Patanjali's Eight Limbs of Yoga
Yama
The first limb, yama, deals with one's ethical standards and sense of integrity,
focusing on our behavior and how we conduct ourselves in life. Yamas are
universal practices that relate best to what we know as the Golden Rule, "Do
unto others as you would have them do unto you."
The five yamas are:
- Ahimsa: non-violence
- Satya: truthfulness
- Asteya: non-stealing
- Brahmacharya: celibacy or fidelity
- Aparigraha: non-covetousness
Niyama
Niyama, the second limb, is discipline concerning one's dealings with society
and the world. The five niyamas are:
- Saucha: cleanliness
- Santosha: contentment
- Tapas: heat; The removal of impurities in our physical and mental systems
- Svadhyaya: study of the sacred scriptures and of one's self. Know thyself and know thy world.
- Isvara pranidhana: surrender to or recognition of the Divine (in yourself and in the Universe)
Asana
Asanas, the postures practiced in yoga, comprise the third limb. In the yogic
view, the body is a temple of spirit, the care of which is an important stage
of our spiritual growth. Through the practice of asanas, we develop the habit
of discipline and the ability to concentrate, both of which are necessary
for meditation.
Pranayama
Generally translated as breath control, this fourth stage consists of techniques
designed to gain mastery over the respiratory process while recognizing the
connection between the breath, the mind, and the emotions. As implied by
the literal translation of pranayama, "life force extension," yogis
believe that it not only rejuvenates the body but actually extends life itself.
You can practice pranayama as an isolated technique (i.e., simply sitting
and performing a number of breathing exercises), or integrate it into your
daily hatha yoga routine.
These first four stages of Patanjali's ashtanga yoga concentrate on refining our personalities, gaining mastery over the body, and developing an energetic awareness of ourselves, all of which prepares us for the second half of this journey, which deals with the senses, the mind, and attaining a higher state of consciousness.
Pratyahara
Pratyahara, the fifth limb, means withdrawal or sensory transcendence. It is
during this stage that we make the conscious effort to draw our awareness
away from the external world and outside stimuli. Keenly aware of, yet cultivating
a detachment from, our senses, we direct our attention internally. The practice
of pratyahara provides us with an opportunity to step back and take a look
at ourselves. This withdrawal allows us to objectively observe our cravings:
habits that are perhaps detrimental to our health and which likely interfere
with our inner growth.
Dharana
As each stage prepares us for the next, the practice of pratyahara creates
the setting for dharana, or concentration. Having relieved ourselves
of outside distractions, we can now deal with the distractions of the mind
itself. No easy task! In the practice of concentration, which precedes meditation,
we learn how to slow down the thinking process by concentrating on a single
mental object: a specific energetic center in the body, an image of a deity,
or the silent repetition of a sound (mantra). We, of course, have already
begun to develop our powers of concentration in the previous three stages
of posture, breath control, and withdrawal of the senses. In asana and pranayama,
although we pay attention to our actions, our attention travels. Our focus
constantly shifts as we fine-tune the many nuances of any particular posture
or breathing technique. In pratyahara we become self-observant; now, in dharana,
we focus our attention on a single point. Extended periods of concentration
naturally lead to meditation.
Dhyana
Meditation or contemplation, the seventh stage of ashtanga, is the uninterrupted
flow of concentration. Although concentration (dharana) and meditation (dhyana)
may appear to be one and the same, a fine line of distinction exists between
these two stages. Where dharana practices one-pointed attention, dhyana is
ultimately a state of being keenly aware without focus. At this stage, the
mind has been quieted, and in the stillness it produces few or no thoughts
at all. The strength and stamina it takes to reach this state of stillness
is quite impressive. But don't give up. While this may seem a difficult if
not impossible task, remember that yoga is a process. Even though we may
not attain the "picture perfect" pose, or the ideal state of consciousness,
we benefit at every stage of our progress.
Samadhi
Patanjali describes this eighth and final stage of ashtanga as a state of enlightenment or self-realization. At this stage, the meditator merges with his or her
point of focus and transcends the Self altogether. The meditator comes to
realize a profound connection to the Divine, an interconnectedness with all
living things. With this realization comes the "peace that passeth all
understanding";
the experience of bliss and being at one with the Universe.
Excerpted from The Eight Limbs from Yoga Journal's Yoga Basics by Mara Carrico
