Yoga teachings. Philosophical school of yoga. Properties of Yoga Philosophy

Yoga is often perceived as some kind of eastern variety of fitness, or the teaching is shrouded in an aura of magic and mysticism. In fact, yoga is an ancient complex Indian system, the methods and practice of which help to achieve harmony of soul and body. The philosophy of the system is based on a special perception of the Universe and the human role in its formation. The global goal that yoga sets for every practitioner is liberation from the illusions of existence and unification with Brahman - the eternal transcendental principle. If you decide to study yoga, we recommend that you also read our article.

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Basics of Yogi Philosophy

Yoga philosophy calls for movement from illusions to reality, from the transitory to the true and eternal

According to the yogic concept, man is a consciousness that has a form and is embodied in the visible world. The soul, or atman, is itself limitless and free from attachment and feelings. The body is mortal, it can live only for a while, after which it dies. Consciousness is eternal; after the death of the body it is reincarnated in another, and thus comes into the physical world again and again. Such an endless cycle of rebirth in Hindu philosophy is called samsara. Life in such a reality is just an illusion, dooming one or another to suffering. You can completely get rid of worldly suffering only by destroying imaginary illusions and freeing yourself from identifying yourself with the body, thereby breaking the chain of rebirths.

Supreme enlightenment, or absolute union with Bharman, is called the state of Samadhi. This is what yogis try to achieve through a combination of different practices.

The True Self of each of us experiences a state of eternal bliss and is inseparable from the primordial source of all things and concepts. Yoga philosophy calls for movement from illusions to reality, from the transitory to the true and eternal.

Eight Stages of Achievement

The Yoga Sutra is the first description of yoga by the sage Patanjali around the second century BC. e. The system includes 185 aphorisms, the general name of which is “Precious Rosary.” They reveal the philosophy of yoga and understand the obstacles on the yogi’s path to the highest goal. It was Patanjali who came up with the concept of the “Eightfold Path,” which logically represents the sequence of all stages of comprehensive practice. It is also called "steps for soul searching."

• The first stage is Yama. Compliance with moral precepts and rules that shape interpersonal relationships;
• The second stage is Niyama. Responsible for internal control and self-discipline;
• The third step is Asana. Taking care of physical health through a system of exercises (postures);
• The fourth stage is Pranayama. Breathing exercises aimed at controlling and managing the flow of Prana;
• The fifth stage is Pratyahara. Abstinence and control over the senses;
• The sixth stage is Dharana. Concentration and concentration of thoughts;
• The seventh stage is Dhyana. Meditation;
• The eighth stage is Samadhi. Merger with the Higher Mind or enlightenment.

The eight step system consists of the components of a happy and fulfilling life. They complement each other and are interdependent. All steps lead to a single, final goal - Samadhi. Any gaps in the improvement of one of them will serve as an obstacle to true self-realization.

You don't have to become a hermit to practice yoga.

In yoga philosophy, the concept of dharma plays an important role. This is a moral and ethical code that consists of the following principles:

1. Ahimsa (refrain from causing harm with body or thought);
2. Article (truthfulness and honesty in thoughts and words);
3. Asteya (abstaining from stealing);
4. Brahmacharya (chastity and control of carnal urges);
5. Karuna (compassion);
6. Maitri (mercy).

There is an opinion that to practice yoga you need to become a hermit, sit in a cave and meditate all the time, leaving behind all the sorrows and joys of worldly existence. This path exists, but it is only one of many others. Hermitage for the sake of stopping the internal dialogue and achieving Samadhi is called sannyasin. Another, more affordable option practice for a modern person is yoga in action.

Types of yoga

In yoga philosophy, there are seven branches of practice leading to the comprehension of truths and self-improvement. Experienced practitioners choose several styles based on their own needs, skills and preferences.

• Raja Yoga. Getting rid of samsara through meditation and long-term concentration on one's own sensations;
• Janana Yoga or the yoga of wisdom involves a stepwise comprehension of the laws of the Universe;
• Yoga of Karma or action. Aimed at developing a person’s karma through correct actions leading to improvement;
• Bhakti. Achieving Samadhi through prayers and religious ecstasy;
• Mantra yoga. Sound type, during the practice of which special chants and mantras are sung and chanted;
• Tantra yoga. Internal practice of working with subtle energies and the biofield;
• Hatha yoga or power yoga. Associated with transformation physical body through performing asanas.

