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Vedanta - a way of living >

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History of Yoga

Today, many people are taking up yoga for physical exercise, and most don’t know the rich history of yoga. The practice of yoga is much more than a system of physical exercise for health. The postures, called asanas in Sanskrit, are actually just a small part of the whole yogic system. Yoga is an ancient path to spiritual growth. If practised fully it is a step by step guide to lasting happiness and peace also referred to as enlightenment or self-realisation.

Earliest archaeological evidence of yoga's existence could be found in stone seals which depict figures of yoga postures. The stone seals place yoga's existence around 3000 B.C.

Yoga as we know it today is the result of a complex evolution that has been going on for at least 5000 years. However, according to most scholars, yoga can't be recognized as a complete and complex tradition before about 500 B.C.

Vedanta - A Way of Living

Vedanta is the philosophy in which the yogic system is rooted. The scriptures of Vedanta, called the Vedas are believed to be the oldest existing scriptures. The Vedas are written in verse form, revealing the teachings in a poetic way.

The word Vedanta contains two Sanskrit syllabus:

Veda = knowledge

Anta = end, conclusion

Vedanta = the end of all knowledge, or the essence of all knowledge, or the end of the scriptures which is self-realisation or enlightenment itself

The goal of Vedanta is a state of self-realisation or cosmic consciousness. Historically and currently, it is assumed that this state can be experienced by anyone, but it cannot be adequately conveyed in language it can only be experienced. Vedanta is not merely a speculative philosophy it is a way of living and realising. Vedanta is a life philosophy that can show us the way towards better relationships, health, work and understanding ourselves. It is about a deep, truly holistic understanding of what life is all about.

Vedanta is a teaching firmly based in self experience. If you don’t experience a teaching as having positive results in your life then don’t follow it. ‘Believe nothing, think for yourself’ is a fundamental way of teaching Vedanta. In that respect it is fully emphasising the liberation and empowerment of the individual. It gives full freedom to each individual to evolve morally and spiritually according to his or her faith and conviction. It includes various truths found in all religions of the world, including the teachings of the world's great saints and sages.

There is no world-teacher; world IS the teacher! World includes all that is happening both within and without. Each living moment can teach us something new, because no two moments are identical. The whole world is a process, which is continuously changing and evolving. One can learn continuously and directly from every change. An awareness of any change is cognition or knowledge. Human body and mind are both the means as well as the receiver of personal experience, knowledge, and understanding.

Self-realisation springs from within, because the fundamental truth of our existential being is within. It is not outside in the changing phenomena. It is the greatest wonder within, which needs to be discovered by our own watchful enquiry. We are an integral part of this incredible natural order. We are in nature and nature is within us at every level of our biophysical and mental organisation. To realise this amazing integration is what Vedanta is all about.

In order to realise the truth within, we have to become alert and be aware of all that is happening from moment to moment, both within and around us. It is about watching, listening and eventually just being in the moment. Vedanta and the yogic system give clear guidance on how to reach this state.

Simply stated, Vedanta teaches the following principles:

• Truth is ONE; we are ONE with everything there is, called Brahman in Vedanta.


• We are in our essence divine and have the potential to experience lasting happiness and bliss. We do not experience this in our everyday life because of our ignorance.


• The only goal of our lives is to realise this divinity. The only purpose of everything we do in life is to feel good and experience this state of lasting happiness.


• There are several ways to remove the ignorance and realise divinity within.

The 4 Paths of Yoga

Yoga is a practical aid to reach the inner state of balance, harmony and peace. It is a way of living which has been developed, tested and refined for over 2500 years. Over the centuries, four different paths of yoga have been developed. All four make up the whole yogic system. According to our personality we might have a preference for one of the paths. However, it is recommended to practise at least a bit of all of them to develop the whole person we are. One of the main aims of the different yogic paths is to minimise the ego since the ego destinguishes and seperates 'me' from 'you' and from ‘all there is’, called Brahman in Vedanta.

• Karma Yoga:
  Is the yoga of action also referred to as the yoga of the hands. It is based on the concept of being of self-less service with no expectation of results or gaining anything in return, this way diminishing the ego.
  
  Karma yoga is particularly suitable for people who have a very active temperament.



• Bhakti Yoga:
  Is the yoga of devotion or the yoga of the heart. Through singing, chanting mantras, praising and praying the ego is surrendered to a higher force, often a deity or a god of some kind. E.g. Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism are types of bhakti yoga.
  
  This path is often preferred by people with an emotional temperament.



• Raja Yoga:
  Is the yoga of mind control, also known as the scientific approach. Yoga postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation are all part of raja yoga. The mind is stilled with practicing these techniques and in return releases a vast psychic potential.
  
  This path is suitable for all temperaments.



• Jnana Yoga:
  Is the yoga of knowledge and the intellect, the philosophical approach. It is the most difficult paths to enlightenment. The practitioner engages on a pure intellectual level into distinguishing the world as we know as an illusion and is holding instead the thought of ‘oneness’ at the centre of their attention. Knowing how busy our mind is with its thoughts constantly tossing and turning it becomes obvious why this is a difficult path.
  
  This path requires a sharp mind and clear unclouded intellect.