Modern Yoga vs traditional Yoga Bashny.Net

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Modern public perception of Yoga is radically different from the essence of Yoga in the traditional sense in which this doctrine was developed by ancient saints and ascetics.

First, initially, Yoga was a whole system in which physical exercises and postures was small, though quite useful part. The ancient purpose of Yoga was spiritual, not bodily-physical and the word "Yoga" refers to the whole system, not just the poses – Asanas.

At present, there is excessive emphasis on the asana itself "Yoga" has become associated primarily with its bodily and physiological part and turned into a sort of a kind of fitness. All this together led to the fact that people began to believe that the goal of Yoga is health and great physical shape. However, it is a lie.

The purpose of Yoga is Yoga itself – as a process of awakening the true nature of man and the path of liberation from the power of the Samskaras and the cycle of rebirths.

Substitution of concepts "Yoga" and "Asana" – or rather, what is happening in our time, the actual monopolization of yoga asana practice is not as harmless as it may seem at first sight. At least it is misleading hundreds of thousands of people around the world who just felt the urge, or maybe even not fully aware, to the inner search of himself and turned to spiritual knowledge. But in the end, these people get "dedication" from the so-called "teachers" of various styles that they presented under "Yoga" and what is essentially a set of gymnastic exercises, flavored with the occult terminology.

In fact, such teachers preach a LIE as false the thesis underlying the activities of such "schools of Yoga", "Yoga centers", "Yoga classes" etc. Is a false notion that Yoga is a physical system with a powerful spiritual component, which eventually can lead to self-actualization. This is not just a substitution of concepts and a shift of emphasis, but the emasculation of the original Yoga, in its essence philosophical and spiritual teachings. As a result, some of the so-called "teacher", in the pursuit of profit actually brought Yoga to the level of "exercise programs on DVD drive".

You can often hear how some followers of Yoga, including received various certificates of excellence from various kinds of schools declare "I only practice Hatha yoga, I'm not interested in deep meditation. I want to achieve perfection through Hatha yoga".
However, Hatha yoga is only a method to bring the body to balance, creating conditions for the further evolution of consciousness. Without this the goal of Hatha yoga is meaningless, because the body is just a practice tool, not an end in itself practices.

The famous teacher of modern India, Swami Rama in his lectures explained:

"These days, the term "Yoga" has become synonymous with the transitory passions or eccentricities. Many incompetent teachers has made Yoga the object of commercial exploitation, and one small aspect of Yoga is given for the whole of Yoga.
For example, many people in the West think that Yoga is a cult of body and beauty, others will take Yoga to a religious cult. And then another view distorts the true meaning of Yoga".
Next, Swami Rama leads the comparison: "If You are going to the Himalayas You can go by car or fly by plane. Every day millions of people travel in cars and fly planes. But this does not mean that all who travel by cars and planes will get to the Himalayas, if the purpose of their journey will not be the Himalayas".
Hatha yoga, as well, and the religious aspect of yoga, it is only relatively speaking "vehicles" that help to achieve the ultimate goal of Yoga. But they will lead nowhere, if practiced by themselves.

Here is a typical example of substitution of concepts. On the website ashtanga.com Ashtanga yoga is described as "a system of Yoga transmitted to the modern world by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009). This method of Yoga involves synchronizing the breath with progressive series of physical positions – a process that produces intense internal heat and a cleansing deep sweat that removes toxins from the body. The result is improved circulation, a light and strong body and soothing the mind."

At the same time, according to Swami Sivananda Saraswati: "the traditional concept of Yoga, Patanjali systematized under Ashtanga yoga meant eight step system of practices through which they achieved freedom." Moreover, this system includes not only poses and breathing, and deep meditative practices which occupy a predominant place.

Substitution of concepts of Yoga leads many people to believe that lesson than what is included in Yoga to improve health, relieve stress, etc. – is Yoga. This is not so. This is misleading, since the practice of something that does not relate to the goal of Yoga for self-realization of higher levels of human nature, is not Yoga.

As stated in the classic treatise "Hatha yoga Pradipika" – Sloka 4.79 – "the Practice of Hatha yoga without realization of Raja yoga is futile. There are practicing Hatha-yoga, which do not have the knowledge of Raja yoga. I think they're just practicing because they do not receive fruits from its efforts."

Do exercises of Hatha Yoga health benefits even apart from integral Yoga? Yes, of course, properly execute bring. But one run does not make a man nor a yogin, nor even a disciple on the path of Yoga.

"Yoga is a method of medical treatment" – false statement.

"Yoga is a method of physical therapy" – false statement.

The aim and object of Yoga is not to make the body healthy. The only purpose of Yoga is inherently spiritual and the implementation of Yoga takes us beyond the physical body and its diseases and the inevitable death.

The commercialization of Yoga has led to the fact that the person passing the money rate in the so-called schools (centers, studios, courses, and "ashrams" etc.) of Yoga itself can become a certified teacher (instructor, "guru", etc.) yoga not read a single line from the classic Yoga sutras. And then many of these "teachers" feel are competent enough to create their own trends and schools of Yoga.
Characterized by the fact that very often the name of the school contains the name or the name of it, even arriving in good health of the founder. In addition, very often this kind of "teacher" use traditional ancient names and terms are deceiving the students who take it for a real continuity of the new teachings to the original.

When the Yoga ceases to be Yoga?
Imagine that with a friend saw the car. A friend asks: "What is it?" You say, "the car". Imagine that the car has no steering and Your friend asks the same question. You still answer, "the car". But what if you are missing all four wheels, doors and engine? And then the question of the other, "What is it?" You probably will answer – "Rubbish. Scrap".

Think about Yoga, which after adaptation to modern Western culture selected critical components. Will it still be Yoga? Without higher meaning, purposes and methods? Unequivocally – no.

From the article of Swami Bharati Ganeswara

Source: aayurveda.ca/yoga/classic-yoga/#more-3530