Treatment of diseases with asanas. Yoga as medicine

Some yogic schools have developed a whole system of incorrect states of human consciousness that contradict the laws of nature. These violations lead directly to diseases. Modern medicine also has a similar trend - psychoimmugology. The starting point of any disease is a distorted state of consciousness. For example, if a sore throat is caused by an unexpressed opinion or the inability to explain something to others, then a cold is a consequence of gossip and criticism towards loved ones.

Due to the fact that the disease is the cause of spiritual disorders at a subtle level, traditional medicine with the help of chemicals and surgical methods can only eliminate superficial symptoms, while the root of the disease remains in the mind.

Yoga philosophy offers practitioners a different approach to treating ailments. The hatha yoga system assumes that each asana affects in one way or another all systems of the body, helping to eliminate the cause of the disease. Asanas help to enter that very correct state, connecting physical and mental processes.

According to the scripture, asanas were given to man by the god Shiva to achieve health of body and thoughts. While performing asanas, the body enters a certain pose, performing it both statically and dynamically. Asanas are classified into contemplative, inverted, balance poses, etc. Mental processes during the practice of asanas are directly related to muscle activity. The entire practice is accompanied by controlled three-step breathing.

Regular practice of asanas has a therapeutic and restorative effect. Hatha yoga improves the functioning of the digestive, endocrine, respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous, excretory and musculoskeletal systems.

Below is a short list of the most popular asanas with a description of the therapeutic effect.

One of the leading and universal poses in the practice of hatha yoga is Shavasana or corpse pose. Its implementation involves complete relaxation of the body and mind. Physiologically, correctly performed Savasana can replace several hours of full sleep.

Having mastered asanas, the practitioner stands at the foot of the possibilities of regulating all processes occurring in the body. By placing his body in various poses, the yogi, through concentration and breathing, sends healing energy to certain organs.

Yoga is a process, a series of actions, transformation, movement towards a goal

Health and absolute harmony do not appear quickly - it is the result of comprehensive work on oneself and internal transformation. Every beginner who wants to master yoga should be prepared for self-changes. When we are afraid of change, it never comes. The most important thing is will, self-discipline, regular classes And great desire achieve a given goal.

On this moment According to statistics, yoga is practiced by more than 20 million people around the globe. What makes it so popular and relevant?

1. Yoga is the key to whole body health. She is able to revive the body, fill it with strength and energy;
2. Yoga has a positive effect on the physical, emotional and spiritual levels, connecting the soul and body into a single whole. The mind becomes clear and bright, and thoughts become clear and understandable;
3. Yoga practitioners get rid of many diseases in a comprehensive manner, contrary to how Western medicine does it, treating symptoms separately and resorting to expensive drugs;
4. Yoga teaches you to get involved in the flow of everyday events, while remaining internally indifferent and free from interfering fuss;
5. Regular practice instills good habits, a desire to live honestly and righteously, to fulfill one's duties and debts without thoughts of potential retribution, and to control one's own thoughts and feelings;
6. Yoga allows you to connect with your inner nature, gain deep knowledge of the Universe, understand the laws of the world around you and know yourself.

It should be remembered that yoga is not the end goal in itself. Yoga is a process, a series of actions, transformation, movement towards a goal. The main idea of ​​all philosophy is not the result for the sake of the result, but the experience of transcendental reality. For a real yogi, it doesn’t matter what he does: wash the dishes or go for a walk. fresh air- he will always be happy. Because inner happiness does not depend on the events of the illusory world. He is free, he observes, he is simple in life and therefore happy.

The material contains 3 types of force - peace, movement and degradation, which are balanced until there is interaction with the spiritual. Thanks to their interaction, 5 elements appeared: the familiar fire, earth, water and air, and the fifth element - ether. And these elements already served as the beginning for the creation of everything that exists in the world.

