What is Yoga? The Four Approaches

The word ‘yoga’ derives from the Sanskrit ‘yuj’ for root. It roughly translates to ‘union’, in this instance, union with the divine or with ‘Brahman’. I like to think of it as the union of one’s self with existence as a whole. Furthermore, the actual goal of yoga practice is to reach ‘moksha’, a state of complete freedom from physical constraints and attachments.

In the western world the term ‘yoga’ is incorrectly used in place of ‘yoga asanas’. An asana is a physical posture heavily used for physical aspects of Raja Yoga. They are not the summation of yoga as a whole but merely a tool used in certain sectors of the whole. From a spiritual perspective, yoga can be approached in many different forms. The 3 main paths are Bhakti, Karma and Jnana. Raja is the fourth mentioned here, incorporating multiple different paths.

1. Bhakti Yoga - the path of devotion

2. Karma Yoga - the path of action

3. Jnana Yoga - the path of knowledge

4. Raja Yoga - the royal path

Four main paths of yoga, from omtology

Bhakti Yoga

The term ‘Bhakti’ is often referred to as the state of one’s higher self or one’s natural state, aka. the state of loving awareness. It is unlikely, however, that Bhakti is naturally obtained without practice. This is where Bhakti yoga comes in.

Bhakti yoga is the practice of devotion with the ultimate goal of lifting one’s emotions into a higher state of consciousness. This can be done by looking at every aspect of ones life and seeing how God infiltrates into it. God is initially external, one can use whatever image as God; Rama, Krishna, Jesus etc. But over time, as the ego diminishes, this perception of God one had created transcends into all aspects of existence. And so, being devoted to God is to see God in all of creation. Through the devotion of God, along with the understanding that God is everywhere, everything and existence as a whole, allows a state of the highest bliss to be achieved.

Bhakti has a very large following, most likely as it is assumed to be one of the easiest paths to moksha. Bhaktas typically incorporate singing mantras, rituals, pilgrims and festivals into their practice to show their devotion for Brahman.

Typical Bhakti deities and what they represent;

• Trimurti (the Puranas)

  • Shiva - changes / flux (fire)

  • Vishnu - preserver / stability (water)

  • Brahma - creator

• Ganesh - overcoming obstacles

• Devi - mother / protector

• Sarasvati - knowledge / music

Karma Yoga

Many will be very familiar with the term ‘Karma’ which defines the summation of one’s actions during this and past lives. How positive or negative one’s Karma is, decides one’s future fate.

Karma yoga is the yoga of action and works to diminish ones ego through the serving of others. This practice encourages one to work with their own dharma. This can be related back to the cast system in India and helped individuals to find peace in their own duties due to the separation of ones action and ones ego.

Serving is the heart of the practice, for example, working with ones community and being part of something bigger than oneself without the expectation of receiving anything in return. The work done needs to be selfless and done with the right intentions. Over time this yields meaningful connections with others as one devotes themselves to each stage and the ego is slowly lost in the action of serving.

Jnana Yoga

In Sanskrit, ‘Jnana’ means ‘spiritual knowledge’ or ‘wisdom’. It represents a cognitive experience upon the recognition of one’s freedom from this worldly experience and that one is inseparable from divine reality, brahman.

Unlike Bhakti or Karma yoga which are based on faith, Jnana yoga is built on intellectual reflection. The path of knowledge requires one to intuitively understand all facts they absorb relating to their spiritual practice. Upon this concrete intuitive understanding, meditation, studying of sacred texts one can obtain moksha. This is also known as one of the hardest paths to enlightenment as it requires internalising and processing all spiritual knowledge that one would just accept freely on other yogic paths.

It is important, when one considers specific queries, to reject everything previously stated and only accept what truly resonates with ones intuition. Spending time in self study will gradually present the answer to each question. Knowledge becomes infiltrated into ones experience where the mind subsides completely.

3 steps turn knowledge into the wisdom of ones own experience;

1. Shramana - to seek and listen without bias, with a focused, humble mind open to knowledge.

2. Manana - going over the idea again and again, observing it from different perspectives, questioning how it applies to ones own life.

3. Nididhyasana - the establishment of ones own experience, internalising one’s understanding of a concept. This occurs naturally.  

Raja Yoga

‘Raja’ is the Sanskrit term for ‘king’ or ‘royal’. Raja yoga brings the strongest aspects of yoga practice together to form a path that, if mastered, allows one to reach moksha. To complete this practice however one needs to be committed and strong in their approach.

The path is methodical in it’s nature and consists of 8 main focuses;

1. Yama - self control

2. Niyama - discipline

3. Asana - physcial postures

4. Pranayama - breathing exercises

5. Pratyahara - withdrawal of the senses

6. Dharana - concentration

7. Dhyana - meditation

8. Samadhi - complete realisation

These 8 focuses should be explored in order but it is not necessary to master any before moving on to the next. Hence, resulting in them often being explored all together. After working through each sensory and mental focuses, psychophysical mastery is obtained.