We call this the consider good stuff, we may find we Being truthful requires constant ‘wanting mind’. It arises from the ego don’t have what we want, when we want vigilance, which at first is a great effort, and is always creating preferences. it. It’s not surprising that many of us feel but with practise becomes a natural way When you discover your mind this way because this anxiety to get of living. Truthfulness requires us to be telling you that you need something, ask things now is encouraged by our society. totally honest with ourselves, so that our yourself: Do I really need this? Do I Nearly every advertisement on television thoughts, words and deeds are all in want this for myself, or will it benefit entices us to buy and consume more, alignment. When they are, people sense anyone else? even though most of the time we don’t the truth within us. When you find the mind grasping for need these things. Do we really need the Try talking less and listening more. something that is not yours, ask the latest car, mobile phone or fashion Empowering others allows your own question: Why aren’t I content with the wardrobe? Or can we make do and give communication to become stronger, with things I have? part of our hard-earned dollars to some greater integrity. of the less fortunate in the world. 4. Brahmacharya: intelligent Gandhi aptly said: ‘There is enough in 3. Asteya: non-stealing self-control the world for everyone’s need but not Taking something that belongs to Patanjali realised that it was crucial to for their greed’. someone else sets us at odds with what lead a life of self-restraint, as conserving Aparigraha doesn’t just apply to we know is right. Deep down, we all one’s energies helps people to maintain having lots of things, but more generally know what actions are honest, but often health and balance in life. Brahmacharya refers to how we get attached to material our desires cloud that knowing. One of in its strictest sense is often interpreted objects. There is an old story about a Patanjali’s sutras states: ‘After becoming as celibacy. But it is much more than wandering monk who went to see a wise established finally in the state of non- avoiding relationships or refraining from king in an opulent palace. The king was stealing, the yogi will attain all sexual relations. The higher aspect of quite keen to learn from the monk. The diamonds.’ When we no longer covet brahmacharya means having intelligent monk told the king that he would have to things that belongs to others, we attain contact with the world. renounce all his possessions to achieve our own level of satisfaction. When we exercise control and live happiness and develop spiritually. The Non-stealing does not merely with wisdom, we have more energy and king, who already had no attachment to mean abstaining from theft.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Ashtanga Yoga Yama (Principles) Niyama
    ASHTANGA YOGA The basis of Ashtanga yoga is the Yoga sutras (Sanskrit Verses) of Patanjali. We will consider the different aspects of yoga while remaining under the guiding principles of Patanjali's Yoga (Ashtanga yoga). The Asana, Pranayama, Dharana, Dhyan & Samadhi or the Yama and Niyama are systematically described by Patanjali in his Sanskrit Sutras (verses). YAMA (PRINCIPLES) NIYAMA (PERSONAL DISCIPLINES) ASANA (YOGA POSITIONS OR YOGIC POSTURES) PRANAYAMA (YOGIC BREATHING) PRATYAHARA (WITHDRAWAL OF SENSES) DHARANA (CONCENTRATION ON OBJECT) DHYAN (MEDITATION) SAMADHI (SALVATION) HATHA YOGA The term Hatha Yoga has been commonly used to describe the practice of asana (postures). The syllable 'ha' denotes the pranic (vital) force governing the physical body and 'tha' denotes the chitta (mental) force thus making Hatha Yoga a catalyst to an awakening of the two energies that govern our lives. More correctly the techniques described in Hatha Yoga harmonise and purify the body systems and focus the mind in preparation for more advanced chakra and kundalini practices. The Hatha Yoga system includes asana along with the six shatkarmas (physical and mental detox techniques), mudras and bandhas (psycho-physiological energy release techniques) and Pranayama (pranic awakening practices). Fine tuning of the human personality at increasingly subtle levels leads to higher states of awareness and meditation. 1. YOGASANA(YOGA POSITIONS) 2. SIX SHATKARMAS(PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DETOX TECHNIQUES) 3. MUDRAS AND BANDHAS(PSYCHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL ENERGY RELEASE TECHNIQUES) 4. PRANAYAMA Read more about Hatha Yoga Paramhansa Swami Satyananda Saraswati JNANA YOGA Jnana Yoga is the process of converting intellectual knowledge into practical wisdom. It is a discovery of human dharma in relation to nature and the universe.
