Vairagya
What does Vairagya mean?
Vairagya is a Sanskrit term meaning "detachment." It is a state of being free of attachment to materialistic life. It can also be defined as the mental state of mind that lets go of all attachments that belong to the materialistic world. Letting go of feelings such as pride, ego, aversion, inferiority and superiority complex, false identities and fear, are all also associated with vairagya.
According to the Yoga Sutras, the core principles of yoga are vairagya and abhyasa, meaning "to practice."
Attaining vairagya is the only way to achieve spiritual progress. Vairagya can be achieved by learning to discriminate between the essential and non-essential as well as by practicing the art of developing right thoughts, speech and action.
Abhyasa and vairagya, the core principles of yoga, set the stage for other practices that lead to control of the mind and Self-realization. Together, the principles take one through the right path to achieve the ultimate goal of realizing the Self.
The intensity or degree of vairagya is classified into three types: mridhu (meaning "mild"), madhyama (meaning "moderate") and teevra (meaning "intense"). It is teevra vairagya that makes Self-realization possible.
Vairagya has four stages:
Yatamana, which refers to the efforts to lead the mind away from sensual pleasures;
Vyatireka, meaning "logical discontinuance," the stage that makes you aware of your level of vairagya toward certain objects;
Ekendriya, the stage in which the senses remain subdued with the mind having attachment or aversion to an object; and
Vasirara, the highest stage in which there does not exist any temptation toward objects, there are no likes or aversions, and this is when Self-realization and spiritual supremacy become possible.
Now the question arrises that "How do I evolve my sadhana?"
Then the answer is very simple.
Sadhana is a Sanskrit term meaning "practice." To the sadhu or yogi, the way you integrate yoga into your life will vary based on your level of maturity in the practice, your own personal discipline (abhyasa), commitment and, according to yogic philosophy, your karma in this lifetime. What sadhana is not, is comparing and judging your practice against another's.
To evolve your sadhana, dedicate what you can to your daily practice because consistency is the key to forming the right habits to achieve the best results. It is better to be in sadhana just a little bit every day rather than one full day a week. This may be 15 minutes at sunrise, simply breathing and practicing mindfulness meditation, or it could be taking a daily yoga class.
There are many ways to integrate yoga into your life. Yogis who adhere to the eight-limbed path of the Yoga Sutras know that asana is just one of those ways. Practicing physical yoga asanas will help the body begin to move stagnant energy and bring both awareness and healing to your body, which aids the mind and spirit.
For most of us in the West, our practice starts with taking a few asana classes. Immediately we begin to feel changes in our bodies. From there we tend to explore seated practice, perhaps changing our diet, reflecting on our personal relationships, or forming new friends in our yoga kula.
The goal is that we experience steady progress, both inwardly and outwardly. The key to seeing development in your sadhana is vairagya, which translates to non-attachment to outcome. Yoga practice is about personal mastery, not personal perfection. It is about the journey, and not the destination.
Now the following paragraph arrise another important questions. That is, "What is the 8 Limbs of Yoga?". So for that I will not boar you I will just give you short imformation about that. If you want to learn more then just Google it.
The Eight Limbs of Yoga provide a complete path of practice with layers of meaning and opportunities for growth.
The 8 Limbs are:
That's it. But I will write more about SAMADHI. So stay connected to my blog and follow this blog.
What does Vairagya mean?
Vairagya is a Sanskrit term meaning "detachment." It is a state of being free of attachment to materialistic life. It can also be defined as the mental state of mind that lets go of all attachments that belong to the materialistic world. Letting go of feelings such as pride, ego, aversion, inferiority and superiority complex, false identities and fear, are all also associated with vairagya.
According to the Yoga Sutras, the core principles of yoga are vairagya and abhyasa, meaning "to practice."
Attaining vairagya is the only way to achieve spiritual progress. Vairagya can be achieved by learning to discriminate between the essential and non-essential as well as by practicing the art of developing right thoughts, speech and action.
Abhyasa and vairagya, the core principles of yoga, set the stage for other practices that lead to control of the mind and Self-realization. Together, the principles take one through the right path to achieve the ultimate goal of realizing the Self.
The intensity or degree of vairagya is classified into three types: mridhu (meaning "mild"), madhyama (meaning "moderate") and teevra (meaning "intense"). It is teevra vairagya that makes Self-realization possible.
