Modern people today are again coming to realize the importance of everything spiritual. Exhausted by incessant worries and stress, they just need a sip fresh air, a source of peace and inspiration.
And this source can be the philosophy of yoga, which allows one to gradually discover the true path to liberation. And awareness of one’s own essence with the further disclosure of hidden internal potential.
Understanding yoga in a philosophical sense
For many people, the philosophical teaching of yoga becomes an incredible discovery, saving them from constant anxiety and stress, helping them to openly see the main thing in life. But you shouldn’t think that yoga comes down to the usual performance of asanas.
In a philosophical sense, it helps to find the shortest path to liberation, unlock your own potential and discover the true path to your inner essence.
Therefore, the basic principles of yoga come down to achieving a harmonious fusion of the human soul with the body. In a deeper understanding, this implies unity with the Almighty. In general, the basics of yoga are not very systematized, and its individual aspects are described in detail in various ancient sources - the Vedas.
And according to numerous sources, the philosophy that became part of the foundations of yoga was first described in the works of Patanjali. In the classical sense, yoga includes two main categories - Purusha (spirit) and Prakriti (matter). Together they allow you to consider and combine the external and inner world every person.
The philosophical theory of yoga is multifaceted, and its main goal is the gradual achievement of the state of Nirvana in the form of complete reunification with the Creator. In the modern world, there are a number of different yogic trends that can effectively help in achieving Nirvana.
It is also worth noting that the philosophical teaching of yoga is also valid in the case when a person has little knowledge in this area or practically does not believe in the power of the teaching. And this approach is completely justified for a modern person who strives to gain more material rather than spiritual things in the learning process.
Purusha and Prakriti
For those who find it difficult to understand what the essence of yoga is, it is necessary to study various sources of information and first try to understand what Purusha (spirit) and Prakriti (matter) are. It is the spiritual and material components that are the main basis of everything in the world.
According to the teaching, Prakriti consists of three main forces:
- peace – Guna Sattva;
- degradation – Guna Tamas;
- movements - Guna Rajas.
But the true essence of the spiritual component in the philosophy of yoga is very difficult to imagine. It does not have a specific form, and its location is outside the boundaries of the material world.
Purusha also has real consciousness, but in matter it is completely absent. And its embodiment is the ancient god Inshvara, although other deities are also known.
Having learned the basics philosophical teaching, one can realize the unity of the material and spiritual, which forms all that exists on Earth. And beyond the framework of space and time, since yoga implies continuous processes of change occurring in material structures. But the spiritual basis remains completely unchanged, since it is timeless.
The history of yoga goes back more than 5,000 years. Its integrated system includes religion, philosophy, medicine, historical traditions and many other aspects. It is easy for a beginner to get lost in the vast yogic practice, ancient varieties and modern trends, therefore our article presents brief overview system and its rich traditions.
History of Yoga
The earliest archaeological evidence of yoga can be found in stone seals depicting yoga poses (asanas). The seals found date back to 3000 BC. e. Scientists believe that the system existed earlier: they attribute its beginning to Stone Age shamanism. 
Both movements have the same features - they are aimed at healing members of the community and require people to follow certain rules for organizing life. The history of yoga is divided into four periods: Vedic, pre-classical, classical and post-classical periods.
The Vedic period is marked by the emergence of the Vedas - the sacred scripture about Brahmanism, the basis of modern Hinduism. The Vedas are the oldest of the Vedic teachings: it is often called Vedic yoga. The basic principle of this teaching is Rishi, a philosophical system that teaches to live in divine harmony and see the ultimate reality through intense spiritual practice.
Pre-classical yoga is the 200 Upanishad scriptures that describe and explain the teachings of the Vedas through three main subjects: ultimate reality (brahman), the transitory Self (atman) and the relationship between them. At this stage, the teaching becomes closely related to Buddhism. The importance of meditation and the practice of physical postures (asanas) is reinforced here. 
The creation of the Bhagavad Gita, or Song of the Lord (about 500 BC) dates back to this stage. This treatise gives rise to a new movement in yoga. It becomes an attempt to combine bhakti yoga, jnana yoga and karma yoga into the doctrine that a living person should be active, and his actions should have a good practical orientation and resist evil.
The classical period is marked by the creation of Patanjali in the 1st–2nd centuries AD. e. - this is the “Yoga Sutra”: it is an attempt to combine the accumulated spiritual experience and improve it. The Yoga Sutra consists of 195 aphorisms, or sutras, which set out its fundamental 8 principles: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi.
Did you know?The origins of yoga are the subject of much debate. There is no consensus regarding the chronology or origins, other than that it developed in Ancient India. The chronology of the earliest texts describing the practice of yoga is also unclear.
The era of classical yoga lasted several centuries. It was replaced by the trends of the post-classical period of development. Unlike previous stages, modern yogic practice does not seek to free a person from reality; rather, it teaches one to accept reality and live in at the moment. The works of guru Swami Sivananda are characteristic of our time. His main work describes 5 modified principles of yoga:
- Savasana - proper relaxation;
- Asana is proper physical exercise;
- Pranayama - correct breathing;
- Proper diet;
- Dhyana - positive thinking and meditation.
Yoga philosophy
Yoga is a dualistic philosophy. It examines the interaction of two main objects: purusha - pure consciousness, and prakriti - matter. Each creature is a manifestation of one of the forms of connection between these objects. A living being combines body and mind. If a person lives in accordance with ethical principles, then this leads him to moksha, spiritual liberation. 
The philosophy of yoga is perfectly conveyed by the parable of divinity. Brahma, having created the first people, made them equal to the gods. But people used his power incorrectly: they were not righteous and honest. Brahma took away their divinity and thought for a long time about where to hide it so that only those who have pure thoughts and high moral qualities could reach it. Therefore, he hid divinity within man and gave him yoga as the path to it.
