The posts here seems to be focusing mainly on meditation. Yoga is much more than that as I mentioned in the introduction post. There is MUCH focus on the yamas and niyamas as told by Pantajali at this site: https://www.expressionsofspirit.com/yoga/eight-limbs.htm Yoga is a tiny word with a huge amount of meaning.
No-one is contesting that. Have some patience with us poor blind people who have just now chanced upon this magnificent elephant of yours Still, having read about the eightfold path described on that side, training of the mind and mental faculties is a recurring theme. It may be a bit coarse to lump all such training together under "meditation", but here we are, just starting to discover. Question: in most traditions that use Sanskrit that I'm aware of, "brahmacarya" does actually imply celibacy, but the text you linked gives a more abstract, generalized explanation about good relationships. Is this a modern or westernizing development?
In the broadest sense, a couple can still engage in sexual union, but leading to having a better and closer union with God. Everything has to be for the benefit of getting closer to God. This link explains more: https://www.maitreyiparadigm.com/bl...ion-yoga-of-the-male-female-energy-principles
There are some obvious similarities between Yama/Niyama and the Ten Commandments (and the Buddhist analogue, the Precepts). How do you observe the Niyamas?
I observe the Niyamas in the same was as described in the link: https://www.expressionsofspirit.com/yoga/eight-limbs.htm I was doing a lot of those things anyway, so it's not really challenging to me. I tend to take my faith seriously; either I'm devout or I get out.
God meets me where I am? But I think people are more interested in my own words and personal point of view than if I post links and videos, which often get just a quick skim at best. Links and videos may be good to illustrate, but it's like: read this, watch that ...
No worries, this is a site for personal dialogue, not systematic teaching. We can all google terms like Niyama, but only you can share your own personal perspective on your faith, which is what everyone here is interested in.
Hey, it's great to have you on the forums. I think the word is just a tag for the experience anyway. Water is water but there are different words in different languages and it appears in different ways: in rivers and seas and so on. Perhaps it's the same with spiritual experience? Once I have touched water I know what it is, but until then it's just a word to me. I read something and think: 'Oh yes, I can relate' Something like that?
OK. For me that comes in time. I'm not one to quickly talk about my personal experiences on a public forum until I feel comfortable enough to share it. Thanks for the explanation.
Krisha Mitra Das — Yes, I think that's a safer path in the West. Of course there are two sides to every coin — Buddhism, it is often said, is a philosophy, not a religion, which is bunkum really, as Buddhism ticks all the boxes of a religion (if not confined to a particularly narrow, monotheist sense), and all religions contain, in more or less explicit manner, a philosophy. The distinctions between 'religion' and 'philosophy' are largely a western, post-Enlightenment classification, and ever since it's become fashionable to declare that the philosopher isn't constrained by religious superstition, and the religious isn't troubled by thinking for him/herself! Precisely. Consumerism does this: it looks to see how it can monetise everything that falls within its gaze. So it's tough to sell traditional yoga, it's a lot easier to sell keep fit. Same with meditation. Now it's almost as if mindfulness is the be-all and end-all of meditation practice. The yogas you mention are, of course, universal, and are there to a greater or lesser degree in all religions. Speaking as a Christian, I think it's a pity that 'the body' has accrued such negative connotations. We've lost so much via this process, and you have to look quite hard to find the equivalence, usually locked away in monastic practice.
Krisha Mitra Das, I like the way you say yoga 'path'. There are many paths to enlightenment and yoga is one of them.
Bhakti most of the time is not silent, devotional songs. Whatever type of meditation it is, people will generally begin with a chant. My observation.
You may be right, as I don't have stats on this, but I did mention chanting being important in Bhakti Yoga as well. Thanks for the comment!
