Yoga Origins and Vedic Roots

The Origin of Yoga

• In the beginning, there was darkness, and then came the light with the sound ॐ om, which gave rise to words or knowledge compiled as the Vedas.

The Vedas and Yoga

• There are four Vedas: Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda.
• The four Upa Vedas or sub Vedas are next in the hierarchy of Vedic knowledge.
• Six Upangas or components and six sub-components come after the Upa Vedas, one of which is Yoga.
• Rig Veda is one of the most sacred and oldest books of human history, dating back to around 8-10,000 years.

The History of Yoga

• Maharshi Patanjali, considered the authority on yoga, propounded yoga nearly 5,000 years ago.
• Lord Krishna and many Indian saints have also spoken about yoga.
• In the Middle Ages, yoga was confined to the royal and scholarly classes, taught in gurukuls after rigorous testing.
• In recent years, yoga has been made accessible to the common man and every human being on the planet through the efforts of Indian spiritual and religious leaders.

The Meaning of Yoga

• Yoga is the union of body, mind, and spirit, connecting the individual to the universal.
• Yoga is realizing the connection between the finite and the infinite, the manifest and the unmanifest.
• Yoga brings harmony in thought, word, and deed.

The Eight Limbs of Yoga

• Maharishi Patanjali elucidated eight limbs of yoga: • Yama: social ethics • Niyama: personal ethics • Asana: postures • Pranayama: directing the life force • Pratyahara: turning the senses inwards • Dharana: one-pointed focus • Dhyana: meditation • Samadhi: merging with the self

The True Essence of Yoga

• Yoga is not just physical postures, but maintaining an equanimous state of mind.
• The Bhagavad-Gita says yoga is skill in action and expression (योग: कर्मसु कौशलम्).
• Yoga is a mind skill, doing actions with joy and love.
• Equanimity in the mind is a sign of yoga (समत्वं योग uč्यते).
• Whatever brings us back to our natural state of harmony and joy is yoga.

The Connection Between Yoga and Life

• Every baby is a yogi, exhibiting qualities like wonder, perceptual ability, and sharpness.
• The Wow we experience in life is a prelude to yoga (विस्मयो योग भूमिका:).
• Anyone engrossed totally in their actions is yoga (तदा द्रष्टु: स्वरुपे अवस्थानम्).
• When one is in harmony with their inner self, life becomes calmer, happier, and more fulfilling.

The Origin of Yoga

• In the beginning, darkness prevailed, and the sound ॐ om brought light, leading to the creation of the Vedas, a compilation of words and knowledge.

The Vedas and Yoga

• There are four Vedas: Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda.
• The four Upa Vedas or sub Vedas come next in the hierarchy of Vedic knowledge.
• Six Upangas or components and six sub-components follow the Upa Vedas, one of which is Yoga.
• Rig Veda is one of the most sacred and oldest books of human history, dating back to around 8-10,000 years.

The History of Yoga

• Maharshi Patanjali propounded yoga nearly 5,000 years ago.
• Lord Krishna and many Indian saints have also spoken about yoga.
• In ancient times, yoga was confined to the royal and scholarly classes, taught in gurukuls after rigorous testing.
• In recent years, yoga has been made accessible to the common man through the efforts of Indian spiritual and religious leaders.

The Meaning of Yoga

• Yoga is the union of body, mind, and spirit, connecting the individual to the universal.
• Yoga realizes the connection between the finite and the infinite, the manifest and the unmanifest.
• Yoga brings harmony in thought, word, and deed.

The Eight Limbs of Yoga

• The eight limbs of yoga elucidated by Maharishi Patanjali are:
  • Yama: social ethics
  • Niyama: personal ethics
  • Asana: postures
  • Pranayama: directing the life force
  • Pratyahara: turning the senses inwards
  • Dharana: one-pointed focus
  • Dhyana: meditation
  • Samadhi: merging with the self

The True Essence of Yoga

• Yoga is more than physical postures; it's maintaining an equanimous state of mind.
• Yoga is skill in action and expression, as stated in the Bhagavad-Gita.
• Yoga is a mind skill, doing actions with joy and love.
• Equanimity in the mind is a sign of yoga.
• Whatever brings us back to our natural state of harmony and joy is yoga.

The Connection Between Yoga and Life

• Every baby exhibits yogic qualities like wonder, perceptual ability, and sharpness.
• The Wow we experience in life is a prelude to yoga.
• One who is totally engrossed in their actions is in a yogic state.
• When one is in harmony with their inner self, life becomes calmer, happier, and more fulfilling.