It is worth noting that in yoga, as a general model and way of life, in principle there is no time. It views everything that exists as an endless process of change. That is, the spiritual component is constant, located outside of time and space, but for the material component, time is calculated by the changes that occur with it. This approach can tell you how to become happier: to live, realizing that you are an endlessly changing mini-Universe within a larger, constantly transforming Universe.

The efficiency of life, from the point of view of yoga philosophy, can be increased through daily streamlining of energy expenditure. Which, according to this teaching, each of us is allocated a strictly defined amount for life. When organizing your lifestyle, as required by yoga, you need:

• from 4 to 10 o'clock, wake up, calmly and without fuss, tune in to the new day. This includes cleansing, gymnastics, self-massage, etc.;
• from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., devote time to active activities. Try to do the most important ones before lunch;
• from 22 to 4 o'clock indulge in rest and sleep.

5 Benefits of Yoga System in Everyday Life

The general model of a lifestyle based on a teaching such as yoga is simple and consistent with the human biological clock. If you try to follow at least these simplified recommendations, you will soon notice how your awareness will increase, your mind will calm down, and a feeling of health will appear in your body. However, do not think that practicing the yoga system in Everyday life so simple.

Following a daily routine in accordance with the philosophy of yoga is a real severe asceticism. More and more temptations to retreat from it will appear around you all the time. But do not despair in cases of non-compliance. Try to track the reasons for its violation and continue to get used to the new routine. Moreover, yoga as a way of life has at least 5 significant advantages.

1. Yogic asanas relax muscle tension and heal physical and mental ailments.
2. The philosophy of yoga teaches us to be more attentive to ourselves and more aware, helping us to notice and eliminate negative aspects.
3. Yoga classes discipline, teach consistency and help you become more effective.
4. By practicing yoga, you will become more responsible: first you stabilize the area of ​​your own health, and subsequently all other areas of life.

By doing yoga, you will master universal calm and become inaccessible to stress.

Philosophy is the love of wisdom. The philosophy of Yoga is altruism and love for nature.

The philosophy of yoga in a broad sense can be called the ancient teaching about 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, which for almost two millennia has been a model of wisdom for many admirers of Indian spirituality leading 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) philosophical schools of India. Getting straight to philosophy classical yoga, let us highlight two fundamental categories that contain all being, everything that exists. These are Purusha and Prakriti - spiritual and material substances.

Classical yoga, also called “royal yoga” (“raja yoga”), was formulated by Patanjali around the 2nd century. BC. As follows from the Yoga Sutra, a work consisting of 195 short aphorisms (“sutras”), Patanjali taught dualistic, dualistic metaphysics. It contrasts the Spirit, or “I” (Purusha), with Nature or Cosmos (Prakriti), considering them as two root causes of Reality independent of each other.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Yoga is a set of physical and spiritual practices aimed at human development at all levels: mental, spiritual and physical.

Yoga philosophy has the following properties:

It is spiritual, i.e. is focused on the disclosure and comprehension of being through the awareness of the independent and self-existent Spirit of the individual.

Ethical, i.e. contains virtues, the main one of which is non-violence.

Emotional, i.e. teaches about love, kindness and other beneficial qualities.

It is practical, i.e. it offers ways to control the body.

Intellectual, i.e. its methods involve the use of the powers of reason, and its main provisions are substantiated by philosophical texts.

Yoga can be seen as a way to free consciousness from false identification with a specific physical shell. In other words, it is the opening of spiritual vision that returns the Self to its true nature. It can also be said that yoga destroys the existential suffering of the mind, which is born due to the harmful habit of identifying oneself as an individual, separate from the rest of the world.

Experienced masters say that the entire “Yoga Sutra” and commentaries to it were written with the aim of illuminating the teaching about the meaning of human existence, the theory of liberation.

We already know that liberation means the separation of spirit from matter (Purusha from Prakriti). Why is it needed? The fact is that people in their usual state limit their own existence to the framework of Prakriti. It is because of this that all our suffering occurs. We begin to strive for a constant feeling of affection and satisfaction, for pleasures that always end. It is important to understand that the stronger the satisfaction, the greater the disappointment in the future, and the desire for forms of Prakriti determines the existence of karma.

Yoga is aimed at the comprehensive development of a person, and, mainly, at the growth of consciousness and the internal culture of any person.

