What is yoga?

Hi beautiful people,

Today’s topic is Yoga: some philosophy and some vocabulary for language junkies!

Yoga योग /ˈjəʊɡə/

This term stems from the Sanskrit root "Yuj": युज् /jʊdʒ/. It means to bind, direct one's attention, use and apply, but it also signifies union and communion—the true alignment of our will with the divine.

Yoga stands as one of the six orthodox systems of Indian philosophy, masterfully compiled by Patanjali in his seminal work: “The Yoga Sutras” योग सूत्र /ˈjəʊɡə ˈsuːtrəz/. This text comprises 185 pithy aphorisms, each a gateway to profound understanding.

In Indian thought, the Supreme Universal Spirit, or God, permeates everything: it’s the Paramatma परमात्मा /pərəˈmɑːtmə/. The individual human spirit, a fragment of this greater whole, is known as Jivatma जीवात्मा /dʒiːˈvɑːtmə/.

So, what does yoga do? Yoga illuminates the path to unite the jivatma with the Paramatma, leading to liberation: Moksa मोक्ष /ˈməʊkʃə/

The „Bhagavad Gita” emphasises Karma Yoga कर्म योग /ˈkɑːmə ˈjəʊɡə/, meaning "Yoga by action", it encourages work without attachment to results.

The “Kathopanishad” offers another perspective, describing the pinnacle of yoga as a state where the senses are stilled, the mind is at rest, and the intellect is unwavering.

Patanjali's definition in the "Yoga Sutras" is particularly intriguing: “Chitta vrtti nirodhah” चित्तवृत्तिनिरोध /tʃɪtə vərti nɪroʊdə/

This can be interpreted as either the restraint of mental modifications or the suppression of consciousness fluctuations.

Let's break down the components:

Chitta चित्त (Sanskrit) /ˈtʃɪtə/: denoting the mind in its collective sense, comprising:

• Manas मनस्/ˈmənəs/: the individual mind, capable of attention, selection, and rejection;

• Buddhi बुद्धि /ˈbʊdi/: Intelligence or reason, the decisive faculty;

• Ahamkara अहंकार /əhəŋˈkɑːrə/: the "I-maker", or ego.

Vrtti वृत्ति /ˈvrɪti/: derived from "vrt" (to turn or revolve), signifying behaviour or mental state.

Nirodhah निरोधः /nɪˈroʊdəh/ means restraint, suppression, or cessation, it refers to the stilling or quieting of the fluctuations of the mind.

So, through yoga, one can calm the restless mind, channelling energy constructively and unlocking a wellspring of peace and potential for personal growth.

Isn’t it worth trying?

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