Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga

20 Feb Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga

This post is a brief introduction to the 8 limbs of Yoga. I originally was given this description by my teacher Swami Saradanander. I have modified it a bit for this blog post.

Of all the paths of yoga, raja yoga, the psychological approach of mental control, is probably the most easily applied to modern life-styles. The precepts of this ancient art were compiled and explained by Patanjali Maharishi sometime between 400 B.C and 400 A.D.  Although ancient in origin, raja yoga techniques present powerful tools with that can bring us contentment and lasting happiness as well as greatly improve our performance in any activity we undertake.

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra (sutra = aphorisms, thread) is not an original work, but a compilation and reformulation of ancient techniques. Many of these practices are referred to in the Katha, Svetasvara, Taittiriya and Maitrayani Upanishads, which were written many centuries earlier. Yoga doctrines have been handed down from pre-historic times.

1) Yama – personal restraints; self-regulation; what not to do; our relationship to the external world and to other people. These are the boundaries and/or guidelines for our practice. The principles of yama help us to simplify our life so that we can be at peace with our self and the outside world. They provide us with an ethical basis for social interaction.

1. a) Ahimsa – non-violence, refraining from doing injury. With the practice of ahimsa one’s aggressive nature is transformed. Being kind and compassionate in actions, words and thoughts.

1. b) Satya – non-lying, truthfulness, refraining from untruthfulness. Satya is Truth in the greater sense. Truthfulness and ahimsa always go together. Truth is not always easy to find, but searching for it strengthens the mind and the inner resolve.

1. c) Asteya – non-stealing, refraining from misappropriation and/or jealousy.

1. d) Apargraha – non-greed, refraining from the acceptance of bribes; not being overly grasping; non-possessiveness. It may be seen as freedom from the rigidity of society’s dictates, i.e. living without surplus possessions; discerning the difference (and living it) between what ‘I need’ and what ‘I want’.

1. e) Brahmacharya – non-dwelling of the mind on sense objects, self-control, resisting the outward/downward pulls of sensuality, transcending body-consciousness. Brahmacharya is often translated as celibacy, continence or chastity. This is not repression, but sublimation. Energy is consciously directed upward. The yogi who practices brahmacharya transforms the sexual energy into spiritual energy (ojas).

2) Niyama –mastering our instincts and emotions; what to do; our attitudes to and relationship with our self; self discipline. The niyamas are positive means of taking responsibility for our actions.

1. a) Saucha – Health and wellness. Healthy diet and lifestyle. Maintaining a healthy environment for mind and body. Paying attention to optimising both physical and mental health and wellbeing.

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1. b) Santosha contentment; being happy with who you are, cultivating inner growth.

1. c) Tapas – doing what we find frightening or difficult. Pushing back the boundaries of our comfort zone. Building resilience, willpower and anti-fragile attitude.

1. d) Swadhyaya – self-study; study of the Self; study of psychology, philosophy, scriptures etc. Swadhyaya is not mere intellectual gathering of information. The knowledge must be lived and turned into wisdom. Raising our level of consciousness.

1. e) Ishwarapranidhana – letting go of the idea that we are separate; renouncing our illusory boundaries.

3) Asana – steady seat – the ability to remain still in a position that is both relaxed and alert, erect and with the spine straight. This is preparing the body for meditation.

4) Pranayama – Breath work.

“Pranayama is the regulation of inhalation, exhalation or retention of breath. It is regulated by duration and place, and becomes progressively prolonged and subtle….”

 “… Pranayama is not only an instrument to steady the mind; it also makes the mind fit for concentration.“

 – Patanjali, Raja Yoga Sutra 2.49-53

5) Pratyahara – drawing your mental energy inward; shutting off the senses; turning the direction of the flow of the consciousness inward; preparing your mind for meditation.

6) Dharana – concentration / focus / attention

7) Dhyana – (Micro-flow) meditation; experience of Peace

8) Samadhi – (Macro-flow) enlightenment / the super conscious state – experience of Unity – absorption in the Absolute