On her "My time in India" thread, Sunanda raised the question of what is raja yoga? I find raja yoga a very interesting topic, and the practice of raja yoga spills over into other spiritual practices, Hindu and otherwise. I'm sure others will be able to chip in with deeper comments or their own views, but rather than get into this subject on Sunanda's thread I thought I'd start another.
I'm not going to be definitive at all, but the below are just some 'note jottings'. I'm going to give a personal view of feeling about raja yoga as well, rather than get something from any textbook, so the below is wholly a personal view.
There are the various strands or types of yoga: bhakti (through devotion), jnana (through discrimination), karma (good works and action), kundalini, hatha (posture and breath control), tantra, mantra and raja yoga. IMO these are not distinct: a practitioner may specialise in using one method, but will surely be using some aspects of other methods at the same time. Given this nigh-impossibility of only using one yoga, Sri Aurobindo suggested the practice of a kind of holistic yoga, purna yoga. All the same, various types of yoga do suit different people, or different schools may suit the same person at different times in life.
Raja (royal) yoga existed since time immemorial, but was put into a definite system and clarified by Patanjali many centuries ago. In essence, as I'd sum it up, raja yoga is the practice of gradually learning to control the mind in meditation so that over time no extraneous thoughts creep in and the mind can be maintained in a state of total one-pointed concentration. This is a very useful ability, for if the concentration is truly one-pointed in this way, we are no longer slaves to a great clutter of undisciplined thoughts or feelings spilling through our worlds at every moment, but can direct our mental powers to accomplish that which the undisciplined mind cannot. By focussing attention, for example, upon God / Divinity / the Supreme we may actually contact and merge with That. On the other hand, some practitioners of raja yoga would say that they don't focus on anything, and others may focus upon a chakra, etc.
Stages in raja yoga are: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi. These are harmlessness and the Golden Rule; right practices; posture; control of the breath; control of the flow of prana within the bodily form; and then progressing through the stages of total mind-control until total focus without wavering can be maintained for long periods, this focus usually then directed upward toward God, and samadhi is attained.
It's fairly obvious from this how one yoga blends in to another. For me, raja yoga involves hatha yoga since posture and the control of prana is involved. It's hard to imagine doing raja yoga without jnana, and also hard to imagine raja yoga - or even life itself on the Path - without an element of bhakti. Kundalini is also inevitably involved. The implication in the name itself however, raja (royal) yoga, is that some consider it to be the highest or "royal" yoga. But like so many things in Hinduism, this shouldn't be taken quite so literally: again, the highest yoga for an individual is that best suited to them at this point in time.
[I'm not really a practitioner of classic or traditional raja yoga, but have practices which hold some things in common with it, so a lot of what raja yoga is about is of interest to me.]
"Raja Yoga" by Vivekananda is one great little book on raja yoga and tells all the theory one might need, though it's hard to imagine someone doing well at practising raja yoga just from a book. On the other hand, "raja yoga" has become yet another buzz term in the West and even in India, so that not all organisations or teachers who claim to teach it or who use the phrase are actual teachers of classical raja yoga. Caution required. A read of a book like Vivekananda's will give a good idea of what raja yoga really is, so that any modern false paths may be seen for what th
RE: Raja Yoga
Thanks, Venetian. I have heard of Raja Yoga but don't know anyone who practises it. As you say, it must be pretty difficult to get into here in the West whilst living a normal busy life. Easier perhaps in an ashram or retreat situation. Actually, what first came to mind as I was reading your description was Vipassana meditation which is of course a Buddhist technique. I feel that I will have to do this course one day just to prove to myself that I can! (Do you know about Vipassana? There is a centre in, I believe, Herefordshire.)
Love
Sunanda xxx
RE: Raja Yoga
in essence....
