Yoga – Introduction – Part 2

Continued… Kindly first read Yoga–Introduction-Part 1

5. Gyaan Yog: 

• The Path of Wisdom. 

• Related Vishuddhi(Throat) Chakra.

• Enlightened Ones: Osho, Raman Maharishi.

In Today’s world there are lot of intellectuals including yourself, otherwise you wouldn't have been reading a blog. So this path may appeal to them. Although this path appears to be interesting and simple, it is the most complicated one. The only reason behind is mind needs to be dropped and we are using the mind for it. The biggest irony. E.g. A person being a part of an criminal organization telling the main boss that drop the criminal tendencies. The Boss will say nothing, but then depending upon the situation may try all tricks, force or also kill the person who gave the advice. Here the Boss is our Mind.

Anyways saying the above, let us see what this path is:

Being aware of self or being a witness to the following:

• Thoughts.

• Study scriptures or of our own book of life.

• Contemplation/Imagining on any single object or face of master.

• Mesmerism.

• Hypnotism.  

• From Love to Belongingness and finally to Friendship. Being friendly to the whole existence, then the existence starts revealing its secrets. We can feel compassion and friendship of the whole existence.    

6. Dhyan (Raj) Yog:

• The Path of Choice less Awareness.  

• Related with Adyna Chakra.

• Enlightened Ones: Sri Aurobindo  

It is broadly classified into 2 parts:

A) Meditation {Dhyan}:

Read What is Meditation. It is connecting with our real permanent self i.e. 5. Astral Body(“Atma”) State (refer 7 States of Human Being.)

B) Samadhi:

Samadhi means being grounded in the bottom of the inner space. Some people also call the burial spot of enlightened ones as Samadhi. That is the external Samadhi. All of us (human beings) can experience Samadhi in our inner space. It is not proprietary rights of few people (so called Saints or Sadhus). It is very simple and natural. Only remember, that we have forgotten it. It is connecting with our real permanent Cosmic body i.e. 6. Cosmic Body(“Brahma/Paramatma”) State  (refer 7 States of Human Being.)

7. Sankhya Yog: 

• The Path of Subjective Awareness.  

• Related with Sahasrara Chakra.

• Enlightened Ones: J.Krishnamurty, Asthavakra, Nisargdutta Maharaj  

We are pure awareness, just awareness, the essence. There is no path. We are already there. In the above paths there is a medium. In Sankhya Yog there is no medium. E.g. Suppose we take medicine with honey, milk etc.  Sankhya Yog says take the medicine directly. No Medium needed. This is subjective awareness.

It says all the identities with the body, mind and heart are false. We know our self as pure awareness.

The only problem is some people start imagining or hallucinating (via mind), that they are God or {Aham Brahmasmi} and get stuck in the mind. Kindly remember it’s a state of being which is being referred and nothing to do with Mind.

8. Kundalini(Laya) Yoga:

• The Path of Kundalini {Shaktipat}  

• Related with indwelling spiritual Energy activating all the Chakras

• Enlightened Ones: Gorakhnath, Paramhans Yoganand  

Kundalini Shakti is also called as arousing of our dormant serpentine power inside us. Serpentine or Snake is only symbolic for us to understand. As a serpent doesn’t have bones to stand erect, but still when the Kundalini energy is aroused it stands erect (From Muladhara to Sahasrara Chakra) 

There are 2 ways of activating it:

1. Certain Asanas and Breathing Techniques

2. Through a living person : Some people have the power to transmit existence energy into us through them. E..g When we drink water through a straw. Water is Existence and  the straw is the person who acts as an intermediate. Kindly note that the person transmitting this energy may not necessarily be an enlightened one. It works through the 4. Psychic Body State(Refer 7 States of Human Being). 

Also the person who takes it should be able to take that existence energy.

Certain practices are recommended for keeping this energy alive and active.

9. Sahaj Yog:

• The Natural Path  

• Related with Inner Spiritual Space

• Enlightened Ones: Lalaji Maharaj, Osho Shailendra, Guru Nanak  

This path is the natural path. 

There are broadly 2 types (may be, there would be more): 

A) Here the Masters grace play a major role. The disciples have to just perform some basic practices , rest everything related with the inner world growth is taken care by Masters Grace. 

B) {Naam Daan} or {Naam Diksha} or {Omkar Diksha}.

Existence has many dimension. 

• Outer as well as Inner Sound {Surati}

• Outer as well as Inner Light {Nirati} and many more dimensions. 

Here the Master gives the knack to reach self and connect to existence via the INNER Sound {Om} (not verbal OM), Light and other dimensions. The Masters grace plays a major role in guiding here.

Also for Master  refer Tips for finding a Master (Sadguru) and A to Z Guru (Master)

Wisdom Pointer:  Any path which helps us in growth of our inner peace should be followed by us. We can also switch paths, if needed, but not frequently. Best wishes to you in your inner journey.