Spyros Kapnias - Garudananda

The Dhyana Meditation is the second last step towards completion, according to the eight path step of Patanjali. I stress this because we often use this word in vain on a daily basis without ever attributing the significance and the years of effort which it entails. We can therefore start from the Dharana focusing and gradually reach Meditation. We resume the sitting meditation pose Padmasana (lotus), or Ardha Padmasana (half lotus), in front of a wall at an arm’s length distance. At eye height we hang a Shri Yantra on the wall.  We close our eyes and sink into our body. We perceive our body internally. We then connect with our breathing and simply observe. We let our minds connect and co-ordinate in a steady balance with our breathing, without allowing any thought waves to deter it from our breathing. We try to eliminate all our movements and stay focused on our breathing.  When we feel entirely internalised, we open our eyes and focus on the Shri Yantra. Th...

 Jnana means wisdom or knowledge in Sanskrit.  Jnana yoga is the yoga of knowledge - not knowledge of the body or ego - but the knowledge of Brahman and Atman and the realization of their unity. Where the devotee of God follows the promptings of the heart, the jnani uses the powers of the mind to discriminate between the real and the unreal, the permanent and the transitory. The tradition of Jnana Yoga teaches that “Liberation is attained, not by works or ceremony, but by knowledge alone.” Jnana is considered the most difficult of the four main paths of Yoga. The Four Paths of Yoga according to Swami Sivananda's approach and the main paths of Yoga are - Karma Yoga (The Yoga of Action), Bhakti Yoga (The Path of Devotion or Divine Love), Jnana Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge or Wisdom) and Raja Yoga (The Science of Physical and Mental Control). Each path is suited to a different temperament or approach to life. All the paths lead ultimately to the same destination - to uni...

“Ksana tatkramayoh samyamat vivekajam jnanam”           Yoga Sutras of Patanjali III.53 “By samyama (control) on moment and on the continuous flow of moments, the yogi gains exalted knowledge, free from the limitations of time and space”. (B.K.S. Iyengar – Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.) “Patanjali began the journey towards the spiritual kindom with the word atha meaning “now”. He ends with the word iti, meaning “that is all”. The yogi has reached his goal.” (B.K.S. Iyengar – Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.) The most valid in Yoga, teacher and philosopher Patanjali negotiates with these sutras the subject that is the beginning and the end of all spiritual teachings worldwide. He speaks about the Now. Now, is the eternity and the most precious good. It’s the only reality. The eternal Present is the space within which your whole life unfolds, the one factor that remains constant. Life is now. There was never a time when your...

Dhatu (dhä-tōō), είναι μια σανσκριτική λέξη που σημαίνει, αυτό το οποίο συμβάλλει στη διαμόρφωση του σώματος. Η ρίζα Daa σημαίνει, υποστήριξη ή αυτό που φέρει κάτι. Είναι επομένως η βάση της ανάπτυξης και της επιβίωσης. Επίσης, η σανσκριτική λέξη Dhatu σημαίνει, στρώμα, υπόστρωμα, συστατικό μέρος, συστατικό, στοιχείο, πρωταρχικό στοιχείο. Τα Dhatus είναι βασικά οι ιστοί του σώματος, οι οποίοι είναι υπεύθυνοι για τη λειτουργία των συστημάτων, των οργάνων και της δομής του σώματος. Κάθε ένα από τα Dhatus, είναι η εξελικτική μορφή ενός προηγούμενου και προέρχονται από την πέψη της τροφής. Αυτά είναι βασικά το αποτέλεσμα της δράσης των καταλυτών που μετατρέπουν τον έναν ιστό σε έναν άλλο. Ο μοναδικός σκοπός του μεταβολισμού είναι να συγκεντρώσει τα σωστά Dhatus, σε συγχρονισμό με τον ρόλο που το καθένα έχει στο πεδίο της φυσιολογικής δραστηριότητας. Τα Επτά Dhatus Σύμφωνα με την Αγιουρβέδα, υπάρχουν επτά βασικοί τύποι Dhatus σε ένα ανθρώπινο σώμα. Τα επτά βασικά Dhatus έχ...