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Yoga philosophy is one of the six major important schools of
Hindu philosophy Hindu philosophy or Vedic philosophy is the set of philosophical systems that developed in tandem with the first Hinduism, Hindu religious traditions during the Iron Age in India, iron and Classical India, classical ages of India. In Indian ...
,Maurice Phillips (Published as
Max Muller Max or MAX may refer to: Animals * Max (American dog) (1983–2013), at one time purported to be the world's oldest living dog * Max (British dog), the first pet dog to win the PDSA Order of Merit (animal equivalent of the OBE) * Max (gorilla) ( ...
collection), The Evolution of
Hinduism Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...
, , PhD. Thesis awarded by University of Berne, Switzerland, page 8
though it is only at the end of the first millennium CE that Yoga is mentioned as a separate school of thought in Indian texts, distinct from
Samkhya Samkhya or Sankhya (; ) is a dualistic orthodox school of Hindu philosophy. It views reality as composed of two independent principles, '' Puruṣa'' ('consciousness' or spirit) and '' Prakṛti'' (nature or matter, including the human mind a ...
.David Lawrence (2014), in The Bloomsbury Companion to Hindu Studies (Editor: Jessica Frazier), Bloomsbury Academic, , pages 137-150 Ancient, medieval and modern literature often simply call Yoga philosophy
Yoga Yoga (UK: , US: ; 'yoga' ; ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated with its own philosophy in ancient India, aimed at controlling body and mind to attain various salvation goals, as pra ...
.Knut Jacobsen (2008), Theory and Practice of Yoga, Motilal Banarsidass, , pages 100-101, 333-340
Mikel Burley Mikel Burley is a scholar of religion and philosophy, known for his work on the Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Biography Burley gained his B.A. in 1993 from the University of Essex, his M.A. from the University of Nottingham in 1997, and Ph.D.s ...
(2012), Classical Samkhya and Yoga – An Indian Metaphysics of Experience, Routledge, , pages 43-46 and Introduction chapter
A systematic collection of ideas of Yoga is found in the ''
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali The ''Yoga Sutras of Patañjali'' (IAST: Patañjali yoga-sūtra) is a compilation "from a variety of sources" of Sanskrit sutras (aphorisms) on the practice of yoga – 195 sutras (according to Vyasa, Vyāsa and Krishnamacharya) and 196 sut ...
'',Larson, p. 21–22. a key text of Yoga which has influenced all other schools of Indian philosophy.Roy Perrett, Indian Ethics: Classical traditions and contemporary challenges, Volume 1 (Editor: P Bilimoria et al), Ashgate, , pages 149-158 The metaphysics of Yoga is Samkhya's
dualism Dualism most commonly refers to: * Mind–body dualism, a philosophical view which holds that mental phenomena are, at least in certain respects, not physical phenomena, or that the mind and the body are distinct and separable from one another * P ...
, in which the universe is conceptualized as composed of two realities: ''
Puruṣa ''Purusha'' (, ʊɾʊʂᵊ ) is a complex concept whose meaning evolved in Vedic and Upanishadic times. Depending on source and historical timeline, it means the cosmic being or self, awareness, and universal principle.Karl Potter, Presupposit ...
'' (witness-consciousness) and ''
Prakṛti Prakriti ( ) is "the original or natural form or condition of anything, original or primary substance". It is a key concept in Hinduism, formulated by the '' Samkhya'' school, where it does not refer merely to matter or nature, but includes all co ...
'' (nature). ''
Jiva ''Jiva'' (, IAST: ), also referred as ''Jivātman,'' is a living being or any entity imbued with a life force in Hinduism and Jīva (Jainism), Jainism. The word itself originates from the Sanskrit verb-root ''jīv'', which translates as 'to br ...
'' (a living being) is considered as a state in which ''puruṣa'' is bonded to ''Prakṛti'' in some form, in various permutations and combinations of various elements, senses, feelings, activity and mind.Samkhya – Hinduism
''Encyclopædia Britannica'' (2014)
During the state of imbalance or ignorance, one or more constituents overwhelm the others, creating a form of bondage. The end of this bondage is called liberation, or ''
mokṣa ''Moksha'' (; , '), also called ''vimoksha'', ''vimukti'', and ''mukti'', is a term in Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism for various forms of emancipation, liberation, ''nirvana'', or release. In its soteriological and eschatological ...
'', by both the Yoga and Samkhya schools of Hinduism, and can be attained by insight and self-restraint. The ethical theory of Yoga philosophy is based on
Yamas The (), and their complement, the niyamas, represent a series of "right living" or ethical rules within Yoga philosophy. The word means "reining in" or "control". They are restraints for proper conduct given in the Vedas and the Yoga Sutras ...
and
Niyama Niyamas () are positive duties or observances. In Dharma, particularly Yoga, ''niyamas'' and their complement, yamas, are recommended activities and habits for healthy living, spiritual enlightenment, and a liberated state of existence. It has ...
, as well as elements of the
Guṇa () is a concept in Hinduism, which can be translated as "quality, peculiarity, attribute, property".epistemology Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that examines the nature, origin, and limits of knowledge. Also called "the theory of knowledge", it explores different types of knowledge, such as propositional knowledge about facts, practical knowle ...
of Yoga philosophy, like the Sāmkhya school, relies on three of six ''
Pramanas ''Pramana'' (; IAST: Pramāṇa) literally means "proof" and "means of knowledge".
'' as the means of gaining reliable knowledge. These include ''Pratyakṣa'' (perception), ''Anumāṇa'' (inference) and ''Sabda'' (''Āptavacana'', word/testimony of reliable sources).* Eliott Deutsche (2000), in Philosophy of Religion : Indian Philosophy Vol 4 (Editor: Roy Perrett), Routledge, , pages 245-248; * John A. Grimes, A Concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy: Sanskrit Terms Defined in English, State University of New York Press, , page 238 Yoga philosophy differs from the closely related non-theistic/atheistic Samkhya school by incorporating the concept of a "personal, yet essentially inactive, deity" or "personal god" (Ishvara).Lloyd Pflueger, Person Purity and Power in Yogasutra, in Theory and Practice of Yoga (Editor: Knut Jacobsen), Motilal Banarsidass, , pages 38-39


