Discussion on the 8 Limbs of Ashtanga / Raja Yoga.

The 8 limbs of Raja Yoga (Ashtanga)

The 8 Limbs, as prescribed in the second pada of the Yoga Sutras, are a progressive series of steps or disciplines

which purify the body and mind, asisting in the attainment of enlightenment.

These 8 limbs are: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.

The 8 limbs of Ashtanga Yoga are, in brief:

    * Yama – code of conduct, self-restraint
    * Niyama – religious observances, commitments to practice, such as study and devotion
    * Āsana – integration of mind and body through physical activity
    * Pranayama – regulation of breath leading to integration of mind and body
    * Pratyahara – abstraction of the senses, withdrawal of the senses of perception from their objects
    * Dharana – concentration, one-pointedness of mind
    * Dhyana – meditation (quiet activity that leads to samadhi)
    * Samādhi – the quiet state of blissful awareness, superconscious state.

Ashtanga yoga consists of the following steps, in more detail:
The first five are external aids to Yoga (bahiranga sadhana)

1) Yama refers to the five abstentions or restraints (Don'ts).
It is a rule or code of conduct for living which will help bring a compassionate death to the ego or "the lower self"
The five directives of Yama lay down behavioral norms as prerequisites for elimination of fear and contributes to a tranquil mind.

        * Ahimsa: non-violence, inflicting no injury or harm to others or even to one's ownself.
                   It goes as far as nonviolence in thought, word and deed.
                   Ahimsa is perfect harmlessness, as well as positive love.

* Satya: Truth in word & thought. all the deeds, words, and wisdom that takes us closer to the Ultimate Truth are the truth.

* Asteya (non-stealing): not stealing, not coveting, nor hoarding, as well as not obstructing other people's desires in life

* Brahmacharya or moderation in all things: Celibacy in case of unmarried people and monogamy in the case of married people.
Even this to the extent that one should not possess any sexual thoughts towards any other except one's own spouse.

* Aparigraha: non-possessiveness, The term usually means to limit possessions to what is necessary or important.

2) Niyama refers to the five observances

* Shaucha or purity: cleanliness of body & mind.

* Santosha or contentment: satisfaction; satisfied with what one has.

* Tapas: austerity and associated observances for body discipline & thereby mental control.

* Svadhyaya: study of the Sacred Text (i.e. Vedic scriptures) to know about God and the soul,
which leads to introspection on a greater awakening to the soul and God within.

* Ishvarapranidhana: constantly living with an awareness of the divine Presence (surrender to God's Will)

3) Asana (Postures): Discipline of the body: rules and postures to keep it disease-free and for preserving vital energy.
Correct postures physically aid meditation, for they control the limbs & nervous system & prevent them from producing disturbances.

4) Pranayama: Control of breath. Beneficial to health, steadies the body and is highly conducive to the concentration of the mind.
Asanas and Pranayama form the sub-division of Raja Yoga known as Hatha-Yoga

5) Pratyahara: withdrawal of senses from their external objects, in order to still the mind.

The last three levels are called internal aids to Yoga (antaranga sadhana)

1) Dharana: concentration upon a physical object, such as a flame, or the image of a deity, in order to clarify & focus the mind.
When Dharana is achieved, it leads to the next step:

2) Dhyana: steadfast meditation. Undisturbed flow of thought around the object of meditation (pratyayaikatanata).
The act of meditation and the object of meditation remain distinct and separate.
There is still duality in Dhyana. When mastered Dhyana leads to the last step:

3) Samadhi (the superconscious state): oneness with the object of meditation.
             There is no distinction between act of meditation and the object of meditation.
             In Samadhi non-duality or oneness is experienced.
             This is the deepest and highest state of consciousness, body and mind are transcended and one with the Self or God.

      Samadhi is of two kinds:
          o Samprajnata Samadhi conscious samadhi.
                      The mind remains concentrated on the object of meditation, therefore the consciousness of meditation persists.
                      Mental modifications arise only in respect of this object of meditation.

                  This state is of four kinds:
                            + Savitarka: the Mind is concentrated upon a gross object of meditation such as a flame or the image of a deity.
                            + Savichara: the Mind is concentrated upon a subtle object of meditation , such as the tanmatras
                            + Sananda: the Mind is concentrated upon a still subtler object of meditation, like the senses.
                            + Sasmita: the Mind is concentrated upon the ego-substance with which the self is generally identified.

          o Asamprajnata Samadhi supraconscious.
                      The mind and the object of meditation are fused together.
                      The consciousness of the object of meditation is transcended.
                      All mental modifications are checked (niruddha), although latent impressions may continue.

Combined simultaneous practice of Dharana, Dhyāna & Samādhi is referred to as Samyama and is considered a tool of achieving various perfections, or Siddhis.