The Tradition of Sanatana Dharma has six schools of philosophy of which the fifth is Yoga Philosophy, or Yoga Darshana. This Yoga Philosophy was systematically explained by Sage Patanjali, who was himself a master of ayurveda, language, linguistics, and yoga. Yoga Philosophy as developed by sage Patanjali is the complete philosophy of how to discipline your life, how to interact with the world, and how to be constantly in communion with the Divine. Sage Patanjali's contribution through his Yoga Sutra is unique and it speaks of the human body, mind, interaction and emotion, and how to make the human being perfect, ultimately accomplishing the state of Samadhi.
Ashtanga Yoga has developed from parts of the teachings of Sage Patanjali. Sage Patanjali in his Yoga Sutra described yoga as having eight limbs. To achieve the state of perfection one must pass through or cultivate all these limbs. Ashtan means eight and anga means limbs. Just as hands, feet, head, nose and mouth are limbs of the body, there are eight limbs of yoga which together constitue yoga. According to Sage Patanjali, yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi are the eight limbs of yoga. Often people get confused and consider these limbs to be eight steps. They think first comes yama, then niyama, and so on. It is not the right philosophy. Just as hands, feet, head, nose are taken together are the limbs of the body, in the same way, the eight limbs of yoga should be taken together.
For example yama means discipline, niyama means rules, asana means physical posture, pranayama means special breath, pratyahara means withdrawing from the outer world, dharana means concentration, dhyana means meditation, and samadhi means the state of divine bliss. All eight are used in any activity. For example, when you are eating food you are practicing all the eight limbs. To eat food you need discipline like changing your clothes, and washing your hands. There are some rules that you follow, like - coming to the table to eat, choice of food to be eaten or not eaten and so on. You sit in a particular posture to eat. You breathe in a special way when you eat. You hold your breath when you swallow the food as you cannot swallow and breathe at the same time. When eating food, you withdraw yourself from outside world into the food, to the taste. You concentrate on the taste, the quantity of food and the way you eat. If you eat in a prayerful mood it will give you joy. Meditation is prayer in action. Thus while eating food you can follow the eight limbs of yoga at the same time. You enjoy the food and get bliss from it. These eight limbs can be applied to every step of your daily life.
Kriya Yoga is specifically chaturanga yoga - the latter four limbs of Asthtanga Yoga, of pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and Samadhi. To watch the soul in eery action is Kriya. Through the practice of Kriya Yoga, you will achieve simultaneous development of body, mind, intellect and soul.
Stitha Prajna - July, 2010