THE SCIENCE

OF YOGA
THE
TOPMOST
YOGA
SYSTEM

The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga

system

In B.G. 6.46. Krishna

says,
Austere
person

Tapasvi bhyo dhiko yogi

Knowledgeab
Jnanibhyo pi mata dhika
le person
A
working
person

Karmabhyas ca dhiko yogi

Tasmad yogi bhavarjuna

The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga

system

Yoga What it Is Not !

It is not mere
physical exercise

for
shapely body,
good
health & long life

Emaciated Renunciate in
meditation

Man with some extraordinary

mystic powers

The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga

system

Yoga What it Actually

Is ?

Union in love between the individual

consciousness & Supreme
consciousness I.e. between Soul &

God
Yogi is a person whose life & activities
are
oriented towards re-establishing his
relationship with God

The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga

system

Different Types of Human

Beings
Human
Beings
Law
Breakers

Law Abiders
Karmi
s

Sakama

Jnanis

Niskama

Dhyan
is

Bhakta
s

The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga

system

Law
Breakers

Hard working

materialists
Sophisticated animals conditioned to
the bodily concept of life

Dont believe in soul, rebirth, God &

Spiritual world

Dont discriminate between sinful &

pious activities
eg Charvak (sweet for ear) philosophy

The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga

system

Law Breakers
..contd
Make futile attempts at being controller &
Enjoyer Eg. Sand Castles
Jesus Said, Dont built your castles on sand
built them on hard rock
Krishna Said, Keep focus on the soul,
whatever you do for the soul is eternal

B.G. 9.21
B.G. 3.27
Moghasa mogha karmano
prakrateh Kriyamanani
gunaih karmani sarvasah mogha jnana vicetasah
rakshasim asurim caiva
ahankarah vimudhatma
Kartaham iti manyate prakritim mohinim sritah

The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga

system

Law Abiders
Sakama Karmis Kama material

desires
sakama- with material
desires

Perform pious activities with a fruitive intent

Dont know that both good and

bad karma are binding

In the madness, forget the goal of life.

eg. Indra as a pig

It is meant for gradual elevation & not an

end in itself
Mostly worship demigods, with material
desires.

The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga

system

Different Types of
Yoga

According to Bhagavad-Gita there

are four types of Yoga:
- Karma Yoga,
- Jnana
Yoga,
Bhakti
- Astanga
DhyanaYoga &
- Bhakti Yoga.
Jnana

Karma

These are not different paths but are

different rungs of the same ladder.

All other yoga's are subsets of these four

yoga's

The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga

system

Niskama Karma
Yoga
B.G. 3.30
Mayi sarvani karmani
sannyasyadhyatma cetasah
Nirasir nirmamo bhutva
yudhyasva vigata jvarah
O Arjuna,
surrendering all your works unto
me with full knowledge of Me,
Without desires of profit,
With no claims to proprietorship
&

The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga

system

Niskama Karma Yoga

..contd

Process of performing work without

selfish desire for personal gain

Art of working without entaglement

B.G. Karmanyevadhikaraste..

The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga

system

Jnana Yoga

Impersonal, Transcendentalist
Eg. Frog in the well

Elevation process to spiritual

consciousness through the
cultivation of philosophical
knowledge

Troublesome path

Promoted to bhakti-yoga only through

association of devotees
eg. Four kumaras & Sukhdev Gosvami

The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga

system

Astanga Yoga

Mechanical meditative process meant to

control the mind & senses to focus ones
concentration on the supreme
Ashta Eight

anga - limbs

Yama, niyam, asana , pranayam,

Pratyahara, Dharana, dhyana &
Samadhi

The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga

system

Astanga Yoga

Strict rules and regulations which are

impractical in Kali-Yuga

Arjuna rejects Astanga Yoga

Cancalam hi manah Krsna.

Dangers of falling in the trap of siddhis

eg. Saubhari muni

Perfection of Astanga Yoga is to focus on

the paramatma within our heart.

The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga

system

Three levels in
understanding God
1 Brahmajyoti Jnana Yoga

2 Paramatma realization Astanga Yoga

3 Personal form of the Lord Bhakti Yoga

Eg. Seeing a mountain from various

distances

The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga

system

Bhakti Yoga

Yoga for selfless, ecstatic love for God

through transcendental devotional
service
to the Lord

Easiest means to derive our dormant,

inherent constitutional position

Includes three terms servitor, served &

service

The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga

system

Bhakti Yoga

Nine processes of Devotional

service
1. Sravanam
2. Kirtanam
(Hearing)

(chanting)
3. Smaranam
(remembering)
4. Pada-sevanam
5.
(serving the lotus
archanam(worship)
feet)
6. Vandanam (Offering
Prayers)
8.
7. Dasyam (servant)
Sakhyam(friendship)
9. Atma-nivedanam
(surrendering)

The most powerful of the nine process of

bhakti is the Hearing & Chanting of the
Lords holy name

Culmination of all

The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga

system

Bhakti Yoga

..contd

Lord Krishna Says in B.G. 3.30

Yoginam api sarvesam
Mad-gatenantaratmana
Sradhhavan bhajate yo mam
Sa me yuktatamo matah
Translation: Of all the yogis , the one with
great faith who always abides in Me, thinks
of Me within himself, and renders
transcendental loving service to Me is the
most intimately united with Me in yoga and
is the highest of all. That is My opinion.

The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga

system

Methods of attaining Bhakti

Yoga
Gradual Method
STEP 0 : Astanga Yoga + Loving
devotional service to the lord (Bhakti
Yoga)
STEP 3 : Renouncing fruits + Knowledge +
Control of mind & Senses by eight fold path
+ Meditation on Paramatma(Supersoul in the
heart
(Astanga Yoga)
STEP 2 : Renouncing fruits + Speculative
Knowledge about Brahman + Austerity
(Jnana Yoga)
STEP 1 : Renouncing the fruits of ones labor
(Karma Yoga/Niskama Karma)
STEP 0 : Fruitive worker performing rituals(Karma
Kanda)

The Science of Yoga - Topmost Yoga

system

Direct Method

Devotional service in Krishna

consciousness
is the Direct Method

Two Stages involved :

- Vaidhi Bhakti
- Raganuga bhakti

The direct method is like taking an

elevator
for going up, instead of walking up all
the
steps.