Friday, April 13, 2007
Jivamukti Yoga integrates the physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of yoga practices into a modern lifestyle without losing sight of the ancient and universal goal of the practice—liberation. (Jivamukti means "living liberated" in Sanskrit.) Jivamukti is an integration or synthesis of yoga based on the ancient teachings and is one of the nine internationally recognized styles of Hatha yoga. Developed by Sharon Gannon and David Life, in 1986. Jivamukti Yoga is a rigorous form of asana sequences, intrinsically linked with breath and yoga philosophy. Jivamukti Yoga encourages intellectual pursuit and spiritual awareness, through the study of sacred yogic text, sanskrit chanting, listening to uplifting music and the spoken word. The Source teaching for Jivamukti Yoga are derived from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, The Yoga Sutras, The Upanishads, Bagavad Gita and the study of the Sanskrit language.
The five tenets that form the foundation of Jivamukti Yoga are:
1. Study of Ancient Scripture - Yoga Text and the Sanskrit Language
2. Bhakti Yoga - Devotion to God
3. Ahmisa - Non Harming to all beings, thoughts, words and actions.
4. Nada Yoga - The yoga of sound, inner listening.
5. Dhyana - Meditation
1. Study of Ancient Scripture - Yoga Text and the Sanskrit Language.
Yoga Sutras, Patanjali: Classical Yoga after the turn of the millennium, the spread of Yoga in its different forms gave rise to the need for standardization. Thus in the second century C.E., Patanjali composed a seminal text, Yoga-Sutra and it is defined as Classical Yoga, he composed 195 aphorisms or sutras that comprise the Yoga Sutras and he expounds upon Raja-Yoga (the eightfold yoga path) within this text.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika: It explains in clear terms the asanas, pranayama, mudras, and the samadhi which are essential in the practice of yoga and describes the stages and the correct methods for doing these. It also discusses the philosophy underlying the yoga. It is organized into short sections of a few sentences which are then gathered into four chapters. The text deals mostly with physical techniques. The text describes various classical yoga asanas. It says these should be "practiced for gaining steady posture, health and lightness of body" (I, 19). Also, they develop discipline and concentration, as well as having other concrete effects on the energy dynamics of the subtle body. Some of them are said to posses the ability to awaken Kundalini, the mysterious subtle energy of the spine. This subtle energy, or prana, is also distributed throughout the body in channels called nadis. The various asanas are described coordinated with breathing exercises (pranayama) as well as concentration. Retention of the breath in pranayama is called Khumbhaka and is also discussed in the text. Pranayama is said to cleanse or purify the nadis. When these are cleared the prana will flow freely in the central spinal channel or sushumna allowing Kundalini to rise. The third chapter further describes ten "mudras" or additional physical practices. Mostly these are another series of combinations of asanas and pranayama to arouse Kundalini. Finally in section IV, the text describes under the heading "samadhi" the spiritual attainments resulting from the practices outlined. "As salt being dissolved in water becomes one with it, so when atman and mind become one, it is called samadhi" (IV, 5). This is further said to result when the prana is stilled upon entering the central spinal sushumna. The Tibetans describe this stilling of the prana within the central chamber as a process of dissolving of the prana. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika states that the yogi in samadhi is free of karma and the effects of death, and that ecstasy is experienced in this state. Much of the material discussed in this text involves rarefied states of consciousness achieved by rigorous practice of advanced physical techniques. The necessity for practice is repeatedly stressed by the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. In all, the text contains 390 verses (floras). Out of these, about forty deal with asanas, approximately one hundred and ten with pranayama, one hundred and fifty with mudras, bandhas and Shatkarmas and the rest with pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi.
The Bhagavad Gita: Song of the Lord, sanskrit poem incorporated into the Mahabharata. The Gita, consists of a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Prince Arjuna on the eve of the great battle of Kurukshetra. Arjuna is overcome with anguish when he sees in the opposing army many of his kinsmen, teachers, and friends. Krishna persuades him to fight by instructing him in spiritual wisdom and the means of attaining union with God. The main doctrines of the Gita are karma-yoga, the yoga of selfless action performed with inner detachment from its results; jnana-yoga, the yoga of knowledge and discrimination between the lower nature of man and his soul, which is identical with the supreme self; and bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotion to a particular god—in this case, Krishna, who reveals himself to Arjuna as the avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu, Lord of the Universe. The Bhagavad-Gita is essentially Upanishadic in content. In the Gita krisna instructs arjuna on the yoga of action.
Upanishads: The word "Upanishad" consists of three words—"Upa" means "near", "ni" means "down" and "shad" means "be seated”. So, "Upanishad" means, "be seated at the feet of the Guru to receive the teaching." The Upanishads constitute what we call the Vedanta (Veda-anta), the end of the Vedas, not merely because they constitute the last part of them, but above all because they are their ultimate teachings, reaching to the highest metaphysical state, beyond which is the realm of Silence. The Upanishads are the first scriptures where the law of Karma first appeared as taught by Yajnavalkya (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad). There are 108 Upanishads (major), which are as follows: Aitareya and the Kauhsitaki which belong to Rg Veda, Chandogya and Kena to Samaveda Taittiriya, Katha, Shvetashvatara, Brhadaranyaka and Isha to Yajur Veda, Prashna, Mundaka and Atharvaveda, Twenty—three samanayayuvedanta Upanishads, Twenty Yoga Upanishads, Seventeen samnyasa Upanishads, Fourteen vaishnava Upanishads, Fourteen shaiva Upanishads, Eight shakta Upanishads.
