Definition
- What does God mean?
God,
in the context of yoga philosophy, is described in the Yoga Sutras as a
"special Self" that is untouched by afflictions and karmas. Because
the supreme aim of yoga is to attain freedom from karma and afflictions such as
ignorance, ego and attachment, God is believed to exist in the realm of perfect
consciousness.
The
Yoga Sutras describe God as wholly omniscient and the teacher of all teachers.
Most yoga philosophy interprets this as an inner teacher. Spiritual practice
makes it possible to connect with this teacher, who then helps in the
attainment of freedom from karmic bonds.
Yoga
explains God
Let's
start by acknowledging that defining God is a nearly impossible task as there
are so many points of view. There have been many books written on this subject,
not to mention lifetimes spent on the task of defining God.
There
are many religions that believe in a god; but, in yoga, this higher being and
higher purpose is sought as a way to leave behind the physicality of life and
reconnect one to nature and Self. For many, to practice yoga is a form of
uniting with God. In yoga, God is referred to as the Deva, which is known in
the Sanskrit language in the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita as the real Self or
the Seer.
According
to yoga philosophy, we also interpret God as Consciousness or that
consciousness leads to God. Finally, in yoga, the individual and God are
believed to be one.
The
Sanskrit word Chaitanya means ‘consciousness’, 'spirit' 'intelligence' or 'sensation'. It is the pure
Consciousness or the cosmic intelligence, the consciousness that knows itself
and also knows others
Kutastha
Chaitanya
What
is Kutastha Chaitanya?
Kutastha
chaitanya is a Sanskrit term considered by some to be synonymous with Christ
Consciousness. Kutastha means “that which is unchanged” and Chaitanya means
“Consciousness.”
The
concept refers to the idea that consciousness is universal and common in all
things. This purity of Consciousness is what makes all things one. The common
consciousness is the witness of the
mental vrittis, or modifications and workings of the mind, but it is not
affected by these. The mind is different for each individual and, for most
people, is said to limit them from experiencing Kutastha Chaitanya.
In
the state of Kutastha Chaitanya, the entire universe is experienced and felt as
one by the yogi: there is no longer any separation between the individual and Universal Consciousness.
Another
way of considering Kutastha Chaitanya is by considering it to be the
consciousness of God, which is projected onto and present in all of creation.
This is related to the Christian concept of Christ being the purest reflection
of God the Father as manifest in the physical realm.
Yogis
believe that Christ, along with Krishna and other avatars manifest the oneness
with God. Some teachers say that Kutastha Chaitanya can be perceived through
meditation as an image when looking through the spiritual eye (point between
the eye brows). This image is said to appear first as on orange ring, followed
by a blue ring, with a small five-pointed white star in the center.
Another
way of saying this is that the energy of the inner or astral world can be
perceived as the orange ring, the causal world (or Kutastha Chaitanya) is
represented by the large blue center and the white star symbolizes the Infinite
Cosmic Consciousness. The intention of meditation is to enter this white star and
experience oneness with God, Cosmic Consciousness.
Cosmic
Consciousness
What
does Cosmic Consciousness mean?
Cosmic
Consciousness is a term often used to denote a higher or particularly spiritual
level of awareness and consciousness.
This
type of awareness may be associated with an experience of “knowing God,"
or of transcending the five senses and finding a hidden consciousness or
reality which is beyond the perceivable world. For many people, the journey to
experiencing Cosmic Consciousness involves practices such as yoga, meditation,
prayer and acts of faith.
In
Cosmic Consciousness, the human mind is elevated beyond the awareness of the personality self and the ego, and enters a place of oneness and unity with the universe.
Finding this unity is one goal of yoga practice.
Yoga
explains Cosmic Consciousness
When
Cosmic Consciousness is reached, the individual moves from believing in the
oneness of the universe to having a direct knowledge of that fact. This level
of consciousness requires letting go of the superficial ego os sense of separeteness.
Some
claim that reaching this awareness requires a person to retreat from the noise
of the outside world and seek solitude in order to develop a heightened
awareness of their own mental state and that of those around them. This is not
required, one can reach higher states of awareness in the midst of living in
the world.
In
1901, Richard Maurice Bucke -- a Canadian psychiatrist -- wrote a book about
Cosmic Consciousness, in which he defined it as the highest of three levels of
consciousness found in living beings:
Simple consciousness, which both mankind
and animals possess;
Self-consciousness, which includes thought,
reason, and imagination and that mankind possesses; and
Cosmic Consciousness, which is a higher and
more spiritual consciousness than most ordinary people possess.
For
Bucke, Cosmic Consciousness included a spiritual understanding that there is
eternal life and that God is the whole universe. He saw all things as being
interconnected, a part of the cosmic consciousness. A popular meditation and
spirituality figure in the West, Deepak Chopra has postulated that the concept
of Cosmic Consciousness may be related to the hidden dimensions of quantum
mechanics.
A
spiritual yoga practice can help an individual move closer to attaining Cosmic
Consciousness. Practices that open the third eye and crown chakras are
particularly helpful in reaching this goal.
Self
What
does Self mean?
