In yoga teachings emphasis is mostly directed at communicating knowledge and often Sanskrit conceptions are used which are not comprehended easily. Thus the yoga path is restricted to knowledge and that does not help the yoga practitioner very much. The real meaning of yoga is the development of a way of life in which moral and spiritual development is emphasized. An attitude of life characterised by:

1. Restraint of wickedness:

  1. - Do not harm anybody through action, speech or thought. Restrain each expression of violence.
  2. - Act truly and honestly. Be sincere in speech and in your mind.
  3. - Do not steal. Neither with words nor in your thoughts.
  4. - Develop love for Love Itself and your fellow-men.
  5. - Control craving and greed.

2. 1. Development of virtues:

  1. - Develop purity of body and mind.
  2. - Be content in all circumstances.
  3. - Develop soberness and be moderate.
  4. - Investigate the true nature of body, soul and spirit.
  5. - Surrender to our aim: the development of love.

The next six out of the eight steps are needed badly here. For spiritual development requires a consistent and powerful perseverance.

  1. 3. The body postures and a firm spiritual attitude.
  2. 4. Development of self-control and energy-control. Master yourself.
  3. 5. Practise conscious detachment and letting go.
  4. 6. Constantly strengthen the ability to concentrate.
  5. 7. Meditation or one-pointed concentration at compassion or loving understanding.
  6. 8. Develop an unfaltering spiritual equilibrium.

The forth and the fifth step are the key to success when practising the eight-fold yoga path. The mind becomes controllable when you realise that daily events trigger emotions, greed, like and dislike. The essence of the fifth step is non-identification with emotion, nor with greed or thoughts and feelings. Greed is the eagerness to possess. This is the identification with the feeling of possession. The thought: this is mine. As soon as the object wanted is taken into possession, often the fear develops to loose it. Then there is the identification with the emotion of fear. We can free ourselves from such habits. It can be trusted that everything needed for our spiritual development, will be given.

To reflect upon

The teachings of Patañjali exactly agree with those of Jesus, Moses and Buddha. For example, this is illustrated by:

Withstand all bad habits and inclinations. (Jesus in GJE 7, 155:2).

Do not long for the possessions of somebody else, nor for his house, partner, vehicle, tools or ground, nor for the crops growing on it. (I.e. the modern version of the ninth moral advice of Moses).

Greed is the cause of all suffering (Buddha).

yoga is de basis voor een stevige piramide