Study Sanskrit: ”Sanskrit is said to have been realized by the sages in a Samadhi state. It is one of the oldest living languages and is considered the closest mother language to the PIE (proto-Indo-European). Sanskrit is a sister language to Latin and Greek and is the language of mantra (conscious energized sound). It is the only language whereby each of the sounds emanates out of specifically designated mouth positions. Sanskrit is the language of three world religions: Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, as well as being the original language of Yoga Philosophy. Vyaas Houston refers to Sanskrit as "the language of readiness." NASA consultant Rick Briggs discovered that Sanskrit is the only language which breaks down into computers perfectly. Sanskrit is renowned for its elegance, brevity, healing sounds and its conscious relationship to breathe. It is considered a language of global consciousness, unity and perfection.” Sanskrit and Yoga are one. Sanskrit is the original language of Yoga and as such it is completely in tune with expressing the teachings of Yoga. Chanting or speaking Sanskrit, is a conscious use of sound and breath. Uttering the sacred sounds of Sanskrit quiets the mind and attunes one to nature so that a natural state of meditation may be experienced.” sanskritstudies.org
2. Bakti Yoga- Devotion to God
Devotion to the Supreme Lord, helps us to get in touch with the divine being by following the heart. God is the one goal of all our passions. The promotion of inter-religious understanding and tolerance toward all forms of religious and spiritual beliefs. We create a mood conducive to a devotional state of mind through music, altars, religious pictures and iconography. Read a large selection of books and use spiritual tools and chant the names of God. Bhakti yoga advocates love and devotion as the path to moksha or liberation. The term Bhakti comes from the root 'Bhaj', which means 'to be attached to God'. Bhajan, worship. Bhakti is love for love's sake. The devotee wants God and God alone. There is no selfish expectation here. The path of bhakti yoga provides us with an opportunity to cultivate acceptance and tolerance for everyone we come into contact with. Bhakti is supreme love for God. It is pure, unselfish, divine love. Bhakti is a sacred, higher emotion with sublime sentiments that unites the devotees with the Lord. Bhakti practices are as follows: Sravana (hearing of God's Lilas and stories), Kirtana (singing of His glories), Smarana (remembrance of His name and presence), Padasevana (service of His feet), Archana (worship of God), Vandana (prostration to Lord) Dasya (cultivating the Bhava of a servant with God), Sakhya (cultivation of the friend-Bhava), Atmanivedana (complete surrender of the self). Smarana is remembrance of the Lord at all times. This is unbroken memory of the Name and Form of the Lord. The nine modes of Bhakti are the ways in which a devotee attains the Supreme Ideal of life. A devotee can take up any of these paths and reach the highest state. It slowly and gradually takes the individual to the Supreme without frustrating his human instincts.
1. Ethical vegetarianism, animal rights, environmental activism and social/political action. Nonviolence, truth, freedom from anger, renunciation, serenity, aversion to fault-finding, sympathy for all beings, peace from greedy cravings, gentleness, modesty, steadiness, energy, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, a good will, freedom from pride-these belong to a man who is born for heaven. Bhagavad Gita 16.2-3
2. Environment: Explore, enjoy and protect the earth, practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources, educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural environment.
3. Social Action: We, the people, just average, ordinary citizens, abiding the law, have the power to create change. When enough people finally come together and we act in unison, we do create change. Get involved, write letters make phone calls, inform family and friends, co-workers, utilize the internet to spread the word, make contacts, research, contact companies encourage them to implement change. Take action, stop human rights and animal violations, do your part to stop pollution and the destruction of our forests. The products we buy make statements about our views. We must encourage businesses to treat workers with respect, dignity, and to provide them with a livable wages and benefits. We breathe the same air, and we act together to determine the destiny of our world.
4. Political Action: One of the most cherished rights Americans have is the right to protest, we belong to a Global Citizenship and we are given great opportunities to Vote. We can support activities that enhance the betterment of all species. Become a consumer activists, it is a citizens right, take actions aimed at influencing corporate decisions, corporate power, or the allocation of societal goods and values, help change the fabric of our environment. Boycott by purchasing products for political reasons, be a socially conscious investor, a variety of politically-oriented shareholder tactics protest businesses directly. With the overwhelming numbers of poor private charities and relief organizations there is a lack of resources to support organizations that help those who are less fortunate. Focus on the deadly effects of poverty, loneliness and depression and reach out.
4. Nada- The Yoga of Sound
The Sound of Yoga: Listening to elevating music, Kirtan call and response vedic chanting. The Yoga of Sound is a path of exploration of consciousness through sounds. The aim of the advanced state of Nada Yoga is to purify and harmonize the gross and subtle fields of body energy and bring them in alignment with their natural vibration. It is the opening of a door on the level of highest awareness when consciousness becomes conscious of itself. Nada Yoga means "union through sound." It is the ancient spiritual art and science of inner transformation through sound and tone. Nada Yoga is about sounds. It is the knowledge of the quality of sounds and the way they affect people. We have sounds that are coarse and sounds that are fine. The finest sounds we hear in the mind. In yoga we call them the inner sounds.
5. Dyhana- Meditation
1. Find a comfortable seated position.
2. Commit to your chosen seat, by not moving
3. Observe and witness the breath.
4. We can find that inner space, our center of stillness, silence, awareness, expansion, joy and harmony. When we stop, move within, relax and wait, we reconnect with the cosmic vibration.
Felise Berman Copyright ©1994- 2007. All rights reserved. Revised: Friday, April 13, 2007
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