History

Yoga as a separate school of thought is mentioned in Indian texts from the end of the 1st millennium CE. A collection of practices and some ideas of the Yoga school of Hinduism is found in the
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali The ''Yoga Sutras of Patañjali'' (IAST: Patañjali yoga-sūtra) is a compilation "from a variety of sources" of Sanskrit sutras (aphorisms) on the practice of yoga – 195 sutras (according to Vyasa, Vyāsa and Krishnamacharya) and 196 sut ...
. After its circulation in the first half of the 1st millennium CE, many Indian scholars reviewed it, then published their ''Bhāṣya'' (notes and commentary) on it. The commentary by Vyasa may have been written by Patanjali himself, forming an integrated text called the ''Pātañjalayogaśāstra'' ("The Treatise on Yoga of Patañjali"). Yoga as a separate school of philosophy has been included as one of the six orthodox schools in medieval era Indian texts; the other schools are
Samkhya Samkhya or Sankhya (; ) is a dualistic orthodox school of Hindu philosophy. It views reality as composed of two independent principles, '' Puruṣa'' ('consciousness' or spirit) and '' Prakṛti'' (nature or matter, including the human mind a ...
,
Nyaya Nyāya (Sanskrit: न्यायः, IAST: nyāyaḥ), literally meaning "justice", "rules", "method" or "judgment", is one of the six orthodox (Āstika) schools of Hindu philosophy. Nyāya's most significant contributions to Indian philosophy ...
,
Vaisheshika Vaisheshika (IAST: Vaiśeṣika; ; ) is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy from ancient India. In its early stages, Vaiśeṣika was an independent philosophy with its own metaphysics, epistemology, logic, ethics, and soteriology. Over t ...
, Mimamsa and
Vedanta ''Vedanta'' (; , ), also known as ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six orthodox (Āstika and nāstika, ''āstika'') traditions of Hindu philosophy and textual exegesis. The word ''Vedanta'' means 'conclusion of the Vedas', and encompa ...
.Jessica Frazier (2014), in The Bloomsbury Companion to Hindu Studies (Editor: Jessica Frazier), Bloomsbury Academic, , pages 24-25 According to Bryant, There are numerous parallels in the concepts in the
Samkhya Samkhya or Sankhya (; ) is a dualistic orthodox school of Hindu philosophy. It views reality as composed of two independent principles, '' Puruṣa'' ('consciousness' or spirit) and '' Prakṛti'' (nature or matter, including the human mind a ...
school of Hinduism, Yoga and various strands of Buddhism, particularly from the 2nd century BCE to the 1st century AD, notes Larson.Larson, pp. 43-45 From the Samkhya school of Hinduism, the Yoga Sutras adopt the "reflective discernment" (''adhyavasaya'') of ''prakrti'' and ''purusa'' (dualism), its metaphysical rationalism, as well its three
epistemic Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that examines the nature, origin, and limits of knowledge. Also called "the theory of knowledge", it explores different types of knowledge, such as propositional knowledge about facts, practical knowledg ...
methods to gaining reliable knowledge. From the Buddhist practice of ''nirodhasamadhi'', argues Larson, the Yoga Sutras adopt the pursuit of an altered state of awareness, but unlike Buddhism, which believes that there is no fixed self, Yoga is physicalist like Samkhya in believing that each individual has a self and soul. The third concept that the Yoga Sutras synthesize into its philosophy is the ancient
ascetic Asceticism is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from worldly pleasures through self-discipline, self-imposed poverty, and simple living, often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals. Ascetics may withdraw from the world for their pra ...
traditions of isolation, meditation and introspection.


