Raj Yoga

Sage Patnajali elaborated Dhyana Yoga as Raj Yoga, and considered it the Supreme Yoga.  It involves concentration and contemplation. 

Raj Yoga is the supreme science of mind that enables us for self realization. 

What one holds in one’s mind, one becomes is the cornerstone of Raj Yoga. 

Raj Yoga asserts that mind is the instrument for attaining Moksa –liberation. 

The goal of Raj Yoga is to establish unity with Brahmn -the ultimate absolute truth, which is formless and timeless.

 

In Bhagvad Gita (6.6-7 and 6.18) Krishna says; “One who has conquered mind, mind is the best friend; but for one who has failed to do so, mind will remain the greatest enemy. 

Param Atma is realized upon conquering the mind.  To the person who has conquered the mind, happiness and distress, and honor and dishonor are all alike.

One who has disciplined the mental activities and perfectly situated in transcendence, devoid of all material desires, is well established in Yoga.”

Raja Yoga begins with the cognizance that mind is the centre of thought, feeling and behaviour.  Consciously or unconsciously mind adjusts and relates action to physical and psychological environment.

Mind is subtle without a gross body.  Mind is invisible, intangible and immeasurable force. 

The mind is the key to inner wisdom.

 

Mind activates and incites awareness on our being and relates to universal cosmic energy and enables us to be mindful of our thoughts and actions.

 

The same mind, by falling prey for attachment to ephemeral worldly affairs, not only rob itself of its power of reasoning but thoroughly ruins the present and future prospects of becoming a noble being.

 

Mind is the seat of perception and interpretation.  We need to provide right environment to our mind for which we need to calm down such that our mind becomes fully engaged in the present moment and enters into an elevated state of awareness and mindfulness.

 

Mind has three dimensions: (1) subconscious, (2) conscious, and (3) super conscious.  When subconscious mind is calmed, purified and regulated, we progressively move into conscious and eventually to the super conscious state leading to freedom of bondage whatsoever and eventually to Moktsa.

 

Moktsa is nothing but the super conscious dimension of our state of being. 

A mind finely attuned with the melody of universal mind at super conscious state changes our course of life with positive thoughts which will not give space for impure thoughts. 

A constant endeavour is needed to consciously cultivate positive thoughts and it is a lifelong process.

Raj Yoga is essentially the science of mind which brings about harmony and union: harmony between physical, mental and spiritual being of human life, and union between elemental lower self, the Atma bound by Ego and the higher self, the Param Atma, the Brahmn.

Bhagvad Gita affirms that the root of all suffering and discord is the agitated mind and by practicing Yoga we can still our mind.

By stilling the mind we attain a mental state of equanimity that enables us to look at the world and happenings around with positive thoughts and emotions.

As long as one’s mind remains as the unconquered enemy, one has to serve the dictation of negative emotions and the real meaning and mission of life is defeated.

Raj Yoga analyses that mind has four faculties: (i) thinking, (ii) feeling, (iii) willing, and (iv) restraining.

Just as thinking can be taken to a higher state, so also feeling, willing and restraining can be taken to higher levels.

For a person perfected in Raja Yoga, mind generates thoughts only when desired, required or needed or else remain in the state of equanimity and equipoise filled with cosmic intelligence.

In ordinary person, thinking is a continuous process.  The mind thinks involuntarily and continues to generate thoughts even if one does not want to think.  It is influenced by the situation and reacts to it generating both positive and negative thoughts and emotions.

Raj Yoga delves on inner consciousness, the cosmic intelligence by which complete awareness of one’s own identity is established.  It relates with the truth emanating from inner consciousness, the faculty of recognizing the distinction between right and wrong with regards to one’s own conduct.

Raja Yoga restrains Citta Vritti -the involuntary modification of mind, as mind is always changing with a constant flux of thoughts.

Raj Yoga affirms that mind is the ruler of the psycho-physical structure, and it must be tamed.  But before the mind is tamed, the body must be tamed with Yama -self discipline.