Vairagya has four stages:
Yatamana, which refers to the efforts to lead the mind away from sensual pleasures;
Vyatireka, meaning "logical discontinuance," the stage that makes you aware of your level of vairagya toward certain objects;
Ekendriya, the stage in which the senses remain subdued with the mind having attachment or aversion to an object; and
Vasirara, the highest stage in which there does not exist any temptation toward objects, there are no likes or aversions, and this is when Self-realization and spiritual supremacy become possible.
Now the question arrises that "How do I evolve my sadhana?"
Then the answer is very simple.
Sadhana is a Sanskrit term meaning "practice." To the sadhu or yogi, the way you integrate yoga into your life will vary based on your level of maturity in the practice, your own personal discipline (abhyasa), commitment and, according to yogic philosophy, your karma in this lifetime. What sadhana is not, is comparing and judging your practice against another's.
To evolve your sadhana, dedicate what you can to your daily practice because consistency is the key to forming the right habits to achieve the best results. It is better to be in sadhana just a little bit every day rather than one full day a week. This may be 15 minutes at sunrise, simply breathing and practicing mindfulness meditation, or it could be taking a daily yoga class.
There are many ways to integrate yoga into your life. Yogis who adhere to the eight-limbed path of the Yoga Sutras know that asana is just one of those ways. Practicing physical yoga asanas will help the body begin to move stagnant energy and bring both awareness and healing to your body, which aids the mind and spirit.
For most of us in the West, our practice starts with taking a few asana classes. Immediately we begin to feel changes in our bodies. From there we tend to explore seated practice, perhaps changing our diet, reflecting on our personal relationships, or forming new friends in our yoga kula.
The goal is that we experience steady progress, both inwardly and outwardly. The key to seeing development in your sadhana is vairagya, which translates to non-attachment to outcome. Yoga practice is about personal mastery, not personal perfection. It is about the journey, and not the destination.
Now the following paragraph arrise another important questions. That is, "What is the 8 Limbs of Yoga?". So for that I will not boar you I will just give you short imformation about that. If you want to learn more then just Google it.
The Eight Limbs of Yoga provide a complete path of practice with layers of meaning and opportunities for growth.
The 8 Limbs are:
- Yamas
Yamas are the moral qualities necessary to reconnect us with our Soul nature. They include peacefulness, truthfulness, generosity, self-control and appreciation. Foundational to our well-being, these practices make our lives more comfortable and spiritually fulfilling.
- Niyamas
The second limb is comprised of the niyamas, observances that help us to integrate our inner and outer experience and create a more harmonious life. They include purification, contentment, right effort, self-reflection and devotion. As a result of cultivating these, we can expect to feel more whole, balanced and free.
- Asana
Asana is the practice of right posture to create a stable physical body that can sit at ease in meditation. Although the most accessible of the limbs, asana was never meant to be practiced alone as simple exercise. Designed as a means to an end, asana creates health in the physical body enabling it to be quiet and support the mind in doing the same. When body and mind are quiet, consciousness can transcend identification with the physical and remember its divine nature.
- Pranayama
The control and management of the subtle life force currents is pranayama. After stilling body and mind, we are meant to direct the prana, or life force, at will and move into subtler realms of awareness.
- Pratyahara
The practice of internalizing the senses is pratyahara. By unplugging from outer stimuli, giving the senses some down time, we overcome attachments and desires and move closer to the inner domain of pure awareness. This is an essential step toward the ability to meditate.
- Dharana
Dharana is the practice of single-pointed concentration. Once the senses have been controlled and withdrawn, we choose an inner point of focus. Dharana is the practice of training the mind toward a point of devotional attention that envelopes our whole being.
- Dhyana
Once the mind and body have been stabilized and focused, then the state of stillness or meditation can be achieved. Here, consciousness flows continuously inward rather than outward, and peace is experienced. This is dhyana, or meditation.
- Samadhi
The ever-present, ever-fresh bliss that is experienced when individual consciousness is reunited with the Universal Consciousness is samadhi. There are many levels to samadhi, some lasting only momentarily. When the final stage is reached, consciousness has been mastered and the soul merges again with its Source.
That's it. But I will write more about SAMADHI. So stay connected to my blog and follow this blog.