Metaphysics


Comparison to Samkhya

Yoga-philosophy is Samkhya. In both, the foundational concepts include two realities: ''Purusha'' and ''Prakriti''. The ''Purusha'' is defined as that reality which is pure consciousness and is untouched by thoughts or qualities. The ''Prakriti'' is the empirical, phenomenal reality which includes matter and also mind, sensory organs and the sense of identity (self, soul). A living being is held in both schools to be the union of matter and mind. The Yoga school differs from the Samkhya school in its views on the ontology of ''Purusha'', on axiology and on soteriology.Roy Perrett (2007), Samkhya-Yoga Ethics, Indian Ethics: Classical Traditions and Contemporary Challenges (Editors: Purusottama Bilimoria et al), Volume 1, , page 151
Mikel Burley Mikel Burley is a scholar of religion and philosophy, known for his work on the Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Biography Burley gained his B.A. in 1993 from the University of Essex, his M.A. from the University of Nottingham in 1997, and Ph.D.s ...
(2012), ''Classical Samkhya and Yoga – An Indian Metaphysics of Experience'', Routledge, , pages 31-46
The metaphysics of Yoga-Samkhya is a form of
dualism Dualism most commonly refers to: * Mind–body dualism, a philosophical view which holds that mental phenomena are, at least in certain respects, not physical phenomena, or that the mind and the body are distinct and separable from one another * P ...
. It considers consciousness and matter, self/soul and body as two different realities. The
Samkhya-Yoga Samkhya or Sankhya (; ) is a dualistic orthodox school of Hindu philosophy. It views reality as composed of two independent principles, '' Puruṣa'' ('consciousness' or spirit) and ''Prakṛti'' (nature or matter, including the human mind an ...
system espouses dualism between consciousness and matter by postulating two "irreducible, innate and independent realities:
Purusha ''Purusha'' (, ʊɾʊʂᵊ ) is a complex concept whose meaning evolved in Vedic and Upanishadic times. Depending on source and historical timeline, it means the cosmic being or self, awareness, and universal principle.Karl Potter, Presupposit ...
and
Prakriti Prakriti ( ) is "the original or natural form or condition of anything, original or primary substance". It is a key concept in Hinduism, formulated by the ''Samkhya'' school, where it does not refer merely to matter or nature, but includes all cog ...
. While the ''Prakriti'' is a single entity, the Samkhya-Yoga schools admit a plurality of the ''Puruṣa''s in this world. Unintelligent, unmanifest, uncaused, ever-active, imperceptible and eternal Prakriti is alone the final source of the world of objects. The ''Puruṣa'' is considered as the conscious principle, a passive enjoyer (''bhokta'') and the ''Prakriti'' is the enjoyed (''bhogya''). Samkhya-Yoga believes that the ''Puruṣa'' cannot be regarded as the source of inanimate world, because an intelligent principle cannot transform itself into the unconscious world. This metaphysics is a pluralistic spiritualism, a form of realism built on the foundation of dualism. Yoga-philosophy adopts the theory of
Guṇa () is a concept in Hinduism, which can be translated as "quality, peculiarity, attribute, property".sattva ''Sattva'' (Sanskrit: सत्त्व, meaning ''goodness'') is one of the three '' guṇas'' or "modes of existence" (tendencies, qualities, attributes), a philosophical and psychological concept understood by the Samkhya school of Hindu philo ...
'' guna (goodness, constructive, harmonious), ''
rajas ''Rajas'' (Sanskrit: रजस्) is one of the three '' guṇas'' (tendencies, qualities, attributes), a philosophical and psychological concept developed by the Samkhya school of Hindu philosophy.James G. Lochtefeld, Rajas, in The Illustrated ...
'' guna (passion, active, confused), and '' tamas'' guna (darkness, destructive, chaotic).Alban Widgery (1930), The principles of Hindu Ethics, ''International Journal of Ethics'', Vol. 40, No. 2, pages 234-237James G. Lochtefeld, Guna, in ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M'', Vol. 1, Rosen Publishing, , page 265 These three are present in every being but in different proportions, and the fundamental nature and psychological dispositions of beings is a consequence of the relative proportion of these three ''gunas''. When ''sattva'' guna predominates an individual, the qualities of lucidity, wisdom, constructiveness, harmonious, and peacefulness manifest themselves; when rajas is predominant, attachment, craving, passion-driven activity and restlessness manifest; and when tamas predominates in an individual, ignorance, delusion, destructive behavior, lethargy, and suffering manifests. The guṇas theory underpins the philosophy of mind in Yoga school of Hinduism. The early scholars of Yoga philosophy, posit that the ''Puruṣa'' (consciousness) by its nature is sattva (constructive), while ''Prakriti'' (matter) by its nature is tamas (chaotic). They further posit that individuals at birth have ''buddhi'' (intelligence, sattvic). As life progresses and churns this ''buddhi'', it creates '' asmita'' or ''
ahamkara Ahamkara (Sanskrit: अहंकार; Romanized: Ahaṁkāra), "I-making," is a Sanskrit term in Hindu philosophy referring to the construction of a Self-concept, or the false identification of the self ( Purusha, atman) with impermanent entit ...
'' (ego, rajasic). When ego in turn is churned by life, ''manas'' (temper, mood, tamasic) is produced. Together, ''buddhi'', ''ahamkara'' and ''manas'' interact and constitute ''
citta ''Citta'' (Pali and Sanskrit: चित्त, or in Prakrit script 𑀘𑀺𑀢𑁆𑀢, pronounced ''chitta'' ͡ɕit̚.tɐ́sup>( key)) is one of three overlapping terms used in the Nikaya to refer to the mind, the others being '' mana ...
'' (mind) in Yoga school of Hinduism. Unrestrained modification of ''citta'' causes suffering. A way of life that empowers one to become ever more aware of one's consciousness and spirituality innate in ''buddhi'', is the path to one's highest potential and a more serene, content, liberated life. Patanjali's Yoga sutra begins, in verse 2 of Book 1, by defining Yoga as "restraining the ''Citta'' from ''Vrittis''."Vivekanada, p. 115.


