Book II: Ways To Attain Yoga (Sadhana Pada) Pg. 2
(This
is an excerpt
from a University Of Metaphysical Sciences
course at www.umsonline.org,
please feel free to visit the school website)
29. The things subservient to Yoga (called the eight limbs of yoga) are :
1. Yama - ethical restraints
2. Niyama - ethical observances
3. Asana - postures
4. Pranayama - breath and prana control. [See vital currents].
5. Pratyahara - control of the senses by the withdrawal of prana from them
6. Dharana - single-point concentration
7. Dhyana - unbroken concentration (meditation)
8. Samadhi - superconsciousness.
30. The yamas are nonviolence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), non-stealing (asteya), continence (bramacharya), and nonpossessiveness (aparigraha).
31. The practice of these is not limited by rank, place, time, or circumstance. They are the universal great vows.
32. The niyamas are purity (saucha), contentment (santosha), ascetic disciplines (tapas), study and meditation, and devotion to Ishvara. [Refer to Book II:1 concerning kriya yoga.]
33. To counteract destructive attitudes one should cultivate thoughts of the opposite kind.
34. These destructive attitudes, as for example thoughts of violence, whether they are done, caused to be done, or merely approved of; whether motivated by greed, anger, or preceded by ignorance; and whether mild, moderate, or extreme will result in infinite suffering and ignorance. Therefore one should cultivate thoughts of the opposite kind.
35. When nonviolence is firmly established then all living beings will cease to feel enmity in one's presence.
36. When truth is firmly established then all actions will bear fruit.
37. When non-stealing is firmly established then all prosperity approaches.
38. When continence is firmly established then vigor is gained.
39. When nonpossessiveness is firmly established then knowledge of former lives is gained.
40. From purity comes protection of one's own body and disinclination for contact with others.
41. On the purification of the conscious mode of illumination (sattva) one obtains serenity, power of single-point concentration, control of the senses, and fitness for direct perception of Self.
42. Contentment brings supreme happiness.
43. Ascetic disciplines bring perfection of the body and senses due to the destruction of impurities.
44. By study and meditation comes a direct realization of one's preferred Deity.
45. By devotion to Ishvara comes the perfection of meditation (samadhi). [Refer to Book I:23-28]
46. Postures (asanas) should be steady and pleasant.
47. Asanas are mastered by relaxed effort and remaining unaware of the body.
48. From that one is no longer disturbed by the dualities (ie. pairs of opposites such as hot/cold, pleasure/pain, etc.)
49. On asanas being mastered there follows control of the movements of inspiration and expiration which is called pranayama.
50. Modes of pranayama are when the breath is restrained externally (ie. after expiration), or internally (ie. after inspiration), or totally (ie. in mid-motion). Each mode is regulated by place (ie. the place in the body the prana is held), by the length of time held, and by the number of times performed, which can either be long or short.
51. The fourth mode of pranayama is breath or prana restraint between the outer and inner spheres.
52. From the mastery of pranayama comes the removal of ignorance covering the light of higher consciousness.
53. And fitness of mind for single-point concentration (Dharana).
54. When the psychic energy used by the senses is withdrawn from their sense-objects, then it becomes identical to mental energy. This process is called pratyahara.
55.
From that comes supreme control over the senses.