    [Show full text]
  • Jnana, Bhakti and Karma Yoga in the Bhagavad Gita
    Jnana, Bhakti and Karma Yoga in the Bhagavad Gita The Bhagavad Gita - written between 600 -500 BCE is sometimes referred to as the last Upanishad. As with many Yoga texts and great literature there are many possible layers of meaning. In essence it is grounded by the meditative understanding of the underlying unity of life presented in the Upanishads, and then extends this into how yoga practice, insight and living life can become one and the same. Ultimately it is a text that describes how yoga can clarify our perception of life, its purpose and its challenges, and offers guidance as to how we might understand and negotiate them. It encourages full engagement with life, and its difficulties and dilemmas are turned into the manure for potential liberation and freedom. The Bhagavad-Gita is actually a sub story contained within a huge poem/story called the Mahabharata, one of the ‘Puranas’ or epics that make up much of early Indian literature. It emphasises the importance of engagement in the world, perhaps a reaction to the tendency developing at the time in Buddhism and Vedanta to renounce worldly life in favour of personal liberation. The yoga of the Bhagavad-Gita essentially suggests that fully engaging in all aspects of life and its challenges with a clear perspective is a valid yogic path and possibly superior to meditative realisation alone. There is an implication in this emphasis that there is a potential danger for some people of using yoga practice and lifestyle to avoid difficulties in life and not engage with the world and the culture and time we find ourselves in; and/or perhaps to misunderstand that yoga practice is partly practice for something – to re-evaluate and hopefully enrich our relationship to the rest of life.
    [Show full text]
  • Reports on Yamas and Niyamas
    REPORTS ON YAMAS AND NIYAMAS Every year, students undergoing the 6 month Sadhana and teachers training are given assignments on one of he five Yamas and five Niyamas. This year during November 2009, Laura Biagi has compiled and presented this excellent work on the twins of Brahmacharya and Saucha. Excellent work from an excellent student!!- Editor REPORTS ON YAMAS AND NIYAMAS YAMAS: BRAHAMACHARYA Laura Biagi Generally translated as “restrain of sexuality”, this Yama – while involving the awareness and control of sexual energy – is not limited to sexuality as we understand it in the West. In Yoga 1 to 10, Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani writes that Brahmacharya is “the continuous residence in the principle of creativity”. The first step to take in this analysis and understanding is the relationship between the principle of creativity and the principle of sexual energy. Yamas are tools to control our animal nature and to progress in our human evolution. Let’s look at the evolutionary steps we took from being animals to being humans in relation to our sexuality. Animals use their sexual energy to pro- create . The procreative instinct is very strong in animals. It is vital ( vital comes from the Latin vita , life). Animals spend quite some time and energy mating, coupling, procreating, making a new nest, taking care of the young and so on. Animals have quite different habits in the way they use their sexual energy, too. As humans, we are still carrying with us some of the instincts and emotions of animals: most of us have probably felt one time or another a sexual attraction or repulsion, a sexual arousal, attachment to a mate, fear or loosing the mate, desire to find a mate, jealousy, passion, and so on.
    [Show full text]
  • The Concept of Bhakti-Yoga
    Nayankumar J. Bhatt [Subject: English] International Journal of Vol. 2, Issue: 1, January 2014 Research in Humanities and Social Sciences ISSN:(P) 2347-5404 ISSN:(O)2320 771X The Concept of Bhakti-Yoga NAYANKUMAR JITENDRA BHATT B-402, Ayodhya Appt., Maheshnagar, Zanzarada Road, Junagadh Gujarat (India) Abstract: Bhakti-Yoga is a real, genuine search after the lord, a search beginning, continuing, and ending in love. One single moment of the madness of extreme love to God brings us eternal freedom. About Bhakti-Yoga Narada says in his explanation of the Bhakti-aphorisms, “is intense love to God.” When a man gets it, he loves all, hates none; he becomes satisfied forever. This love cannot be reduced to any earthly benefit, because so long as worldly desires last, that kind of love does not come. Bhakti is greater than Karma, because these are intended for an object in view, while Bhakti is its own fruition, its own means, and its own end. Keywords: Bhakti Yoga, God, Karma, Yoga The one great advantage of Bhakti is that it is the easiest, and the most natural way to reach the great divine end in view; its great disadvantage is that in its lower forms it oftentimes degenerates into hideous fanaticism. The fanatical crews in Hinduism, or Mohammedanism, or Christianity, have always been almost exclusively recruited from these worshippers on the lower planes of Bhakti. That singleness of attachment to a loved object, without which no genuine love can grow, is very often also the cause of the denunciation of everything else. When Bhakti has become ripe and has passed into that form which is caned the supreme, no more is there any fear of these hideous manifestations of fanaticism; that soul which is overpowered by this higher form of Bhakti is too near the God of Love to become an instrument for the diffusion of hatred.
