What Is Yoga?
From The
Yoga of Wealth, © 2002, Durga
Ma
Like many Sanskrit
words, the word 'yoga' has a lengthy definition,
and encompasses everything from 'union with
the Divine' to 'way, manner, method, or means.'
Yoga is the spiritual science
of unification with the Divine. The most prevalent use
of the word yoga in our time applies to various forms
of physical exercise involving postures, positions of
the body and physical flexibility. The more precise term
for this these exercises is asana; however, asana represents
only one facet of yoga and can be applied to the mind
and the emotions as well as the physical body.
Yoga is an experiential science and is concerned with the individual. It is
not a religion. Where the western world tends toward organized social religion,
yoga epitomizes individuality and spirituality.
The word yoga consists of the Sanskrit root
yuj (to yoke, link or harness together, unite, unify) to
which is added ghan (uninterrupted, deep, complete, auspicious).
The word samadhi, the state of unification or oneness with
the Divine, is synonymous with the word yoga. This state,
arrived at by means of profoundly deep meditation, is achieved
when the fluctuations of the mind cease. Yoga is
the reunion of the individual “self” with the
blissful Cosmic One.
It is not necessary to specifically
take up the path of yoga in order to
gain greatly through its knowledge and practice.
As a spiritual science it is adaptable to all
individual spiritual paths and religions.
Yoga bows with respect to all.
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