Jnana Yoga
Besides presenting a profound, selfconsistent theory of the universe - and everything in it - Vedanta also tells how this theory can be verified. Vedanta prescribes certain techniques to be practiced in order to still the noises of the mind and body so that the Ultimate Reality may be experienced. The common name for these techniques is yoga. However, yoga is not part of any specific religion but is merely means to transform and develop human consciousness in a harmonic and natural way. Unfortunately, yoga is often associated with an odor of mysticism. Some may like it this way, but it is not a necessary prerequisite - one is free to approach yoga any way one likes to.
There is a variety of institutional yoga paths, and which to choose is mainly a matter of temperament. In most cases, the actual path of a person will be a self-made mixture of the various institutional paths. Advaita Vedanta can be considered a religion, a science or a philosophy, depending on how it is approached. The scientific approach includes the practicing of jnana yoga, which is the primary yoga path for the intellectual or scientific minded persons. Jnana means knowledge and practicing jnana yoga means, among other things, to systematically analyze ones experiences and make the proper conclusions concerning how to proceed. Thus, the jnana yoga approach closely resembles the way science works. - Regardless of which path one chooses, the various rules and techniques of raja yoga should be included to some extent - and the more the better. The core of raja yoga is a profound set of rules of conduct, body exercises, breath techniques and meditation techniques. - Raja yoga has eight limbs which are as follows.
- Five restraints: non-violence, truthfulness, moderation, non-stealing, non-covetousness.
- Five observances: cleanliness, contentment, austerity, study of enlightening texts, constant awareness of the Ultimate Reality.
- Body exercises.
- Breath exercises.
- Withdrawal of the senses.
- Concentration.
- Meditation.
- Samadhi: the superconscious state where unity with the Ultimate Reality is experienced.
The topmost two limbs are rules of general conduct. Some orthodox yogic teachers advocate that one cannot improve an inch unless one interprets 'austerity' as 'strict celibacy' and interprets 'enlightening texts' solely as 'ancient Vedic scriptures'. While ideas like these may speak to some, they are bound to turn most people off. One certainly can get pretty far by reading other kinds of good literature - even if one has a decent sex-life. The important thing to remember about yoga, is that one does not have to change ones way of living in order to practice it - one just takes up the practicing. The limbs 5-7 are all part of an usual meditation session and are often included in this term. As for limb 8 - it usually takes years of disciplined practicing before this state is reached.