It is a set of practices and principles that lead a person to attain divinity. In the classical system there are 8 of these principles, in the post-classical system - 5. This can be interpreted as follows: the main goal is to achieve the liberation of consciousness, and how many steps lead to it is not so important. 
Some people think that yoga is a religion, but it is not. It is used by representatives of different religions. Rather, these are methods of working on one’s own spirituality, improving the physical body and mind. It also cannot be said that these are exercises aimed at improving health. The philosophy of the teaching considers the harmonization of body, mind and spirituality and proposes to improve them in a complex.
In philosophy, the following properties are distinguished:
- ethics - achieving peace and harmony between people;
- emotionality - positive thinking and affection for others;
- practicality - control of the physical body;
- intelligence - control of the mind;
- spirituality - liberation from passions and achieving harmony of spirit.
Did you know?The best time to practice yoga is dawn. It is at this time that life energy carries maximum healing power. It is also believed that hand positions (mudras) affect the intensity of the flow of vital energy.
Eight Stages of Achievement
Classical Yoga Sutra Patajali is based on an 8-step path to reconnect man with divinity:
- Yama is the basic initial stage at which a yogi must develop ethical values and learn to take into account social restrictions without negative reactions.
- Niyama is the second stage at which a person learns to be happy, immerse himself in positive thinking and stay in it.
- Asana is the third stage, developing the physical body.
- Pranayama is the stage at which control or methods of controlling breathing are mastered.
- Pratyahara is the achievement of a state of bliss, regardless of the correct posture and breathing technique; this is the final merging of Asana and Pranayama with a person going beyond the organs of perception.
- Dharana is a stage characterized by meditation without thoughts.
- Dhyana is deep meditation, merging with the spirit.
- Samadhi is the inner awakening of the true essence.
Video: classical yoga sutra of Patajali The stages follow in a certain sequence. Having mastered one, a person can move on to the next, not forgetting that he continues to follow the learned principles of each previous stage. Mastering this stage, a person harmonizes the physical and spiritual principles, learns to concentrate, achieve complete peace and unity with divinity.
Types of yoga
Ancient yogis believed that in order to be in harmony with oneself, a person's body, mind and spirit must be in harmony with the environment. Various types yogas were formulated and refined as a means of achieving and maintaining this balance. Human improvement occurs through special exercises. 
We will consider the main directions of yoga below. There are also other directions. Some of them are very ancient, others have just begun to develop at the present time.
Did you know?Doga is a form of yoga that originated in New York in 2002. Her goal is to achieve harmony with her pets. As part of the course, dogs can perform exercises independently or be props for their owners’ asanas. Susie Teitelman's project was originally called Yoga for Dogs.
Raja Yoga
Synonymous names for classical yoga: yoga sutra, eight-step yoga, yoga of self-control. Its founder is the sage Patanjali (1st century BC), legends speak of his divine origin. The teaching is based on the comprehension of 8 principles that were set out by Patanjali in his work - “Yoga Sutra”.
Mastering each stage is the improvement of one of the components of the personality, as a result of which the amount of energy available to a person increases. Raja Yogi considers himself to be the main one in the system of the world and therefore improves; his destiny is to be his own master. Raja yoga teaches a person discipline and maintaining purity in everything: body, mind, spirit.
Video: Raja Yoga
Jnana Yoga
Or the yoga of the mind is the path on which the mind, the human intellect, is improved. It leads a person along the path of self-improvement through changing his knowledge about the world and himself. Jnana yoga is based on the postulate that wrong or “evil” actions are committed out of ignorance. Conquering ignorance, a person moves on the path to divine knowledge. A jnana yogi, using teaching as a method, himself cognizes the world through meditation and a sense of truth.
Video: Jnana yoga
Karma yoga
Or service yoga believes that where you are now and your condition is the result of previous actions. And your task in the present is correct execution tasks assigned to you, without worrying about the result. The principles of the teaching are set out in the Indian epic - the Mahabharata, in the form of a conversation between Prince Arjuna and Krishna, who is in the guise of Arjuna's charioteer.
Video: Karma Yoga
Did you know?Currently there are more than 100 various schools yoga Although each school has different practices, they have a common goal: a state of pure bliss and oneness with the Universe.
Bhakti
Or yoga of devotion is a path aimed at developing love for God through service. This is the path most often followed in India. Bhakti is represented by many movements, both monotheistic and pantheistic. Bhakti yogis worship Shiva, Krishna, Vishnu, the limitless absolute (Brahman), and other deities. 
This is the oldest doctrine about the effect of sound on the human body, as well as his mind and intellect. In this case, it is not just any sound that has an effect, but a special one - a mantra. This could be a sound combination considered sacred, a prayer, etc. If practiced long enough, mantra yoga is believed to lead to the erasing of old karma. 
Tantra yoga, or ritual yoga, is the performance of sacred rituals. For example, walking around Mount Kailash, sacred to Buddhists, is considered to free a person from all his sins. The journey lasts several days, during which the traveler is immersed in union with the deity. 
This type of yoga gets its name from the sacred texts - tantras, which set out the dialogues of Shiva and his wife Shakti. Tantric yoga associated with the cult of Shakti. Sex is also part of Tantra Yoga, but it is not the main thing, since this path is about finding what is sacred in everything we do.
Or yoga poses are the most popular type of teaching among Westerners. She uses physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation to improve health and spirituality. The path is characterized by many styles - Iyengar, Integral, Ashtanga and others. 
Did you know?Hatha yoga is a teaching that has received greatest distribution in Western culture. "Ha" means the sun and "tha" means the moon. This is the union of two elemental forces of nature.