Soteriology

Yoga school of Hinduism holds that ignorance is the cause of suffering and saṁsāra. Liberation, like many other schools, is removal of ignorance, which is achieved through discriminative discernment, knowledge and self-awareness. The ''Yoga Sūtras'' is Yoga school's treatise on how to accomplish this. ''Samādhi'' is the state where lucid awareness develops, state Yoga scholars, and this is how one starts the process of becoming aware of Purusa and true Self. It further claims that this awareness is eternal, and once this awareness is achieved, a person cannot ever cease being aware; this is
moksha ''Moksha'' (; , '), also called ''vimoksha'', ''vimukti'', and ''mukti'', is a term in Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism for various forms of emancipation, liberation, '' nirvana'', or release. In its soteriological and eschatologic ...
, the
soteriological Soteriology (; ' "salvation" from σωτήρ ' "savior, preserver" and λόγος ' "study" or "word") is the study of religious doctrines of salvation. Salvation theory occupies a place of special significance in many religions. In the academic ...
goal in Hinduism. Book 3 of Patanjali's ''Yogasutra'' is dedicated to the three last limbs of ashtangha yoga, together called ''sanyama'' in verses III.4 to III.5, and calls it the technology for "discerning principle" and mastery of ''citta'' and self-knowledge.''The Yoga-darsana: The sutras of Patanjali with the Bhasya of Vyasa – Book 3''
GN Jha (Translator); Harvard University Archives, pages 94-95
In verse III.12, the Yogasutras state that this discerning principle then empowers one to perfect ''sant'' (tranquility) and ''udita'' (reason) in one's mind and spirit, through intentness. This leads to one's ability to discern the difference between ''sabda'' (word), ''artha'' (meaning) and ''pratyaya'' (understanding), and this ability empowers one to compassionately comprehend the cry/speech of all living beings.''The Yoga-darsana: The sutras of Patanjali with the Bhasya of Vyasa – Book 3''
GN Jha (Translator); Harvard University Archives, pages 108-126
Once a yogi reaches this state of ''sanyama'', it leads to unusual powers, intuition, self-knowledge, freedoms and
kaivalya Kaivalya () is the ultimate goal of aṣṭāṅga yoga and means "solitude", "detachment" or "isolation", a -derivation from "alone, isolated". It is the isolation of purusha from prakṛti, and liberation from rebirth, i.e., moksha. is describ ...
, the soteriological goal of the yogi. The benefits of Yoga philosophy of Hinduism are then summarized in verses III.46 to III.55 of Yogasutras, stating that the first five limbs leads to bodily perfections such as beauty, loveliness, strength and toughness; while the last three limbs through ''sanyama'' leads to mind and psychological perfections of perceptiveness, one's nature, mastery over egoism, discriminative knowledge of purity, self and soul. This knowledge once reached is irreversible, states Yogasutra's Book IV.


God in Yoga school of Hinduism

Yoga philosophy allows the concept of God, unlike the closely related
Samkhya Samkhya or Sankhya (; ) is a dualistic orthodox school of Hindu philosophy. It views reality as composed of two independent principles, '' Puruṣa'' ('consciousness' or spirit) and '' Prakṛti'' (nature or matter, including the human mind a ...
school of Hinduism which is non-theistic. Hindu scholars such as the 8th century
Adi Sankara Adi Shankara (8th c. CE), also called Adi Shankaracharya (, ), was an Indian Vedic scholar, philosopher and teacher (''acharya'') of Advaita Vedanta. Reliable information on Shankara's actual life is scant, and his true impact lies in hi ...
, as well many modern academic scholars describe the Yoga school as "Samkya school with God." The ''Yoga Sutras of Patanjali'' use the term ''Isvara'' in 11 verses: I.23 through I.29, II.1, II.2, II.32 and II.45. Ever since the Sutras' release, Hindu scholars have debated and commented on who or what is ''Isvara''. These commentaries range from defining ''Isvara'' as a "personal god" to a "special self" to "anything that has spiritual significance to the individual". Whicher explains that while Patanjali's terse verses can be interpreted both as theistic or non-theistic, Patanjali's concept of ''Isvara'' in Yoga philosophy functions as a "transformative catalyst or guide for aiding the yogin on the path to spiritual emancipation". Patanjali defines ''Isvara'' (Sanskrit: ईश्वर) in verse 24 of Book 1, as "a special Self (पुरुषविशेष, ''puruṣa-viśeṣa'')",* Sanskrit Original with Translation 1
The Yoga Philosophy
TR Tatya (Translator), with Bhojaraja commentary; Harvard University Archives; * Translation 2
The Yoga-darsana: The sutras of Patanjali with the Bhasya of Vyasa
GN Jha (Translator), with notes; Harvard University Archives; * Translation 3
''The Yogasutras of Patanjali''
Charles Johnston (Translator)

– Yoga Sutras I.24
This sutra adds the characteristics of ''Isvara'' as that special Self which is unaffected (अपरामृष्ट, ''aparamrsta'') by one's obstacles/hardships (क्लेश, ''klesha''), one's circumstances created by the past or by one's current actions (कर्म, ''karma''), one's life fruits (विपाक, ''vipâka''), and one's psychological dispositions or intentions (आशय, ashaya).aparAmRSTakleza, karma, vipaka and ashaya
''Sanskrit English Dictionary'', Koeln University, Germany


