philosophy of yoga

Philosophy of Yoga

Philosophy of West

The word Philosophy means “love of wisdom”. In English, the word ‘philosophy’ first appeared in writing during 1340, when it is explained for the benefit of readers unfamiliar with the word as "love of wysdome." Wisdom is a word native to English, but we had no term for the love of learning or the desire to gain wisdom. Like the rest of the Western world, English learned that from the Greeks.

But this Love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means and moral self-discipline do not bring one face to face with reality as mind divided and perceives everything. Western mind always thinks about philosophy in terms of intellectual process i.e. a system of thought based on or involving such inquiry or critical analysis of fundamental assumptions or beliefs.

However, philosophy at a later stage broadened its area of knowledge that included logic, ethics, aesthetics, metaphysics, and epistemology.

Darshan or Philosophy of Yoga

According to ancient wisdoms of India, philosophy can not clearly present true picture of reality as logic comes through reasoning mentality. Reason that comes from intellectual mind can not perceive the whole i.e. The Absolute or the Brahman. Philosophy when comes to end when logic does not exist, Darshan or Indian philosophy begins. The Darshan is roughly known by the English word Philosophy. But Philosophy is a Latin word which means love of wisdom. It may be said that where philosophy ends, Darshan begins.

Darshan is a Sanskrit word meaning sight used for seeing something or somebody. It also means vision, glimpse and sight. But when Darshan is used with Indian philosophy, it means vision or divine i.e. The Brahman or the Absolute. When there is a vision of god face to face, one’s ego is dissolved and experience of unity, oneness is witnessed. This vision or Darshan is the aim of all Indian philosophies written in more than 250 scriptures during the period that spreads more than 10,000 years.

Why Darshan of Yoga and not philosophy?

When mind is withdrawn outside into the material world, it is the sense organs which act as windows to the world by sending the information for interpretation by the faculty of intellect. The faculty of intellect is always guided by certain preferences, system, knowledge and information gathered in the past. This means anything analyzed by intellect can not help one to reach the Absolute. Vision or Darshan only begins when intellect is kept in abeyance for allowing the higher consciousness to work.

Sudarshan is commonly used in modern India, which truly means a glimpse of Self or Real Self. This vision is the work of higher states of consciousness beyond mind or mental or rational consciousness that can only perceive the oneness in/of all beings i.e. animate or inanimate.

When a person is absorbed into meditation by dropping the mind that divided the world into knower, knowing and known, a new state of consciousness takes over which enables ‘vision’ or Darshan of divine element within everyone.

Reader should keep in mind the difference between two words ‘philosophy’ and ‘Darshan’ in order to understand any philosophy of India. The clarity and deeper understanding will help reader to understand the concept, bases, and practices of yoga in right earnest.

Philosophy and Darshan, however, both aims understanding the ultimate reality, causes, and principles underlying being and thinking. Philosophy remains confined within the field of intellect or enters into abstract thinking while Darshan guides those practices by which intellect is kept in abeyance for awakening to The Absolute or the Brahman. Here yoga actually begins when one witness the inner, higher and infinite consciousness. Philosophy of yoga helps in rational understanding of concepts and practices while Darshan takes one deeper into reality.

Another striking knowledge and understanding of Yoga throws deeper understanding of all branches of Philosophy that is traditionally divided into several branches i.e. Metaphysics (inquires into the nature and ultimate significance of the universe), Logic (inquires the laws of valid reasoning), Epistemology (investigates the nature of knowledge and the process of knowing), Ethics (deals with problems of right conduct), and Aesthetics (works to determine the nature of beauty and the criteria of artistic judgment).

Yoga Darshan (Philosophy)

The Yoga Darshan (philosophy) integrates all branches of philosophy in such a way that it reflects the root cause of all problems and sufferings of human life, solutions to all problems at personal, professional, social and spiritual levels, and outer and inner attainments in terms of peace, prosperity and success; health, harmony and happiness. The four broader areas of works or action (karma), Knowledge (jnana), Devotion (Love) and Self perfection that prepares the foundations of Yoga in relation to an individual, universe and transcendental realities.

There are many ways yoga philosophy can be understood but everyone presents a complete picture and points ultimately to The Absolute Truth. Few of many concepts are briefly mentioned here:

A journey from modern science to spirituality

The philosophy of yoga presents an integral picture of science and spirituality, in which both complement rather than contradict each other. It begins with a rational understanding of universe, human frame specially body, life, mind, intellect and ego and considered as Outer Layers of Real Self. The outer layers are all together known as apparent self while Innermost layer is known as Real Self.

Apparent and Real Self

The outer layers commonly known as body, life, mind and intellect were traced in ancient yogic texts but developed by Vedantic School of Vedic Darshan (philosophy) after 1500 years. It was not difficult for great yoga masters who divided the outer human frame or Apparent Self into five well defined layers known as Kosha or sheaths. Kosha or Sheath is a beautiful word that conveys the aim and purpose of yoga. The word simply means veil but with reference to Yoga, it veil over Real Self. When veil of ignorance is uncovered is burnt or dissolved, Real Self begins its workings in that human being. This working dissolves all sufferings and problems of human life.

Five layers of Apparent Self

There is another beautiful and deeper understanding that is revealed by this philosophy is question of ignorance with reference of five layers or sheaths i.e. Annamaya Kosha( Food Sheath), Pranamaya Kosha( Energy Sheath), Manomaya Kosha ( Mental Sheath), Vijnanamaya Kosha ( Intellectual sheath) and Anandamaya Kosha ( Bliss Sheath).

All these sheaths are equated with different layers of onion, when pealed one by one, nothing actually is left. The nothingness or naught is another name of The Absolute. When a person practices yoga, awakens higher consciousness, takes his awareness progressively to inner layers, and eventually reaches to Real Self.