Asanas for beginners
Patanjali describes the asana as a free pose. It can be assumed that at the very beginning it was just about comfortable positions for meditation. heal the body and prepare it for meditation. It is also worth remembering that classical yoga considers it useful and works only in the form of integrated system, and without compliance basic principles Yamas and Niyama asanas will become simply interesting fitness. 
To practice, you will need a comfortable mat and a small quiet place. Clothing should be comfortable and elastic, not interfering with the exercise. You can remain barefoot, wear socks or soft shoes. The lesson should be carried out at least 1–1.5 hours after eating.
Important!15 minutes before starting yoga classes, it is recommended to drink a glass of warm water and cleanse the nasopharynx. The purpose of these actions is to cleanse the channels through which vital energy moves along with breathing.
Morning - best time for performing asanas, and the evening is the best time for meditation. Start with simple exercises, do not strain: asanas imply a state of comfort when performing. The exercises do not have to be long, but they must be done daily for at least 15 minutes a day. Each exercise can be performed up to 3 times. 
The sequence of exercises will usually be like this:
- Warm-up asanas - 2–3 minutes; these exercises warm up shoulder muscles, spine, hips, lower back and groin.
- “Racks” are necessary to align posture and legs; performed to improve digestion and blood circulation.
- “Seated poses” allow you to practice proper breathing and prana.
- Bending exercises to relieve joint tension; They relieve back pain, facilitate the circulation of blood and nutrients in the body.
- Inverted and balanced asanas are exercises to develop coordination, increase endurance and strength, and improve concentration.
- Finishing asanas.
While doing the exercise, try to focus on each movement. There is no need to strain to perform the action. While performing asanas, breathe slowly and deeply. Focus on your inner sensations.
Important!If an exercise causes pain, remove it from your program. Asanas are not an endurance competition, but an opportunity to improve stretching and muscle condition. If you have contraindications for yoga, then discuss with your doctor the possibility of performing the set of exercises you have planned.
Warm-up asanas- this is a few minutes of meditation and concentration in a comfortable sitting or lying position.
- Savasana (corpse pose)- classic relaxation pose. Performed with eyes closed. Starting position- lying on the mat, arms slightly apart to the sides, palms up. The spine completely touches the surface of the mat. Bend your knees and straighten them slowly, gradually relaxing the muscles, starting from the buttocks. You should not be disturbed by bright lights or loud sounds. Breathe through your nose. Duration of execution - 5–10 minutes. The pose is practiced before or between asanas, as well as for final relaxation.
Video: technique for performing Savasana (corpse pose) To enhance the effect, combine Savasana with correct breathing. Imagine that with the exhalation, heaviness and stress leave the body, and as you inhale, renewed energy (Prana) enters. It moves across the face, then fills the back of the head, neck and reaches a point 2 cm below the navel. This point is considered the center of the energy channels through which it will spread in the body.
You also need to exit Savasana correctly: first move your fingers, slowly turn onto your side and go into the fetal position. Now stand up smoothly. This is the best pose for relieving psychological stress.
- Sukhasana- This is a classic sitting pose (“sitting cross-legged”). The pose helps in straightening the spine, slowing down metabolism, and increasing inner peace. To perform this you will need a small pillow - sit so that your pelvis is on its edge. Interlace your legs, first bending your knees. The feet should be under the knees. Your shins should be crossed. Slowly relax your feet, then your groin area and lower your knees. Stand tall, straighten your shoulders, straightening your spine. Place your palms on your thighs. The fingers are in a relaxed state. Rib cage should also be dealt with. Stay in this pose for several breaths. Imagine that as you inhale, the flow of energy goes down, and as you exhale, it rushes up.
Video: technique of performing Sukhasana (sitting cross-legged pose) Basic poses- these are asanas that are used to move from one exercise to another:
- Tadasana (mountain pose)- basic standing pose. It helps relax the back muscles and reduce stress on the spine. Tadasana is desirable for anyone who works a lot while sitting. The starting position is to stand straight. Close your legs and distribute your weight evenly. Begin to slowly straighten your spine, starting from your feet and gradually working your way up. Straighten your arms and take a deep breath. The pose is a transitional pose between two other asanas, as well as a basic one, from which you move on to perform another exercise, which is done while standing;
Video: technique of performing Tadasana (mountain pose)
- Bhujangasana or cobra pose is an asana that is practiced for poor posture, stooping, back pain and disorders of the spine. The pose strengthens the back and develops the lungs. Starting position - lying face down. Legs straightened. The arms are bent at the elbows in front of the head. As you inhale, begin to raise your head and, aligning your spine, lift your body. Hold this position. As you exhale, return to the starting position.
Video: technique for performing Bhujangasana (cobra pose)
- Utkasana (chair pose)- one of the easiest balancing poses. Performed from Tadasana. You need to raise your arms above your head and grab the invisible handrails. Take a deep breath and begin to sit down on an invisible chair. The hips and body should form a right angle. Execution time - 40 seconds. The pose strengthens the muscles of the pelvis and legs, aligns the spine, and develops balance.
Video: technique for performing Utkasana (chair pose)
Surya Namaskar is alternate bending, bending and straightening of the spine. The complex provides deep treatment of all joints and tendons. Its advantage is that the complex was mentioned in Vedic literature, and its current state- this is a result whose effectiveness has been confirmed by thousands of years of practice.
Important!Research by scientists at the University of York has shown that yoga reduces the physical and psychological symptoms of chronic pain in women with fibromyalgia.
Philosophical teachings of Ancient India
Indian philosophy is one of the oldest on the continent. All philosophical schools or movements are divided according to the principle of their relationship to the Vedas. The orthodox are characterized by recognition of the Vedas - here they are considered a source of knowledge. This group includes Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimamsa and Vedanta.
Heterodox people do not recognize the Vedas as the exclusive source of knowledge. These include Jain, Buddhism, Ajivika, Ajna and Karvakas. The main currents were formed around 1000 BC. e. 