In the sixth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita (translated from Sanskrit as “Song of God”), the most authoritative source on the philosophy of yoga, God Krishna explains to his disciple Arjuna the meaning of yoga as liberation from suffering and grief: “When the flow of thoughts is curbed, the mind remains only in atman, Partha, when the husband has calmed desires, he is then called a “yogin.” When a yogi, having curbed thought, strengthens himself in yoga, he is like a candle whose flame does not waver in a place without wind. Where thought is stopped by exercise in yoga , freezes, where in the atman the one who contemplates the atman finds joy in the atman, - for there he cognizes that happiness that is beyond the feelings, one thought, accessible, beyond, standing in which, he will not deviate from the truth - the one who stays there will not be embarrassed by even the most difficult sorrow; after all, having achieved that goal, he does not imagine something higher, something better to meet.

This state is yoga, which opens the shackles of sorrows." Like a well-polished diamond, each of the faces of which reflects one or another ray of light, so the word "yoga" reflects with each face one or another shade of meaning, revealing different sides of the entire range of human aspirations to achieve happiness, love and freedom. In the Bhagavad Gita there is another explanation of the term yoga, where the emphasis is on Karma Yoga (yoga of action): “Only be directed towards action, but turn away from its fruit; Let the fruits not captivate you, but do not be shackled by inaction. Free from attachments, steadfast in yoga, performing deeds, equating failure with success: this evenness is called yoga." Krishna also calls wisdom in work or the ability to live in work, harmony and moderation as yoga: "He who overeats is not a yogi, nor is he who does not eat at all, and not the one who sleeps beyond measure, and not the one who deprives himself of sleep. Be moderate in food, in rest, be moderate in actions, in sleep and in vigil - this is how you will find sorrow-relieving yoga." In the Katha Upanishad, yoga is explained as follows: "When the senses are calm, when the mind is at peace, when the intellect does not waver, then, as the sages say, the highest level has been reached. This constant control of the senses and mind is called yoga. He who achieves it is freed from delusions."

Yoga is a method, a system of exercises for calming a restless mind and directing energy into constructive channels. Just as a hydroelectric power station on a mighty river, which, with a wisely constructed dam and canals, represents a huge supply of water, saving from drought and famine and generating electricity for the life of cities and industry, so the mind, when under control, accumulates energy from the Cosmic River and generates enormous strength for all-round human growth.

Calming a person's mind is as difficult as stopping a mountain river.

Through the practical application of yoga in its various stages, the yogi acquires special strength. Like proponents of Samkhya and other systems of Indian philosophy, the founder of yoga, Patanjali, argues that liberation must be achieved through direct knowledge of the difference between the Self and the physical world, including our body, mind and personality. But this is only possible if we can suppress and limit the functions of the body and senses, mind-manas and intellect, and finally, our individuality (that is, the empirical, personal self) And at the same time have self-awareness, the experience of the transcendental spirit (purusha) . This would convince us that the Self is above the mind-body complex, above the senses and intellect, and above the suffering or joy of the individual - the Self. The self, as will be shown, must stand above all physical reality with its spatio-temporal and cause-effect relationships.

This is the awareness of the Self as a free, immortal spirit, standing outside of evil and suffering, death and destruction. In other words, this is the achievement of a state of freedom from all suffering and unhappiness - liberation. The yoga system shows a practically feasible path of self-development to all those who follow the dictates of the spirit and who sincerely strive to follow it. The Samkhya system pays more attention to the knowledge of the difference between the Self and the rest of the world as a means of achieving liberation. But she does not forget to recommend such practical methods of achieving liberation as study, meditation and constant concentration on the truth. Yoga philosophy focuses on practical methods of purification and concentration to understand the difference between the Self and the body and mind and at the same time to achieve liberation.

