philosophy of yoga today is very popular.For many it has become a real discovery in life.Yoga makes a tortured people from the daily stress and helps them to see the most important thing, discarding minor.However, it is not reduced to the commonplace complex exercise.Yoga as an ancient tradition and religion, yoga philosophy and medicine - that's what will be discussed in this article.
reasons for the popularity of yoga in the world today
As mentioned above, yoga is extremely popular today.You could even say that it is fashionable in today's society.What are the reasons for this popularity?
You need to answer one question.Modern identity - what is it?Exhausted, depressed and oppressed.Man of XXI century, usually spends his life in the pursuit of dubious benefit.Yoga also helps to not only cope with the daily stress, but also teaches focus (and power) to the most important, truly important things.
Yoga philosophy reveals to man the only way to realize the essence, helping to fully unleash your inner potential.
curious that yoga practices are in any case.Even if a person does not believe in them or do not have a clue about the nature and basis of this philosophy.This is another unique feature of yoga.
Yoga philosophy (briefly)
What is yoga?Is it fair to call it a philosophy, science or religion?
The word in Sanskrit means "union."In a narrow sense, we are talking primarily about harmony and merging of body and soul.In a more global sense is the union of man with God.
Yoga - Indian philosophy is very ancient.Its basic tenets singled in the second century BC, the famous guru Patanjali.However, to say that the philosophy of yoga was founded it was wrong.It is believed that yoga gave to humanity the Creator (through the avatar Krishna).
basis of this study are inconsistent.Their individual aspects can be found in various ancient Indian sources, beginning with the Vedas.That is why historians can not determine the precise chronological framework of this direction.
philosophy of yoga is extremely versatile.However, the main aim of the exercise - is to achieve nirvana.This term refers to a full reunion with the Creator.
To date, researchers have identified a number of forms of yoga.It:
- karma yoga;
- bhakti-yoga;
- Jnana Yoga;
- mantra yoga;
- hatha yoga and others.
Each of these areas - is just one step towards a common goal of yoga philosophy - the unity with God.In this article we will focus in more detail on the last of these forms.
parable of the hidden divinity
philosophy of yoga for beginners is the best illustrated by one of the ancient Indian parable.It will help to better understand the essence of the teachings of those who are just beginning to get acquainted with him.
So the parable of the hidden divinity ...
According to legend, before all the people on Earth were gods.These Brahma created them.Soon, however, the master of all the gods saw that they use their power not quite righteously, and therefore decided to take their divine power.At the same time he had a question: where does the divinity hide from people that they could not find it?
To solve this dilemma, Brahma summoned advisers.Those started to fill it with various options: one offered to bury the divinity of the ground, the other - to throw it on the bottom of the ocean ... However, no proposal did not like Brahma."Sooner or later people will get to the bottom of the oceans, and" - he replied thoughtfully.
Suddenly the master of the gods he realized what to do.He decided to hide the divinity within man himself.And it did.Man conquered the heavens and the depths of the sea, drilled kilometer tunnel under the ground, but have never really never looked inside myself.
History Yoga: ancient finds
difficult to determine how deep the roots of the history of yoga stretch.So, in the Indus Valley archeologists have found ancient printing, dating back to the second millennium BC.They depict people and deities in unusual positions (of the researchers counted 16 different products).This finding has prompted historians to think that a form of yoga has been known to the inhabitants of the Harappan civilization.
As for the written testimonies, the term "yoga" first occurs in the Rig Veda - one of the most ancient monuments of Indian literature.
Patanjali and his "Yoga Sutras"
This doctrine refers to a list consisting of the six orthodox schools of Hinduism.The philosophy of yoga is very closely linked to the direction of Sankhya.However, compared with her, yoga - a theistic.About
relationship of these two schools said at the time, and Heinrich Zimmer.However, he argued that Sankhya provides a general explanation of the nature of man, while the yoga practices and opens the way to his complete liberation (moksha state).
Like any other school of Indian philosophy, yoga has its sacred texts.This so-called "Yoga Sutras", stated the sage Patanjali.In one of them, by the way, the teacher reveals the very essence of the concept under consideration.According to the text of the second sutra, yoga - it is "the process of curbing the unrest, inherent in the mind."
Swami Vivekananda: his life philosopher
One of the brightest representatives of this school is the Indian sage and social activist Swami Vivekananda.Yoga philosophy in his work gained a new meaning.He was able to explain its key position in terms of the Western world.
Swami Vivekananda lived and worked in the second half of the XIX century.He was born in 1863 into a very religious family.He studied at the Scottish Church College, which had a particular interest in philosophy.At the same time, Vivekananda given purpose to find a man who met with God himself.And soon he finds it.It was kind of Ramakrishna.Vivekananda soon becomes his pupil.
In 1888 he, together with other disciples of Ramakrishna, begins to travel through the territory of India.Then sent to other countries (USA, France, Japan, England and others).Sage died in 1902.The body of Swami as his spiritual mentor, was cremated on the banks of the Ganges River.