The
Self is what makes someone an individual; it is the essential being of a
person, the awareness of one’s own inner being. One of the aims of yoga is to
become more self-aware or able to distinguish between one’s inner life and
thoughts, as well as connect with the higher or true Self.
Yoga
explains Self
There
are two parts to the Self. The first is the lower Self, or ego, which consists
of the temporary body, the five senses, changing thoughts and opinions. The
second is the higher or true Self, and is the essential core of a person that
is unchanging.
Yoga
practitioners desire to connect with and know the true Self in order to
distinguish that which is unchanging and spiritual from that which is temporary
and physical. When an individual is connected with the Self through their yoga
practice, he is able to recollect who hey truly is.
Yoga
What
does Yoga mean?
Yoga
is a physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India.
It became popular in the West in the 20th century. The word, yoga, comes from
“to yoke.” Thus, yoga is the practice that aims to join the mind, body and
spirit. The ultimate goal of yoga is to achieve liberation.
Yoga
has been practiced for thousands of years and, over the years, many different
interpretations have developed about what yoga means. Each different type of
yoga has its own emphasis and practices.
Yoga
explains Yoga
In
the West, yoga is most often associated with the physical practice of asanas
(physical exercises), particularly stretching exercises to build flexibility
and relax the body. Yoga asanas can also build strength, coordination, balance
and stamina. However, this is only one aspect of yoga as asana practice is just
one of the "eight limbs" of yoga as listed in Patanjali’s Yoga
Sutras, a key sacred text on the philosophy of yoga. These eight limbs are:
Yama - Five abstentions (or outer
observances)
Niyama - Five inner observances
Asana - Meaning “seat” and referring to the
physical posture needed for meditation
Pranayama - Controlled or suspended breath
Pratyahara - Withdrawal of the senses
Dharana - Single pointed concentration
Dhyana - Meditation
Samadhi - Liberation
There
are many different paths of yoga, including Bhakti yoga, Karma yoga and Jnana
yoga, and rajas yoga, but all are rooted in the yamas and niyamas, and have the same goal of
samadhi (oneness).
Yoga
is thought to be therapeutic for many physical and mental conditions. Studies
have been carried out demonstrating its effectiveness as a treatment for back
pain, stress and schizophrenia, to name a few.
Yoga
explains Self-Love
Practicing
yoga postures and meditation can be considered a form of Self-love. Through
regular, mindful yoga practice, practitioners are taking the time to connect
with themselves and, thus, to respect the inner Self. This definition can be
broadened so that other aspects of a yogic lifestyle, like eating a nourishing
diet, reducing stress levels and sleeping well, are also examples of practicing
Self-love.
Some
consider Self-love to be the most important yogic principle because the more
someone practices ahimsa (harmlessness) toward themselves, the more they are able to refrain
from harming others, intentionally or otherwise. Others say that the violence
done by people to the external world is only a manifestation of the inner
violence they inflict upon themselves. Thus, in order to make positive
contributions to the external world, it is necessary to start with Self-love.
Self-love
is also closely linked to the concepts of surrender and acceptance of one's
self in the present moment, which may be cultivated through mindful practices
such as yoga and meditation.
Mindfulness
What
does Mindfulness mean? Mindfulness is the practice of being deliberately aware
from moment to moment of one’s conscious experience. It is the state of tuning
in to the stream of consciousness as it flows and staying in the present moment
with this awareness.
Mindfulness
is an important part of yoga and meditation. Greater mindfulness can be
cultivated through yoga and especially through meditation practices. This has
been linked both historically and in modern scientific studies to improved
well-being and mental health.
Yoga
explains Mindfulness
Mindfulness
can be considered a process of waking up to the present moment. The
practitioner’s focus shifts from memories of the past and plans about the
future to what is happening right now. However, the practice of mindfulness is
not only about being aware of the present moment, but also about the quality of
that awareness. When developing mindfulness, the practitioner tries to
purposefully bring his/her attention to the present moment and cultivate an
attitude of acceptance and non-judgment.
Most
of the time, when not practicing mindfulness, the mind is in a fleeting state
of initial awareness. Usually, once the mind is aware of something, it begins
thinking about it, weaving a narrative around it, labeling it and judging it.
When mindfulness is practiced, the practitioner begins to extend that fleeting
moment into a prolonged state of awareness.
Because
mindfulness is an objective and non-judgmental process, it is closely linked to
other yogic concepts of acceptance and surrender. A person can still experience
thoughts, feelings and difficult states of mind; but, through mindfulness,
these experiences can become less threatening. They simply become something
else to be aware of and be accepted without resistance or grasping.
Inner
Self,
What
does Inner Self mean?
The
inner Self is an individual’s personal, internal identity, one that is distinct
from identities defined by external, social forces and relationships. It is
closely linked to a person’s values, beliefs, goals and motivations.
The
term also implies a level of authenticity not associated with external
identities and labels; it is the “true Self.” Many refer to the inner Self as
the soul, particularly in spiritual contexts. Meditation and yoga practices
have been used for thousands of years as a way to tune into the body and access
and align with the inner Self.
