...spiritual paths of the Hindu when he said, “Yoga is the journey of the self to the self through the self”. That discovery comes in 4 separate and distinct forms. Common American perception is that the practice of yoga is primarily a physical practice separate and apart from religion. “The word yoga derives from the same root as does the English word yoke; meaning to unite and place under disciplined training”. Americans take this definition literally and only consider the physical aspect of yoga training. This approach leads to a gap in the most enlightening aspects of yoga; spiritual training. Like many of the world’s religions Hinduism has one distinct goal and that is to unite the human spirit with God. Hindu’s believe that there are 4 separate paths to reaching enlightenment and uniting your spirit with God via the spiritual and physical discipline that is yoga. Because of the variety and complexity of the human personality, Hinduism understands that we all approach our spirituality from different points in life. The focus of the four paths is on the strongest aspect of the personality with the ultimate goal of “rendering the surface self-transparent to its underlying divinity; cleansed of its gross impurities”. The four paths of yoga are Jnana Yoga (the path through knowledge), Bhakti Yoga (the path through love), KarmaYoga (the path through work), and Raja Yoga (the path of the psychophysical). Jnana Yoga is considered the yoga for the rational. It is said that Jnana...
Words: 549 - Pages: 3
...differences between the four paths of yoga? And relate the four paths to other philosophical or religious traditions? The four paths of yoga are jnana yoga, karma yoga, bhakti yoga, and raja yoga. Even though the four parts of yoga come from Hindu philosophies each has its own way that can make people live spiritually and comfortably by choosing a certain path that an individual is comfortable with. Everyday people will use techniques that were born with yoga and not even know they are using a basic form of yoga. Each type of yoga is different from one another in a lot of different ways. Jnana yoga is learning from others. Karma yoga believes doing work unselfishly will lead to good deeds happening for one. Bhakti yoga is expressing yourself. Raja yoga is the art of meditation. Jnana yoga or knowledge yoga is based on learning from teachers who have a lot of knowledge with jnana yoga. As such priests and intellectuals will prefer this type of yoga so they can learn and then teach it themselves. Reading the bible is also considered jnana yoga since you will gain knowledge by doing this. This type of yoga was refined by a school of philosophy that is still being done today the school of Vedanta. The Vedanta school uses the ideas of the Upanishads as its primary inspiration. Upanishads is defined as which come at the end of the Vedas. All other forms of yoga do not incorporate learning or teaching in they way they express themselves. Jnana yoga can relate to numerous religions that...
Words: 941 - Pages: 4
...Chapter 3 Study Guide: Hinduism 1. What are the Vedas? a. Four collections of ancient prayers and rituals 2. When was the Vedic Period? a. 2000 to 500 B.C.E. 3. What language was used in this period? a. Sanskrit 4. Who are Aryans and what is the Aryan invasion theory? What evidence supports this theory? a. Single people b. Aryan invasion theory- the Vedas believed to be the religious writings of this invading people c. Entering new lands, these people were thought to have carried their language and religion with them. Scholars initially believed that in India the outsiders imposed their social order quickly and violently on the older culture. 5. What is the Aryan immigration theory? a. There were repeated waves of migrations into Pakistan and northern India and that from these contacts between foreign and indigenous cultures the religion of the Vedas emerged 6. What are the objections to both of these theories? a. Scholars view any theory that assumes influence from outside India to be a continued relic of Western cultural imperialism Archeological, linguistic, and genetic investigations continue to offer more clues, but their interpretation has not resolved the issue 7. What are the specific areas of interest or concern for the gods Indra, Agni, Ushas, Rudra, Varuna, Vishnu, Surya, Soma and Yama? a. Indra i. God of storm and war, received great attention because of the strength his worshipers hoped to receive from him b. Agni i. God of fire, carried sacrifices...
Words: 3325 - Pages: 14
...speak to the four Yogas. The second part will be about Bhakti Yoga as seen in the International Society for the Krishna Consciousness (ISKON). And the last part will address the Hindu Temple of Hampton Roads. First we must define Yoga. Yoga is defined as “a Hindu philosophy that teaches a person to experience inner peace by controlling the body and mind.” (1) There are four Yogas that will be discussed in the paper: Karma; Bhakti; Raja and Jnana. . Karma Yoga is the Yoga of work. There are key components of Karma that govern that any action qualifies as being Karma Yoga. Those actions are having the right attitude, the right motive, your duty, doing your best, letting go of results and serving God or the self in all.(2) “Every act done without thought for myself diminishes my self-centeredness until finally no barrier remains to separate me from the divine.” (3) Therefore actions accomplished with this thought process lighten the ego, bringing the person closer to achieving the real self. The second Yoga is Bahkti or the path to God through love. Basically, to strive not to be like God, but to worship God with his or her entire being. The way to God through knowledge is known as the psychophysical exercises are known as Raja Yoga. This method according to Huston Smith is “the approach for a strong suspicion that are true selves are more than we now realize and a passion to plumb their full extent for those who possess these qualifications, Raja Yoga outlines a series...
