Yoga Philosophy: Fourteen Lectures

Author: American Yoga Association
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: Yoga is not a religion; it is a method that anyone can use, a way to seek inner peace in this utterly restless world. The precise definition of the term "yoga" in the ancient sage Patanjali's Yoga Sutras is "the control of the mind." It originates from the Sanskrit transliteration, meaning "union" or "connection," signifying the concentration of consciousness to achieve meditation. Through yoga practice, the various aspects of human nature can be "united" and harmonized with the highest universal spirit, enabling one to be liberated from suffering and disaster. Yoga is also one of the oldest forms of physical conditioning in the East. Through yoga practice, the seeds of rebirth generated in the human mind can be extinguished, self-realization can be attained, and all obstacles of humanity can be eliminated. Initially, only a few people practiced yoga, usually in monasteries, rural cottages, Himalayan caves, and dense forest areas, taught by yogis to willing disciples. Over time, yoga gradually spread among the common people in India. Today, yoga has become a scientific method of human body cultivation, summarized through centuries of practical experience by the Indian people. Yoga has a complete set of practices that extend from the physical to the spiritual. Today, yoga is not only within the realm of philosophy and religion but also has a broader meaning and more powerful vitality. This book is a basic reading material for the popularization of yoga research department, playing an important role in promoting yoga in the West.