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There
are different paths (margas) of yoga that can be taken
in order to reunite with the divine energy.
An active person can realize his divinity through
work and duty (Karma),
a religious person through devotion (Bhakti),
an intellectual person through knowledge (Jnana),
and
a meditative/reflective person through Yoga.
The
different types of yoga share some common elements.
Some focus more on breathing exercises and postures,
whereas others focus more on spirituality.
Each type emphasizes a particular path that comprises
a certain set of beliefs, practices, and rituals.
The Yoga types constitute a ladder, from the "lowest"
form of Hatha yoga, with its focus on physical postures
and breathing techniques, to the "highest" form known
as Raja yoga, or "union by mental mastery."
The following are the various types of Yoga.
Hatha Yoga or
Yoga of Vitality Hatha Yoga is the foundation
of all Yoga systems.
Hatha Yoga is a preparation for higher Yogas.
"Ha" means "sun" and "tha" means "moon."
Thus, Hatha Yoga refers to positive (sun) and negative
(moon) currents in the system. These currents have
to be balanced and mastered so that vital force (prana)
can be regulated, the mind cleared and superconscious
state be experienced. The ideal way to practice the
Hatha Yoga poses (asanas) is to practice in a calm,
meditative mood. Sit quietly for a few moments, then
begin the series. This should be done slowly, with
control and grace, all the while being inwardly aware
as the body performs the various poses. Do not overdo
the asanas or try to compete with others. Enjoy the
asanas and take it easy.
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Bhakti Yoga or Yoga of Love Bhakti Yoga
is the system in which love and devotion is emphasized.
Love of God and one's complete surrender to God's
will is stressed in the Bhakti Yoga approach. Some
people are naturally inclined by temperament to be
devotional and to love God.
However, balance is strongly recommended: devotion
should be balanced by reason, love should be balanced
by understanding. There are no set ways to perform
Bhakti yoga. Some people find that external aids can
contribute to a devotional attitude: an altar used
during prayer and meditation; pictures of saints to
serve as inspiration; chanting or singing; use of
mantra or even a simple devotional ceremony to aid
in creating a mood as preparation for meditation.
The best approach is the one which is found most useful
in the long run. Singing the name of God aloud can
elevate consciousness, clear the mind and even charge
the environment with pure energy. For persons who
find it difficult to concentrate during meditation,
and for whom the approach of calm discernment is too
subtle, prayers and chanting can be of value.
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Karma Yoga or Yoga of Selfless
Action
The message of Karma Yoga is : Working in harmony
with the Power that runs the universe, not being egotistically
motivated, having no compulsive desires relative to
the future.
With the eradication of the compulsive desire, one
is able to live in the present, while planning for
the future, without being bound to it. Every reasonable
desire carries within itself the motivating force
for its fulfillment. The Yogic philosophy does not
ask one to give up intelligent planning. It only aims
at the renunciation of egotistic desire.
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Jnana Yoga or Yoga of Knowledge
The Jnana Yoga stresses the use of the mind to
transcend the mind. It works with that part of the
human mind which strives incessantly to know and understand.
It is multi-limbed, and its other limbs are detachment,
self-discipline, longing for freedom, desire to hear
the truth, reflection upon that truth, and meditation.
The tradition of Jnana Yoga teaches that "Liberation
is attained, not by works or ceremony, but by knowledge
alone."
Knowledge in this context is not belief or collected
data; it is comprehension as a result of discernment
and experience. The way of knowledge is for the special
few who are prepared for steady examination and clear
perception of the nature of consciousness. One who
chooses this path studies the conclusions of the seers
by reading the great scriptures and commentaries,
then examines them in the light of his own intelligence
and comes to his own realization. In deep meditation,
he contemplates the characteristics of consciousness
in manifestation and, by doing so, gains insight and
perfect realization.
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Raja Yoga or The Highest Form
of Yoga "Raja" means "royal".
Raja yoga is the path to Self-Realization by way of
meditation. Raja Yoga starts with the mind. Its goal
is complete stilling of the mind, so that the light
of the dwelling spirit may shine out. It makes use
of asana and pranayama, and it is also considered
by some as a name for Ashtanga Yoga. Raja Yoga meditation
is the process whereby the practitioner concentrates
upon one point in order to integrate discontinuous,
diffused attention, thus holding his attention steady.
All distractions are thus effectively closed out,
and meditation proceeds. Mantra Yoga Mantra yoga means
"union by voice or sound". This form includes the
rhythmic repetitions of specific sounds, or mantras.
The practitioner repeats the syllable, word or phrase
continually; sometimes for weeks, months or years
on end. Certain syllables are believed to posses healing
potential for specific purposes.
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Tantra
Yoga or Kundalini yoga
A celibate approach to spiritual growth is quite common
in many of the world's religious traditions. Many
yoga practices suggest that sexual involvement is
a detriment to a greater development of self and hence
should be avoided if possible. However, tantric yoga
suggests that sexuality can be a very powerful force
which can be harnessed for increased self-awareness.
Tantric yoga is unusual, in that it not only allows
sexual feelings and contact, but uses sexual experience
as a means to enlightenment. The Tantrics maintain
that there is an enormous energy locked into sexuality,
which, if released from the lower end of the spine,
can flow up the spinal column to bring divine illumination
to the brain.
They believe that within the interior of the spine,
in a hollow region called the canalis centralis, there
is an energy conduit called "sushumna". Along this
conduit, from the base of the perineum to the top
of the head, flows the most powerful of all psychic
energies, the Kundalini energy. On the other side
of the canal are two additional energy channels, one
called "Ida" corresponding to the male, and the other
the "Pingala" corresponding to the female. Ida is
at the right of the base of the spine and the Pingala
begins at the left. These two psychic currents are
said to coil upward around the spine and the snakes,
crossing the chakras (energy wheel of center of conscious).
The Kundalini yogi's lifelong tasks is to bring the
focus of the Kundalini energy upward from the base
of his spine to the top of his head.
Once the yogi has achieved mastery of self , he is
ready to join with a partner whose energies and spirit
complement his own in such a way that together they
form a "whole".
The partners must first achieve a highly developed
awareness within their being before they get ready
to engage in tantric embrace. In the tantric lovemaking
experience, known as "maithuna", the lovers undergo
a variety of meditations and rituals before they actually
make physical contact. They maintain the spiritual
link or bond throughout the lovemaking process. They
visualize the flow of currents between them. In tantric
yoga, the lovers do not try to achieve orgasm. In
fact, they work hard not to have one.
They attempt to draw the forces of Kundalini energy
upward through their bodies, thus releasing the power
of the various chakras. This force transforms the
yogi psychologically, changing his personality as
the Kundalini reaches each succeeding chakra. The
emphasis is not on the sexual release as an end in
itself, but rather on sex as a channel through which
the evolution of self may proceed. The goal of Tantra
is the union of dynamic and static aspects of personality.
It is quite different from practices that dwell on
renunciation.
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Purna Yoga or Integral Yoga
This yoga attempts to integrate all aspects of action,
wisdom, and peace into one yoga. It aims at an integration
on three levels: Psychic integration, of the various
facets of the self; Cosmic integration, of the aspects
of the universe; and Existential integration, which
comes when one fully realizes that the self and the
universe are one.
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