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Raja Yoga
Raja Yoga is the Royal Yoga (Raja - Royal, Yoga - union).
It is otherwise known as Classical Yoga.
The principle of Raja Yoga is focus (concentration).
Usually it contains is a 8-step path (also known as Yoga Asthanga):
Yama, Niyama, Asan, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharani, Dhyana, Samadhi.
The first two levels of Yoga (Yama, Niyama) are rules of conduct - prohibitions and injunctions.
The key principles of conduct are the avoidance of causing suffering or abuse to other creatures.
Asanas are meant to exercise the body - these are the same asanas which are practiced in Hatha Yoga.
Their essence is loosening the body and mind and then concentration; asana’s should express the balance and unity of body and mind.
Asanas are not (as it is now widely considered) the only way to enlarge the body flexibility and maintain fitness. Indeed they reinforce health (if they are not performed too forcefully), but their main goal is to clear and strengthen the body as to be more ready for meditation.
Therefore, the key point of asanas is to calm and even mute our psyche during the exercises, and focus on the unity of body and mind (in particular, to support the calm and relaxed experience by observing the breath and body unity, awareness and balance).
Pranayama is special breathing exercises. They can be performed in meditation position, as well as some elements may be used in Asanas.
Pratyahara (fourth degree of Raja Yoga) is essentially relaxation. Pratyahara literally means the withdrawal from the external senses, and direct the activity of the mind inward. Pratyahara is aimed at both the release from tension, as well as development of physical control over the body. This process can also be self-healing from diseases.
An adept practicing Yoga (notably Raja Yoga) develops awareness of his potential by Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.
Dharana means concentrating of the mind - directing and focusing attention. It does not mean that the concentration process is always a big mental effort. Often it requires the initial strong focusing on concentration, but later it rests in a more mild and flexible state of mind, when the focus of attention is continued.
Dharana is practiced in various ways:
- For example by visual concentration and sending our attention to a certain object (for a while - for example, initially for a few minutes)
- By recitation (aloud or mentally) Dharani (Dharani is often used as a simple and effective method of developing Dharani - is usually a collection of syllables that subtly express the higher order of reality).
Dhyana is meditation of absorption. After mastering the directing of his attention the practitioner is able to dive in bright and subtle dimension of his awareness.
Dhana is aimed at developing self-recognition. The Chinese word Chan (Zen is Japanese counterpart) is the Dhyana, or meditation in itself.
Samadhi is regarded as the culmination of Yoga and the culmination of Dhyana (meditation) – it is full enlightment and the internal development of intuition. The word Samadhi is usually translated as the full integration of awareness - the full development of consciousness.
In some cases, it is divided into well formed Samadhi (Savikalpha) and Samadhi non-formed (Nirvikalpha).
Raja Yoga is the ancient system of development of internal capacity - in particular the development of awareness. Another closely related system, Sadanga Yoga, which starts with Pratyahara, has one added level that is higher than Samadhi: Tarka (full development of internal knowledge). Sadanga Yoga had a significant impact on later development of Buddhism, where the level exceeding Samadhi is called Annutara Samyak Sambhodi.
There is one important teacher of Raja Yoga – Patanjali, who is considered to be the most important author and master of Yoga (ca. I century AD - the exact date of his life is not known - it is usually dated between the II century BC _ II century AD).
Patanjali gathered and systemized the knowledge of Yoga – he wrote one of the most important treaties on Yoga – “Yoga Sutras”.
Another very interesting promoter of science and practices of Raja Yoga is the Indian Yoga and western medicine doctor (surgeon) Rammurti Mishra - author of “Fundamentals of Yoga”.
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