However, it should be noted that the teaching of yoga on self-knowledge of the Self has a solid basis in the metaphysics of Samkhya, which substantiates the reality of the Self as a metaphysical and eternal principle of consciousness. If one believes in a transcendental spirit, one cannot help but admit that there are deeper stages of consciousness than the empirical, as well as wider possibilities and higher potencies than the physical or those related to the senses. Glimpses of this deeper reality of our individual lives have dawned not only on prophets and saints, but also on such great philosophers as Plato and Aristotle, Spinoza and Leibniz, Kant and Hegel. Physical research and the modern school of psychoanalysis have made a great contribution to the field of knowledge of the dark sides of mental life, hidden from the ordinary eye. Yoga goes even further in this regard by formulating some practical methods of purification and self-control for realizing the true self of a person. For a correct assessment of this philosophy, it is necessary to have a benevolent understanding of it and a sincere desire to realize and realize its truths...

The philosophy of yoga is extremely popular today. For many, it became a real discovery in life. Yoga saves tortured people from daily stress and helps them see what is most important, discarding what is unimportant. However, it is not reduced to a banal complex physical exercise. Yoga as an ancient tradition and religion, yoga as - this is what will be discussed in this article.

Reasons for the popularity of yoga in the modern world

As already noted, yoga is extremely popular today. You could even say that it is fashionable in modern society. What are the reasons for such popularity?

To do this you need to answer one question. Modern personality - what is it like? Exhausted, depressed and depressed. A person of the 21st century, as a rule, spends his life in pursuit of dubious benefits. Yoga not only helps you cope with daily stress, but also teaches you to concentrate your attention (and strength) on the most important, truly important things.

The philosophy of yoga opens a person to the only true path to realizing his essence and helps him fully realize his inner potential.

It is interesting that the practical methods of yoga work in any case. Even if a person does not really believe in them or does not have the slightest idea about the essence and foundations of this philosophy. This is another unique feature of yoga.

Yoga Philosophy (briefly)

What is yoga? Is it fair to call it philosophy, science or religion?

The word itself translated from Sanskrit means “unity”. In a narrow sense, we are talking here primarily about the harmony and fusion of the human body and soul. In a more global sense, this is the unity of man with God.

Yoga is an Indian philosophy, very ancient. Its main postulates were outlined back in the second century by the famous guru Patanjali. However, it is incorrect to claim that the philosophy of yoga was founded by him. After all, it is believed that the Creator himself gave yoga to humanity (through the avatar Krishna).

The fundamentals of this teaching are not systematic. Their individual aspects can be found in various ancient Indian sources, starting with the Vedas. That is why historians cannot determine a clear chronological framework for this direction.

The philosophy of yoga is extremely multifaceted. The main goal of the teaching is to achieve nirvana. This term means complete reunification with the Creator.

Today, researchers identify several forms of yoga. This:

• karma yoga;
• bhakti yoga;
• jnana yoga;
• mantra yoga;
• hatha yoga and others.

Each of these directions is only one of the steps towards the single goal of yoga philosophy - unity with the Almighty. In our article we will dwell in more detail on the last of these forms.

Parable of the Hidden Divinity

The philosophy of yoga for beginners is best illustrated by one of the ancient Indian parables. It will help to better understand the essence of this teaching for those who are just beginning to get acquainted with it.

So, the parable of hidden divinity...

According to legend, previously all people on Earth were gods. This is how Brahma created them. However, soon the ruler of all gods saw that they were using their power not entirely righteously, and therefore decided to take away their divine power. At the same time, he had a question: where to hide divinity from people so that they could not find it?

To solve this dilemma, Brahma called his advisors. They started to fill him up various options: some suggested burying the divinity in the ground, others - throwing it at the bottom of the ocean... However, Brahma did not like either proposal. “Sooner or later people will reach the bottom of the oceans,” he answered thoughtfully.

Suddenly the ruler of the gods himself realized what needed to be done. He decided to hide divinity within man himself. And I was not mistaken. Man conquered the skies and the depths of the sea, drilled kilometer-long tunnels underground, but never really looked inside himself.

ancient finds

It is difficult to determine how deep the roots of yoga stretch into history. Thus, in the Indus River valley, archaeologists found ancient seals dating back to the second millennium BC. They depict people, as well as deities in unusual poses (in total, researchers counted 16 different positions). This find led historians to believe that one form of yoga was already familiar to the inhabitants of the Harappan civilization.

If we talk about written evidence, the concept of “yoga” is first found in the Rig Veda - one of the most ancient monuments of Indian literature.

