THE FOUR PATHS OF YOGA

There are four main paths of Yoga - Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga. Each is suited to a
different temperament or approach to life. All the paths lead ultimately to the same destination - to union with
Brahman or God - and the lessons of each of them need to be integrated if true wisdom is to be attained.

Swami Sivananda recognised that every Yogi, or human being for that matter, possesses and identifies with each of
these elements: Intellect, heart, body and mind. He therefore advocated everyone to practice certain techniques from
each path. This came to be known as the Yoga of Synthesis. He also taught that in accordance with individual
temperament and taste one can emphasize the practice of certain Yogas over others.

KARMA YOGA - THE YOGA OF ACTION

Karma Yoga is the Yoga of Action. It is the path chosen primarily by those of an outgoing nature. It
purifies the heart by teaching you to act selflessly, without thought of gain or reward. By detaching
yourself from the fruits of your actions and offering them up to God, you learn to sublimate the ego.
To achieve this, it is helpful to keep your mind focused by repeating a mantra while engaged in any
activity.
PRINCIPLES OF KARMA YOGA
Karma Yoga is one of the four paths of Yoga. In this page are the key components that determine
that any action will qualify as being Karma Yoga

"Karma Yoga is the selfless devotion of all inner as well as the outer activities as a Sacrifice to the
Lord of all works, offered to the eternal as Master of all the soul's energies and austerities."
Bhagavad Gita
RIGHT ATTITUDE

It's not what you do that counts, it's the attitude while doing it that determines if a job is a karma
yoga job, i.e. a liberating job, or a binding job. Work is worship. Swami Sivananda advises us
to "give your hands to work, and keep your mind fixed at the lotus feet of the Lord."
RIGHT MOTIVE

Same as attitude. It is not what you do that counts but your real motive behind it. Your motive must
be pure. Swami Sivananda says: "Man generally plans to get the fruits of his works before he
starts any kind of work. The mind is so framed that it cannot think of any kind of work without
remuneration or reward. A selfish man cannot do any service. He will weigh the work and the
money in a balance. Selfless Service is unknown to him."
DO YOUR DUTY

Often "duty" is referred to as "righteousness". You will incur demerit if you shun your duty. Your
duty is towards God, or Self, or the Inner Teacher who teaches you through all the specific
circumstances of your life as they appear.
DO YOUR BEST

Whatever you have to do, do your best. If you know of a better way to serve, you must use it. Do
not hold back because of fear of effort or because of fear of criticism. Do not work in a sloppy
manner just because no one is watching or because you feel the work is not for you. Give your
best. Try to do such actions that can bring maximum good and minimum evil. Do Karma Yoga
increasingly.
GIVE UP RESULTS

God is the doer. You are not the doer. You are only the instrument. You do not know God's
intentions or God's plans. God is the actor. The Self never acts, changes. It is only the 3 Gunas or
qualities of nature which are playing. The way to realize this truth is to constantly work for work's
sake and let go of the results, good or bad. It is the desire for action that binds the individual. It is
the detachment from action that will dissolve the karmic seeds. Detachment from results also
means detachment from the type of job itself. There is no job that is inferior or superior to a
different job. Don't be attached to your job. Be ready to give up your job if necessary.
SERVE GOD OR THE SELF IN ALL

Do to others what you would like to be done to yourself. Love thy neighbor as thyself. Adapt,
adjust, accommodate. Bear insult, bear injury. Unity in Diversity. We are parts of the same body.
Practice humility in action. Beware of power, fame, name, praise, censure.
FOLLOW THE DISCIPLINE OF THE JOB

Each job is a teacher of some sort. You can learn different skills by doing different jobs. Each job
has different requirements in terms of time, degree of concentration, skills or experience,
emotional input, physical energy, will. Try to do whatever job you are doing, well.

BHAKTI YOGA - THE PATH OF DEVOTION OR DIVINE LOVE

This path appeals particularly to those of an emotional nature. The Bhakti Yogi is motivated chiefly
by the power of love and sees God as the embodiment of love. Through prayer, worship and ritual
he surrenders himself to God, channelling and transmuting his emotions into unconditional love or
devotion. Chanting or singing the praises of God form a substantial part of Bhakti Yoga.

