PLACEMENT OF KUNDALINI YOGA IN THE HIERARCHY OF YOGA SYSTEM

05-30-1999, 10:01 PM

Hello Friends,

I wish to know the place of Kundalini Yoga in the hierarchy of the entire yoga
system.

As per the Patanjali Yoga Sutras or formulas ( From ancient Indian scriptures) ,
entire yoga system is divided into Eight subsystems like 1) Yama 2) Niyama 3)
Asanas 4) Pranayam 5) Pratyahara 6) Dharana 7) Dhyana 8) Samadhi

So far as I think one should climb the ladder of the path of Yoga step by step
; whether I am really right ?. Would someone kindly help me understand the
truth.

Secondly I would like to know that whether it will be proper place Kundalini
Yoga under the category of " Dhyana or the Meditation " , if yes , then will it
be proper to call the Kundalini practice as an exercise.

Thirdly , is it advisable to practice any of the technique of Dhyana or the
meditation , without Firstly ensuring that all my physical actions towards
myself & even towards others are pious , selfless & full of divine love .

I shall be gratefull for the clarification of my doubts , please.

Y N GUPTA
( YOGINDER NATH GUPTA )

05-31-1999, 03:24 AM

Hi Yoginder

Thank you for your interesting question.

I take the following directly from the introduction to KY as posted on our
website. It does not directly answer your question - I am not familiar with
all the terms which you mention. Perhaps you could be more specific as to
the age of the ancient scriptures to which you refer? Certainly, the title
"Mother of All Yogas" should help you to place Kundalini Yoga with respect
to other yogic disciplines, and the fact that KY does combine elements which
are used by many other disciplines, but which combine in a way to greatly
multiply the effects they could possibly have if used separately or
individually, serves to illustrate its incredible transformational
potential.

"Kundalini Yoga is the most powerful and inclusive of all yogas. There are
many other yogic schools - Hatha, best known school in the West, is mainly
but not exclusively physical. Raja Yoga claims to be the highest Yoga - Raja
means "royal" - but omits the physical. Mantra, Jap and Nad Yoga concentrate
on sound and meaning, Swara Yoga on breathing, Bhakti Yoga on devotional
prayer and meditation, Karma on work and service, and Tantric Yoga attains
enlightenment through the union and balance of male and female energy,
either in sexual intercourse (Red Tantra - the left hand path), or in
non-sexual union (White Tantra - the right hand path) as taught by Yogi
Bhajan."

>Hello Friends,

>I wish to know the place of Kundalini Yoga in the hierarchy of the >entire
yoga system.

>As per the Patanjali Yoga Sutras or formulas ( From ancient >Indian
scriptures) , entire yoga system is divided into Eight >subsystems like 1)
Yama 2) Niyama 3) Asanas 4) Pranayam 5) >Pratyahara 6) Dharana 7) Dhyana 8)
Samadhi

>So far as I think one should climb the ladder of the path of >Yoga step by
step ; whether I am really right ?. Would someone >kindly help me understand
the truth.

By following the recommendations of Yogi Bhajan, as described on our own
website, as well as in numerous other websites and written documents, you
are climbing the ladder of the path of Kundalini Yoga - a much more direct
route to Samadhi than the corresponding one for say Hatha Yoga.

>Secondly I would like to know that whether it will be proper place
>Kundalini Yoga under the category of " Dhyana or the Meditation >" , if yes
, then will it be proper to call the Kundalini practice as >an exercise.

Meditation is an important part of Kundalini Yoga - but I emphasise the word
"part". The physical exercises should be looked upon partly as a way of
preparing the body and mind for the process of meditation which normally
follows.

>Thirdly , is it advisable to practice any of the technique of >Dhyana or
the meditation , without Firstly ensuring that all my >physical actions
towards myself & even towards others are >pious , selfless & full of divine
love .

Ensuring that your physical actions towards yourself and others are pious,
selfless and full of divine love will certainly make you much more receptive
to the full benefits of Kundalini Yoga, or indeed any kind of yoga, but are
not, IMO, a necessary prerequisite. The practice of KY, by opening up your
heart and other centers, and bringing you closer to God will make it easier
for you to adhere to these excellent concepts for a more fulfilling and
spiritually satisfying existence.

I have answered your questions to the best of my present knowledge on this
subject. I would welcome anyone else who wishes to jump in here with perhaps
a differing viewpoint.

Sat Nam!
Gordon

05-31-1999, 12:32 PM

Sat Nam,

Re your questions--
I wish to know the place of Kundalini Yoga in the hierarchy of the entire
yoga system.