Raja = King
Yoga = Communication / Union
So Raja Yoga is the Highest Relationship / Union
It is the Union of the self (the soul) with the (Supreme Soul) or God
This union of the self and the supreme brings a bliss that is beyond the physical senses (supersunsuous bliss) and yes it can be practiced anywhere at anytime as its not anything physical, I do not need to sit in any special postures nor do i need to chant any mantras. I can be in that union/yoga whilst walking, talking and performing actions etc.
Raja (King) - Yoga (Communication)
Raja Yoga is communication between the self and the Higher Being (God).
Raja Yoga is not physical exercise, rather it is an easy mental exercise.
Raja Yoga transcends the mind beyond the body and creates lasting peaceful experiences.
****************
What is yoga?
The ancient meaning of yoga is union or connection.
Therefore, yoga is what the mind is linked to.
Watching T.V. is having yoga with the T.V.
Thinking of someone is having yoga with that person.
Exercising the body is having yoga with the body (also known as Hatha Yoga).
*************
What is the difference between Raja Yoga and yoga that involves exercise?
Raja Yoga meditation connects the mind directly to the Source of spiritual power. This creates a peaceful personality, a strong mind and a healthy body.
Yoga that involves exercise focuses the mind on the body. The body relaxes, but a mental exercise is required to make the mind strong.
All other types of yoga connect human beings with human beings. Raja Yoga meditation connects human beings with the Incorporeal One, and that is the most unique yoga of all.
**************
Raja Yoga is the most ancient yoga of India. It is the king of all yogas.
RE: Raja Yoga
Hmm, just somehow lost a whole post so this will be shorter.
Dear Sunanda, no I never heard of Vipassana meditation in Buddhism. Mindfulness certainly.
Dear Mike, I sure can accept your definition of raja yoga in a kind of absolute (excuse the pun) sense: that it is 'Hindu' mindfulness and a question of where you place your attention. However, it's interestig that you see it that way: every book or teacher I heard talk of raja yoga did bring in posture (it is a part of Patanjali who virtually invented it so to speak - I know it's eternal but you know what I mean - that a posture that doesn't distract such as the lotus or being seated helps.
I'm very much into the kind of practice you describe but think of it more as mindfulness such as in Buddhism, in the Catholic classic "Practice of The Presence of God" and in any religion really. 'Raja yoga' as I have ever encountered it seemed to have a large interface with kundalini yoga.
Perhaps I am confusing your concept of it with Buddhist mindfulness which they try to keep constant every minute of the day, even if walking, eating etc....
Venetian
RE: Raja Yoga
Hi Venetian
Good to see that the 'real world' hasn't taken you away from us yet! LOL
Vipassana is a programme I would like to try, but also feel it would perhaps be too much for me. From what I have learned, it's a 10 day residential programme which involves many hours of sitting meditation each day. One is taught to focus on each small area of the body in turn, watching and going through the pain of cramped muscles for example. The idea is that we learn that everything is impermanent. At the same time, silence is kept throughout the 10 days, except for (I think) one or two lessons from the teachers each day, together with the possibility of asking questions which relate to the meditation. Also one is not supposed to even make eye contact with one's fellow students, nor to use writing or reading materials at any time. The simple vegetarian meals are very bland. Sensory deprivation, therefore, which takes one within. A friend of mine who has done the programme many times found that she started to have a kundalini experience (which she suppressed) and there is a (very funny) account of a similar programme in a (presumably autobiographical) novel written by Spalding Gray (the monologue guy cf 'Swimming to Cambodia).
Love
Sunanda xx
RE: Raja Yoga
Hi Sunanada
I am going to Raja Yoga classes at the momment and am finding the meditation and peace a very new experience and this seems to be opening me up even more spiritually. I found a meditation centre via one of the discussions on this site it called Brahma Kumaris centres look up on and they will let you know the nearest centre to you, I do hope you enjoy as I am, I am doing my 8 learning classes first. (O and there is no fee but you can make a donation if you wish)
love and light Magpie
RE: Raja Yoga
Thanks for that link, Magpie. I will check it out.