The Vaisheshika school (Sanskrit: "specialness, difference") attempts to identify, inventory and classify the entities and their relationships that appear to human perception. The goal of Vaisheshika is the liberation of the individual “I”.
Ignorance creates problems and evil, and reducing this ignorance leads to right actions, harmonization of relations between people, deity and nature. Therefore, liberation from ignorance leads to liberation from suffering.
Nyaya (Sanskrit “law”) is a religious and at the same time philosophical system. She studies the conditions and means of understanding reality. Here they believe that reality does not depend on consciousness, which cannot always perceive it. Compiled by the sage Gautama (Gotama) in the 3rd–4th century AD. e. The principles of this philosophy were used in the construction of other philosophical systems.
This system recognizes the existence of a creator god. God is the root cause of everything in the world. Nyaya considers and studies ways of knowing reality, means of knowledge, conditions under which knowledge occurs and its sources. 
Sankhya is one of the most influential directions. Founded around 600 BC. e. The purpose of the teaching is to understand reality through cause-and-effect relationships. The Sankhya school assumes the existence of two bodies - a temporary body and a body of “subtle” matter, which persists after biological death.
When a temporary body dies, the subtle one migrates to another temporary body. It consists of higher functions - buddhi ("consciousness"), ahamkara ("I-consciousness"), manas ("mind") and prana ("breath", the principle of vitality). This doctrine substantiates the existence of a world without divine intervention.
Did you know?Ancient yogis believed that a person has limited quantity breaths. Therefore, they recommended inhaling and exhaling slowly to prolong life.
Yoga (Sanskrit "Yuking" or "Union") is one of the six systems (darshan) of Indian philosophy. Its influence has always been widespread among many other schools of Indian thought. Warp yogic teachings- Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
In the modern world, the practical aspects of the system are especially popular and in demand, much more than its intellectual content, based on the Sankhya philosophy. The difference between these systems is that yoga presupposes the presence of a deity, to which the spirit (purusha), liberated from the slavery of matter (prakriti), must strive through the eradication of ignorance and illusions. 
The purpose of Mimamsa is to interpret the Vedas or rather to give rules for their interpretation. Mimamsa studies the various parts and periods of writing of the Vedas. The earliest work of this philosophical school is the Mimamsa Sutra, compiled by the sage Jamini in the 4th century BC. e. Mimamsa develops the doctrine of knowledge and its five sources, following through reasoning and critical research.
Vedanta originally belonged to the Vedic period of development of philosophical thought. The literal meaning of this term is “the completion of the Vedas.” During the Middle Ages, Vedanta merged with the Mimamsa movement.
Jainism is one of the three oldest Indian religious traditions that still exist. The name of the teaching comes from the Sanskrit verb "ji" - "to conquer", and refers to the battle that a monk must wage against passions in order to gain enlightenment. 
Buddhism is a religious and philosophical system that developed from the teachings of the Buddha between the mid-6th and mid-4th centuries. BC e. Despite the fact that Buddhism is one of the main world religions of our time, the term itself originated in Europe in the 19th century.
Did you know?According to legend, Shiva knows 8,000,000 asanas, but only 84 of them are available to people. Modern sports medicine experts estimate that, taking into account all the muscles and joints in the body, people can perform more than 78,000 exercises.
The followers of this religion call their teaching Dharma (Sanskrit “law”). Buddhists believe that the world is not created or controlled by anyone. There is no belief in karma, the immortality of the soul, or even a religious organization. 
Yoga as medicine
Being a combination of theory and practice about controlling the body and mind, yoga has created a unique therapeutic direction. The combination of physical postures (asanas) and breathing practices (pranayama) has been used in India for more than 5,000 years.
The US National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has proposed the use of yogic practices as one of the alternative types of treatment. Various types of alternative medicine, including yoga, have gained recognition internationally.
Thus, the World Health Organization has developed a new international classification of diseases (ICD-11), in which for alternative methods treatment a special section has been created.
Basic yoga poses are an excellent means of preventing mental disorders, stress, and depression. The first stage of classical yoga, Yama, teaches you to perceive the events of reality without negativity and maintain purity of spirit and body. And the second stage, Niyama, teaches you to fill the consciousness cleared of negativity with positive thinking and joy. 
Stress causes problems at work cardiovascular system and functional disorders. A person who practices yoga has a higher resistance to stress and positive thinking, and therefore is less susceptible to illness.
Many people lead sedentary image life and spend a lot of time at the computer. This contributes to disturbances in the functioning of the musculoskeletal system. Asanas help relieve tension in the back muscles, straighten posture, improve endurance, eliminate pain and relieve inflammation. In combination with breathing practice and pranayama, they help to return to good physical shape.
A healthy diet combined with asanas helps slow down the aging process and prevent the development of age-related diseases.
From the point of view of therapeutic effect, asanas can affect:
- muscle groups, ligaments and bones - mechanical type of impact;
- psycho-emotional state of a person - a stressful type of influence;
- psychosomatic;
- internal organs - humoral type of influence;
- hormonal levels;
- energy level;
- stressful.
