Ashtang YogaThe aim of mans life is to he free from worldly sorrows and to get submerged in the Supreme Soul and attain eternal bliss. A man, attached to the tempting delusions of the world, suffers from sorrows and pains. To escape from these sorrows and to attain ultimate merger with the Eternal Being, man has to adopt one of the paths of Karma Yoga, Dhyana Yoga, Jnana Yoga or other yoga. These are in fact different systems which lead a man to the same goal. The aim of human life is not to be born again and again but to experience eternal bliss or oneness with the Supreme Being. Yoga is second to none for the achievement of this goal. The word ‘Yoga’ is derived from the root ‘yuj’ (which means union or merger. The merger of soul with God and the experience of oneness with him are meant by yoga. The state of Samadhi can be attained through yoga. This type of effort is possible only through the control over sense organs and through continued practice and detachment. ‘The withdrawal of sense organs from the worldly objects and their control is yoga’. Samadhi is the ultimate stage of this control. According to the Bhagvad Gita, the practice of yoga fixes the mind on God, thereby giving complete peace to the soul. In such a state, a man experiences unalloyed joys: his mind stops wavering and worldly temptations lose all meanings for him. This state of mind is yoga. One who attains this state becomes a yogi. He attains eternal peace of mind. His mind is free from sins and worldly temptations. He then becomes one with God, free from the bondage of Karmas. There are five states of mind according to our scriptures: Moodha, Kshipta, Nikshipta, Ekagra and Niruddha. |
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