Raja Yoga

Raja Yoga ( Sanskrit राजयोग , rājayoga , [ ɽɑːʤʌjoːgʌ ] m. "Royal yoga ") is one of the classic yoga paths. In Raja Yoga the development and control of the mind is sought. Usually Raja Yoga is equated with Ashtanga Yoga ("eight limb yoga"), as it is described in the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali .

Surname

The term “Raja Yoga” is derived from the Sanskrit word raja , “King”, and means royal yoga. The generally accepted interpretation of the name says that he who can subdue his mind is a true ruler. It is also said that Raja Yoga is superior to all other yoga paths and can therefore be regarded as a royal discipline.

Tradition in classical yoga scriptures

The term Raja Yoga appears relatively late. According to the Yogatattvaupanishad and other classical yoga scriptures, it is one of the four yogas. These are Mantra Yoga, Laya Yoga, Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga.

These yoga paths are defined in the scriptures as follows:

Mantra Yoga: Singing and reciting mantras , especially from soham
Hatha Yoga: Purification of the Subtle Body
Laya Yoga: Dissolution of the individual spirit into the all-mind or into the highest self
Raja Yoga: mind control

Raja Yoga is considered the highest yoga and is equated with the Ashtanga yoga of Patanjali. As a rule, the various scriptures that call Raja Yoga do not go into this more precisely and only general information is given. After that, Raja Yoga is seedless meditation ( Yogachintamani ) or perfect control of mind and breath ( Rajayogabhashya ). It leads to the dissolution of the mind ( Hatharatnavali ) and to liberation ( Jyotsna ). People with restless minds can achieve Raja Yoga ( Jyotsna ) thanks to Hatha Yoga. According to Hathapradipika , Raja Yoga cannot succeed without Hatha Yoga and Hatha Yoga cannot without Raja Yoga.

According to the Rajayogabhashya, in the highest level of Raja Yoga the meditator ( dhyatar ), meditation ( dhyana ) and meditation object ( dhyeya ) merge with one another; the rajayogin remains unaffected in his actions and experiences identification with the brahman .

Raja Yoga is best known through Vivekananda (1863–1902), who explains the eight-part yoga of Patanjali in his book Raja Yoga and also translates the Yoga Sutra. Vivekananda valued Raja Yoga higher than the other yoga paths he taught, such as Karma Yoga , Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga .

The eight stages of Raja Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga according to the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali

Yama - 5 ethical rules of conduct
Niyama - 5 rules of self-discipline
Asana - training and cleansing of the body through yoga postures
Pranayama - breath control
Pratyahara - withdrawal of the senses from the outside world
Dharana - focus on just one thought
Dhyana - meditation, contemplation
Samadhi - super consciousness, unity consciousness

The last three aspects of Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi are collectively referred to as Samyama .

Today's interpretation

Today, Raja Yoga is mostly interpreted in the sense of Vivekananda, so it includes all eight levels. But there are also directions that define the first stages, namely Asana and Pranayama, as Hatha Yoga, which works in preparation for Raja Yoga. This includes the last three stages Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi. Ultimately, Raja Yoga is also equated with meditation.

A special form of Raja Yoga is the spiritual yoga of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (BKWSU) , a religious-spiritual movement from India, according to which "Raja Yoga" means the "royal connection" between man and God, in the form of a loving relationship that should lead to a correspondingly high ethics .

literature

Gerold James Larson & al .: Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies. Volume XII: Yoga, India's Philosophy of Meditation. Delhi 2008, ISBN 978-81-208-3349-4 .
Swami Vivekananda: Raja Yoga. Phenomenon, Neuenkirchen 2007, ISBN 978-3-933321-56-5 .
Selvarajan Yesudian: Raja Yoga - The Royal Path. Aquamarine, Grafing 2008, ISBN 978-3-89427-387-3 .
Alice A. Bailey: The Yoga Path. Karl Rohm 1963, ISBN 3-87683-119-9 .
Iqbal Kisheu Taimni: The Science of Yoga. F.Hirthammer, 1982, ISBN 3-921288-80-0 .

Individual evidence

↑ Helmtrud Wieland: The spectrum of yoga. Gladenbach 2006, ISBN 3-87348-150-2 , p. 156.
^ Mircea Eliade: Yoga. Insel taschenbuch 3001, Frankfurt a. M. 2004, ISBN 3-458-34701-1 , p. 137.
^ Gerold James Larson: Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies. Volume XII: Yoga, India's Philosophy of Meditation. Delhi 2008, ISBN 978-81-208-3349-4 , p. 469.
^ GJ Larson: Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies. P. 137 f.
^ GJ Larson: Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies. P. 537.
^ ^A ^b G. J. Larson: Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies. P. 364 f.
^ GJ Larson: Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies. P. 525.
^ ^A ^b G. J. Larson: Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies. P. 547 f.
^ Elvira Friedrich: Yoga. The Indian way of salvation. DG 138. Munich 1997, ISBN 3-424-01378-1 , p. 173.

[1] Helmtrud Wieland: The spectrum of yoga. Gladenbach 2006, ISBN 3-87348-150-2 , p. 156.

[2] Mircea Eliade: Yoga. Insel taschenbuch 3001, Frankfurt a. M. 2004, ISBN 3-458-34701-1 , p. 137.

[3] Gerold James Larson: Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies. Volume XII: Yoga, India's Philosophy of Meditation. Delhi 2008, ISBN 978-81-208-3349-4 , p. 469.

[4] GJ Larson: Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies. P. 137 f.

[5] GJ Larson: Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies. P. 537.

[Larson364-6] A ^b G. J. Larson: Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies. P. 364 f.

[7] GJ Larson: Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies. P. 525.

[Larson547-8] A ^b G. J. Larson: Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies. P. 547 f.

[9] Elvira Friedrich: Yoga. The Indian way of salvation. DG 138. Munich 1997, ISBN 3-424-01378-1 , p. 173.