The classification of asanas from the point of view of therapeutic effect is presented in the table:
| Localization of therapeutic effects | Categories of asanas | Therapeutic effect | Examples of asanas |
| Psycho-emotional state | Relaxation asanas that can be performed in a lying, standing or sitting position | Impact on a person’s psycho-emotional state, stress relief, calming, mood improvement | In a lying position: Savasana, Supta Padangushthasana Racks: Tadasana; Pranamasana; Utthita Trikonasana; Virabhadrasana In a sitting position: Sukhasana; Stambhasana; Virasana; Padmasana |
| Mechanical on muscles, ligaments, joints and bones | Any asanas have a relaxing and stretching effect on the muscles - stretching, bending, twisting, bending, power asanas, boat poses | The purpose of the asana is to relax the muscle group and stretch it; localization depends on the exercise: back muscles, spine, chest. The therapeutic effect is to relieve pain, improving flexibility and elasticity, restoring organ performance | Pull forward: Ashwa Sanchalanasana Backbends: Hasta Uttanasana; Bitilasana; Padmasana Boat poses: Bhujangasana; Navasana Crunches: Power asanas: Shalabakhsana; Mayurasana |
| Internal organs | Backbends, crunches, inversions | Relieving internal tension, improving the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, spleen, pelvic organs | Backbends: Hasta Uttanasana; Bitilasana; Padmasana Crunches: Utthita Trikonasana; Ardha Matsyendrasana Inverted poses: Sarvangasana; Halasana |
| Endocrine system, immunity | Inverted poses | Stabilization of the endocrine system, including the thyroid and parathyroid glands | Sarvangasana; Halasana |
| Balance and coordination of movements | Balance | Improved sense of balance and concentration | Utkatasana; Vrksasana; Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana |
| Prevention of strokes, improvement of brain function | Forward bends | Improving blood supply to the brain | Padangusthasana; Padahastasana; Parvatasana. |
Philosophers who practice yoga
The founder of yoga is an ancient sage, philosopher and ascetic. As in many similar cases, the exact facts of his biography do not exist, so neither the date of birth nor the circumstances of his life can be accurately named. The main work is the Yoga Sutra, consisting of 195 sutras. Yoga probably existed before Patanjali, but it was he who summarized the existing knowledge, systematized and improved it. 
No less famous ancient yogic sage - Swami Swatmarama. He is the author of the most ancient treatise on hatha yoga - “Hatha Yoga Pradipika”. This manual describes the use of Shatkarma, Asana, Pranayama, Mudras and Bandhas and their practical application for awakening Kundalini.
Over the past 100–150 years, the number of practicing yogis has become quite large, and along with them, attention to ancient wisdom and its reinterpretation has increased.
Did you know?Yoga was included in UNESCO's list of cultural heritage of humanity in 2016.
Among the yogis and sages of the 19th–20th centuries and their works, the most important are described in the table:
| Yogi | Major works | Flow | Author information |
| Baba Sawan Singh | "Spiritual Guidance"; "Letters from Soul to Soul" | Surat Shabd Yoga | Yogi, philosopher; studied the basic principles of all religions and tried to generalize them into a single doctrine |
| Brahmachari Dhirendra | “Yoga-sukshma-vyayama”; "Yogasana Vijnana" | Yogi; yoga advisor to Indira Gandhi, created the Yoga Institute, where scientists around the world can conduct scientific medical research on the effects of yoga on the body | |
| Swami Vivekananda | "Practical Vedanta"; "Raja Yoga"; “Six Instructions on Raja Yoga”; "Bhakti Yoga"; "Karma Yoga"; "Jnana Yoga"; "Para-bhakti" | Vedanta and yoga | The founder of one of the largest monastic orders, yogi, philosopher, public figure. Brought yoga to the West and shaped the idea of this system in the Western world |
| Lahiri Mahasai | The yogi himself did not describe his teaching. It, as well as biographical information, is described by his student and follower Paramahansa Yogananda in “Autobiography of a Yogi” | Kriya yoga | Founder of Kriya Yoga, Hindu yogi and saint; it is believed that he had the ability not only to heal the sick, but also to resurrect the dead, dematerialize objects and perform other miraculous actions |
| Swami Paramahamsa Hariharananda Giri | “Kriya Yoga: the scientific process of soul culture and the essence of all religions” | Kriya yoga | Yogi, guru, philosopher |
| Paramahans Yogananda | "Autobiography of a Yogi" | Yogin, popularizer and disseminator of yoga in the West, it was thanks to his work that hatha yoga gained a huge number of followers in the West | |
| Swami Satyananda Saraswati | He is the author of 14 works: “Asana. Pranayama. Mudra. Bandha"; "Bhakti Yoga Sagar"; "Ocean of Yoga of Devotion"; "Kundalini Tantra"; "Svara yoga"; “Tantric practices of transformation”; "Kriya Yoga"; "Hatha Yoga"; "Pradipika" and others | Karma yoga | Yogi, guru, master of yoga and tantra; founder of the International Yoga Fellowship |
| Sant Kirpal Singh | "Morning Conversations"; “Spirituality - what is it”; "Crown of Life"; "Research on Yoga"; "Surat Shabd Yoga"; "The Secret of Death"; “The great saint Baba Jaimal Singh. His life and teachings"; "Wheel of Life". | Surat Shabd Yoga | Yogi, writer, philosopher |
Yoga is the most popular ancient teaching of all that has practical application. Its popularity is due to the depth of the issues addressed and the ability to change and improve one’s own life with the help of this unique teaching. Yoga helps people find themselves, their path, their essence and, of course, cope with the perception of reality.
Nowadays, yoga has gained immense popularity. This process was facilitated by many trends in modern society, and the development of the Internet and the disappearance of borders for the dissemination of information could make yoga truly accessible to every seeker.
Let's try to figure out: what are the basics of yoga, what is the purpose of yoga, how most modern people understand yoga, what the sages of the past said about this science of self-knowledge, what books about yoga remained as support in practice and what a beginner needs to know on his path.
Most modern people believe that yoga is effective gymnastics, which has healing and rejuvenating properties, an activity that relieves stress and gives harmony.
Some people go to fitness centers for yoga classes because they want to improve their figure, relax after hard work, or heal their back.
But, if you and I get acquainted with the basics of yoga and pick up books on yoga that were left to us by the sages of the past, we will find that yoga is understood much more broadly and the benefits of yoga sought by our contemporaries are more likely side effect from regular exercise.