Patanjali and his Yoga Sutras

This teaching is included in the list of six orthodox schools of Hinduism. The philosophy of yoga is very closely related to the Samkhya movement. However, in comparison, yoga is more theistic.

Heinrich Zimmer also spoke about the kinship of these two schools in his time. At the same time, he argued that Samkhya provides a general explanation of human nature, while yoga reveals practical methods and paths to its complete liberation (the state of moksha).

Like any other school of Indian philosophy, yoga has its own sacred texts. These are the so-called “yoga sutras” expounded by the sage Patanjali. In one of them, by the way, the teacher reveals the very essence of the concept we are considering. According to the text of the second sutra, yoga is “the process of controlling the disturbances inherent in the mind.”

Swami Vivekananda: the life of a philosopher

One of the brightest representatives of this school is the Indian sage and Swami Vivekananda. The philosophy of yoga in his works acquired a new meaning. He was able to explain its key provisions from the point of view of the Western worldview.

Swami Vivekananda lived and worked in the second half of the 19th century. He was born in 1863 into a very religious family. He studied at the Scottish Church College, where he took a special interest in philosophy. At the same time, Vivekananda sets out to find a person who met God himself. And soon he finds it. It was a certain Ramakrishna. Soon Vivekananda becomes his student.

In 1888, he, along with other students of Ramakrishna, began traveling throughout India. Then it goes to other countries (USA, France, Japan, England and others). The sage died in 1902. Swami's body, like his, was cremated on the banks of the Ganges River.

During his life, Vivekananda wrote a number of works. The most important among them are the following:

• "Karma Yoga" (1896).
• "Raja Yoga" (1896).
• "The Philosophy of Vedanta: Lectures on Jnana Yoga" (1902).

Swami Vivekananda: philosophical views

Vivekananda has a very famous saying: only his names differ." Some call him Jesus, others Allah, others Buddha, and so on.

Swami Vivekananda was distinguished by the originality of his thoughts. His main merit as a philosopher is that he was able to prove that the key ideas of Vedanta can be applied for purely practical purposes, in public life.

“Every person is divine in itself” - this saying of Ramakrishna became a red thread in the life of the philosopher. He was sure that no one would gain freedom until all other people became free. Vivekananda asserted that he had a real duty to work tirelessly to save other people. The philosopher extolled selflessness and urged everyone not to lose faith in themselves.

Swami Vivekananda's social views were based on the idea that there should be division. Religion, in his opinion, should under no circumstances interfere in issues of marriage, inheritance relations, and the like. He also believed that society should ideally be an even mixture of all four castes. Moreover, he was sure that religion should not interfere in the process of building an ideal society.

Yoga Hatha: school philosophy

The name of this is translated from Sanskrit as “enhanced fusion”. For the first time, the postulates of this school were systematized by Swami Swatmarama. He believed that hatha yoga is the process of preparing the human body for complex meditation.

The word “hatha” itself, as researchers suggest, consists of two components: “ha” - mind and “tha” - life force.

Hatha yoga is a complex teaching about how you can achieve bodily harmony through physical and mental influences on the body (these are asanas, pranayama, mudras and bandhas). Each of them affects a specific part of the human body. In hatha yoga, sets of certain exercises are specially selected with the help of which you can strengthen your health and fight serious diseases.

Breathing is the basis of life

The main emphasis in hatha yoga is on breathing. Adherents of this school are confident that the influence of breathing on the body is so strong that with just pranayama ( breathing exercises) you can significantly improve your condition. And skillfully combining them with asanas is the key to a healthy and strong body.

Hatha yoga as a medical philosophy puts as its primary goal the complete cleansing of the human respiratory system. In addition, this is a real art of relaxing the body and all its muscles. After all, real clarity of mind comes only to a relaxed body.

The state of the body, well-being, as well as a person’s thought processes are closely related to his breathing. I think everyone will agree with this. That is why in Hatha Yoga such attention is paid to art and techniques. correct breathing. At the same time, she teaches people to breathe correctly not only during special classes, but also in everyday life. A wise and careful attitude towards one’s health is what hatha yoga teaches people. Philosophy and practice are organically intertwined in this teaching.