    [Show full text]
  • Yoga in the Visnu Purana
    Cleveland State University EngagedScholarship@CSU Philosophy & Comparative Religion Department Faculty Publications Philosophy & Comparative Religion Department 2017 Yoga in the Visnu Purana Sucharita Adluri Ms. Cleveland State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/clphil_facpub Part of the Hindu Studies Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! Publisher's Statement Copyright Springer Verlag. https://link.springer.com/journal/10781 Original Citation Adluri, S. (2017). Yoga in the Visnu Purana. Journal of Indian Philosophy, 45(2), 381-402. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Philosophy & Comparative Religion Department at EngagedScholarship@CSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Philosophy & Comparative Religion Department Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of EngagedScholarship@CSU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Yoga in the Visnu Purana Sucharita Adluri Abstract Though scholarship on diverse methods of yoga in the Indian traditions abounds, there has not been sufficient research that examines the traditions of yoga in the puranas. The present paper explores yoga articulated in the Visnu Purana (fourth century CE) and argues that what seems like a unified teaching is a com­ posite of an eight-limbed yoga embedded within an instruction on proto-Sämkhya. An evaluation of the key elements of yoga as developed in this text as a whole, clarifies our understanding of the emergence of yoga and its relationship to epic formulations on the one hand and to the Classical System of the Yogasiitras of Patafijali on the other.
    [Show full text]
  • Tilak's View of Karma Yoga to Attain Salvation
    Journal of Management (JOM) Volume 6, Issue 3, May-June 2019, pp. 154-156, Article ID: JOM_06_03_018 Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/JOM/issues.asp?JType=JOM&VType=6&IType=3 Journal Impact Factor (2019): 5.3165 (Calculated by GISI) www.jifactor.com ISSN Print: 2347-3940 and ISSN Online: 2347-3959 DOI: 10.34218/JOM.6.3.2019.018 © IAEME Publication TILAK’S VIEW OF KARMA YOGA TO ATTAIN SALVATION: AN ANALYSIS Dr. Hitesh Chandra Kalita HOD &Associate Professor in Philosophy MNC BalikaMahavidyalaya, Nalbari, Assam, India ABSTRACT The paper proposes to present and elaborate and critically analyze the main concept of Tilak’s view of karma yoga to attain the knowledge of salvation or ultimate goal. Karma yoga is simply the way of desireless or self-based action through the help of knowledge from jnana yoga and bhakti yoga. That knowledge is only sufficient for salvation. His karma yoga based interpretation of the is called Gita Rahasya. Keywords: Tilak, Karma Yoga and Salvation. Cite this Article: Dr. Hitesh Chandra Kalita, Tilak’s view of Karma Yoga to Attain Salvation: An Analysis, Journal of Management (JOM), 6 (3), 2019, pp. 140-149. http://www.iaeme.com/JOM/issues.asp?JType=JOM&VType=6&IType=3 1. INTRODUCTION Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s (1856-1920) wrote the Gita Rahasya as the interpretation of the Gita in the Mandalay Jail in March, 1911. He was a mainly freedom fighter, philosopher, social reformer and humanitarian. Its scientific philosophy finds that philosophy brings a necessary harmony between the theory of Parabrahman and its spontaneous practice.
    [Show full text]
  • Yamas and Niyamas.Pdf
    Yamas & Niyamas Teacher Training Yamas and Niyamas What are the Yamas and Niyamas? The Yamas and Niyamas are yoga's ten ethical guidelines and are the first two limbs of Yoga's eight-limbed path (Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga_Sutras_of_Patanjali EIGHT LIMBS 1. Yama ~ Moral restraints (how to behave in society) - outer 2. Niyama ~ The personal disciplines (your private practices) - outer 3. Asana ~ Physical postures - outer 4. Pranayama ~ Controlling the breath - outer 5. Pratyahara ~ Sense withdrawal – outer 6. Dharana ~ Intense focus, concentration - inner 7. Dhyana ~ Meditation - inner 8. Samadhi ~ Bliss, Joy, Peace - inner Where and when did the Yamas and Niyamas Originate? Many attribute the text of the Yamas and Niyamas to Patañjali therefore dating it to 2nd century BCE. Others believe the Yamas and Niyamas are a collection of fragments and traditions of texts stemming from the second or third century, not necessarily written by Patañjali. Still others provide an even wider period of potential composition of between 100 BCE and 500 CE. Beginning the Journey (Yamas) Living ethically, according to Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, is the first step on the true path of yoga. By Judith Lasater http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/462 When our children were young, my husband and I would occasionally summon up the courage to take them out for dinner. Before entering the restaurant, one of us would remind them to "be good" or we would leave. This warning was only mildly successful, but then one day my husband reasoned out a more effective approach.