Words: 780 - Pages: 4
...The discipline of yoga originated in India 5,000 years. Creating a connection between mind and body is the ultimate goal of this tradition; the word yoga actually means “union of the individual self” (Iyengar 14). Millions use yoga to strengthen their bodies, and ease their minds. In America especially, the practice of yoga has become a trend, made popular especially by hollywood elite. But unlike other dangerous trends perpetuated by celebrities, yoga garners substantial benefits. More energy, reduced stress, and a stronger and more flexible body are only a few of the many positive effects. Yoga is an ancient tradition that yields tremendous benefits for those who practice it today. Yoga began in Northern India, in the Indus- Saravasti civilization. There is no record of exactly when this discipline began, and there is no one person to acknowledge for its invention. Patanjali, an Indian sage, is credited with writing the “Yoga Sutras”, the first known record of yoga, which outlines principles and practices of yoga that are still observed today (Weil 1). Yoga had been practiced for centuries, but it did not arrive in America until 1947 when the first yoga studio was opened in Hollywood. In yogic philosophy, the body is composed of three layers: the casual body, the subtle body, and the gross body, and five sheaths. Each “individual functions in mind, matter, energy, and pure consciousness through [these] sheaths”: the anatomical sheath, the life-force sheath, the psychological...
Words: 1094 - Pages: 5
...main form of religion is Hinduism, which is the oldest leading religion. Hindu’s core beliefs are the caste, dharma, karma, life stages, samsara, and more (Spodek, 274). The introduction states that many “Hindu’s and non-Hindus use the Gita as a spiritual guide within their own lives, reading or hearing it regularly and bringing it to bear on their own situations by commenting on it to themselves” (Gita, Intro). Also, the Gita summarizes a few of the key doctrines of Hinduism. One of those is Karma. Karma is the set of activities of each creature and the effects that these activities have on its atman (Spodek, 274). Karma yoga states that everyone must engage in some sort of activity in this world. During the Gita Krishna is leading Arjuna through Yoga. There are three different types of Yoga mentioned in the text: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Gyaana yoga. The two main characters of the Gita are Krishna and Arjuna. Arjuna is the apart of the Pandavas family along with his brothers. He is...
Words: 1169 - Pages: 5
...The Origins of Hinduism 1 What features of geography might have contributed to Hindu religious sensibilities? The river Ganges 2 Explain one of the analogies the author uses to understand Hinduism (a great river or a palace added to over centuries). Both convey the idea that nothing is ever lost in Hinduism. The religious life of India is something like the river Ganges. It has flowed along for thousands of years, swirling from its own power but also from the power of new streams that have added to its force. (Molloy 78) But the limitations of Hinduism may also be its strengths. It is like a palace that began as a two-room cottage. Over the centuries, wings have been built on to it, and now it has countless rooms, stairs, corridors, statues, fountains, and gardens. (Molloy 78) 3 What features have enabled Hinduism to develop freely in many directions? Many influences—early indigenous religion and influences from later immigrants—have added to its inherent momentum. It has no one identifiable founder, no strong organizational structure to defend it and spread its influence, nor any creed to define and stabilize its beliefs; and in a way that seems to defy reason, Hinduism unites the worship of many gods with a belief in a single divine reality. (Molloy 78) Molloy, Michael. Experiencing the World's Religions, 5th Edition. McGraw-Hill Learning Solutions, 2010. VitalBook file. The Earliest Stage of Indian Religion ...
