Jnanastanga

Lesson 16 JNANASTANGAS

Every spiritual aspirant have to practice the ashtanga yoga first. They are of two types, external and internal. Bahirmukha sadhana: yama or restrains, niyama or observances, asana or physical exercises, pranayama or control of life force are the external four.

Antarmukha sadhana: pratyahara or withdrawal of senses, dharana or concentration, dhyana or meditation, samadhi is integrated state or enlightenment are the four internal sadhana. By doing pranayama a sadhaka takes control over prana and mind. Once the mind is merged the yogic practitioner realizes oneself, self realization.

Along with pranayama to take control over the mind one should contemplate on spiritual subjects. That is jnanastangas. Trishikhi brahmanopanishad - -20 states that to be dispassionate towards body and senses is called ‘yama’. To be desiring God at all times is ‘niyama’. Asana is to be indifferent to the material stuff. Pranayama is to see the entire material world as an illusion. Chitta going inward is called ‘pratyahara’. To still chitta is ‘dharana’ Dhyana is thinking I am God, I am ‘chinmatrudu’. Letting go of the idea that one is meditating also is called ‘Samadhi’. Pranayama turns mind inwards thereby attaining state of siddhi going through the jnanastangas.

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