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Tuesday 16 February 2016

The Four Paths of Yoga

There are four ways described in the Yoga Vedas.  Bhagavad Gita talks about these four paths to liberation and freedom.  These four paths are:

1. Karma Yoga: Karma Yoga is not a replacement of the duty or selfless service.  For each role in our life (wife, daughter, sister, colleague, teacher, etc.), we have appropriate tasks we perform any of our obligations to the best of its ability, should meet without an acknowledgment or additional reward expected.  It is also important that we. Introspection to determine what are our responsibilities in life and in every situation, we think about the best way, this requirement should be met  In yoga, the hierarchy of tasks:



2. Duty towards himself.

Duty to the family (parents, partners, children), which includes earning a livelihood)

Duty towards society - by acting out of duty, but as of likes and dislikes, and expectations for the return (monetary), recognition, status, etc.)  Our ego is reduced and ego is our biggest hurdle on the way of self-development.

3. Bhakti Yoga: This is a path of devotion to something greater than himself (a master, a duty, an idea, etc.) to which you left entirely to themselves.  With the assumption that it / something you is someone superior, you realize that you can go a long way, which helps to reduce your ego.  Bhakti Yoga brings the process to the divine to join, the mantra may include singing (which opens the heart and helps to leave preconceived ideas) as devotional prayers and practices to live in accordance with the laws of God, etc.

4. Gyan Yoga (Jnana Yoga) In this path, we acquire knowledge from a variety of different, credible sources and then put it into practice.  It can be performed by reading, classes, lectures, the company of sages peoples seek etc. We use our intellect (ie to analyze performance) to grow.  Knowledge improves our consciousness, while more sources provide more clarity.  However, if we are not willing, we will not be able to distinguish between true and false.  It is recommended that we get a complete picture of true philosophical knowledge not only fragments) before making a decision about taking as true vs. to misunderstand and what to put into practice.

5. Raja Yoga: Yoga literally means the king (with the king, to be the spirit).  This type of yoga is to get over the mind control level of 0 to 7, (ie taming the king) Raj Yoga is like an umbrella with many practices included below.

His main practice is Hatha Yoga (compensatory sun and moon energy in the body or by force to control body with the mind) Hatha Yoga is compressed by 5 practices:

·        Asanas (steady, comfortable posture)

·        Pranayama (regulation / control / manipulation of life energy)

·        (Catching castles, streamlining of certain body parts such as channeling energy) Bandhas

·        Mudras (gestures, the energies associated with 5 elements manipulate)

·        Kriyas (actions for purifying body toxins, so energy can flow better)


These paths can be used individually or exercised together.  All these paths lead to the same goal, the liberation of the mind and the freedom from attachment, ego and senses.

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