Much love
Sunanda xx
RE: Raja Yoga
I haven't yet been to a BK meeting but hear good of them. In other words, it is a safe place.
The only negative thing I am told about the BKs - and most people on HP won't find this negative at all!:) - is that the BKs empower women. Within the Indian context this is at times a problem, and males, husbands for example, feel threatened since the wives suddenly get empowered and stop being underlings. So it does lead to a few marital break-ups. All the same, I don't see how this would be a problem in the West - let's face it, you people run things either overtly or behind the scenes anyway :D.
Venetian
RE: Raja Yoga
Not every Indian woman is an underling with a chauvenistic husband and not every western women lucky to have a non chauvenistic husband.
RE: Raja Yoga
Hmmm. I have heard negative things about the BKs but it is not my place to pass this information on, as it is not based on personal experience, rather heresay.
If you want to read up on it try a google search on them and include the word cult.
Again, I would reiterate this is not based on any personal experience, but it did put me off going to a meditation course that I had booked with them. Everyone should however make up their own minds!
RE: Raja Yoga
Ah yes good stuff Venetian. The way I have always understood, is that Raja Yoga is Yoga of the mind, so it has alot to do with meditation.
The area of Yoga which I am interested in most, although I practice all without too much control, is Kriya Yoga, which isanother name for Raja Yoga.
"Prophets like Elijah, Jesus, and Kabir have used a technique similar to the Raja Yoga of Patanjali, who actually uses the term Kriya Yoga."
"The contribution of Babaji in this national awakening lies in the re-discovering and clarifying the lost technique of Yoga, which he re-named Kriya. This is a precious gem in the crown of India's cultural heritage."
From :The Voice of Babaji.
by V.T. Neelakantan
S.A.A. Ramaiah
and Babaji Nagaraj himself.
Babaji is really quite something. He has had a physical body for over 300 years. He is a strong saint, like Jesus. Only a selectfew aregranted to see his physical body, but many can experience his Astral presence and form.
In the dictionary Raja means prince, chief, or king. The ancient Dravidians (pre-Aryans)worked with Shiva, the King of Yogis. So perhaps there is some connection there also.
So perhaps Raja Yoga is considered the chief practice in Yoga, and thusits devoteesconnect with theKing Yogi Shiva.
Because what is all of the other practices of Yoga worth, without the foremostovercomming andgentle yogic controlof the mind?
For example if your devotion is great, yet your mind is blocked.
Or if your postures are good, but you go nowhere with conciousness.
Indeed all can contribute to all, but, the overcoming the mind may very well be the greatest task in mankind.
As to your other questions about reaching Samadhi, and its association with prana, and kundalini. I have obtained the state of Sabikalpa Samadhi (the first stage, in which we are still somewhat attatched to the body). I did feel kundalini, and prana, although I did not take note of them. More important was my pure experience to me, than to notice kundalini or prana. Although It was definatly rising, and I could feel great amounts of prana around me, I felt a bliss I had never felt, and for the first time, tears of joy ran down my face. It was almost too much! lol.
In Wine of the Mystic
Interpreted by Paramhansa Yogananda, He explains the first stage of Samadhi, "The devotee in the first stage of ecstatic God-contact (sabikapla samadhi) see and feels spirit as formless, all-pervading, ever-new Bliss, without any perception of creation. The devotee is not unconcious, but so engrossed in God-conciousness that he is oblivious of cosmic creaiton. He sees the ocean of Spirit without the waves of manifested forms."
Paramhansa Yogananda's form of Yoga is much like Babaji's, infact it is one the same. They both emphasize all Yogic precepts (ie. Bhakti, Jnana, Raja, Hatha, and so on...)
This is good stuff for me, it really works. Oh and BTW I just heard on the news today that the Dalai Lama is building the first centre of his peace in Vancouver, which is where I live! A little off topic, but hey its cool, there is a big spiritual revolution going on here.
from a Yogi,
Elyzual.