Philosophy Flashcards
What does “yoga” mean?
Derives from “yuj” meaning to join or bind together
What was the ancient yoga “practice”?
Sitting still in meditation
What are the vedas?
The sacred texts of the Brahmans (priests)
What are the Upanishads?
First philosophical texts composed by the Brahmans. 4 classical Upanishads have the first mention of yoga as a spiritual discipline
What is moksa?
Freedom or release (more specifically from continuous round of rebirth, senses, worldly entanglement)
What was the maitri upanishad 6 fold path?
pranayama (breath control) pratyahara (withdrawing the senses) dhyana (meditation) dharana (meditation on an object) tarka (reasoning) samadhi (trance)
What is atman?
Identity of one’s own self
What is brahman?
The invisible cosmic power of the universe
What is tapas?
Discipline and austerities (from ‘tap’, meaning ‘heat’)
What are some examples of tapas?
Ways of developing control over the restless mind include:
fasting, sleep-deprivation, only standing for years
What is samadhi?
The goal of yoga/meditation
The trance-like state of consciousness that eradicates the negative passions of the mind
Helps move you out of the cycle of rebirth
What is the Bhagavadgita?
The 2,000 year old best known text on yoga. In it is a conversation between Krishna and Arjuna the solider. It lays out various paths of yoga. Establishes that you don’t need to renounce the world to obtain liberation.
What is bhakti?
Devotion
What is jnana?
Direct knowledge
What is dhyana?
meditation
What is Patanjali’s 8 fold path of yoga?
Yamas- shouldn't do Niyamas- should do Asana (sitting steadily and comfortably) Pranayama (breath control) Pratyahara (sense withdrawal) Dharana (meditation on an object) dhyana (meditation) samadhi (trance)
yamas
shouldn’t do
niyamas
should do
Asana
sitting steadily and comfortably
pratyahara
sense withdrawal
dharana
meditation on an object
What is the Samkhya system?
two fundamentals: purusa (pure consciousness) and prakrti (all creation, mind, senses, body)
What is the yogic goal in the Samkhya system
To isolate pure consciousness from thought, body and the external world
Who do tantric yogis follow?
Shiva- they want to manifest the consciousness of Shiva
What are tantric ritualists trying to attain?
Siddhis (powers)
Jivanmukta (liberation while alive)
What does ‘Hatha’ mean?
force or exertion
What is the hathapradipika?
one of the best known medieval texts on yoga that expands lists of namas and niyamas, body cleansing practices, bandhas and 11 postures
Who is Vivekananda?
The most influential person in bringing yoga to the west. Went to conference in Chicago.
What are the 4 paths of yoga?
Bhakti (devotion)
Karma (selfless service)
jnana (knowledge/insight)
raja (meditation)
Who are the three major “dads” of yoga
Krishnamacharya (Mysore)
Sivananda (Rishikesh)
Bikram (Calcutta
Describe Hatha yoga
Yoga of force or exertion
Energetic practices to activate kundalini including breathing, purifying, visualizations and mantra
What is Shiva’s power?
Shakti- the cosmic female power
What is Shakti?
Shiva’s power to manifest the world/cosmic female power
What are the gunas?
The three fundamental forces of nature
sattva- light/white
raja- dark/black
tamas- red/fire
you aspire to sattva
What is parusha?
pure consciousness (male)
What is prakriti?
Mind, body, world (female)
Daily practice removes praktiri
What are the 5 yamas
Ahimsa- non-violence/compassion for all things
Satya- non-lying/speak the truth
Asteya- non-stealing
Brahmacharya- sense control
Aparigraha- non-greed/letting go of attachment
Ahimsa
non-violence/compassion for all things
Satya
non-lying/speak the truth
Asteye
non-stealing
Brahmacharya
sense control
Aparigraha
non-greed/letting go of attachment
What are the 5 niyamas?
saucha- purity and cleanliness santosha- contentment tapas- discipline svadhyaya- self-study isvara pranidhana- dedication to the divine
Saucha
purity and cleanliness
Santosha
contentment
svadhyaya
self-study
isvara pranidhana
dedication to the divine
What is Brahman
Invisible cosmic power Also priests (high caste)