Words: 1343 - Pages: 6
...R AJA Y OGA rajyaeg S WAMI V IVEKANANDA CELEPHAÏS PRESS Issued by Celephaïs Press, somewhere beyond the Tanarian Hills (i.e. Leeds, England), August 2003 E.V. Revised and corrected, November 2003. This work is in the public domain. EACH SOUL IS POTENTIALLY DIVINE. THE GOAL IS TO MANIFEST THIS DIVINE WITHIN, BY CONTROLLING NATURE, EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL. DO THIS EITHER BY WORK, OR WORSHIP, OR PSYCHIC CONTROL, OR PHILOSOPHY, BY ONE, OR MORE, OR ALL OF THESE—AND BE FREE. IS THE WHOLE OF RELIGION. DOCTRINES, OR DOGMAS, OR RITUALS, OR BOOKS, OR TEMPLES, OR FORMS, ARE BUT SECONDARY DETAILS. THIS PREFACE SINCE the dawn of history, various extraordinary phenomena have been recorded as happening amongst human beings. Witnesses are not wanting in modern times to attest the fact of such events, even in societies living under the full blaze of modern science. The vast mass of such evidence is unreliable, as coming from ignorant, superstitious, or fraudulent persons. In many instances the so-called miracles are imitations. But what do they imitate? It is not the sign of a candid and scientific mind to throw overboard anything without proper investigation. Surface scientists, unable to explain the various extraordinary mental phenomena, strive to ignore their very existence. They are, therefore, more culpable than those who think that their prayers are answered by a being, or beings, above the clouds, or than those who believe that their petitions will make such beings...
Words: 64342 - Pages: 258
...Top of Form Search | Search Web | Bottom of Form | * Home * Photos * Videos * Love & Sex * Autos * Tech & Gadget * Blogs * Beauty & Fashion * Relationships * Love & Sex * Health * People * Life And Work * Autos * Tech & Gadget * Astrology Practice Yoga to reduce stress By IndiaTodayPrevention | Prevention – Fri, Sep 9, 2011 12:24 AM IST * * tweet1 * Email * Print Strike these poses for a calmer and happier you. Hypertension is not just common, in a strange twisted way it's a status symbol. It shows you have arrived, are busy and lead a stressed life. However, it takes a toll on your heart, spikes your blood sugar and insulin levels and that's bad news. yoga Recent studies show that yoga brings about a balance in your autonomous nervous system and regulates your blood pressure by stabilising your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. As a yoga practitioner, I have experienced the calming effect that this alternative therapy can provide. Being static, yoga postures are less demanding and require less oxygen. This causes minimal strain during exercise and keeps your muscles relaxed. Here are a few postures that you can practise to keep your stress levels under control. Vajrasana Sit with your legs extended, hands by the side of your body and palms resting on the floor. Bend your right leg at the knee and place your foot...
Words: 2006 - Pages: 9
...Bhagavad Gita : A Motivational Management Book by M.P. Bhattathiri, Retired Chief Technical Examiner, to The Govt. of Kerala. Table of Contents Abstract Introduction Management guidelines from the Bhagavad Gita Old truths in a new context The source of the problem Utilisation of available resources Work commitment Motivation – self and self-transcendence Work culture Work results Manager's mental health Management needs those who practice what they preach In conclusion A note on the word "yoga". Abstract One of the greatest contributions of India to the world is Holy Gita which is considered to be one of the first revelations from God. The spiritual philosophy and management lessons in this holy book were brought in to light of the world by many great Indian saint's effort and they call the Bhagavad-Gita the essence of Vedic Literature and a complete guide to practical life. It provides "all that is needed to raise the consciousness of man to the highest possible level." Maharishi reveals the deep, universal truths of life that speak to the needs and aspirations of everyone. Your followers in your establishment are continuing the mission by keeping this lantern burning always knowing the wishes of the modern generations. Arjuna got mentally depressed when he saw his relatives with whom he has to fight.( Mental health has become a major international public health concern now). To motivate him the Bhagavad-Gita is preached in the battle...
Words: 8694 - Pages: 35
...Essay #1 - Feel Good Yoga Teacher Training Jennifer Miller, November 28, 2014 Discuss some of the benefits of yoga that make it ideal for addiction recovery. “Addiction is a persistent, compulsive dependence on a behavior or substance” according to one of the many, varying published definitions*. Father Joseph Pereira, of the Kripa Foundation, an organization in India dedicated to working with people afflicted with chemical dependency, says that “Rehabilitation is only a deep breath away”. This statement may sound simplistic, but the practice of yoga is a powerful tool for those suffering from addiction, particularly when combined with a recovery program. The physical, mental and spiritual benefits of practicing yoga are...
