अहिंसा A (no) + Himsa (injury) Ahimsa definition Ahiṃsā is the first and most important of Patanjali’s yamas, meaning non-harming or non-violence: II.30 ahiṁsā-satyāsteya-bramacaryāparigrajā yamaḥ Ahiṁsā, nonviolence; satyā, truthfulness; āsteya, refraining from stealing; brahmacaryā, celibacy; aparigrāhah, refrainment from acquisition or coveting; yamaḥ, the abstentions The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Edwin Bryant The yamas are instructions … Read more
लययोग Laya (dissolve/dissolution) + Yoga (union) Laya Yoga Definition The aim of Laya yoga is to get the individual self and pure consciousness/supreme energy to merge together. This frees the self from karma and the cycle of rebirth. Laya yoga leads to complete absorption or samadhi and means being free from all attachments where the … Read more
अद्वैत A (no) + dvaita (two) Advaita Definition Advaita is a non-dualist school or spiritual path of Vedanta that means “one reality”. All religions are said to lead to the same reality, according to Advaita. Advaita Vedanta philosophy says that the individual soul and ultimate reality are the same. It is often referred to as … Read more
The five Tattvas, or Pancha-mahabhuta, are the foundations of our cosmos and therefore principles of our existence. The essence of life is both created and maintained by the Tattvas. Therefore, these aspects make up the entirety of the universe, including humans. We are composed of these elemental Tattvas before we take our human form and … Read more
Integral Yoga Definition Integral Yoga is a system of yoga based on the teachings of Swami Satchidananda. Also referred to as Supramental yoga this holistic approach to yoga fuses elements of Hatha, Bhakti, Jnana, Japa, Karma and Raja yoga. Physically it is a gentle, healing and accessible practice that unites different yoga paths based on … Read more