    [Show full text]
  • What Is Causal Body (Karana Sarira)?
    VEDANTA CONCEPTS Sarada Cottage Cedar Rapids July 9, 2017 Peace Chanting (ShAnti PAtha) Sanskrit Transliteration Meaning ॐ गु셁땍यो नमः हरी ओम ्। Om Gurubhyo Namah Hari Om | Salutations to the Guru. सह नाववतु । Saha Nau-Avatu | May God Protect us Both, सह नौ भुन啍तु । Saha Nau Bhunaktu | May God Nourish us Both, सह वीयं करवावहै । Saha Viiryam Karavaavahai| May we Work Together तेजस्वव नावधीतमवतु मा Tejasvi Nau-Adhiitam-Astu Maa with Energy and Vigour, वव饍ववषावहै । Vidvissaavahai | May our Study be ॐ शास््तः शास््तः शास््तः । Om Shaantih Shaantih Enlightening and not give हरी ओम ्॥ Shaantih | Hari Om || rise to Hostility Om, Peace, Peace, Peace. Salutations to the Lord. Our Quest Goal: Eternal Happiness End of All Sufferings Transcending Birth & Death Problem: Fleeting Happiness Endless Suffering Cycle of Birth & Death 3 Vedanta - Introduction Definition: Veda = Knowledge, Anta = End End of Vedas Culmination or Essence of Vedas Leads to God (Truth) Realization Truth: Never changes; beyond Time-Space-Causation Is One Is Beneficial Transforms us Leads from Truth Speaking-> Truth Seeking-> Truth Seeing 4 Vedantic Solution To Our Quest Our Quest: Vedantic Solution: Goal: Cause of Problem: Ignorance (avidyA) of our Real Eternal Happiness Nature End of All Sufferings Attachment (ragah, sangah) to fleeting Objects & Relations Transcending Birth & Death Problem: Remedy: Fleeting Happiness Intense Spiritual Practice (sadhana) Endless Suffering Liberation (mukti/moksha) Cycle of Birth & Death IdentificationIdentification &&
    [Show full text]
  • View of Gita Rahasya About Bhakti-Yoga (A Devotion) for Salvation: a Critical Evaluation
    © 2019 JETIR June 2019, Volume 6, Issue 6 www.jetir.org (ISSN-2349-5162) View of Gita Rahasya about Bhakti-Yoga (A Devotion) for Salvation: A Critical Evaluation Dr. Hitesh Ch. Kalita HOD &Associate Professor in Philosophy MNC BalikaMahavidyalaya, Nalbari, Assam, India ABSTRACT The paper proposes to present and and critically evaluate the main concept of G.ita Rahasya about bhakti-yoga for salvation. Bhakti-yoga is the combination of Bhakti and yoga which generally means devotees’ prayer to God. It believes in God as our ultimate Lord. It is simply ‘love for God’. But Gita Rahasya against it significantly states that Bhakti-yoga is not an independent path or means to attain salvation. Keywords: Gita Rahasya, salvation or ultimate truth or Brahman and karma-yoga. INTRODUCTION Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s (1856-1920) wrote the Gita Rahasya as the interpretation of the Gita in the Mandalay Jail in March, 1911. He was a mainly freedom fighter, philosopher, social reformer and humanitarian. Gita Rahasya establishes philosophy into practical religion. METHODOLOGY: It has been mainly used by rational and analytical methods. It is mainly helped by, news paper, book, journal, research paper, internet (web resources) and discussion of the issue. OBJECTIVE The main objectives are to be stated as following: (1) To study the main concept Tilak’s Gita Rahasya relating bhakti-yoga. (2) To study the concept of bhakti-yoga for attaining salvation. (3) To study the relations among jnana, bhakti and karma. Result and Discussion: Gita Rahasya and Bhaki-Yoga According to the Gita Bhakti-yoga is important one of the eighteen Yogas.
