Integral Yoga-4

Of the four broad variants of Yoga , Hatha Yoga, has been discussed in some detail in the previous post. 

Before discussing the rest two out of three, Raja Yoga and Bhakti Yoga, it may be of interest to address Karma Yoga that Bhagwat Gita profoundly prescribes.

One seemingly weird though relevant question that one may ask, whether karma and karma yoga are both one and the same? This question is equivalent to that asked while discussing Hatha Yoga, whether Yogasana is physical culture of physical exercise and pranayama just breathing technique and the breath intake involves just oxygen enrichment?

It is so easy to give a straight no, for an answer, but not that easy to comprehend why?

All the same, without comprehending those 'whys' and 'wherefores', yoga which one practices in any form, is rendered more confusing than the question itself. 

So what, if the technique works, let it, without the need to address those confusions, one may argue.

But that is not a correct outlook, because practice of yoga in any form has at least one pre-requisite. Awareness. Not faith. Awareness means what is. Faith means what ought to be, though not within one's reach, vision or experience. The element of 'is-ness' in the form of awareness, takes into its sweep all that exists in the mind, including the confusions one might harbour. 

Therefore, practitioner engulfed in confusion about the technique itself, might have to battle with oneself in removing his own confused state with regard to the kriyas itself. In the result, much output of the efforts might get wasted or dissipated in the cob web thereby weaved at the very outset. 

It is, therefore, expedient that the theoretical spirit of yoga be first understood in general terms, before entering into the field of any yoga.

(More to follow)