Preparatory ethical rules

Preparatory ethical rules in the texts of Yoga school of Hindu philosophy include both a theory of values through the observances of positive values and avoidance of negative, as well as an aesthetic theory on bliss from intrinsic and extrinsic perspectives. The values to be observed are called
Niyamas Niyamas () are positive duties or observances. In Dharma, particularly Yoga, ''niyamas'' and their complement, yamas, are recommended activities and habits for healthy living, spiritual enlightenment, and a liberated state of existence. It has ...
, while those to be avoided are referred in the
Yamas The (), and their complement, the niyamas, represent a series of "right living" or ethical rules within Yoga philosophy. The word means "reining in" or "control". They are restraints for proper conduct given in the Vedas and the Yoga Sutras ...
in Yoga philosophy. Over sixty different ancient and medieval era texts of Yoga philosophy discuss ''Yamas'' and ''Niyamas''.SV Bharti (2001), ''Yoga Sutras of Patanjali'': With the Exposition of Vyasa, Motilal Banarsidas, , Appendix I, pages 672-691 The specific theory and list of values varies between the texts, however, ''Ahimsa'', ''Satya'', ''Asteya'', ''Svādhyāya'', ''Kșhamā'', and ''Dayā'' are among the predominantly discussed ethical concepts by majority of these texts. The five yamas listed by
Patañjali Patanjali (, , ; also called Gonardiya or Gonikaputra) was the name of one or more author(s), mystic(s) and philosopher(s) in ancient India. His name is recorded as an author and compiler of a number of Sanskrit works. The greatest of these a ...
in ''Yogasūtra'' 2.30 are: #
Ahiṃsā (, IAST: , ) is the ancient Indian principle of nonviolence which applies to actions towards all living beings. It is a key virtue in Indian religions like Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism. (also spelled Ahinsa) is one of the cardinal vi ...
(अहिंसा): Nonviolence, non-harming other living beingsJames Lochtefeld, "Yama (2)", ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism'', Vol. 2: N–Z, Rosen Publishing. , page 777 #
Satya (Sanskrit: ; IAST: ) is a Sanskrit word that can be translated as "truth" or "essence.“ In Indian religions, it refers to a kind of virtue found across them. This virtue most commonly refers to being truthful in one's thoughts, speech and act ...
(सत्य): truthfulness, non-falsehood #
Asteya (Sanskrit: , IAST: ) or (Sanskrit: ; IAST: ) is the Sanskrit term for "non-stealing". It is a virtue in Jainism. The practice of demands that one must not steal, nor have the intent to steal, another's property through action, speech, and thou ...
(अस्तेय): non-stealing #
Brahmacarya ''Brahmacharya'' (; Sanskrit: Devanagari: ब्रह्मचर्य) is the concept within Indian religions that literally means "conduct consistent with Brahman" or "on the path of Brahman". Brahmacharya, a discipline of controlling ...
(ब्रह्मचर्य): celibacy, non-cheating on one's partner #
Aparigraha Non-possession (, ) is a religious tenet followed in Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain traditions in South Asia. In Jainism, is the virtue of non-possessiveness, non-grasping, or non-greediness. is the opposite of . It means keeping the desire for po ...
(अपरिग्रहः): non-avarice, non-possessivenessArti Dhand (2002), The dharma of ethics, the ethics of dharma: Quizzing the ideals of Hinduism, Journal of Religious Ethics, 30(3), pages 347-372 Patanjali, in Book 2, explains how and why each of the above self restraints help in the personal growth of an individual. For example, in verse II.35, Patanjali states that the virtue of nonviolence and non-injury to others (
Ahimsa (, IAST: , ) is the ancient Indian principle of nonviolence which applies to actions towards all living beings. It is a key virtue in Indian religions like Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism. (also spelled Ahinsa) is one of the cardinal vi ...
) leads to the abandonment of enmity, a state that leads the yogi to the perfection of inner and outer amity with everyone, everything. Other texts of the Yoga school of Hinduism include Kṣamā (क्षमा, forgiveness),Stuart Sovatsky (1998), Words from the Soul: Time East/West Spirituality and Psychotherapeutic Narrative, State University of New York, , page 21 Dhṛti (धृति, fortitude, non-giving up in adversity), Dayā (दया, compassion),
Ārjava () literally means sincerity, straightness, and non-hypocrisy. It is one of the ten in ancient Hindu and Jaina texts. Definition means straightness, sincerity, and harmony in one’s thought, words, and actions towards oneself and towards oth ...
(आर्जव, non-hypocrisy) and Mitāhāra (मितहार, measured diet). The ''Niyamas'' part of theory of values in the Yoga school include virtuous habits, behaviors and observances. The Yogasutra lists the niyamas as: # Śauca: purity, clearness of mind, speech and body # Santoṣa: contentment, acceptance of others, acceptance of one's circumstances as they are in order to get past or change them, optimism for selfN Tummers (2009), Teaching Yoga for Life, , page 16-17 #
Tapas Tapas () are appetisers or snacks in Spanish cuisine. They can be combined to make a full meal and are served cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or hot (such as , which are battered, fried baby squid; or , spicy potatoes). In some bars ...
: persistence, perseverance, austeritySA Bhagwat (2008), Yoga and Sustainability. Journal of Yoga, Fall/Winter 2008, 7(1): 1-14 #
Svādhyāya (Devanagari: ) is a Sanskrit term which means self-study and especially the recitation of the Vedas and other sacred texts. It is also a broader concept with several meanings. In various schools of Hinduism, ''Svadhyaya'' is a Niyama (vir ...
: study of Vedas (see ''Sabda'' in epistemology section), study of self, self-reflection, introspection of self's thoughts, speeches and actions # Īśvarapraṇidhāna: contemplation of the Ishvara (God/Supreme Being,
Brahman In Hinduism, ''Brahman'' (; IAST: ''Brahman'') connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality of the universe.P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, , page 426 and Conclusion chapter part XII In the ...
, True Self, Unchanging Reality) As with ''Yamas'', Patanjali explains how and why each of the above ''Niyamas'' help in the personal growth of an individual. For example, in verse II.42, Patanjali states that the virtue of contentment and acceptance of others as they are ( Santoṣa) leads to the state where inner sources of joy matter most, and the craving for external sources of pleasant ceases. Other texts of the Yoga school expanded the list of values under ''Niyamas'', to include behaviors such as Āstika (आस्तिक, belief in personal God, faith in Self, conviction that there is knowledge in Vedas/Upanishads),
Dāna (Devanagari: , IAST: ) is a Sanskrit and Pali word that connotes the virtue of generosity, charity or giving of alms, in Indian religions and philosophies. In Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, is the practice of cultivating generosi ...
(दान , charity, sharing with others), ''Hrī'' (ह्री, remorse and acceptance of one's past/mistakes/ignorance, modesty) ''Mati'' (मति, think and reflect, reconcile conflicting ideas) and ''Vrata'' (व्रत, resolutions and vows, fast, pious observances).


