Philosophy

Question 1

Stages in history of yoga

Answer 1

Vedic
Upanishads
Epics
Classical
Tantra
Hatha
Modern

Question 2

Vedic Age

Answer 2

Along indus and saraswati rivers (northwest India/pakistan)
Rishis -> seers
Ancient Sanskrit hymns used in rituals used to appease the gods

Question 3

The upanishads

Answer 3

Learning from teacher
Non-dualism -> spiritual & material world are one
Forest dwelling, asceticism

Question 4

The Epics

Answer 4

Yoga now available to the householder
Ramayana and Mahabharata are released
3 types of yoga from the Gita:
Jhana (knowledge)
Kama (action)
Bhakti (worship)

Question 5

The Classical Age

Answer 5

Yoga sutras of patanjali
Meditation is primary tool for insight
Dualism -> material world & divine world are separate

Question 6

Hatha Yoga

Answer 6

Expansion of body-based practices
Focus on withstanding the forces of kundalini
Body is vehicle for enlightenment

Question 7

Modern Yoga

Answer 7

Swami Vivekananda brings yoga to world religions parliament in 1893
Krishnamacharya is father of modern “western” yoga
Iyengar, pattabhi jois, desikachar, Indra Devi

Question 8

Tantra

Answer 8

Return to non-dualism (purusha and prakriti are together)
Body can be used as a tool for liberation
Chakras, mantra, yantra
Goddess worship

Question 9

Purusha

Answer 9

The universal spirit, that which is divine

Question 10

Prakriti

Answer 10

All that is material

Question 11

Dharma

Answer 11

Your souls purpose

Question 12

Samsara

Answer 12

Cycle of rebirth & death
Reason for our suffering

Question 13

Moksha

Answer 13

Release from samsara
Ultimate enlightening

Question 14

Nadis

Answer 14

“Little rivers”
~72000-360000
Channels through the body
3 main/most important:
Ida
Pingala
Sushumna

Question 15

Ida Nadi

Answer 15

Moon channel
Through the left nostril
Connects to the right hemisphere of the brain
Creative, calm, feminine

Question 16

Pingala Nadi

Answer 16

Sun channel
Right nostril
Left hemisphere of the brain
Masculine, energized

Question 17

Sushumna Nadi

Answer 17

Centre body
Through spinal column
Path to our kundalini energy

Question 18

Pranayama

Answer 18

Conscious breathing
Key to yoga since Vedic age
Prana = energy, life force
Ayama = extension, expansion

Question 19

Patanjali: 8 limbs of yoga

Answer 19

1) Yamas
2) Niyamas
3) asana
4) pranayama
5) pratyahara
6) dharana
7) dhyana
8) samadhi

Question 20

Yamas

Answer 20

Moral compass
How we show up for others
1) ahimsa
2) satya
3) asteya
4) brahmacharya
5) aparigraha

Question 21

Niyamas

Answer 21

Our relationship to ourselves
1) samcha
2) santosha
3) tapas
4) svadhyana
5) ishvara pranidhana

Question 22

Asana

Answer 22

Physical aspect of yoga

Question 23

Pratyahara

Answer 23

Pulling the senses inwards rather than letting the outside world distract us

Question 24

Dharana

Answer 24

Concentration
Mind staying in the present

Question 25

Dhyana

Answer 25

Meditation

Question 26

Samadhi

Answer 26

Ecstasy, liberation, bliss

Question 27

The Gunas

Answer 27

Tamas (inertia) -> rajas (action) -> sattva (clarity)
The above is the nature of prakriti

Question 28

The Pancha Vayus

Answer 28

The vital winds
1) prana
2) Apana
3) samana
4) vyana
5) udana

Question 29

Patanjali’s Four Chapters to Freedom

Answer 29

Samadhi pada
Sadhana pada
Vibhuti pada
Kaivalya pada

Question 30

Samadhi Pada

Answer 30

The first chapter in Patanjalis four chapters to freedom
Discusses the problems our minds encounter
Introduces yamas & Niyamas

Question 31

Sadhana Padi

Answer 31

Second chapter in patanjalis four chapters to freedom
Sadhana = spiritual practice
Talks about Kriya yoga (yoga of action)
Asana, pranayama, pratyahara
The active parts of yoga
Talks about the obstacles and landmines of our mind (how to eliminate them)

Question 32

Vibhuti Pada

Answer 32

Third chapter in Patanjali’s four chapters to freedom
Vibhuti = supernatural powers
Fine tune our consciousness
Be in connection to something more
Our intention shouldn’t be magic or to be psychic
Dharana, dhyana, samadhi (all together these are Samyara)

Question 33

Kaivalya Pada

Answer 33

Final chapter in Patanjali’s four chapters to freedom
Aloneness, being with ourself
Mind is servant and not master