Philosophy Flashcards
Stages in history of yoga
Vedic
Upanishads
Epics
Classical
Tantra
Hatha
Modern
Vedic Age
Along indus and saraswati rivers (northwest India/pakistan)
Rishis -> seers
Ancient Sanskrit hymns used in rituals used to appease the gods
The upanishads
Learning from teacher
Non-dualism -> spiritual & material world are one
Forest dwelling, asceticism
The Epics
Yoga now available to the householder
Ramayana and Mahabharata are released
3 types of yoga from the Gita:
Jhana (knowledge)
Kama (action)
Bhakti (worship)
The Classical Age
Yoga sutras of patanjali
Meditation is primary tool for insight
Dualism -> material world & divine world are separate
Hatha Yoga
Expansion of body-based practices
Focus on withstanding the forces of kundalini
Body is vehicle for enlightenment
Modern Yoga
Swami Vivekananda brings yoga to world religions parliament in 1893
Krishnamacharya is father of modern “western” yoga
Iyengar, pattabhi jois, desikachar, Indra Devi
Tantra
Return to non-dualism (purusha and prakriti are together)
Body can be used as a tool for liberation
Chakras, mantra, yantra
Goddess worship
Purusha
The universal spirit, that which is divine
Prakriti
All that is material
Dharma
Your souls purpose
Samsara
Cycle of rebirth & death
Reason for our suffering
Moksha
Release from samsara
Ultimate enlightening
Nadis
“Little rivers”
~72000-360000
Channels through the body
3 main/most important:
Ida
Pingala
Sushumna
Ida Nadi
Moon channel
Through the left nostril
Connects to the right hemisphere of the brain
Creative, calm, feminine
Pingala Nadi
Sun channel
Right nostril
Left hemisphere of the brain
Masculine, energized
Sushumna Nadi
Centre body
Through spinal column
Path to our kundalini energy
Pranayama
Conscious breathing
Key to yoga since Vedic age
Prana = energy, life force
Ayama = extension, expansion
Patanjali: 8 limbs of yoga
1) Yamas
2) Niyamas
3) asana
4) pranayama
5) pratyahara
6) dharana
7) dhyana
8) samadhi
Yamas
Moral compass
How we show up for others
1) ahimsa
2) satya
3) asteya
4) brahmacharya
5) aparigraha
Niyamas
Our relationship to ourselves
1) samcha
2) santosha
3) tapas
4) svadhyana
5) ishvara pranidhana
Asana
Physical aspect of yoga
Pratyahara
Pulling the senses inwards rather than letting the outside world distract us
Dharana
Concentration
Mind staying in the present
Dhyana
Meditation
Samadhi
Ecstasy, liberation, bliss
The Gunas
Tamas (inertia) -> rajas (action) -> sattva (clarity)
The above is the nature of prakriti
The Pancha Vayus
The vital winds
1) prana
2) Apana
3) samana
4) vyana
5) udana
Patanjali’s Four Chapters to Freedom
Samadhi pada
Sadhana pada
Vibhuti pada
Kaivalya pada
Samadhi Pada
The first chapter in Patanjalis four chapters to freedom
Discusses the problems our minds encounter
Introduces yamas & Niyamas
Sadhana Padi
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)
Vibhuti Pada
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)
Kaivalya Pada
Final chapter in Patanjali’s four chapters to freedom
Aloneness, being with ourself
Mind is servant and not master