Epistemology

The Yoga school accepts the same ''pramanas'', or valid means of knowledge, as the Samkhya school: ''Pratyakṣa'' or ''Dṛṣṭam'' (direct sense perception), ''Anumāna'' (inference), and ''Śabda'' or ''Āptavacana'' (verbal testimony of the sages or shāstras). Unlike few other schools of Hinduism such as Advaita Vedanta, Yoga did not adopt the following three ''
Pramana ''Pramana'' (; IAST: Pramāṇa) literally means " proof" and "means of knowledge".
s'': ''Upamāṇa'' (comparison and analogy), ''Arthāpatti'' (postulation, deriving from circumstances) or ''Anupalabdi'' (non-perception, negative/cognitive proof). * ''Pratyakṣa'' (प्रत्यक्ष) means perception. It is of two types in Hindu texts: external and internal. External perception is described as that arising from the interaction of the five senses and worldly objects, while internal perception is described by this school as that of the inner sense, the mind.MM Kamal (1998), "The Epistemology of the Carvaka Philosophy", ''Journal of Indian and Buddhist Studies'', 46(2): 13-16 The ancient and medieval Indian texts identify four requirements for correct perception: ''Indriyarthasannikarsa'' (direct experience by one's sensory organ/s with the object, whatever is being studied), ''Avyapadesya'' (non-verbal; correct perception is not through
hearsay Hearsay, in a legal forum, is an out-of-court statement which is being offered in court for the truth of what was asserted. In most courts, hearsay evidence is Inadmissible evidence, inadmissible (the "hearsay evidence rule") unless an exception ...
, according to ancient Indian scholars, where one's sensory organ relies on accepting or rejecting someone else's perception), ''Avyabhicara'' (without wandering; correct perception is without change, nor is it the result of deception because one's sensory organ or means of observation is drifting, defective, suspect) and ''Vyavasayatmaka'' (definite; correct perception excludes judgments of doubt, either because of one's failure to observe all the details, or because one is mixing inference with observation and observing what one wants to observe, or not observing what one does not want to observe).Karl Potter (1977), ''Meaning and Truth, in Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies'', Volume 2, Princeton University Press, Reprinted in 1995 by Motilal Banarsidass, , pages 160-168 Some ancient scholars proposed "unusual perception" as ''pramana'' and called it internal perception, a proposal contested by other Indian scholars. The internal perception concepts included ''pratibha'' (intuition), ''samanyalaksanapratyaksa'' (a form of induction from perceived specifics to a universal), and ''jnanalaksanapratyaksa'' (a form of perception of prior processes and previous states of a 'topic of study' by observing its current state). Further, some schools of Hinduism considered and refined rules of accepting uncertain knowledge from ''Pratyakṣa-pranama'', so as to contrast ''nirnaya'' (definite judgment, conclusion) from ''anadhyavasaya'' (indefinite judgment). * ''Anumāṇa'' (अनुमान) means inference. It is described as reaching a new conclusion and truth from one or more observations and previous truths by applying reason. Observing smoke and inferring fire is an example of ''Anumana''. In all except one of the Hindu philosophies, this is a valid and useful means to knowledge. The method of inference is explained by Indian texts as consisting of three parts: ''pratijna'' (hypothesis), ''hetu'' (a reason), and ''drshtanta'' (examples).James Lochtefeld, "Anumana" in ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism'', Vol. 1: A-M, Rosen Publishing. , page 46-47 The hypothesis must further be broken down into two parts, state the ancient Indian scholars: ''sadhya'' (that idea which needs to be proven or disproven) and ''paksha'' (the object on which the ''sadhya'' is predicated). The inference is conditionally true if ''sapaksha'' (positive examples as evidence) are present, and if ''vipaksha'' (negative examples as counter-evidence) are absent. For rigor, the Indian philosophies also state further epistemic steps. For example, they demand ''Vyapti'' – the requirement that the ''hetu'' (reason) must necessarily and separately account for the inference in "all" cases, in both ''sapaksha'' and ''vipaksha''. A conditionally proven hypothesis is called a ''nigamana'' (conclusion). * ''Śabda'' (शब्द) means relying on word, testimony of past or present reliable experts.* Eliott Deutsche (2000), in Philosophy of Religion : Indian Philosophy Vol 4 (Editor: Roy Perrett), Routledge, , pages 245-248; * John A. Grimes, ''A Concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy: Sanskrit Terms Defined in English'', State University of New York Press, , page 238DPS Bhawuk (2011), Spirituality and Indian Psychology (Editor: Anthony Marsella), Springer, , page 172 Hiriyanna explains ''Sabda-pramana'' as a concept which means reliable expert testimony. The schools of Hinduism which consider it epistemically valid suggest that a human being needs to know numerous facts, and with the limited time and energy available, he can learn only a fraction of those facts and truths directly.M. Hiriyanna (2000), ''The Essentials of Indian Philosophy'', Motilal Banarsidass, , page 43 He must cooperate with others to rapidly acquire and share knowledge and thereby enrich each other's lives. This means of gaining proper knowledge is neither spoken or written, but through ''Sabda'' (sound). The reliability of the source is important, and legitimate knowledge can only come from the ''Sabda'' of reliable sources. The disagreement between the schools of Hinduism has been on how to establish reliability. Some schools, such as
Carvaka Charvaka (; IAST: ''Cārvāka''), also known as ''Lokāyata'', is an ancient school of Indian materialism. It's an example of the atheistic schools in the Ancient Indian philosophies. Charvaka holds direct perception, empiricism, and condit ...
, state that this is never possible, and therefore ''Sabda'' is not a proper ''pramana''. Other schools debate means to establish reliability.


