In general, yoga is seen as a practice. Some schools affiliated with this discipline contradict this perception, most of which are located in Indian and Asian countries.
But what is yoga? What about its nature? Are these Buddhist or Hindu practices?
The Philosophy of Yoga
According to the masters and teachings, yoga has a philosophy which defines it and explains its reason for being. In the Buddhist and Hindu context, the term yoga means yoke, that is to say the search for union with God. The definition proposed in the Dictionary of Wisdom confirms this:
“Any path leading to the knowledge of God can be called yoga. (....) Anyone who seeks to realize the mystical experience of union with God is a yogi, regardless of their obedience, Indian shamanism or its Christian mysticism.”
Indeed, Karma-Yoga is a process which allows the faithful to dedicate their actions and the fruits that result from them to God. Moreover, the philosophy of yoga is based on the belief in the existence, the eternal principle identical to the universal spirit and the intimacy of each individual. Therefore, yoga is theistic because practitioners recommend devotion to God.
Yoga and Hinduism
Yoga is one of the disciplines recognized and promoted by the Indian government as well as Indian medicine and homeopathy. The roots of yoga come from Hinduism. Most of the yogas currently practiced appeared in India and the exercises practiced during a session are in accordance with haltha-yoga. It is only in the last decade that yoga has been put into perspective in relation to social conditions and cultural developments. Hence the birth of modern yoga. Hinduism has four types of yoga which are presented in personified aspects, namely:
- Jnana yoga: the yogi is a rational person, that is to say he meditates to know and control his body;
- Raja yoga: the yogi is a meditative person, that is to say he is dedicated to the cultivation of the sib mind;
- Bhakti yoga: the yogi is a charismatic person, that is to say he devotes his life to loving devotion;
- Karma Yoga: Yogi is an active person, that is to say he relies on Karma.
General information on Buddhist Yoga
At the time of Buddha, the practice of yoga was broad and aligned with other practices such as tantras, meditation or the eightfold path. However, for more than a decade, several masters have been experimenting with it. Buddhists as well as followers of Buddhist culture know that when Guatama Siddharta known as Buddha Shakyamuni attained enlightenment, he began teaching. In his teaching, he emphasized the cohesion between practice, sight and conduct.
These are three fundamental and inseparable elements of the spiritual path. Compassion is an integral part of Buddha nature, because it is the literal translation of emptiness. In this perspective, Buddha refers to the experience linked to this emptiness. In Buddhism, yoga is represented by the five golden dharma, that is, the teaching of the Changpa lineage. If it is drawn like a tree, the six yogas transmitted by Sukhasiddhi and Nigouma would be the roots of the tree, the red and white Khechari Dakinis would be the branches, Mahamudra would be the trunk and the immortality would be the fruit.
The origins of yoga and Buddhism
Dating from the origins of Buddhism and yoga, both are spiritual paths that emerged and developed in India over fourteen centuries >. Some of their practices are similar and several practices, concepts and rituals converge. Over the past sixty years, Buddhism has taken on a new lease of life in its country of origin where many Hindus have converted.
Indeed, their main similarity is centered on the structuring of the eight anga. These eight limbs are present in Theravada/Vahrayana Buddhism and are also present in traditional hatha yoga. The other similarity is between Tibetan Tantric Buddhism and Shivaite Tantric Yoga. Today, these similarities are complementary in the eyes of practitioners and followers, because both are seen as a discipline, Buddhism is linked to the mind and yoga is linked to the body.
The essentials of Buddhist yoga
The fundamental elements of Buddhist yoga can be divided into two. Before getting to the heart of the matter, it is important to remember that Buddhist yoga exists and persists thanks to the cohesion between the Method and the View. Indeed, the yogi can learn yoga thanks to a firm and well-defined technique. To do this, he must have confidence and certainty about the object of the practice. Buddhist yoga is essentially composed of:
- Instructions regarding sight: it is the very basis of the practice, in other words it is a tool or a means of doing yoga;
- Conduct: it allows us to assimilate the experience of emptiness, whether in the aspects of life or death. Indeed, when the yogi is sufficiently concentrated at the time of practice, the simple method can provide an experience.
The six varieties of yoga
In Buddhism, yoga manifests and is practiced in several forms such as:
- Toumo yoga: this is the type of yoga in which the method takes an important place in the practice;
- The yoga of clear light: this is the type of yoga in which ignorance dissipates by itself;
- Bardo yoga: this is the type of yoga in which the body of glory called Sambhogakaya of the Buddha is realized;
- Yoga of the illusory body: this is the type of yoga in which aversion and attachment disappear spontaneously;
- Ejection of consciousness: this is the stage on which the yogi reaches the state of Buddha at the time of meditation without even practicing yoga;
- Dream Yoga : This is the type of yoga in which the dream illusion is purified spontaneously.
Jewelry for Yoga
It exists many jewelry used when you practice for yoga. Many necklaces and bracelets exist to open your chakra. We recommend the 7 chakra mala bracelet..
We have wrote an article where we explain the meaning of OM .
