Ashtanga Yoga
-
Vivekananda on Dhyana: When Concentration Becomes Meditation
In the progression of Raja Yoga, the seventh limb is Dhyana, commonly translated as meditation. If Dharana, or concentration, is the effortful struggle to hold the mind on a single point, Dhyana begins precisely where that struggle ends. The mind no longer has to be pulled back again and again; it starts to move on… Continue reading
-
Vivekananda on Dharana: The Science of Concentration
The Goal of Ashtanga Yoga is to Still the Mind. When the mind is stilled, the “Seer” or True Self is revealed. In the Yoga Sūtras, Pātañjali defines yoga as having eight limbs. The sixth limb is Dharana, which means Concentration. While Pratyahara is about “unplugging” from the world, Dharana is about “plugging in” to… Continue reading
-
The Practice of Pratyahara to Reclaim Your Mind
In Ashtanga Yoga, Pratyahara is the critical bridge between the outer world and the inner spirit. It comes after you have regulated your energy through Pranayama and serves as the necessary foundation for Dharana (Concentration). Swami Vivekananda explained that Pratyahara is the power to “unplug” the mind from the senses at will. The Problem: The… Continue reading
-
Vivekananda on the Purification of the Mind
Swami Vivekananda warned that most people waste their time trying to meditate because they skip the very first steps of Yoga. Everyone wants silence of mind. But Yoga does not begin with silence. It begins with purification. Most people jump straight to Asana or even Meditation, but Vivekananda was blunt:If the foundation is cracked, the… Continue reading
-
Vivekananda Explains Ida, Pingala and Sushumna
Swami Vivekananda approached Yoga not as belief or symbolism, but as a science of the nervous system and consciousness. In his lectures on Raja Yoga, he repeatedly emphasized that spiritual growth depends on how energy flows through the spine. At the center of this explanation are three channels: Ida, Pingala and Sushumna. The Two Ordinary… Continue reading
-
Patanjali’s Kriya Yoga
When you hear “Yoga” what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Likely graceful poses, stretchy pants and perhaps a moment of calm at the end of class. And while those things are wonderful, they’re just one tiny peek into something far vaster and older: Yogdarshan. Think of Yogdarshan as the original “operating system” for… Continue reading
Vedik Mind 