Yoga philosophy. Purpose of Yoga
The word yoga itself comes from the Sanskrit word “yujin”, meaning unification, connection, union or community.
That is, the goal of yoga is to unite our “I”, this formed personality, which we associate, most often, with our body, with a more perfect part of our being.
The perfect and wise part of ourselves is called differently in different concepts, cultures, religions, but this does not change its essence.
This is the divine energy, soul, God, Atman, Absolute, Inner Sage, Universe or Supreme Mind. There are a lot of epithets to express this essence, but the main thing remains - yoga shows the path that can lead from the external to the internal, will allow you to better understand the absolute laws and your place in them, becoming truly useful to this world.
One of the goals of yoga is to be able to control your mind and use this perfect tool for its intended purpose. If the mind is uncontrolled, then it makes us selfish, filling us with fears and anxiety, and does not allow us to be happy, calm and harmonious.
The basics of yoga are described in books left to us from the past.
Here are some books on yoga, in our opinion, the most authoritative and describing the principles and foundations of yoga, both from a practical and theoretical point of view:
- Yoga Sutras of Patanjali with commentaries
- Hatha Yoga Pradipika
- Three-volume book of the Bihar School of Yoga
- Hatha Yoga Deepika (B.K.S. Iyengar)
Video about the primary sources of yoga:
Yoga philosophy. Yoga steps
The first and most famous book on yoga, of course, is rightfully considered the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. This work, written down more than 5 thousand years ago, includes 196 sutras - short stanzas that are complete in their semantic content. The levels of depth of meaning in each of these sutras are amazing.
This yoga book contains philosophical foundations ancient science of self-knowledge and is considered one of the most authoritative sources. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali describe the foundations of philosophy and yoga as an integral system.
This is not to say that this is a book about yoga that should be picked up immediately by a beginner. To put it mildly, it is not for dummies.
The Yoga Sutras rather describe the philosophy and fundamentals of yoga for practitioners. high level. This book outlines the steps of yoga that everyone needs to go through when laying out the mat for the first time. And, by the way, asanas, so popular in our time, are mentioned only in one sutra: “Asana is comfortable, stable position».
The rest of the above list of books on the basics of yoga (you can find them) describe the basics of the practice and philosophy of yoga, and they can be used as self-instruction books for those who have begun to study the basics of yoga.
There are eight steps in yoga, here is their sequence with names in Sanskrit:
- Niyama
- Asana
- Pranayama
- Pratyahara
- Dharana
- Dhyana
- Samadhi
At the first two stages (Yama and Niyama), the novice yogi is asked to develop in himself a set of moral qualities that are aimed at developing a conscious personality, responsible for his actions.
The Five Yamas are instructions for yoga practitioners on how a person should behave in this world. Non-violence (Ahimsa), truthfulness (Satya), do not steal (Asteya), non-covetousness, non-accumulation (Aparigraha), abstinence from sensual pleasures (Brahmacharya).
The Five Niyamas are commandments regarding the inner world of the practitioner himself. Purity of body, speech and mind (Shaucha), self-discipline and asceticism (Tapasya), contentment, modesty, optimistic attitude (Santosha), self-education (Svadhyaya), dedication to higher goals, development of altruism (Ishvara Pranidhana).
As you can see, all Yamas and Niyama are guidelines for every person, familiar from childhood and necessary for adequate interaction with society and oneself.
It is important to note here that non-violence (ahimsa) is understood as not causing suffering to all living beings without exception, including oneself.
Mudra is a seal, a sign. These are special positions of the fingers that have different effects on the mental and physical body.
Also, for a deeper acquaintance with the techniques of Hatha yoga, you can read the book: Fundamentals of the worldview of Indian yogis.
- Daily routine. Getting up early and following a daily routine. This is the first and prerequisite to achieve results in yoga practice.
- Nutrition. Light, healthy food, the absence of killer food in the diet, if not necessarily in the initial stages, will become a natural need with proper regular yoga practice.
- Reading. Read books on the basics of yoga, its philosophy and principles, biographies of great teachers, yogis of the past and present. This is excellent motivation and support in the practice of yoga.
- “Information diet” – no TV is extremely important. Focus on information that promotes development.
- Regular practice of Hatha yoga and combining it with activities that involve service. This will allow you to achieve much great results in yoga for the same period. I can recommend it for a beginner independent studies one of the above yoga books, or classes
2) Yoga is one of the systems of Hindu philosophy, which was created by the sage Patanjali and recorded by him in the “Yoga Sutras” (“Aphorisms of Yoga”) around the 2nd century BC. e.
Yoga of Patanjali is both a philosophy and a practical method, which includes 8 stages of human improvement:
1. Yama - regulation of external conditions
2. Niyama - regulation of internal conditions
3. Asana - comfortable and stable body position
4. Pranayama - perception of the movement of energies in the body
5. Pratyathara - control of the perception of senses
6. Dharana - the ability to direct our mind
7. Dhyana - the ability to perceive what we seek to understand
8. Samadhi - the ability to become and remain that which we intended to understand.
The philosophy of the Yoga Sutras is closely related to ancient philosophy Samkhya, the main sources of which are the great Indian epic “Mahabharata” and the “Sankhya Sutras” of the sage Kapila.
According to the basic tenets of this philosophy, there are two independent substances: Purusha (the contemplator, the source of consciousness) and Prakriti (matter, nature). It is their interaction that leads to the emergence of all phenomena of this world, from the subtlest to the densest. Every person, being a product of nature, contains within himself a source of true knowledge. But being drawn into the games of nature, he loses the purity of perception of the Contemplator and becomes dependent on the conditions of the external world.
Only a return to inner comprehension allows a person to find peace, equanimity, experience a blissful state of freedom and learn to manage his life based on a true understanding of the essence of things and phenomena of this world.
