SATYA YOGA MANDIR

The yoga we know today was developed as a part of the tantric civilisation which existed in India and all parts of the world more than ten thousand years ago. Yoga arose at the beginning of human civilisation when man first realised his spiritual potential and began to evolve techniques to develope it. The yogic science was slowly evolved and developed by ancient sages all over the world.

Yoga is the one and only practical system of physical, mental, moral and spiritual culture. Through its elaborate system of practical training, it sublimates man to divinity by a scientific scheme of education which affects not only the conscious but also the subconscious planes.

Its elaborated technique of physical education, hygiene, and auto therapy endows exuberant health contributive to longevity; its intricate psychosomatic and mental practices habituate one to moral and mental discipline, and its sublimal psychic education and processes finally culminate into positive and lasting happiness and peace.

Life today is full of stress and strain, of tension and nervous irritability, of passion and hurry. If man puts into practice a few of the elementary principles of Yoga, he would be far better equipped to cope with his complex existence.

Yoga brings in perfection, peace, and lasting happiness. You can have calmness of mind at all times by the practice of Yoga. You can have restful sleep. You can have increased energy, vigor, vitality, longevity, and a high standard of health. You can turn out efficient work within a short span of time. You can have success in every walk of life. Yoga will infuse in you new strength, confidence, and self-reliance. The body and mind will be at your beck and call.

Yoga brings your emotions under control. It increases your power of concentration at work. Yoga discipline gives poise and tranquility and miraculously rebuilds one's life. The Yoga way of life deepens man's understanding and enables him to know God and his relationship with Him.

We welcome you to come and learn the ancient wisdom of yogic self-development in a form suited to our analytical age.

There are four main paths of Yoga - Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga. Each is suited to a different temperament or approach to life. All the paths lead ultimately to the same destination - to union with Brahman or God - and the lessons of each of them need to be integrated if true wisdom is to be attained.

Karma Yoga

Karma Yoga is the Yoga of Action. It is the path chosen primarily by those of an outgoing nature. It purifies the heart by teaching you to act selflessly, without thought of gain or reward. You learn to sublimate the ego by detaching yourself from the fruits of your actions and offering them up to God.

Each job is a teacher of some sort. You can learn different skills by doing different jobs. Each job has different requirements in terms of time, degree of concentration, skills or experience, emotional input, physical energy, will. Try to do whatever job you are doing, well.

Bhakti Yoga

This path appeals particularly to those of an emotional nature. The Bhakti Yogi is motivated chiefly by the power of love and sees God as the embodiment of love. Through prayer, worship and ritual he surrenders himself to God, channeling and transmuting his emotions into unconditional love or devotion. Chanting or singing the praises of God form a substantial part of Bhakti Yoga.

Raja Yoga

Often called the "royal road" it offers a comprehensive method for controlling the waves of thought by turning our mental and physical energy into spiritual energy. Raja Yoga is also called Ahtanga Yoga referring to the eight limbs leading to absolute mental control. The chief practice of Raja Yoga is meditation. It also includes all other methods which helps one to control body, energy, senses and mind. The Hatha-Yogi uses Relaxation and other practices such as Yamas, Niyamas, Mudras, Bandhas etc.. to gain control of the physical body and the subtle life force called Prana. When body and energy are under control meditation comes naturally.

Jnana Yoga

This is the most difficult path, requiring tremendous strength of will and intellect. Taking the philosophy of Vedanta the Jnana Yogi uses his mind to inquire into its own nature. We perceive the space inside and outside a glass as different, just as we see ourselves as separate from God. Jnana Yoga leads the devotee to experience his unity with God directly by breaking the glass, dissolving the veils of ignorance. Before practicing Jnana Yoga, the aspirant needs to have integrated the lessons of the other yogic paths - for without selflessness and love of God, strength of body and mind, the search for self-realization can become mere idle speculation.

Compiled by the Sage Patanjali Maharishi in the Yoga Sutras, the Eight Limbs are a progressive series of steps or disciplines which purify the body and mind, ultimately leading the yogi to enlightenment. These 8 limbs are:

1. Yamas

The Yamas or restraints (The things not to do) are divided into five moral injuctions, aimed at destroying the lower nature. They should all be practiced and developed by the letter but also more importantly in the spirit. They should all be practiced in word, thought and deed.

