Original Article International Journal of Science and Consciousness Access online at: www.ijsc.net Sep. 2017, 3(3), 58 - 62

Yoga & Buddhsim : Its Philosophy And Thought Transformation

Anusha Shakya Department of Buddhist Studies, University of Delhi [email protected]

ABSTRACT is a practice which combines the mind and body to promote better mental and physical postures and exercises which encourage the development of strength and flexibility, breathing techniques as well as exercise in mindfulness, meditation and relaxation which are performed together in order to train attention. The science of positive psychology often touches on the topic of mindfulness. This term was originally introduced by the ancient teaching of the Buddha. In , the cultivation of mindfulness is achieved through meditation. Exploring mindfulness and its root in yoga and meditation will be helpful in understanding the role it can play for positive psychology. The core of Buddha’s teaching are based on four concepts namely: suffering, craving, liberation from suffering and the eight fold path. Yoga has two main principles which align with Buddhism; one is liberation from suffering and the other is ridding the mind of misconceptions, thus reducing craving and eventually realizing the end of our suffering. According to , suffering is unavoidable. The fundamental themes of self-discipline, mindfulness, concentration and “being in the present” are introduced in Buddhist as well as Yoga philosophy. These are easily compared to the concepts of self-control and flow presented by positive psychology.

Keywords: Yoga, Buddhism, mindfulness, suffering, concentration.

Article Received: 17-05-2017, Published: 03-06-2017

Conflict of interest : None declared

*Corresponding Author : Anusha Shakya, Department of Buddhist Studies, University of Delhi

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 | Sep 2017 | Vol. 3 | No. 3 | Pages 58-62 eISSN: 2455-2038 An international, refereed, quarterly, open access, multidisciplinary, e-journal

Yoga & Buddhsim : Its Philosophy And Thought Transformation

Introduction development of one’s mind and in unfolding This paper gives the correlation various concentration of the mind. It also between the two major traditions of Indian plays a vital role in developing one’s various philosophy i.e. Yoga and Buddhism. Yoga is physical and mental powers. The practice of essentially a Hindu tradition with its root in Buddhism provides insightful solutions to the Vedic ritual symbolism and its the vexing problems of humanity such as internalization. The ascetic practices of both violence, stress and suffering. Buddhism is draw heavily from ancient yoga essentially a religion of the mind rather than traditions in their respective ways to the spirit. It is grounded in reality, and its practice self transformation. The system of practices and solutions are verifiable and yoga came to us mostly through ancient repeatable. The Buddhist philosophy is Shaivite traditions that existed in the Indian based on four noble truths and the eight fold subcontinent prior to the pre-eminence of path., became very famous for his Vedic religion. Regarding the connection systematized study of human psychology between Buddhism and yoga, Dr. and physique. He systematized and made S.Radhakrishnan points out that the Buddha available the thoughts and secrets of mind practiced yoga and that Buddhism through his composition of Yogasūtra. introduced many contemplative practices There are different types of Yoga that were common to both Hinduism and which are as follows: yoga. He writes thus- Rājayoga, Hathayoga, Mantrayoga, “According to Lalitavistara, numberless forms Layayoga, Bhaktiyoga, Kundaliniyoga, of ascetic austerities were in vogue in Karmayoga, Dhyānayoga, Jyańayoga etc. Buddha’s time. The Buddhas sutta are Rājayoga is called as the king of all familiar with the yoga methods of kinds of yoga because it is the highest type of concentration. The four states of dhyāna of yoga i.e, . Patanjali’s contribution of Buddhism correspond roughly to the four yoga is based on the principle of stages of conscious concentration in classical contemplation. Samādhi is the highest type yoga. According to Buddhism, the possession or stage in which the mind is perfectly of the five qualities of faith, energy, thought, balanced. It is a meditative absorption or concentration and wisdom, enables one to trance, attained by the practice of dhyāna. In attain the end of yoga and the yoga accepts Samādhi the mind becomes still. It is a state the view. The Yogācāra school of Buddhism of being totally aware of the present openly combines Buddhist doctrine with the moment, a one-pointedness of mind. In yoga details. The later Buddhist works assume Buddhism, it is the last of the eight elements a developed yoga techniques.” of the Noble Eight Fold Path. It is one of the three basic constituents of the teaching of Types of Yoga and its correlation with Buddha. These three constituents are Śila, Buddhism Samādhi and Prajńa. When the mind is fully Yoga is a perfect practical system of concentrated on the object and remains fixed self culture. It helps one attain harmonious or still like the flame of a lamp in the

Copyright IJSC 2017 | Sep 2017 | Vol. 3 | No. 3 | Pages 58-62 eISSN: 2455-2038 An international, refereed, quarterly, open access, multidisciplinary, e-journal

