ASSIGNMENT – UNITY IN DIVERSITY
Submitted by Dr. Manish K Mokshagundam Roll number – 14
Yoga Instructor Course (Oct 2011)
SVAYSA University Bangalore -560 019
UNITY IN DIVERSITY
Yoga is a way of life, representing auspiciousness
―Every
man
Worship,
is
potentially
Philosophy
or
divine,
Physic
to
control
unfold
(all
or
used‖
the
any)
divinity;
aspect
Work,
can
be
Swami Vivekananda
Introduction
We are essentially divine, all of us. We can unfold this through our lifestyle
and
certain
processes.
The
yogic
way
of
doing
this
manifold. Yoga as well as other Indian philosophies believe that God or an ultimate super-entity is uniting everything in this universe. The ultimate goal of all mankind, the aim and end of all religions, is but one — re-union with God, or, what amounts to the same, with the divinity which is every man's true nature. But while the aim is one,
the
method
of
attaining
may
vary
with
the
different
temperaments of men
Both the goal and the methods employed for reaching it are called Yoga,
a
word
derived
from
the
same
Sanskrit
root
as
the
English
"yoke", meaning "to join", to join us to our reality, God. There are various such Yogas, or methods of union — but the chief ones are — Karma-Yoga, Bhakti-Yoga, Râja-Yoga, and Jnâna-Yoga
Civilization & Culture
―Civilization is what we have and culture is what we are‖
India is a civilizational continuum of 15000 years which may diverse cultures and many forms of Yoga. There is strong underlying unity in these apparently different cultures. This underlying unity is also the essence of Indian civilization. The Indian culture unlike other cultures does not possess a single religious Book, a single God or a
Dr. Manish K Mokshagundam
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UNITY IN DIVERSITY single Prophet. India is not a monolithic culture; we are diverse in art, manners, customs, music, dance, drama, worship, etc
―Yoga and spirituality are the foundation of Indian Culture‖
We
do
always
not
believe
encouraged
in
one
size
localization
fits of
all
and
thoughts
the
civilization
whether
in
Yoga
has or
Spirituality However, the unity across various localized schools of thought has been that
–
“everything is manifested from a single consciousness
and this consciousness is the underlyin g reality”
This is the true unity in diversity of India
Tailor Made
Every man must develop according to his own nature. As every science has its methods, so has every yoga. The methods of attaining the end of Spirituality is called Yoga, and the different forms of Yoga, are adapted to the different natures and temperaments of men.
We classify them in the following way, under four heads: (1)
Karma-Yoga — WORK OR ACTION The manner in which a man realises his own divinity through works and duty
(2)
Bhakti-Yoga — WORSHIP OR EMOTIONAL CONTROL The
realisation
of
the
divinity
through
devotion
to,
and
love of, a Personal God (3)
Jnana-Yoga — PHILOSOPHY, KNOWLEDGE OR WISDOM The realisation of a man's own divinity through knowledge
(4)
Raja-Yoga — PHYSIC CONTROL OR WILL POWER The realisation of the divinity through the control of mind
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Dr. Manish K Mokshagundam
UNITY IN DIVERSITY These
are
all
different
roads
leading
to
the
same
centre — The
singular consciousness
Eligibility of a Yogi
―Be free internally and externally‖
- Swami Vivekananda
We have seen that the Indian culture allows for tailor made paths for pursuing the ultimate unity or the super-consciousness. The goal of Yoga or a Yogi is Moksha - freedom
The four margas ultimately lead to the same goal moksha, freedom 1. Knowledge will lead to freedom from ignorance i.e, Avidya 2. Bliss will lead to the cessation of sufferings i.e freedom from pain 3. Expansion
of
the
self
will
lead
to
freedom
from
selfishness
i.e, Sankuchitta manobhava 4. The power to create will lead to freedom from ego
―Yoga is practice―
The idea is to lift ones consciousness continuously till Moksha is attained. The eligibility is same for almost all the four Marga, the Methodology individual
is has
different a
i.e.
different
the
approach
prakruti
is
(physical
different. nature)
Every and
a
different pravarutti (mental nature)and has to go through his or her own way to reach the Moksha.
A person has to realise the marga or marga’s beat suited and pursue
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Dr. Manish K Mokshagundam
UNITY IN DIVERSITY The tri-fold process
Even though there are eight phases in each marga for the sadhaka, we shall suffice to undertake the last three phases of each
RajA Yoga
1. Dharana 2. Dhaya 3. Samadhi
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UNITY IN DIVERSITY
Jnana Yoga 1. Sravana 2. Manana 3. Nidhidhyasana
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UNITY IN DIVERSITY
Karma Yoga
1. Tamas to Rajas 2. Rajas to sattva 3. Sattva to Gunatteetha
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UNITY IN DIVERSITY
Bhakthi Yoga
1. Kama 2. Prema 3. Bhakthi
Conclusion
The available choice is the special quality of the Indian culture. 8
The divinity can be unfolded by any one or a combination of the four margas and specific tailor-made ways can be created to suit
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UNITY IN DIVERSITY different individuals. One must learn all the four yogas before deciding which is best suited for them
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