    [Show full text]
  • Essence of Yoga
    ESSENCE OF YOGA By SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA 6(59(/29(*,9( 385,)<0(',7$7( 5($/,=( Sri Swami Sivananda So Says Founder of Sri Swami Sivananda The Divine Life Society A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY PUBLICATION Thirteenth Edition: 1988 (5000 Copies) World Wide Web (WWW) Edition : 1998 WWW site: http://www.rsl.ukans.edu/~pkanagar/divine/ This WWW reprint is for free distribution © The Divine Life Trust Society ISBN 81-7052-024-x Published By THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY P.O. SHIVANANDANAGAR—249 192 Distt. Tehri-Garhwal, Uttar Pradesh, Himalayas, India. PUBLISHERS’ NOTE Even among the inspiring books of Sri Gurudev, this is a unique book. It was written with the special intention of having the entire matter recorded on the gramophone disc. For this purpose Gurudev had given in this book the very essence of his own teachings. Hence, this book was chosen for being sent to every new member of the Divine Life Society on enrolment. It is, as it were, the ‘Beginner’s Guide to Divine Life’. Members of the Divine Life Society and spiritual aspirants have added this precious volume to the scriptures which they study daily as Svadhyaya and have derived incalculable benefit by the assimilation of these teachings into their daily life. This text containing, a valuable treasure of wisdom is placed in the hands of aspirants all over the world in the fervent hope that it will guide them to the great goal of human life, viz., God-realisation. —THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY iii UNIVERSAL PRAYER Thou art, O Lord! The creator of this universe.
    [Show full text]
  • Karma Yoga, Its Origins, Fundamentals and Seven Life Constructs
    International Journal of Hinduism & Philosophy (IJHP) November 2019 Karma yoga, its origins, fundamentals and seven life constructs Dr. Palto Datta Centre for Business & Economic Research (CBER), UK Mark T Jones Centre for Innovative Leadership Navigation (CILN), UK Karma yoga is both simple and complex at the same time and as such requires a measured and reflective response. This paper in exploring the origins and fundamentals of karma yoga has sought to present interpretations in a clear and sattvic manner, synthesising key elements into seven life constructs. Karma yoga is revealed to have an eternal relevance, one that benefits from intimate knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita. By drawing on respected texts and commentaries it has striven to elucidate certain sacred teachings and give them meaning so that they become a guide for daily living. Keywords Purpose The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of the concept of Karma yoga and its Altruism, place in the Bhagavad Gita and how this philosophical thought can influence people’s Bhagavad Gita, conduct and mindset. The study focuses on identifying the various dimensions of karma Karma yoga, yoga, with special reference to Niskarma yoga and the life constructs drawn from it. Karma yogi, Design/methodology Niskama Karma The study has employed a qualitative research methodology. To achieve the study objectives, yoga, and identify the various constructs of the Niskama Karma yoga, the study used content Service analysis of three main texts authored by Swami Vivekananda, Mohandas Karamchand conscious ness Gandhi, Swami Chinmayananda as a source of reference and extensive literature review on various scholarly journal articles and relevant books that discussed extensively the concept of Karma Yoga, Niskarma Yoga and relevant key areas of the study.
    [Show full text]
  • Different Paths of Yoga: an Overview Dr
    1 Overview Article International Journal of Science and Consciousness Access online at: www.ijsc.net March 2017, 3(1), 1-5 Different Paths of Yoga: An Overview Dr. Ajay Bhardwaj Sr. Asst. Professor, Dept of Communication, DSVV, Haridwar, India Abstract Yoga is the union of the individual soul with the supreme soul. Yoga is a practical path to self-realization, a means of attaining enlightenment by purifying the entire being. Yoga is the science that teaches us the method of uniting the individual soul with the Universal soul, of merging the individual will in the cosmic will; of experiencing our oneness with the divine consciousness. We have the description of the aim of yoga in almost all the holy books. Almost all the scriptures have declared that self – realization is the supreme aim of human life and this can be attained only by the constant practice of yoga. The different paths of yoga whether they be karma yoga, bhakti yoga, jnana yoga or raja yoga, they pave the way for the lifting up of human consciousness to a higher and nobler realm of light, love and life with divine harmony and joy. Key words: Self-realization, Individual soul, Supreme soul, Consciousness, Paths of yoga Article Received: 16-03-2017, Accepted: 30-03-2017, Published: 31-03-2017 Conflict of interest: None declared *Corresponding Author: Dr. Ajay Bhardwaj, Sr. Asst. Professor, Dept of Communication, DSVV, Haridwar, India E-mail: [email protected] International Journal of Science and Consciousness (IJSC): a Bio-Psycho-Spiritual approach Published by the Research Foundation for Science & Consciousness, Uttarakhand, India Copyright IJSC 2017 | March 2017 | Vol.
    [Show full text]