Text sources

The most studied ancient and medieval era texts of the Yoga school of philosophy include those by
Patanjali Patanjali (, , ; also called Gonardiya or Gonikaputra) was the name of one or more author(s), mystic(s) and philosopher(s) in ancient India. His name is recorded as an author and compiler of a number of Sanskrit works. The greatest of these a ...
, Bhaskara,
Haribhadra Acharya Haribhadra Suri was a Śvetāmbara mendicant Jain leader, philosopher , doxographer, and author. There are multiple contradictory dates assigned to his birth. According to tradition, he lived c. 459–529 CE. However, in 1919, a Jain ...
(Jain scholar),
Bhoja Bhoja was the Paramara dynasty, Paramara king of Malwa from 1010 until his death in 1055. He ruled from Dhara (city), Dhara (modern Dhar), and Military career of Bhoja, fought wars with nearly all his neighbours in attempts to extend his king ...
, and
Hemachandra Hemacandra was a 12th century () Śvetāmbara Jaina acharya, ācārya, scholar, poet, mathematician, philosopher, yogi, wikt:grammarian, grammarian, Law, law theorist, historian, Lexicography, lexicographer, rhetorician, logician, and Prosody ...
. References to the teachings of the Yoga school of Hinduism abound in ancient Indian texts of other orthodox schools of Hinduism, for example, verse 5.2.17 of
Vaisheshika Sutra Vaisheshika (IAST: Vaiśeṣika; ; ) is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy from ancient India. In its early stages, Vaiśeṣika was an independent philosophy with its own metaphysics, epistemology, logic, ethics, and soteriology. Over t ...
by Kanada, belonging to the
Vaisheshika Vaisheshika (IAST: Vaiśeṣika; ; ) is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy from ancient India. In its early stages, Vaiśeṣika was an independent philosophy with its own metaphysics, epistemology, logic, ethics, and soteriology. Over t ...
school of Hinduism and dated to be from the 1st millennium BCE, states The ''
Nyāya Sūtras The ''Nyāya Sūtras'' is an ancient Indian Sanskrit text composed by , and the foundational text of the Nyaya school of Hindu philosophy. The date when the text was composed, and the biography of its author is unknown, but variously estim ...
'' by Akshapada variously dated to be from 4th to 2nd century BCE,Michael Brannigan (2009), Striking a Balance: A Primer in Traditional Asian Values, Rowman & Littlefield, , page 7 and belonging to the
Nyaya Nyāya (Sanskrit: न्यायः, IAST: nyāyaḥ), literally meaning "justice", "rules", "method" or "judgment", is one of the six orthodox (Āstika) schools of Hindu philosophy. Nyāya's most significant contributions to Indian philosophy ...
school of Hinduism, in chapter 4.2 discusses the importance of Yoga as follows, The ''
Brahma Sutras The ''Brahma Sūtras'' (), also known as the Vedanta Sūtra (Sanskrit: वेदान्त सूत्र), Shariraka Sūtra, and Bhikshu-sūtra, are a Sanskrit text which criticizes the metaphysical dualism of the influential Samkhya philos ...
'' by Badarayana, estimated to have been completed in its surviving form in approx. 400–450 CE,, Quote: "...we can take it that 400-450 is the period during which the ''Brahma Sūtras'' was compiled in its extant form." while the original version might be ancient and composed between 500 BCE and 200 BCE, belonging to the
Vedanta ''Vedanta'' (; , ), also known as ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six orthodox (Āstika and nāstika, ''āstika'') traditions of Hindu philosophy and textual exegesis. The word ''Vedanta'' means 'conclusion of the Vedas', and encompa ...
school of Hinduism, in chapter 2 assumes the existence of a text called Yoga Smriti. Scholars contest whether this text was a precursor or the same as Patanjali's Yogasutra, but either premise is uncertain. The verses of Brahma Sutras assert that dualism of the prevailing Yoga philosophy is refuted, as the value of Yoga is as a means to realization of the Self, not in propositions about Self that is in conflict with the Vedic texts. Radhakrishnan translates the text as follows, The ''
Yoga Vasistha ''Vasishta Yoga Samhita'' (, IAST: '; also known as ''Mokṣopāya'' or ''Mokṣopāyaśāstra'', and as ''Maha-Ramayana'', ''Arsha Ramayana'', ''Vasiṣṭha Ramayana'', ''Yogavasistha-Ramayana'' and ''Jnanavasistha'', is a historically popular ...
'' is a syncretic text on Yoga philosophy, variously dated to be from 6th- to 14th-century CE.S Venkatesananda (Author) and CK Chapelle (Editor, 1985), The Concise Yoga Vasistha, State University of New York Press, , page x It is structured as a dialogue between sage Vasistha of the Vedic era and the philosopher-king
Rama Rama (; , , ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the seventh and one of the most popular avatars of Vishnu. In Rama-centric Hindu traditions, he is considered the Supreme Being. Also considered as the ideal man (''maryāda' ...
of the Hindu epic ''
Ramayana The ''Ramayana'' (; ), also known as ''Valmiki Ramayana'', as traditionally attributed to Valmiki, is a smriti text (also described as a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic) from ancient India, one of the two important epics ...
''.S Venkatesananda (Author) and CK Chapelle (Editor, 1985), The Concise Yoga Vasistha, State University of New York Press, , pages xi-xii The text synthesizes elements of
Vedanta ''Vedanta'' (; , ), also known as ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six orthodox (Āstika and nāstika, ''āstika'') traditions of Hindu philosophy and textual exegesis. The word ''Vedanta'' means 'conclusion of the Vedas', and encompa ...
,
Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion whose three main pillars are nonviolence (), asceticism (), and a rejection of all simplistic and one-sided views of truth and reality (). Jainism traces its s ...
,
Yoga Yoga (UK: , US: ; 'yoga' ; ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated with its own philosophy in ancient India, aimed at controlling body and mind to attain various salvation goals, as pra ...
,
Samkhya Samkhya or Sankhya (; ) is a dualistic orthodox school of Hindu philosophy. It views reality as composed of two independent principles, '' Puruṣa'' ('consciousness' or spirit) and '' Prakṛti'' (nature or matter, including the human mind a ...
,
Saiva Siddhanta Shaiva Siddhanta () is a form of Shaivism popular in a pristine form in Tamilnadu and Sri Lanka and in a Tantrayana syncretised form in Vietnam and Indonesia (as Siwa Siddhanta). It propounds a devotional philosophy with the ultimate goal of e ...
and
Mahayana Buddhism Mahāyāna ( ; , , ; ) is a term for a broad group of Buddhist traditions, texts, philosophies, and practices developed in ancient India ( onwards). It is considered one of the three main existing branches of Buddhism, the others being Thera ...
. Among other things, the text discusses Yoga philosophy in its various chapters. In section 6.1, ''Yoga Vasistha'' introduces Yoga as follows,


