Heart of Yoga, by TKV Desikachar
Chapter 15 - The Many Paths of Yoga
[A summary of the key points]
There are several different yoga paths, each with its own particular emphasis. Desikachar
selects nine for special comment:
1. Jnana yoga: Jnana means "knowledge", so "jnana yoga" is the search for real
knowledge. The assumption is that the knowledge is already within each one of us,
just waiting to be discovered. Traditionally, the jnana yoga path is followed by
listening to a teacher's explanation of the meaning of yoga texts. This is followed
by a period of reflection, discussion with fellow students, and eventually a gradual
understanding of the truth.
2. Bhakti yoga: Bhakti comes from the Sanskrit word meaning "to serve". In bhakti
yoga we serve a power greater than ourselves - what the religious would call "God".
3. Mantra yoga: A mantra is a sacred sound. It can be a single syllable, a number
of syllables or even a whole verse. Traditionally, a mantra was given to a student
by his teacher, which gave it a special power. There may also be a special image
linked with the mantra to enhance its power.
4. Raja yoga: Raja means "king". There are various explanations of the precise
nature of raja yoga. One that Desikachar gives is that the king in us is purusha,
normally hidden by the workings of the mind. When our mind attains clarity and calm,
purusha attains its rightful place.
5. Karma yoga: Karma is action. The Bhagavad Gita discusses karma yoga at some
length. We have to involve ourselves in action in our lives, but we must not let
our desires or expectations govern our actions, for we can never be sure of the results.
Nor should we take credit for our successes or feel personally responsible for our
failures. There is always some power other than ourselves influencing what we do.
6. Kriya yoga: The definition of kriya yoga appears in Yoga Sutra 2.1, and has
already been discussed in Heart of Yoga, Chapter 2.
7. Hatha, Kundalini and Tantra Yoga: The concept central to all three of these
is kundalini. There are channels (nadi) permeating our body, through which prana
can enter and leave. The three main channels, ida, pingala and sushumna, run along
the length of the spine. Ida and pingala twine round the spine, whilst sushumna runs
straight up the spinal column. Ida, which represents the cool energy of the moon,
passes the left nostril; pingala passes the right nostril and represents the hot
energy of the sun. These three nadi converge at six points along the length of the
spine called cakras. Prana can only flow along these channels when they are free
from impurities. Usually prana is unable to flow through sushumna at all, and flows
only imperfectly through the other two. Kundalini, the "coiled serpent" is the blockage
at the base of sushumna that has to be freed. The purpose of hatha, kundalini and
tantra yoga is to use various techniques to unblock kundalini and thus enable prana
to flow freely in the body through sushumna, thus bringing peace and understanding.
(Desikachar devotes about three pages to this topic; I have tried to make as concise
an explanation as possible.)
