Yoga

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Understanding Yoga

Four paths to salvation

Margas - 4 paths to enlightenment

Raja Yoga (Royal Yoga) - mystical exercise

Jnana Yoga - knowledge

Karma Yoga - duty

Bhakti Yoga - devotion

Form of worship (puja) - way of relating and uniting with God (Brahman)

Way of relating and uniting with a personal god

]Way of conquering the Gunas

Form of "discipline" - control of mind and body

Yoga = restraint in every day actions

Taught by Krishna in Bhagavad Gita - gives meaning and purpose for life

Strong commitment and great discipline

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Karma Yoga

Good deeds with attitudes of selflessness

Path of unselfish action

Daily work/duties for your stage in life and caste

No demand for reward or selfish gain

Gandhi - worked tirelessly and selflessly for what he believed in

Selfless service to society

Reaching union with Brahman through selfless action

Every Hindu inherits a role in society --> successful performance that role is essential to a successful society

Insists that we fulfil our roles with enthusiasm, with objectivity and passion

Hindus are urged

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Bhakti Yoga

Path of loving devotion - devotion to Brahman

Expressed in a loving relationship with personal deity

Devotee remembers God's/deity's name - praises them through singing and chanting

Focuses on having a great love and devotion

And highlights peace

Take refuge in God to reach Moksha

Demands total, unconditional surrender to God

With individual completely absorbed in devotion to a chosen deity

Associate oneself with temple, take part in worships, assist in maintenance of the shrine, and take an active part in service

Treating deity as though they are in love and to whom they have surrendered in a visible way

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Jnana Yoga

Gain true wisdom, knowledge and happiness

Leads to acknowledgement of how temporary life is (Maya)

Meditation - experience oneness with Brahman

Path of knowledge to achieve Moksha - knowledge and understanding

Individual strives to obtain knowledge of the Brahman through appropriate austerities

Requires a high level of intellect and determination

Involves rigorous self-discipline and dedication as mind engages in unraveling complex issues pertaining to the self

Requires mental capacity to go deep into philosophies of life

Most suitable for those with a scholarly or intellectual bent

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Raja Yoga

Royal Yoga

Influences non-Hindu followers also

Personality is freed from the Gunas

Deep contemplation of Brahman

Highest form of Yoga

Self-control over senses and mind

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Strengths

Hindus can gain true wisdom, knowledge and happiness

Encourages a Hindu to spend their time reflecting on their relationship with Brahman

Allows individual to separate oneself from the world --> and concentrate only on Brahman

Which means that it will prepare a Hindu for death when they have to move on

And they can be prepared for the Sannyasin ashrama

Encourages a complete devotion of Brahman and the deities --> and so will allow individuals to become closer to Brahman

Yoga focuses on how to separate oneself from the restrictions of the Gunas

Flexible for all Hindus --> not restrictive as it isn't necessary to carry out

Raja Yoga encourages a self control over mind and senses --> can bring Hindus closer to enlightenment

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Limitations

A lot of key aspects of yoga are taught in Hinduism

For example, karma yoga encourages fulfilling one's dharma which a Hindu must do anyway

Acknowledgement of how temporary life is (Maya) is encouraged throughout Hinduism anyway

Reflected in the Ashramas --> Vanaprastha and Sannyasin

One doesn't have to do yoga to reach enlightenment

Closely resembles the ideas of the Purusharthas

Therefore it may be unnecessary to focus so much attention on Yoga to achieve Moksha

"There are many paths to the truth"

There isn't one most effective because everyone's relationship with Brahman is different

Everyone's way of reuniting with Brahman will be different because they can choose how they want to live

Hinduism is an inclusive religion so there should not be one specific path dedicated