The term yoga is now generally applied to many forms of asceticism, meditation and spiritual training whether practiced by Hindus, Buddhist or Christians. It is however, primarily an ancient Indian form of discipline which has been modified by later Indian writers, adopted by Buddhists and practiced in the west in many different forms by people professing the Christian faith or none. It is therefore to India that we look for the original source material.
Yoga, derived from yuj, implies “to bind together” “to yoke”, and in this sense its practice is to unite the (Ishwara), or with the Over soul of humanity. But first there must be an unbinding, a separation of the external from the internal, of the profane world” from the spirit. This is achieved by various yoga practices which aim to withdraw consciousness from the periphery to the centre, from the material world of our outward senses to a calm inner centre of reality, variously called spirit, truth, wisdom, the Self, ATMA. At this level man knows that he is on e with all humanity and with the Eternal.
Yoga may also be regarded as a process for attaining perfection, the goal of normal evolution. According to Radhakrishnan, “ the yoga discipline is nothing ore than the purification of the body , mind and soul, and preparing them for the beatific vision “(Indian Philosophy).
The withdrawal of consciousness from the outer world of the senses may be achieved by control of the physical body in order to open it to the cosmic energy by breathing and physical exercises (Hatha Yoga); by concentrating on the psychic centers to awaken the primordial cosmic energy of the individual (Layaor Kundalini Yoga): by making use of the repetition of certain words and phrases to steady the mind (Mantra Yoga). It may also be achieved by working from the centre oF the periphery to effect union of higher and lower by control of though (Jnana Yoga); by control of one’s emotional consciousness through devotion to an ideal (Bhakti Yoga); by control of one’s actions from non-selfish motives (Karma Yoga).