... Ahimsa

Ahimsa deals with the emotion of anger. Anger comes from selfish desires or expectations unfulfilled. Selfish desire comes from our failure to recognize our fulfillment in the True Self, and our looking for happiness in external objects or situations. Ahimsa means restraining oneself from the reactive tendency to abuse others and enter into conflicts or wars. The antidote to anger is contentment or letting go of expectation, accepting that, "It is not my will, but God's will". One can act out of dharma-righeousness in the spirit of selflessness without being violent or selfish.

... Satya

Satya means truthfulness. It deals with our fear of not meeting our goals, in the eyes of ourselves or others. Fear comes from attachment. We will not be afraid if we do not have any attachment. In truth, we cannot gain or lose anything externally - name, fame, prestige, position or love - because we are already perfect in ourselves and we cannot be greater or smaller than what we already are. Applying Satya, we refrain from the tendency to exaggerate, to manipulate others, or to tell lies in order to achieve an egoistic goal. Sincereity, honesty and straightforwardness will help to simplify and clear the mind, thus achieving inner peace.

... Brahmacharya

Brahmacharya is control or sublimation of the sensual drive and deals with the emotion of lust. Through practicing brahmacharya, we can restrain the tendency to seek sensual pleasures as the goal of life, and to misuse our sexual energy - which is to be converted into spiritual energy. This guideline advises us to avoid sexual misconduct and to regulate our impulses, question our motives, and help reduce the dramas in human interaction that tend to arise from uncontrolled selfish passion. Applying Brahmacharya in our dealings with others, we will be able to transform our emotional and desirous nature into a fulfilling relationship with the divine, based on devotion and pure love.

... Asteya

Asteya means non-stealing or non-covetousness. It deals with our tendency towards jealousy and envy. Observing this guideline will counteract our tendency to give in to our desires, or think that satisfying material desires is the goal of life. It will help us to be content, knowing that what is suposed to come to us but our own karma and merit will come naturally, without our manipulation or intervention.

... Aparigraha

Aparigraha means non-accumulation or non-acceptance of bribes. It deals with our tendency towards greed. Observing this guideline counteracts our tendency to think that the more we attain or posses, the more we will be safe and secure. It further guides us not to forfeit our soul to material life, and to cultivate an attitude of detachment towards material possessions. Leading a simple life allows the spirit to remain light, detached and self-reliant. It also helps us in our dealings with others to be strong and free as others can manipulate our weakness by bribery.

2. Niyamas

The Niyamas or observances (Do's) are also divided into five and complete the ethical precepts started with the Yama.. These qualities are:

... Saucha

Soucha is purity. This observance will help us to counteract impurities in our bodies, minds, and outer environments, and help us to come into deeper contact with our true selves. By purifying the emotions and thoughts, which are like coverings over our eyes, we can begin to see more clearly and gain a more true perspective.

... Santosha

Santosha is contentment. This practice will help us counteract the tendency to look eternally for happiness and become dissatisfied with our lot in life, rather than counting our blessings. Through practicing Santosha, we begin to realize that God's grace is always with us.

... Tapas

Tapas means austerity. This practice will help us to counteract the belief that comforts of the body and mind are the goal of life. It will help us avoid imprisonment in te sensual, limited life that is govened by the mind and the senses. Tapas will help us to assert our supremacy over the mind and emotions, freeing us and giving power back to the spirit.

... Swadhyaya

Swadhyaya is the study of the scriptures. Doing this will help us to counteract the idea that only what we can see and what people tell us about ourselves is true. The scriptures, on the contrary, tell us of the reality beyod the normal perceptions and glorify the true Self; they will inspire us in our search for Truth.

... Ishwara Pranidhana

Ishwara Pranidhana means self-surrender to God or a higher power. Self-surrender countracts our tendency to think that we are the best and the top, that we have all the powers and that we are controlling our lives. With this egoistic bend of mind, we do not have to adjust or accept something that is not to our liking, so we blame and resent instead of trying to see the big picture. Practicing self-surrender will help us work through our karmas by practicing acceptance and knowing that everything happens for a reason.

3. Asanas - Postures

4. Pranayama - Regulation or control of the breath.

Asanas and Pranayama form the sub-division of Raja Yoga known as Hatha-Yoga.

5. Pratyahara - Withdrawal of the senses in order to still the mind.

6. Dharana - concentration

The last 3 steps constitute the internal practice of Raja Yoga. When Dharana is achieved, it leads to the next step:

7. Dhyana

Meditation is that state of pure thought and absorption in the object of meditation. There is still duality in Dhyana. When mastered Dhyana leads to the last step:

8. Samadhi

The super conscious state. In Samadhi non-duality or oneness is experienced. This is the deepest and highest state of consciousness where body and mind have been transcended and the Yogi is one with the Self or God.