RAJA YOGA - THE SCIENCE OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CONTROL

Often called the "royal road" it offers a comprehensive method for controlling the waves of thought
by turning our mental and physical energy into spiritual energy. Raja Yoga is also called Ashtanga

Yoga referring to the eight limbs leading to absolute mental control. The chief practice of Raja Yoga
is meditation. It also includes all other methods, which helps one to control body, energy, senses
and mind. The Hatha-Yogi uses Relaxation and other practices such as Yamas, Niyamas, Mudras,
Bandhas etc.. to gain control of the physical body and the subtle life force called Prana. When
body and energy are under control meditation comes naturally.
ASHTANGA - THE EIGHT LIMBS OF RAJA YOGA
Compiled by the Sage Patanjali Maharishi in the Yoga Sutras, the Eight Limbs are a progressive
series of steps or disciplines which purify the body and mind, ultimately leading the yogi to
enlightenment. These 8 limbs are:

1.

Yamas - The Yamas or restraints (Don'ts) are divided into five moral injuctions, aimed
at destroying the lower nature. They should all be practiced and developped by the
letter but also more importantly in the spirit. They should all be practiced in word,
thought and deed.

Ahimsa or non-violence

Satyam or truthfulness

Brahmacharya or moderation in all things (control of all senses). Also refers

to celibacy

Asteya or non-stealing

Aparigraha or non-covetousness

2.

Niyamas - The Niyamas or observances (Do's) are also divided into five and
complete the ethical precepts started with the Yama.. These qualities are:

Saucha or purity - this internal and external cleanliness.

Santosha or contentment

Tapas or austerity

Swadhyaya or study of the sacred texts

Ishwara Pranidhana which is constantly living with an awareness of the

divine Presence (surrender to God's Will)

3.

Asanas - Postures

4.

Pranayama - regulation or control of the breath. Asanas and Pranayama form the
sub-division of Raja Yoga known as Hatha-Yoga

5.

Pratyahara - withdrawal of the senses in order to still the mind.

6.

Dharana - concentration. The last 3 steps constitute the internal practice of Raja
Yoga. When Dharana is achieved, it leads to the next step:

7.

Dhyana - meditation is that state of pure thought and absorption in the object of
meditation. There is still duality in Dhyana. When mastered Dhyana leads to the last
step:

8.

Samadhi - the superconscious state. In Samadhi non-duality or oneness is

experienced. This is the deepest and highest state of consciousness where body and
mind have been transcended and the Yogi is one with the Self or God.

JNANA YOGA - THE YOGA OF KNOWLEDGE OR WISDOM

This is the most difficult path, requiring tremendous strength of will and intellect. Taking the
philosophy of Vedanta the Jnana Yogi uses his mind to inquire into its own nature. We perceive the
space inside and outside a glass as different, just as we see ourselves as separate from God.
Jnana Yoga leads the devotee to experience his unity with God directly by breaking the glass,
dissolving the veils of ignorance. Before practicing Jnana Yoga, the aspirant needs to have
integrated the lessons of the other yogic paths - for without selflessness and love of God, strength
of body and mind, the search for self-realization can become mere idle speculation.
VEDANTA
Vedanta is that philosophy which comes from the sacred scriptures called The Upanishads. The
Upanishads are the final part of the ancient texts known as the Vedas.
Veda means knowledge and Anta means end. Therefore Vedanta is said to be the philosophy
which leads to the end of knowledge and too from the ending part of the Vedas.
THREE TYPES OF VEDANTA

Three main schools of Vedanta emerged: Dvaita - the dualistic approach, Advaita - the nondualistic approach and Kevala Advaita - the pure non-dualistic school. The main exponent of
Vedanta was the great sage Adi Sankara who was an adept of the Kevala Advaita Vedanta path.
ADI SANKARA AND KEVALA ADVAITA VEDANTA
Sri Sankaracharya summarized the essence of Vedantic teachings into three concise sentences.
These are:
"Brahma Satyam. Jagat Mithya. Jivo Brahmaiva Na Parah." These can be translated in English as
follows:
God only is real. The world is unreal. The individual is none other than God.
VEDANTA AND JNANA YOGA
The beauty of Vedanta is that it transcends dry philosophy and mere intellectual concept. Vedanta
is an actual life experience, a philosophy in practice. This practice includes the many techniques of
Jnana Yoga (The Yoga of will and intellect).