During his life, Vivekananda wrote a number of works.The most important among them are the following:
- "Karma Yoga" (1896).
- "Raja Yoga" (1896).
- "Vedanta philosophy: lectures on Jnana Yoga" (1902).
Swami Vivekananda: philosophies
Vivekananda belongs to a very well-known saying: "God is one, differ only by his name."Some call him Jesus, the other - by Allah, and others - Buddha and so on.
Swami Vivekananda differed originality of his thought.His main contribution as a philosopher is that he is able to prove that the key ideas of Vedanta can be applied in a purely practical purposes, in public life.
"Every person - is divine in itself" - this saying Ramakrishna was a red thread in the life of the philosopher.He was sure that no one will be free until the free will not everyone else.Vivekananda asserted that a truly enlightened person is obliged to work tirelessly for the salvation of others.Philosopher exalted unselfishness, and campaigned all not to lose faith in yourself.
public view Swami Vivekananda was based on the fact that the state and the church should be separated.Religion, in its opinion, in any case, should not interfere in matters of marriage, inheritance relationships, and the like.He also believed that society should ideally be a uniform mixture of all four castes.And he was convinced that religion should not interfere in the process of building an ideal society.
Hatha Yoga: the philosophy of the school
name this direction Yoga translated from Sanskrit as "heightened merger."The first postulates that school systematized Swami Svatmarama.He believed that Hatha Yoga is a process of preparation of the human body to complex meditation.
The word "hatha" is believed to researchers, it consists of two components: the "ha" - the mind and "tha" - life force.
Hatha yoga - is a comprehensive teaching on how to achieve physical harmony with the help of physical and mental effects on the body (this asana, pranayama, mudra and bandha).Each of them influences on a specific part of the human body.In hatha yoga systems specially selected certain exercises that can help you improve your health and to combat major diseases.
breath - the basis of life
main focus of hatha yoga is done on the breath.Proponents of this school believe that the influence of breathing on the body so much that only one pranayama (breathing exercises) can significantly improve your condition.A skilful combination of the asanas with them - it does guarantee of a healthy and strong body.
Hatha Yoga as a medical philosophy aims paramount complete cleansing of the human respiratory system.In addition, it is an art of relaxation of the body and all its muscles.After all, a real clarity of mind comes only to the relaxation of the organism.
condition of the body, health, and human thought processes are closely connected with his breathing.I think, I will agree with everything.That is why in Hatha Yoga is the attention paid to the art and technique of proper breathing.She also teaches people how to breathe correctly, not only during special sessions, but also in everyday life.A wise and careful attitude towards their health - that is what teaches people hatha yoga.The philosophy and practice at the same time organically woven into this teaching.
overall goals and objectives of yoga
one who decided to engage seriously in yoga, can pursue different goals.This can be a simple desire to improve their health or cure chronic disease.And for someone to Yoga - it is the key to achieving moksha ("union with Brahman").
By the way, it is moksha - the process and the fact that liberation from samsara - the ultimate goal of many schools of ancient Indian philosophy.But in Vaishnavism main goal of yoga is the desire for God, the Creator.According to the teachings of the school, Vaishnava then falls into a blissful spiritual world, where he can enjoy the devotional service to Vishnu.
development of yoga in Russia
individual Russian citizens showed interest in yoga in pre-revolutionary times.In the era of the Soviet Union, this school was under the ideological ban, which, however, did not prevent individual enthusiasts to engage in semi-legal.
in Russia at various times, many well-known personalities were active advocates of yoga.Among them - the doctor Boris Smirnov, Professor V. Brody writer VI Voronin, engineer J. J. Koltunov and many others.In the late 80-ies in Moscow starts institution of higher education - the so-called Academy of Yoga.Its founder was Gennady Statsenko.At the same time the capital of the Soviet Union there is a laboratory which has been studying non-traditional methods of treatment and rehabilitation.Of course, in the sphere of interest of the laboratory is and teachings of ancient India - yoga.
Yoga for Beginners: some useful advice
Today, yoga courses are taught in almost every health club.However, knowledgeable people still recommend to attend classes at a specialized school.
Finally some useful tips for those planning to start doing yoga:
- clothing for employment should be comfortable and made of natural fabric;
- begin mastering yoga need small, gradually penetrating into the "depth" of this doctrine;
- miss classes undesirable, because each new session is a logical continuation of the previous;
- to the practice of Yoga must be approached very conscientiously and thoroughly.
And, of course, do not forget that yoga - it's not just healthy, toned body, but also the opportunity to experience the harmony of body and soul.
In conclusion ...
Yoga - philosophy of ancient India, which is very popular in the modern world.However, this is not exactly a philosophy, or rather, not just her.It is also a science, religion, the centuries-old tradition and practice.What is so attracted to yoga philosophy of modern man?
short answer to this question may be the two main theses.First: Yoga helps a person cope with the huge pressure of the cruel reality.Second, it is able to each of us to open the way to a knowledge of himself, his inner self.
