Yoga has attracted adherents from diverse backgrounds. International Yoga Day came into existence in 2014. But long before that people have come to India from many parts of the Globe to learn yoga. Indian yogic masters have also gone to many countries to conduct yoga classes. With time, the demand for yoga classes have increased. … Continue reading Universal appeal of yoga
Three inner practices
यमनियमासनप्राणायामप्रत्याहारधारणाध्यानसमाधयोऽष्टावङ्गानि॥२९॥Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi - are the eight limbs (Patanjali Yogasutras - 2:29) There are eight limbs of yoga. The first five limbs are known as outer practices and the rest three are known as inner practices. The first five limbs of yoga prepares the yogi for the next three.The outer … Continue reading Three inner practices
Skill in action is verily yoga
बुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते |तस्माद्योगाय युज्यस्व योग: कर्मसु कौशलम् || 50||buddhi-yukto jahātīha ubhe sukṛita-duṣhkṛitetasmād yogāya yujyasva yogaḥ karmasu kauśhalam || Bhagavad Gita 2:50||With evenness of mind one goes beyond deedsgood and evil in this very life.Hence fight for the sake of yoga,Because, being skilled in your chosen activity is yoga. Even though in Bhagavad Gita … Continue reading Skill in action is verily yoga
Regularly, for a long time, and with a sense of honour
स तु दीर्घकालनैरन्तर्यसत्कारासेवितो दृढभूमिः ॥ १.१४॥Sa tu dīrgha-kāla-nairantarya-satkārā-sevito dṛḍha-bhūmiḥ || Patanjali Yogasutras 1.14 || The sutra given at the top means: One's foundation becomes strong if one practises regularly, for a long time, and with a sense of honour. Of course this requires some context. I must start from the beginning of the yoga sutras. … Continue reading Regularly, for a long time, and with a sense of honour
Questioning one’s way to enlightenment
Some questions have already been answered. Some are being answered. Some have not been answered as of now, but eventually these will be. It is only a matter of time. But there are some questions which will never be answered. So say the enlightened. Some questions can never be answered, maybe because, these are not … Continue reading Questioning one’s way to enlightenment
Puja rituals and yoga
An elder performing puja ritual with an oil lamp in front of decorated deities Many of the concepts of Eight Limbs of Yoga will be used extensively in this post. In case you are not familiar with those eight limbs please go through this blog post. Prior knowledge of eight limbs of yoga will help … Continue reading Puja rituals and yoga
Om is its indication
A diverse group meditates together in a serene mountain pavilion. First try, then trust Maharishi Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras has taken a very scintific appraoch to yoga. Normally matters of religion and spirituality are based on faith. Faith in God is the starting point of many religious and spiritual practices. But Patanjali seems to … Continue reading Om is its indication
Nada Yoga, Nritya Yoga, Nada & Nritya Yoga
Nada : Sound, Tone, Vibration, Resonant sound. Nritya : While Nritta represents pure, technical dance, Nritya is the interpretative, expressive dance that conveys Rasa (flavor/emotion) and Bhava (mood). Can one's music training itself be a kind of yoga? Can one's dance training itself be a kind of yoga? Yes. In fact Indian classical music and … Continue reading Nada Yoga, Nritya Yoga, Nada & Nritya Yoga
Mantra Yoga
The word mantra is now part of English Dictionary. According to Oxford Dictionary - a mantra is a word, sound, or phrase repeated frequently, particularly during meditation or prayer to aid concentration. It also refers to a frequently repeated statement or slogan that expresses a core belief or principle. Sanskrit scholars would define the word as … Continue reading Mantra Yoga
Learning under a Guru
In ancient times learning anything valuable was done by going to a Guru. It was the standard practice. It was such a a standard practice that the word Upanishad means sitting near a Guru and the highest spiritual knowledge is contained in the Upanishads. Yogic practices were handed down to generations though a master- disciple … Continue reading Learning under a Guru
PEBBLES AND WAVES 