Thursday, September 13, 2012

Did you know? There's a huge difference between western and yogic psychology (VIDEO)

Did you know? (Sourced from venerable guru Sri Swami Jyotirmayananda - spoken from his ashram in Miami, Florida - and thanks to Victoria Brunacci for taking me to his ashram recently).

“Did you know that western psychology is concerned with how to handle and deal with the mind? ...but the yoga psychology of Patanjali's Yoga sutras is concerned with how to transcend the mind? What a huge difference in approach! Both approaches may have value... but in my small opinion the yoga way of meditation is a very effective means of experiencing sustained peace of mind and well being!"



Now a bit more about Patanjali’s Yoga sutras (aka: Raja Yoga)

Starting off with the first two sutras of book 1 (loosely translated)...

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras – Book 1 (the Problem of Union)

Sutra #1 - atha yogā 'nuśāsanaṃ - “Now, The following instruction concerns the Science of Union (or Yoga).”
Sutra #2 – yogaś citta vṛtti nirodhaḥ - “This Union (or Yoga) is achieved through the subjugation and the restraint of the chitta (‘stuff’ of the mind).”

Commentary on sutra #2 - Here Patanjali instructs the student to prevent the mind from assuming the many forms it so easily does, whereas western psychology analyses these ‘mind forms’ (chitta) in an attempt to determine the character and traits of the individual. Again, a huge difference!

When these mind forms are present and active in any given individual western psychologists then assess whether that person is in need of treatment or not, based on certain professional guidelines used to determine levels of “so-called” sanity. Problem is; these guidelines are also part of the same ‘mind stuff’. Whereas, in the case of yogic meditation as outlined in Patanjali’s sutras the mind forms are stilled and their very presence is transcended, when this happens it brings peace and the yogi knows himself as he is in reality.

Patanjali’s Yoga sutras are the basis of Ashtanga Yoga and aspiring yogis would do well to study them. Raja Yoga reveals the art and science of traditional Yoga meditation for Self-Realization. It is a scientific process of systematically encountering, examining, and transcending each of the various gross and subtle levels of false identity (ego) in the mind field, until the jewel of the true Self comes shining through and liberation is assured.

There are 196 sutras organized progressively in four books or chapters...

• Book 1 - Samadhi Pada, 51 sutras (concentration and meditation)
• Book 2 - Sadhana Pada, 55 sutras (practice)
• Book 3 - Vibhuti Pada, 56 sutras (progressing)
• Book 4 - Kaivalya Pada, 34 sutras (liberation)

For more on Patanjali’s Yoga sutras click on: Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Raja Yoga - Ashtanga Yoga

Of realted interest (Video)...



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