Ashtanga Yoga, the eightfold path, is a sacred ladder reaching toward the divine. Rooted in the timeless wisdom of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, it unfolds as a guide to unite body, mind, and spirit. Each limb is a step on this luminous journey, where discipline and surrender merge into transcendence.
“Yogas chitta vritti nirodhah“—“Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind.” With this declaration, the path begins, inviting us to silence the storms within and awaken to our eternal nature.
First comes Yama, the ethical foundation, teaching non-violence, truth, and compassion. Ahimsa, the principle of non-harm, whispers: “Sarve bhavantu sukhinah”—“May all beings be happy.” It is the root of harmony, the seed of love.
Next is Niyama, the inner discipline. It speaks of purity, contentment, and surrender. Ishvarapranidhana—devotion to the divine—reminds us to see the sacred in all things, to bow to the infinite within.
Asana, the third limb, transforms the body into a temple. Through steady postures, it cultivates strength and stillness, preparing the seeker for deeper realms. As the Gita proclaims: “Sthira sukham asanam”—“Posture should be steady and comfortable.”
The fourth, Pranayama, is the art of breath, the life force that binds all existence. By mastering it, one calms the mind and awakens the spirit.
Pratyahara, the fifth limb, calls the senses inward, quieting the outer noise. It is the bridge to Dharana, concentration, where the mind becomes a single-pointed flame.
Then comes Dhyana, meditation, the still lake reflecting the infinite. It is a communion with the divine, a step away from unity.
At the pinnacle is Samadhi, the crown of Ashtanga. Here, the self dissolves, merging with the eternal. “Tat Tvam Asi”—“Thou art That.”
This is the eightfold path, a journey from the mortal to the divine. May it guide all seekers to peace, to truth, to the boundless light within.
Article Crafted by Yoga Home Bali Team
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