Yoga
explains Inner Self
The
inner self is a state of consciousness that can be accessed through meditation
and introspection, which promote greater self-awareness and acceptance. Yoga
philosophy views each person's core self as perfect, but aims to help bring
awareness to negative patterns or thoughts that may not be serving a person's
higher purpose. Yoga is the process of cleaning the mind of all the things that
keep the true inner Self from shining through.
Enlightenment
What
does Enlightenment mean? Enlightenment is a state of awakened understanding. It
can be described as the transcendence of suffering and desire in order to
obtain spiritual liberation (moksha). To be enlightened is to be freed from the
tyranny of the mind and to experience deep spiritual peace, presence and
wholeness.
The
state of enlightenment is important in Hindu, Buddhist and yogic philosophy.
According to the teachings of yoga, enlightenment is the goal of all meditation
and yogic practices, physical, mental or spiritual.
Yoga
explains Enlightenment
Explanations
of enlightenment vary depending on the tradition. In Buddhism, enlightenment is
usually seen as an awakening to the absolute Truth, which releases the
enlightened individual from the cycle of reincarnation.
In
Hinduism, it is described as a divine, transcendent experience. Sometimes it is
described as a sudden, transformative moment of awakening and other times it is
seen as a more gradual process of being liberated from the bondage of the mind.
In
terms of paths to enlightenment, different schools of yoga and philosophy
prescribe different routes. For instance, classical Advaita Vedanta promotes
Jnana yoga as a way of attaining enlightenment through spiritual study, whereas
Bhakti yoga pursues enlightenment through devotion and the worship of God.
Many
yogis and teachers agree that enlightenment is not really a state that we have
to reach because, in a sense, we are all already enlightened. Therefore, the
goal of the spiritual journey is to uncover what is already there.
Enlightenment means revealing or remembering what our true, original nature is.
Moksha, liberation during one's lifetime.
What
does Moksha mean? Moksha is the concept of ultimate freedom and liberation that
releases one from the life-death cycle and from the limitations of a worldly
existence. To reach the state of moksha is to attain absolute freedom, peace
and oneness with the Divine.
Moksha
is similar to the Buddhist concept of nirvana. The terms are often used
interchangeably; however, Hindus believe nirvana is the state a person enters
into after achieving moksha.
Yoga
explains Moksha
The
concept of moksha is closely tied to self-acceptance and the consciousness of
oneness with all existence. Once a person reaches this state, he/she has found
freedom, peace and bliss.
There
are different methods, or paths to moksha. In yoga, one may follow the path of
Jnana, Bhakti, Karma and/or Raja yoga to achieve this absolute freedom. In
addition, the relatively new Moksha yoga, also known as Modo yoga, may offer
yet another path for one's spiritual practice. This is a form of hot yoga in
which a cardiovascular-based sequence of poses in a heated room is designed to
strengthen and stretch the body while quieting the mind.
Causal
World
Definition
- What does Causal World mean?
According
to certain schools of yogic philosophy, Self-realization is achieved when a
yogi transcends the three realms of existence. These are the material world,
the astral world and, finally, the causal world. The causal world is the realm
beyond the material and astral worlds. It is the world of thoughts and
ideation, where consciousness resides once it has transcended the other two.
Once
a yogi's consciousness enters the causal world, they have no need for a gross
physical body and become beings of pure light. They have understood that both
the physical and astral worlds are simply manifestations of thoughts within the
causal world. It is said that someone who has entered the causal world can use
their thoughts to do anything someone in the physical world can do instantly. They are
only limited by thought itself.
Yoga
explains Causal World
The
causal world is considered to be a blissful realm, transcending even thoughts
of heaven. The causal world is sometimes referred to in Hindu teachings as
Brahmaloka.
To
exist in this plane, a soul will have complete awareness that they are a being
of light. Although every other aspect of the self is retained, the
manifestation of the physical body and the material environment become
insignificant. Consciousness does not need any physical form in this existence.
Once
someone has transcended the causal plane, they will have broken the cycle of
rebirth and karma. In this state of being, they are in complete and eternal
union with God, or Brahman.
Astral
World
Definition
- What does Astral World mean?
The
astral world, or astral plane, is said to exist between the elemental (or
physical) and the mental (or causal) worlds. It is from the astral world that
some believe we emerge when we are born and where we return when we die.
One
benefit to connecting with the astral world is said to be that it is where our
true nature can be recognized. This can provide a tool for freeing us from the
suffering of the material world. Some even say that in the astral world, all of
the causes of disease and suffering are revealed, allowing for healing.
Yoga
explains Astral World
Many
think of the astral world as a place that people reside after death. While
there, they take on an astral body. However, others say that they can gain
awareness of the astral world during their lifetimes. This may come through
sleep and dreaming, or via anesthetics, drugs or other mind altering events.
It
is said that people with more refined thoughts are more likely to be able to
travel from the physical world to the astral world. In going deeper into the
astral world they may gain insights that benefit those around them and humanity
in general.
According
to some theosophical teachings, the astral world has seven dimensions, which
link with esoteric views that there are seven types of matter: solid, liquid,
gaseous, etheric, super-etheric, atomic and sub-atomic.