General goals and objectives of yoga

Anyone who decides to take up yoga seriously may pursue different goals. It could be a simple desire to improve your health or recover from a chronic disease. And for some, yoga is the key to achieving moksha (“union with Brahman”).

By the way, it is moksha - as the process and fact of liberation from samsara - that is the ultimate goal in many schools of ancient Indian philosophy. But in Vaishnavism, the main goal of yoga is the desire for God, the Creator. According to the teachings of this school, a Vaisnava then enters the spiritual blissful world, where he can enjoy devotional service to Vishnu.

Development of yoga in Russia

Individual residents of Russia showed interest in yoga even in pre-revolutionary times. In the era Soviet Union this school was under an ideological ban, which, however, did not prevent individual enthusiasts from studying semi-legally.

In Russia, at different times, many famous personalities acted as active promoters of yoga. Among these are the doctor B. L. Smirnov, professor V. V. Brodov, writer V. I. Voronin, engineer Ya. I. Koltunov and many others. At the end of the 80s, a higher educational institution began to operate in Moscow - the so-called Yoga Academy. Its founder was Gennady Statsenko. At the same time, a laboratory appeared in the capital of the USSR, which was studying unconventional methods of treatment and recovery. Of course, the area of ​​interest of this laboratory also included the teachings of Ancient India - yoga.

Today, yoga courses are taught in almost every fitness club. However, knowledgeable people still recommend attending classes at a specialized school.

Finally, a few useful tips for those who are planning to start doing yoga:

• clothes for classes should be comfortable and made of natural fabric;
• you need to start mastering yoga small, gradually penetrating into the “depths” of this teaching;
• It is not advisable to skip classes, because each new session is a logical continuation of the previous one;
• Yoga practice must be approached extremely consciously and thoroughly.

And, of course, we should not forget that yoga is not only healthy, toned body, but also the opportunity to feel the harmony of body and soul.

Finally...

Yoga is a philosophy of Ancient India, which is very popular in the modern world. However, this is not entirely philosophy, or rather, not only it. It is also science, religion, centuries-old tradition and practice. Why is modern man so attracted to the philosophy of yoga?

This question can be briefly answered with two main theses. First: yoga helps a person cope with the enormous pressure of cruel reality. Second: it is capable of opening the way for each of us to know ourselves, our inner essence.

Updated 11/21/2019

Yoga as a philosophical doctrine takes its origins from the time of the existence of the Aryan civilization. It contains the basics of interpretation of the origin of the world and understanding human nature, methods of spiritual self-improvement.

The concept of this teaching has a huge number of admirers. As a special system of ancient Indian wisdom, yoga consists of theoretical and practical foundations, some sections, methods and directions. It is one of the six famous orthodox philosophical schools of India and one of the Darshanas.

Philosophy of classical yoga

To understand the philosophy of yoga, you must first understand its origins and theoretical foundations.

Yoga is a philosophy of Ancient India, the foundations of which are set out in the main work of this school, called the Yoga Sutra, and commentaries to it. Its author is Patanajali, about whom very little is known. We recommend that you read it.

It was previously believed that the great teacher, philosopher and yogi lived in India in the 2nd century BC. But now the opinion has become stronger that it was several centuries later - in the 2nd century AD. Patanajali is only the author of the work, and not the entire philosophical teaching, since the mention of principles yogic practice mentioned also in the Vedas, Ramayana and Mahabharata (in part of the Bhagavad Gita). The term “yoga” itself can be found in the early Upanishads, which are commentaries on the Vedas.

Let's move on to the fundamental concepts of the philosophy of classical yoga.

So, all existence includes two substances Prakriti and Purusha. Prakriti represents everything material in the existing world. This is something that can be seen, heard or felt in some other way, and recorded with high-precision instruments. We recommend that you read the information about.

The concept of “Purusha” contains the spiritual principle, the so-called eternal Spirit. Ishvara - God among all spiritual beings - is a manifestation of Purusha. He did not create the world and does not control it, but he has the power to unite and separate the spiritual from the material. If Prakriti cannot be realized, then Purusha is conscious.