Words: 644 - Pages: 3
...Hindu Practices and Rituals Hindus prescribe to certain traditional practices in accomplishing the basic goals of their faith. The basic spiritual ideal is to be unworldly but some worldly goals are also respected. These values are kama (pleasure), artha (power and security), and dharma (religious and social duty). Hindus consider Moksha the highest goal. Moksha is liberation or complete freedom. Yoga is a technique, which Hindus use to accomplish these goals. Yoga is a method or path oriented to the work of a person’s place in society or the work required by his or her caste. These differing paths have created different forms of Yoga. One type of yoga is Jnana Yoga (wisdom yoga) acquired by studying Hindu doctrine and teachings from the enlightened. Karma Yoga (right action yoga) is based on the idea that all purposeful work is done selflessly as a path to perfection. Bhakti Yoga (love and devotion yoga) involves loving devotion to saints or gods. Also, Raja Yoga (meditation yoga) is practiced by inward thought, sitting quietly, and calming one’s thoughts (Molloy 2010). This method conducted regularly in short periods brings peace and lessens stress; practiced for longer durations, it can initiate new states of awareness. Hindus in their practice of worship seek awareness of God. This can involve pursuing a Deva’s blessing. Worship can either be done at home by creating a shrine with various icons of gods of their choosing or in a temple where there is usually one main...
Words: 847 - Pages: 4
...text comprises of 18 chapters and is translated literally as the “song of the beloved God” (Gita means song and Bhagavad means beloved God). Love is the primary theme in this text. In this scripture, God in the form of Krishna, speaks to his friend Arjuna on a battlefield in India. On a metaphorical level, it is suggested that when we overcome our inner struggles, we will be victorious in finding God. Topics include, loving God as well as God Himself, the soul and the goal of human existence; which in the Bhagavad Gita is to ultimately merge with God. Like any classic, the Bhagavad Gita is timeless and considered relevant even today. Many extraordinary individuals such as Gandhi and Einstein were inspired by its content. In Chapter 4, verse 11, of the Bhagavad Gita, it is stated that: However men try to reach me I return their love with my love; whatever path they may travel, it leads to Me in the end. This verse is very optimistic to the reader as it initially states that God returns the love of one who is in search of Him. In addition, it provides comfort that whatever path one may take, it will ultimately lead to God. This echoes the belief in Hinduism that there are many...
Words: 562 - Pages: 3
...handwritten copy is in a museum in London and is dated to 1488. It predates the Bible, the Quran, and 50 Shades of Grey. As one of the oldest pieces of literature known to us it has gained a reputation as one of the most insightful tomes into the human condition and it’s philosophies and themes have influenced many of the most historically significant people and their actions. Mahatma Gandhi, Eleanor Roosevelt, Henry David Thoreau, and even Albert Einstein all read the Gita and were deeply moved by it. These are not normal run of the mill people, but were great thinkers, people of action and world-changers. Surely, the world has been influenced by such a powerful text through the many people it has inspired and taught with it’s central themes of Yoga and Renunciation, and Dharma and Karma among others. Here we will take a look at some of the major themes of the Gita as well as some of the historically significant figures it has influenced and why and how it shares similar themes with key works of literature. The book is basically a one on one philosophical conversation between a god and a human. Reading the first chapter can be daunting for some individuals however because of the sheer volume of names and dates that the reader probably will not be familiar with. In the first chapter, the book sets a stage and gives its back story....
Words: 1521 - Pages: 7
...Identify and describe three paths to God (yogas) in Hinduism. The three paths (marga) to God are practiced by Hindus to unite with God and achieve Moksha. These spiritual paths include meditation and work based on one’s caste in society. These methods provide a path to allow spiritual journey and union with the Devine. The varieties of yogas address the different needs of different people. Jnana Yoga is the path of knowledge yoga which followers study the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita and learn from teachers to contemplate their soul’s oneness with Brahman. Priests and intellectuals tend to gravitate to this practice. (Molloy, 2010, p.92). This form of yoga requires great time and dedication to learn and master meditation. It is the shortest of paths but also the most difficult. Three schools of philosophy include the Vedanta which holds all reality is Brahman, Sankhya which has one free their eternal self from bondage of their inner self, and Yoga which frees the eternal self from person. Karma Yoga is the path of action yoga which involves religious ceremonies, traditions and ethical duties. This yoga can be daily practice seen in everyday tasks done with dharma (ethical duty) and because it is the right thing to do. Molloy states “if done unselfishly, can be a way to perfection” (Molloy, 2010, p. 93). Examples would be raising family, completing tasks, and volunteering. Bhaki Yoga is the path of devotion and for emotional worship of the followers. Hinduism...
Words: 338 - Pages: 2