See also

*
Bhakti yoga Bhakti yoga (), also called Bhakti marga (, literally the path of '' bhakti''), is a spiritual path or spiritual practice within Hinduism focused on loving devotion towards any personal deity.Karen Pechelis (2014), The Embodiment of Bhakti, ...
* Cittabhumi * Jnana yoga *
Karma yoga Karma yoga (), also called Karma marga, is one of the three classical spiritual paths mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, one based on the "yoga of action", the others being Jnana yoga (path of knowledge) and Bhakti yoga (path of loving devotion ...
*
Rāja yoga In Sanskrit texts, ''Rāja yoga'' () was both the goal of yoga and a method to attain it. The term was later adopted as a modern label for the practice of yoga in the 19th-century when Swami Vivekananda gave his interpretation of the Yoga S ...
*
Shinshin-tōitsu-dō was founded by Nakamura Tempu and is also known as Japanese Yoga. It is a study of the principles of nature and how they can be refined to help us realize the truths of nature and our full potentials. History Nakamura Tempu created his Japanese ...
, Japanese yoga


Notes


References


Sources

Printed sources * * * * * * * * * * * Web sources


Further reading

* Bannerjee, M. K. (1982
"General Systems Philosophy and Sāṃkhya-Yoga: Some Remarks"
''Philosophy East and West'', Vol. 32, No. 1, pages 99–104 * Daniélou, Alain (1991), ''Yoga: Mastering the Secrets of Matter and the Universe'', , "Appendix D: Main Sanskrit Treatises on Yoga". *
Eliade, Mircea Mircea Eliade (; – April 22, 1986) was a Romanian historian of religion, fiction writer, philosopher, and professor at the University of Chicago. One of the most influential scholars of religion of the 20th century and interpreter of religi ...
(1963
"Yoga and modern philosophy"
''The Journal of General Education'', Vol. 15, No. 2, pages 124–137. * Gier, Nicholas F. (1997
"The Yogī and the Goddess"
''International Journal of Hindu Studies'', Vol. 1, No. 2, pages 265–287 * Gold, Jeffrey (1996
"Plato in the Light of Yoga"
''Philosophy East and West'', Vol. 46, No. 1 (Jan., 1996), pages 17–32 * Maehle, Gregor (2007) ''Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy'', New World Library. * Mishra, N. (1953
"Saṁskāras in Yoga Philosophy and Western Psychology"
''Philosophy East and West'', Vol. 2, No. 4, pages 308–316 * Olson, Carl (2007) ''The Many Colors of Hinduism: A Thematic-historical Introduction'', Rutgers University Press, , Chapter 5. * Potter, Karl (2009) ''Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies'' Vol. 1: Bibliography, , "Bibliography on Yoga school of Hinduism", pages 1073–1093. * Rukmani, T. S. (2006
"Yoga in Sankara's Advaita Vedanta"
''Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute'', Vol. 87, pages 123–134 * Rukmani, T. S. (1981
"Patanjali's Yogasutras – A Synthesis of many Yogic traditions"
''Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute'', Vol. 62, pages 213–218 * Schweizer, Paul (1993
"Mind/Consciousness Dualism in Sā̇ṅkhya-Yoga Philosophy"
''Philosophy and Phenomenological Research'', Vol. 53, No. 4, pages 845–859 * Whicher, Ian (1998
"Yoga and Freedom: A Reconsideration of Patañjali's Classical Yoga"
''Philosophy East and West'', Vol. 48, No. 2, pages 272–322.


External links


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