Clarification Needed on YOGA.

[Guest guest]

Pranam.

 

I had been confused with the paths of Yoga, should i stick on to one Yoga path

or is it ok to mix different yoga paths.

 

For Example,

Asthanga Yoga ( Sage Patanjali father of Yoga ) has 8 steps to proceed, where as

 

Hatha yoga gives more importance to two sections of this Asthanga Yoga,

 

Raja yoga much similar to Asthanga Yoga,

 

Mantra Yoga/ Japa yoga gives or stresses on how to recite slogans mantras,

 

Bhakthi yoga insists on complete devotion/submission but doesnot care about

asanas...,

 

Karma yoga is attatchment to work to m knowledge no shcool teaches this,

 

Gyana Yoga is knowledge and self realisation,kundalini yoga is to awaken the

chakras,

 

Kriya yoga - i donot know even the basics of it,

 

swara yoga - breathing techniques and breathing excerice similar to pranayama..

 

Are there any other type of YOGA practises?

 

Further in my life span i have jumped from one to another, how should one choose

which path is suitable?

 

Is it ok if one mixes up with different paths?

 

In general if i consider my life span so far, even siting on floor with folded

legs while eating or for dicussion, while i lay down fully on the front body to

pay my respet to Elders or God, When i do Thoppukaranam before Lord Ganesha (

Holding right ear with left arm, and the left year with right arm taking sit ups

), usual habit of looking at sun as soon as i wake up, do joging or walking

inhaling and exhaling breath from differnt than normal due to waking or joging,

Pray to god for something, even crying during a prayer, dicussing with freinds

to know about god, self..,

 

I would say already i have mixed up all the yoga paths unknowingly without the

knowledge of yoga.

 

Please shed some light on how to stream line towards advancement in YOGA pls.

 

thanks.

luv

[Guest guest]

, " Jini " <senthil_sym wrote:

>

> Pranam.

>

> I had been confused with the paths of Yoga, should i stick on to one Yoga path

or is it ok to mix different yoga paths.

>

> For Example,

> Asthanga Yoga ( Sage Patanjali father of Yoga ) has 8 steps to

 

 

Dear Senthyl, it is true that yoga paths are many and sometimes we are

confused. Some more yogas are Laya Yoga, Dahar Yoga, and Tantra etc.

 

We are all unique in ourselves and if one yoga worked for me, it does not mean,

it would work for you. Our own matrix of energies is complex and is affected by

our past karmas, our environments, our sankalpas and our sadhna.

 

Changing yoga again and again, would do no good to the sadhna. It is like

digging for water for 10 feet and then go to other place and dig 10 feet again,

and thus making dozens of 10 feet well, no one with water.

 

And if we continue digging even on a mountain, we would surely get water, if not

at 100 feet then surely at 1000 feet.

 

A real workable solution to such confusions is to make a programme including a

little bit of Hathh yoga, Mantra yoga and Pranayama. This set always worked for

many.

 

One can not become Bhakta just by wishing or by mantras or chants. Real Bhakti

comes from inside, when we see glimpses of truth with our sadhna and we know

god, then the Bhakti or love coming from our own self will be important,

powerful and real. Such Bhakti will not make us fanatic of our deity, rather we

would appreciate all forms of God.

 

In this era, when finding a true guru is almost impossible and if we find one

really enlightened soul, he is surrounded by 1000s of disciples, and we have to

just see him from afar, forgetting taking Diksha from him. So the best is one

should chalk out a plan for himself including pranayama and mantra and do it

continuously till they start working.

 

In Kalyuga, the negative energies are too much and we have loads of past karma.

Any sadhna will not bring quick results as first the negativity will be removed

and sometimes this purging may take the whole life. If we look for visions or

Naad etc, they do not come till the negativity from the system has been removed.

In such situation, many sadhka think nothing is happening and they leave the

sadhna in between.

 

No sadhna, no mantra and no pranayama done goes waste. Once we have firmly

established in our sadhna, it starts working on our System and removal of

negativity is its first work, which is not understood by many sadhaka and they

leave the sadhna in between and thus bringing the Negativity back with double

force.

 

Aum

[Guest guest]

, " Jini " <senthil_sym wrote:

>

> Pranam.

>

> I had been confused with the paths of Yoga, should i stick on to one >Yoga

path or is it ok to mix different yoga paths.

 

Senthilji, Aumji has given a good answer, let me just say a few words.

 

A good Sadhna must be balanced, as in Kaliyuga we are attacked by a lot of

energies that cannot be defeated by just 1 method. The general Tamasic nature of

Kaliyuga that affects our body/mind can be removed by Hatha/Raja Yoga. The

cruelty & indifference can be removed by Bhakti. Mantra Yoga brings Devic

energies into our mind, which increases our Buddhi & allows us to function

better in the world.

 

Because our enemy is multi - faced, we must defend ourself using multiple

methods. Thats why a balance of different Yogas is needed.

 

What balance you create will depend on your current state-some people may add

more Hatha Yoga, some may lay more stress on Mantra. As long you have some of

each, you can keep one technique your main, & devote most energy to it, while

doing the others briefly.

 

A good Sadhna is to do 5-10 min asana, maybe Surya Namaskar, then 5 min

Pranayam, followed by your main Sadhna, which maybe Mantra, Dhyana etc.

 

I agree with Aumji- Bhakti cannot be " practiced " . It is our natural state of

being, & no matter what path one follows, Bhakti arises naturally. This also

answers Aumjis other answer- the reason we are good is that our inner being is

very a kind, loving being, & it is our natural state to become loving, kind to

all, with loving devotion to God. Most people suppress their natural being ,

which is why they are miserable. A good test of Sadhna is- one naturaly becomes

loving, & ones Bhakti becomes strong. So no need to practice ritualised Bhakti,

just let it arise by itself.

 

luv,

Shantnu