If Prakriti is constantly changing, then Purusha is not subject to change, therefore he is outside of time and space. He is like an observer of the changing picture of the world.

In the teachings of classical yoga, a person, like the whole world, is a kind of microcosm that unites Prakriti and Purusha.

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The material in a person is his physical body, thoughts, emotions, memory, etc. The spiritual, that is, Purusha, represents his consciousness, the so-called “I” - unchanging and eternal.

Purusha consciously guides Prakriti. This can be compared to people lost in the forest, where Purusha is legless and Prakriti is blind. And only by uniting will they be able to make their way through the forest and free themselves.

From attachment to the objective world, which gives rise to desires and expectations, a person experiences suffering. As long as we are attached to the forms of Prakriti, we leave imprints (vasanas) in our buddhi (instrument of perception of the external world), therefore our Karma will exist - a dependence of a cause-and-effect nature.

After the death of the physical body, vasanas remain, and the soul passes into another entity. This is called reincarnation, and the series of rebirths is called the wheel of samsara.

It is possible to free yourself from suffering, says yoga. It is the practice of yoga, cleansing techniques, a set of exercises for the body and spirit, and philosophical reflections that will help you realize Purusha, give up striving for something material, and free yourself from attachments. After this realization, the soul leaves the wheel of samsara. The achieved existence can only be compared with Ishvara - there is no suffering, but there is awareness.

Within the framework of classical yoga, different directions have been formed. There are a whole lot of them. We will look at some of them.

Features and tasks of Sivananda yoga

Sivananda Yoga founded by Swami Sivananda (1887-1963), Hindu spiritual teacher. This direction is characterized by a comprehensive approach, since it contains exercises to achieve relaxation, training in internal concentration, breathing exercises.

Yoga Sivananda is based on five essential principles:

1. Relaxation. To achieve maximum spiritual, physical and mental relaxation, you must regularly perform.
2. Meditation and Vedanta help to achieve positive thinking, which contributes to the well-being of the spiritual, mental, physical. We recommend an article about.
3. Regularity and correct performance of asanas help strengthen the body, rejuvenate and restore the body.
4. help you take control of your own consciousness.
5. Through the practice of vegetarianism and moderate dietary restrictions, the human body receives beneficial substances without any negative impact on the environment.

Each lesson begins and ends with mantras, which allow using sound vibrations to positively influence the body, spirit, and emotional state.

Tantra yoga - what is it

Another widely known area of ​​yoga is tantra yoga. It is represented by a system of methods that allow you to awaken, transform and consciously use sexual energy. The teaching is based on sacred texts - tantras.

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It is worth highlighting three main directions within tantra yoga:

1. Black tantra is aimed at training mental strength, which allows you to control circumstances and even people. With its help they teach how to fulfill desires.
2. White Tantra – practiced in groups or couples. It implies going beyond desires and motivations. With the help of mantras and exercises, energetic cleansing of the physical and mental components of the student is achieved. Read more about the meaning of mantras.
3. Red tantra - with the help of sexual practices practiced with a partner, one can achieve spiritual or creative development and achieve sexual bliss.

This practice helps to unite the masculine and feminine principles, overcome complexes by correct acceptance own body, significantly expand consciousness.

Guru Yoga as a branch of classical yoga

Guru yoga is considered one of the most important practices. Its essence lies in the merging of the mind of the student and the spiritual teacher. In the process of practice, the Four States of Enlightenment awakens, when the student has the opportunity to achieve the blessing of body, speech and mind. The final stage of practice is the merging of the disciple's mind with the guru's mind.

There are three essential principles of guru yoga:

1. The student's desire to learn.
2. The student's readiness to interact with the teacher. The student must be responsible for his actions and choices.
3. Freedom of will and choice of the student. The student should not bow to the teacher and obey him unquestioningly. Only the free choice of the student himself is welcomed.

Now it is clear that yoga is a philosophy, a way of life in India. By practicing it, you can achieve completely different goals: strengthen the body and spirit, improve physical health, gain confidence, get rid of desires and suffering, or even be freed from a series of rebirths (samsara).

Each of the yoga schools offers its own methods of achieving the goal, but each of them places emphasis on the harmony of the physical, spiritual and mental.

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