As per the Patanjali Yoga Sutras or formulas ( From ancient Indian
scriptures) , entire yoga system is divided into Eight subsystems like 1)
Yama 2) Niyama 3) Asanas 4) Pranayam 5) Pratyahara 6) Dharana 7) Dhyana 8)
Samadhi

** The system that Yogi Bhajan has taught us under the name of Kundalini
Yoga incorporates all the 8 subsystems of the Patanjali Yoga. His
teachings are very vast and comprehensive and he referes to the Patnjali
Yoga Sutras.

So far as I think one should climb the ladder of the path of Yoga step by
step ; whether I am really right ?. Would someone kindly help me understand
the truth.

** Some of the steps need to be done simultaneously. For example the do's
and don'ts (yama and niyama) are easier to incorporate in your life if
you are balanced and aware which you get by practicing the asanas and
pranayama.

Secondly I would like to know that whether it will be proper place
Kundalini Yoga under the category of " Dhyana or the Meditation " , if yes
, then will it be proper to call the Kundalini practice as an exercise.

** Kundalini yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan incorporates all the 8 steps.

Thirdly , is it advisable to practice any of the technique of Dhyana or the
meditation , without Firstly ensuring that all my physical actions towards
myself & even towards others are pious , selfless & full of divine love .

** It will be easier with the practice of KY.

** Thank you for you questions. I would say to practice some Kundalini
Yoga for 40 days and I think you will be surprised that within yourself you
will find the answers to these questions. The opening of awareness and
knowledge is the gift of daily practice.
Please share your experiences with us.

Sat Nam,

RAttana

05-31-1999, 06:48 PM

>From: amazmudar@...
>Reply-To: Rattana Khalsa"

>Subject: Re: [Kundaliniyoga] PLACEMENT OF KUNDALINI YOGA IN THE HIERARCHY
>OF YOGA SYSTEM Dated: Mon, 31 May 1999 15:32:11 -0700

"I read you email"
>From: "Rattana Khalsa"
>
>Sat Nam,
>
>Re your questions--
>I wish to know the place of Kundalini Yoga in the hierarchy of the entire
>yoga system.
>
>As per the Patanjali Yoga Sutras or formulas ( From ancient Indian
>scriptures) , entire yoga system is divided into Eight subsystems like 1)
>Yama 2) Niyama 3) Asanas 4) Pranayam 5) Pratyahara 6) Dharana 7) Dhyana 8)
>Samadhi
>
>
>** The system that Yogi Bhajan has taught us under the name of Kundalini
>Yoga incorporates all the 8 subsystems of the Patanjali Yoga. His
>teachings are very vast and comprehensive and he referes to the Patnjali
>Yoga Sutras.
>
>So far as I think one should climb the ladder of the path of Yoga step by
>step ; whether I am really right ?. Would someone kindly help me understand
>the truth.
>
>** Some of the steps need to be done simultaneously. For example the do's
>and don'ts (yama and niyama) are easier to incorporate in your life if
>you are balanced and aware which you get by practicing the asanas and
>pranayama.
>
>
>Secondly I would like to know that whether it will be proper place
>Kundalini Yoga under the category of " Dhyana or the Meditation " , if yes
>, then will it be proper to call the Kundalini practice as an exercise.
>
>** Kundalini yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan incorporates all the 8 steps.
>
>Thirdly , is it advisable to practice any of the technique of Dhyana or the
>meditation , without Firstly ensuring that all my physical actions towards
>myself & even towards others are pious , selfless & full of divine love .
>
>** It will be easier with the practice of KY.
>
>** Thank you for you questions. I would say to practice some Kundalini
>Yoga for 40 days and I think you will be surprised that within yourself you
>will find the answers to these questions. The opening of awareness and
>knowledge is the gift of daily practice.
>Please share your experiences with us.
>
>Sat Nam,

Dear Mr. Khalsa,

I have notbeen fortunate enough to undergo a training in Kundalini Yoga but
then agin i have undergone a thorough training in REIKI. During my past 1
year as a IIIA reiki channel, i have had various experiences of kundalinui
arising which has initially resulted in a pain in the back, and then
stretched over the whole body.

I have always been curoius about this method of kundalini yoga. Can yo ushed
an insight into what exactly it is. How different is it from REIKI. Where
can I learn KY in Ahmedabad.

I would appreciate it if i get an email from you at "amazmudar@..."

awaiting you reply
with kindest regards
ashish