The Study of Yoga- Shri Yogendraji

Yoga represents the effort, the path, the progress of self culture and as such Yoga is as old as Civilization itself. In it’s broad sense, any effort which makes it possible to achieve whatever may be the highest object of one’s life is Yoga.

Such efforts towards self-culture existed even in other countries like Egyptian Theurgy, Akkdian Tulla intunism and Chinese Taoism. Even before Aryans reached India, there were people who secretly followed certain physical and mental practices of an archaic culture (Puratana Yoga) as referred in Bhagavad Gita (IV/2-3). Subsequent reference in the scriptures (Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and earlier Upanisads) quite clearly indicate the importance given to closely associated practical scheme of conscious unfoldment of one’s self –– the perfection of body, mind and soul. This was in reality a concrete unity of many sided developments in physical training, moral and mental discipline and metaphysical investigations.

This was later refined, modified, systematized and compiled into a metaphysical whole, traditionally known as Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. In ancient India, Yoga had an unparalleled and distinct recognition as a practical path of self culture. It’s influence was so great that every known school of thought, including even the anti-theistic schools of Jainism and Buddhism accepted Yoga as a useful treatise of self culture.

© "Yoga and Total Health" (March 2003) published by Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra, at The Yoga Institute, Shri Yogendra Marg, Prabhat Colony, Santacruz East, Mumbai 400 055. Reprinted with permission.

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