To achieve this higher state of consciousness, one must calm and balance the qualities of nature in the body, mind and senses. This is what the first five steps of Patanjali’s yoga are aimed at. The first five steps are the regulation of the 5 primary elements of nature (Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether (Space)). When the elements of nature in a person are balanced, a person is able to consciously control the unconscious and subconscious areas of his psyche, that is, his animal nature.
The last three steps are possible only with successful mastery of the first five and allow one to achieve higher states of deep insight into the essence of all phenomena of the world.
In the Middle Ages, based on the classical yoga of Patanjali, a special type of yogic practice emerged, called “hatha yoga”. One of the translations of the term “hatha” is “sun and moon”. These are, in essence, two energies that are manifested in the body in two channels: the left - Ida (property of the lunar channel) and the right - Pingala (property of the solar channel).
Ida controls mental energy and corresponds to the parasympathetic reaction in the body (passivity, relaxation). Pingala is associated with vital energy and corresponds to the sympathetic reaction in the body (activity, tension). The main goal of hatha yoga is to balance these two energies in the body and maintain them in a clear balance.
This makes it possible to balance the qualities of nature in the body and promotes the passage of energy through the central channel - Sushumna. It is this energy that is used to awaken higher forms of consciousness.
Hatha Yoga uses the concept of chakras - special energy centers in the human body, each of which is associated with a certain level of consciousness. The lower chakras are responsible for the unconscious plane of existence, the middle ones - for subconscious mechanisms, the upper ones - for consciousness, the seventh chakra - sahasrara connects a person with the superconscious. If the higher chakras in a person’s body remain closed, the person will be under the influence of the unconscious and subconscious layers of his psyche all his life, without being able to consciously control his body, mind and feelings.
The first 7 steps of Patanjali yoga correspond to the 7 chakras in the human body, and the 8th step corresponds to the chakra located above the head.
Hatha Yoga is a precise sequence of certain actions that brings people of different types into the same state: calmness of the qualities of nature in the body, feelings, mind (the first five chakras). This makes it possible to divert energy from external stimuli to the inner world to ensure a process of deep understanding.
When the body, feelings and mind are calmed, energy freely rises through the central channel - Sushumna, awakening all chakras, from the lowest to the highest, and a person has the opportunity to comprehend the highest principle, which by nature is the entire manifested world. As a result, a person leaves the power of external circumstances and becomes the ruler of his life, gaining freedom.
That is why Patanjali’s Yoga is often called “Raja Yoga”, which translates as “Royal Yoga” or “Yoga of Kings”.
Philosophy yoga in a broad sense, we can call it the ancient doctrine of the spiritual self-improvement of man, which came to us from the Aryan civilization and developed into the form known today in the religious and philosophical schools of ancient and medieval India. This article will discuss the basic philosophical concepts and concepts of this teaching, which for almost two thousand years has been for many admirers of Indian spirituality an example of wisdom that leads a person to the highest possible goal of his life.
Yoga is one of the Darshanas, the six orthodox (following the spiritual tradition of the Vedas) schools of thought in India. Its theories and principles are set forth in the founding work of this school, the Yoga Sutras, and commentaries on this work. We know practically nothing about the author of the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali. In India, since ancient times he has been considered a great teacher, yogi and philosopher who lived in the 2nd century. BC However, today most scientists agree that, in terms of content and terminology, the Yoga Sutra should be dated back to the 2nd century AD.
Patanjali was not the person who invented the teaching of yoga. We find the origins of the yoga he outlined in the most ancient monument of world culture - the Vedas (~ 2nd millennium BC), the sacred texts of India. The doctrine of the basic elements of yogic practice - concentration, contemplation, control of consciousness and the term itself " yoga» – present in the early Upanishads (~ VI – III centuries BC), commentaries on the Vedas. A special place in protoyoga is occupied by the ancient epic works of India: the Ramayana and the Mahabharata (~ 1st millennium BC). The most prominent part of the Mahabharata is the Bhagavad Gita. It contains many important parts of the teachings of yoga, it just lacks the systematization and classification of categories - basic philosophical concepts - that is necessary for philosophy. Patanjali acted as such a systematizer, summarizing and briefly formulating ancient spiritual knowledge. The theory and practice of the Yoga Sutras have fully stood the test of time and have earned the right to be called classical yoga.
Patanjali's work, like many treatises of that time in India, is a collection of short sentences (sutras). For students, they may have served as a reminder for reconstructing the course of complex oral reasoning. However, for descendants who do not have the opportunity to personally communicate with the teacher, short sutras are often not enough. Therefore, the teaching of classical yoga that exists today was formed, in addition to the original treatise of Patanjali, by extensive commentary literature. In this article we focus on the Yoga Sutra and the most authoritative commentary, belonging to the philosopher Vyasa, Yoga Bhasya (5th century AD).
Getting directly to the philosophy of classical yoga, we will highlight two fundamental categories that contain all of existence, everything that exists. These are Purusha and Prakriti - spiritual and material substances.
Prakriti (matter) is everything that we see, hear, touch or feel in any other way. This is everything that the most advanced instruments can record, from the smallest particles to objects on a cosmic scale. The concept of Prakriti contains the entire universe, all physical objects and energy fields.
By Purusha is meant the eternal Spirit, the spiritual principle. He is transcendental to Prakriti, that is, he is beyond all Nature. Purusha is the highest part of existence. He does not have the forms characteristic of Prakriti, therefore he cannot be imagined. He is conscious while matter is unconscious. However, one should not identify Purusha with the teaching about God that is familiar to Western people. Purusha is devoid of any personal attributes. The God of classical yoga - Ishvara - is a manifestation of Purusha, but He does not create the world and does not control it. Besides Him, there are other gods in the Spirit, but Ishvara is the highest among all spiritual beings. It also has the most important property for yoga philosophy to connect and separate Purusha and Prakriti.