breezeless atmosphere, it is called ‘Samādhi’ mind and paves the way to spiritual which carries one beyond senses and flings achievements. open the door of enlightenment. In the Bhagvadgitā the Karmayoga Yama and Pańcaśila- refers to the ‘Law of ’ which is known Yama, the five major steps or aids of as the path of action. The Bhagavadgitā yoga and Pańcaśila, the five precepts of describes it in mainly in the third chapter. Buddhism were the two major limbs of Kramayoga aims at perfection in action and . Patańjali narrates Yama tell us how to renounce personal aims when as five types as, Ahiṃsā-non-violence, - acting or performing good karma. In truthfulness, asteya-non stealing, Buddhism Right action is the fourth step in brahamacharya-continence or complete noble eight fold path. Actions can mainly be abstention from sexual matter and divided in to two categories, viz. good and aparigraha-non possession. bad or moral and immoral. The action in the The Five Precepts constitute the basic performance of which mind is defiled with code of ethics undertaken by upāsaka and evil propensities such as greed, hatred etc. is upāsikā ("lay followers") of Buddhism. The definitely bad. The good deed on the other following are the five precepts or five virtues hand, the performance of which elevates the are:- mind with the feelings of piety and purity, I undertake the training rule to abstain from love and devotion etc. is the right action. This killing. () includes offering of pūja, charity, observance I undertake the training rule to abstain from of moral precepts etc. taking what is not given. (Asteya) The Bhagavadgitā propounds I undertake the training rule to avoid sexual jńānayoga also. It is the path of knowledge. misconduct. (Brahmacharya) Knowledge, which is the personal experience I undertake the training rule to abstain from of the divine self directly, is the way of false speech.(satya) attaining the path of liberation again in the I undertake the training rule to abstain from Brahmanic literature. A jńānayogi of the fermented drink that causes heedlessness. Advaita system follows these three (Aparigraha). stages i.e. Śravana (hearing), The precepts in all traditions are essentially (thinking) and Nididhyasana (constant identical and are commitments to abstain meditation). In Buddhism means of from harming living beings, stealing, sexual knowledge described as Pramāna, which is misconduct, lying and intoxication. A precept of two types (perception) and in general rule intended to regulate behavior Anumāna (inference). and thought. Dhyānayoga is the path of meditation. The aspirants in this path have to acquire Prajńa and Avidyā peace and tranquility of mind. This yoga These are one of the main concepts of teaches one how to maintain peace for the both traditions. Patanjali in his famous practice of meditation. In Buddhism right Yogasūtra, mentions that Avidyā (ignorance) mindfulness or right meditation belongs to is the root cause of all types of false notions. the seventh stage of noble eight fold path. Once this is removed then Prajńā The tracing of all activities of body and mind (knowledge) only remains, where the seed of or to be mindful thereof is a well known false knowledge cannot be through again. method of meditation which absorbs the Patanjali says that ‘discriminative

Copyright IJSC 2017 | Sep 2017 | Vol. 3 | No. 3 | Pages 58-62 eISSN: 2455-2038 An international, refereed, quarterly, open access, multidisciplinary, e-journal

knowledge’ is the true recognition of the permanence, non-dependent origination, independent nature of Puruśa. Buddhist unfathomable, indescribable. It has also been philosophy of dependent origination deals described as a state of release marked by with the ignorance. Ignorance of the truth of emptiness and realization of non-self. suffering, its cause, its end, and the way to its and , in all traditions, end, is the chief cause that sets the wheel of represent a state of being in ultimate reality life in motion. Buddha says: and perfection, but are described in very ‘Ignorance is the deep delusion different ways. wherein we here so long are circling round.’ Avidyā is removed by the practice of Karma and rebirth Prajńa. It is the highest knowledge. It is the Both systems see karma as the main state where suspension of all conscious causative factor behind rebirth in the world. activities takes place. However, in Buddhism karma is said to be a The yoga prescribes āsana (posture), self-existent principle. Buddhism states that pranāyama (breathing exercise) and the world exists owing to the beginning less pratyāhāra (withdrawal of the senses), karma of living beings. In the yoga traditions, dhārana (concentration) and dhyāna however, karma is not a self-existent (meditation) for the cessation of mental principle. The world is created by God modification. Buddhism prescribes right (iśvara), the creative aspect of concentration and right mindfulness to bring consciousness. Karma is mere force of inertia the mind under control and develop and is attached to rebirth. Yoga recognizes equanimity of the mind (samatha bhāvana). the existence of a jiva or individual soul who The anapana sati of Buddhism is similar in is reborn. Buddhism denies the existence of intent and practice with the pranāyama of such a soul and says that rebirth is just the yoga. continuance of a stream of Karma, not any real entity. Liberation Yoga in Hinduism is widely classified Conclusion into four spiritual practices. The first mārga Yoga and Buddhism are sister is jńana yoga, the way of knowledge. The traditions which evolved in the same second mārga is yoga, the way of spiritual culture of ancient India. They use loving devotion to God. The third mārga is many of the same terms and follow many of , the way of works. The fourth the same principles and practices. Both mārga is rājayoga, the way of contemplation Buddhism and yoga aim to end human and meditation. These are parts of different suffering and bondage but prescribe schools in Hinduism and their definition and different techniques and approaches to methods of liberation. achieve the same. Yoga aims to end suffering In Buddhism the most common term by suppressing the modifications of mind for liberation is Nirvana. It literally means through the eightfold yoga while Buddhism “blowing out”, “quenching” or “becoming by the cessation of desires through the extinguished”. Nirvana has been described in eightfold path, of which right mindfulness in a manner similar to other and right concentration aim to control the Indian religions, as the state of complete mind and purify it through techniques liberation, enlightenment, highest happiness, similar to yoga. bliss, fearless, freedom, suffering-less,

Copyright IJSC 2017 | Sep 2017 | Vol. 3 | No. 3 | Pages 58-62 eISSN: 2455-2038 An international, refereed, quarterly, open access, multidisciplinary, e-journal

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Cite this paper as: Arya, R. K. (2017). The effect of clinical sequence of yogapathy on Type 2 diabetes mellitus. International Journal of Science and Consciousness; 3(2): 36- 44.

Copyright IJSC 2017 | Sep 2017 | Vol. 3 | No. 3 | Pages 58-62 eISSN: 2455-2038 An international, refereed, quarterly, open access, multidisciplinary, e-journal