The aim of the spiritual path of yoga is to attain the individual realisation in the consciousness of the independent self-existing, self-originating, indwelling spirit of man.
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What is Yoga?
Before we look at what Rishiculture Ashtanga Yoga is we should at least have an idea about Yoga in general. There are many views of what Yoga is actually considered to be, and these really do depend on the position taken by the individual. In the West we assume Yoga to be a stretching class taken instead of e.g. aerobics, but (as we look closer) this is a very superficial outlook. The essence of Yoga is much more deep-rooted than a mere exercise class.
Many consider Yoga to be a science, a philosophy, a religion or an art. As Yoga is dependent upon the perception of the individual, it is all of these or none of these. It is preferential that Yoga is thought of and accepted as a 'way of life' above anything else. It is a way of integrating and becoming one with the whole of nature, so that all aspects of life are united harmoniously. It is said that as Yoga may be called the 'Science of Man', for a unified life represents skilful, harmonious and beautiful living.
In India there are six revealed views of life called the 'Shat Darshanas' and they are all accepted forms of Hinduism. Yoga is accepted as one of these six views, but it is not in the normal sense a religion. Yoga is the unifying principle that lies behind all religions and philosophies believe in and accept. There are no conflictions with religion, philosophy or science in yoga; yoga is the science of the 'whole man', and exists when the mind, emotions and the physical body work harmoniously together with the real self within. This is when Yoga is said to exist.
The aim of the spiritual path of yoga is to attain the individual realisation in the consciousness of the independent self-existing, self-originating, indwelling spirit of man. It is this discovery that lies at the heart of all religions. The uncovering of the relationship held between man and nature, that road to self-discovery, uniting everything.
Yoga is Conscious Evolution, that is, the reality of learning to grow through the process of evolution. The evolutionary path we take must be conscious; it rests in our own hands and must be done through sensitive awareness. This is done by exercising all of our senses - we should be fully aware of what they are all sensing. When we walk, we must be aware that we are walking; and when we talk, we must be aware of what we are saying. We must be aware of our every moment - when we breathe in and out, sleep, eat and so forth. That is the first stage to awareness.
The second is to become aware of how emotions have an effect on the body. Pleasant emotions like understanding, happiness, and other unitive feelings, have a positive and powerful effect upon the body. As to be expected, negative emotions have a detrimental effect. Emotions like anger, jealousy, fear and embarrassment are some of the most damaging. We are to learn to curb these emotions, notice them, be aware of them and to not let any of them get out of control, only giving into those of a positive nature.
The third stage of awareness is to understand how the mind can control the emotions and the body and the fourth stage is one of India's many paradoxes: 'Awareness of awareness'. This is also known as Samadhi or Cosmic Consciousness, to be aware of one's own awareness is a state that is deeply desired.
So then, what is Ashtanga Yoga? What makes it so different from any other Yoga? Well, Ashtanga Yoga is the Yoga of Patanjali, author of the Yoga Sutras (700 BC). Patanjali is often referred to as the Father of Yoga or the Founder of Yoga, but he certainly did not invent Yoga. The knowledge of Yoga is in every human being, it is in his consciousness and the Science of Yoga evolves as the higher consciousness of man develops. Up until Patanjali, all Yogic concepts had been passed down from Guru (spiritual teacher) to Chela (student) for thousands and thousands of years. This is the system of the Rishiculture and what Patanjali did was to codify this knowledge. He codified it in such a way that in order to intrepret it correctly you would have to have prior knowledge of the system of Rishiculture Ashtanga Yoga. The Yoga Sutras were to act as a reminder to those already initiated; they were not to be something to learn Yoga from.
If we break down the word Ashtanga we get Ashta and Anga. The former meaning eight and the latter being limb. Astanga Yoga is then the eight-limbed path of Yoga.
These are as follows:- Yama - moral restraints
- Niyama - ethical observances
- Asana - physical postures
- Pranayama - control of prana through breathing exercises
- Pratyahara - sense control
- Dharana - concentration
- Dhyana - meditation
- Samadhi - oneness, nirvana, enlightenment, cosmic consciousness.
When Yoga was passed down to the chela they would have to start at the beginning with their moral and ethics. Only when they were sound in their Yamas and Niyamas they would they then go on to strengthen the systems within their bodies through Asanas and Pranayamas. Until now this part of Ashtanga Yoga is known as Bahiranga Yoga, the lower Yoga.
The second stage, Antaranga Yoga is the higher Yoga. This begins with sense withdrawl (Pratyahara). How do you expect to be able to shut yourself off if you have an itch or are thinking or listening? Once you have perfected this you will then be able to concentrate. Once you have perfected concentration (Dharana) something will then happen to you. Dhyana will take over or meditation. Be clear that meditation is not something that you do it is something that happens to you. Once this is perfected then Samamdhi will also happen to you. This is a lifetimes work (or more) and will not happen in a few sittings!
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