Light on Yoga - Day 8

Tribute to Guruji and Light on Yoga - Day 8

The next page continues to give descriptions of yoga from the Bhagavad Gita and the Kathopanishad, as well as the Yoga Sutras.

The Gita gives the explanation stressing upon Karma Yoga, which is the Yoga of Action.
It says," Work alone is your privilege, never the fruits thereof.  Never let the fruits of action be your motive; and never cease to work." 
This of course is easier said then done.  When performing good deeds, it is hard to let go of the expectation of a result.  Even if we have no expectation of a praise or reward we have a feeling inside when we are doing a good deed that is hard to let go of, but the Gita says if "we let go of selfish desires and are not affected by success or failure then that equpose is called Yoga."

The Kathopanishad describes yoga as controlling the senses and mind to become free from delusions.

Patanjali's Yoga Sutra - yogah chitta vrtti nirodhah - sutra 1.2 - is often quoted as the definition of yoga.  Stilling the fluctuations of the mind or restraint of the mental modifications.

Chitta being the mind is actually composed of three parts: mind (manas), intelligence (buddhi) and ego (ahamkara).

Mr. Iyengar gives a great description of how yoga is like a well cut diamond. 
He says, " As a well cut diamond has many facets, each reflecting a different color of light, so does the word yoga, each facet reflecting a different shade of meaning and revealing different aspects of the entire range of human endeavour to win inner peace and happiness."

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.BlogSpot.com