Before the union of Spirit and matter, the latter is in an unmanifested state. This means that the universe does not exist, and the three basic properties or forces (gunas) of Prakriti are in balance.
Guna sattva is responsible for the principle of clarity, rajas - for the principle of movement, activity, tamas - for the principle of peace, inertia. When Spirit and matter unite, Purusha, as a conscious principle, begins to control Prakriti in a certain sense and cause changes in it. The gunas begin to interact with each other in many combinations and, passing through certain stages, form the objective world in all its forms. In this case, the first product of the interaction of the gunas becomes Buddhi-Mahat. This important concept of yoga philosophy denotes the ideal basis of all future universe. In the course of further evolution, through a series of stages, five primary elements are formed: ether, air, fire, water, earth, from which all objects are composed.
The interaction of the gunas is a continuous change, the consequences of which we observe in our ever-changing world. These modifications determine our sense of time. That is, we can say that a second is not a small period of time, but some change we observe, for example, the movement of the clock hand to the next position. According to classical yoga, time as such does not exist, there is only the moment (now) of change. Any changes are possible in some space, therefore the objective world is also characterized by the category of space.
Unlike Prakriti, Purusha is not subject to change. Therefore, we can say that he is outside of time and space. Purusha is called the Spectator, observing the unfolding picture of change in matter.
Now let's look at the teachings of classical yoga about man. Here it is necessary to understand an idea that is unusual for the consciousness of modern Western man. In the anthropology of yoga, the inner world of a person corresponds to the outer being. A person is considered as a microcosm, which in its structure is identical to the macrocosm external to him. Thus, man is also the result of the union of Purusha and Prakriti.
Buddhi Mahat is the stage of development of Prakriti and the basis of the universe. In it, as a stage in the evolution of matter, individual Buddhi is formed, which is the ideal basis for the human psyche. Subsequently, the remaining elements of the microcosm are formed. These are the organs of perception - hearing, vision, touch, taste, smell; organs of action - arms, legs, organs of excretion and reproduction, organ of speech; the organ of the mind is the mind (manas). So, in fact, everything that we are used to identifying with ourselves, with our self - the physical body, memory, emotions, intellect, mental images, etc. – refers to matter and is potentially contained in the individual Buddhi.
Purusha in man is pure consciousness, his Spirit, his true Self. Yoga presupposes the existence of many “small parts” of Purusha, individual souls that manifest through different beings in Prakriti. Our true Self is eternal and unchanging. It is conscious and directs all processes in the sphere of Prakriti. The model of the union of Purusha and Prakriti in a person is often compared to two people lost in the forest. One of whom is without legs (Purusha), and the other is blind (Prakriti). It is clear that by uniting, they will be able to begin to get out of the forest. Purusha, interacting with Prakriti, fills a person’s individual buddhi, the matrix of all his mental phenomena, with the ability to self-awareness. Therefore, we, not knowing about Purusha, are aware of ourselves in our mental activity.
So, having examined the main philosophical categories of classical yoga, we move on to the theory of liberation, the central teaching about the meaning of human existence, for the sake of which both the Yoga Sutra and the commentary to it were written. Liberation is the separation in man of Spirit and matter, Purusha and Prakriti. Why is such a division necessary? The fact is that a person in his ordinary state does not know his true Self and identifies himself, at best, with his individual buddhi. But the ability of Buddhi to realize itself is no more than an illusion, because only Purusha has true consciousness. We always say to ourselves: “I walk, I feel, I think,” etc., thereby limiting our existence to the framework of Prakriti. As we already know, any manifestations of Prakriti are only consequences of the interaction of the gunas. They are changeable and no form is eternal. We, identifying ourselves with our psyche, become attached to its manifestations and to the forms of the objective world. All our suffering comes from this attachment. Attachments give rise to desires and expectations in relation to the world around us and to ourselves. But the world is changing - people close to us are aging and dying, the things we do do not bring the same satisfaction, negative emotions are replaced by positive ones, any pleasures always end. We want a constant feeling of satisfaction, but this is not achievable, and, as a rule, the more pleasure we get from something, the greater the disappointment later. Yoga philosophy
Moreover, the desire for the forms of Prakriti gives existence to our karma. Karma is a cause-and-effect relationship generated by humans and other beings. By our attraction to one form or another of Prakriti, we determine what we will be like in the future. For example, if we tend to be kind and honest, we want to be valued according to these virtues, which in turn gives rise to our desire to be the same in the future. Aspirations leave, figuratively speaking, imprints (vasanas) in our individual buddhi. Every moment we do something, feel, think, adding new imprints. After physical death, our spiritual essence is embodied in another body (reincarnation), and the vasanas are preserved, determining our future life. As long as our adherence to the forms of Prakriti remains, new imprints are added to the buddhi, which ensures subsequent births. Thus, we are in a series of rebirths (the wheel of samsara), eternally suffering in the changing world of Prakriti.
Liberation from suffering is possible, and the pursuit of it is the highest possible goal of existence.
Through the practice of yoga and philosophical reflection, a person gradually becomes more and more aware of his highest being, Purusha, achieves complete spiritual dispassion, and ceases to internally strive for anything in the material world. Then his karma is no longer created, and he comes to the separation of Spirit from matter, leaves the circle of samsara and achieves absolute liberation. Such a person will not be born again, but he may still continue to live in his present life, being in the continuous awareness of himself as an eternal and unchangeable Spirit. This is the state of a god essentially equal to Ishvara. This existence cannot be described in words, but it is difficult to imagine existence better than that, in which there is no even the potential possibility of suffering or any dissatisfaction, and at the same time there is complete awareness.
This is how liberation is achieved.
