Page 5 - Lesson 8.xps

Spiritual Aspects MODULE-2
Dimension of Physical
Education and Yog
8.4 PHILOSOPHY OF ASHTANG YOG

The first yogic text ‘Yog sutra’ is written by Maharishi Patanjali. Yoga Sutra
were written to explain the process and practical methods of raising levels of
awareness, gaining deeper wisdom, exploring the potential of the mind and
eventually going beyond the mind. This system of yoga progressively attempts
to transcend the outer environment of the physical body, and directs the awareness
of the inner awareness. Ashtanga yog or Patanjali yog is identified by Maharishi Note
Patanjali. It is the path of yoga in which we attempt to explore our consciousness.
Specifically, Patanjali Yoga system consists of eight steps or limbs on which the
aspirant must progressively master on the path of self-realization; they are -
Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.
Hence, this is called Ashtanga yoga (the yoga of eight stages). Raj Yoga (including
Patanjali yoga or Ashtang yoga) is the science of the mind. It is the science of
mental discipline and includes various methods of making the mind one pointed.

8.4.1 Importance of Patanjali yog in context of Swasthya

The world health organization defines swasthya (health) as “Health is a state of
complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity”.

The spiritual movement starts from the gross to the more subtle. Now it is very
clear that we can attain a state of social, physical, mental and spiritual well-
being. Yama and Niyama are for social well-being, asana and pranayama are for
physical well-being, pranayama, pratyahara and dharana are for mental well-
being, dhyana and Samadhi are for the spiritual state of well-being.

According to the yogic concept and Indian concept the word Swasthya means—
Swa (self) & asthya (established). So we can say health is a self-established
state. Now we have to understand ‘self’. Yoga believes five levels of bodies.
These five bodies are called Panch Kosha, which all together represents whole
being or self.

Panch kosha are mentioned as below-

1. Annamaya Kosha - Physical body

2. Manomaya Kosha - Mental body

3. Pranamaya Kosha - Pranic body (the dimension of energy )

4. Vijnanamaya Kosha - Intuitive body

5. Anandmaya Kosha - The body of bliss

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