Yoga Chakra- The Seven Foundations of Jnana Yoga

Back of the Book From Ist to 7th November 2015, Swami Niranjanananda gave a series of satsangs during the Yoga Chakra program held at Ganga Darshan Vishwa Yogapeeth. The program was part of the ongoing effort to develop the next chapter of yoga where the focus is on connecting with yoga vidya, the essence of yogic knowledge, and exploring the deeper dimensions of yoga.

The theme of the satsangs was jnana yoga, one of the spokes in the six-spoked yoga chakra, the wheel of yoga. Swamiji explained the sequential process inherent in this yoga, which is often misunderstood as abstract self-enquiry. Beginning with shubhechha, positive intention, and ending at turyaga, transcendental awareness, the seven-step ladder of jnana yoga leads one to apply the learning and develop strength of wisdom.

This allows one to manage the negative manifestations of the mind and experience inner positivity and purity. To live jnana in this form does require immense willpower and mental clarity, but Swamiji invited every sadhaka to embark on this path - with sincerity, seriousness and commitment.

Introduction During the World Yoga Convention, it was announced that the first chapter of yoga propagation is over and the second chapter of understanding yoga has to begin.

Thus over 2014 and 2015, since the World Yoga Convention, I have been involved in two areas: my own sadhana and developing the yogic learning, as these were the two mandates given to me by my guru, Sri Swami Satyananda.

He said to me: "Continue to work for yoga away from the trappings of the Bihar School of Yoga, and continue to explore and live sannyasa." These two instructions have been my inspiration and provided the direction for the future.

In the area of yoga, a lot of thinking has been done to understand how to deepen the yogic experience. In that process, a few new teaching programs have been introduced in 2015. The purpose of all these programs is to connect with yoga vidya, the essence of the yogic knowledge, and the Yoga Chakra Series is part of that effort.

Connection to vidya

When Sri Swamiji taught us yoga, it was not to make us into yoga teachers, but to introduce us to the subject of yoga. He transmitted the knowledge of yoga, the vidya of yoga. He was an imparter of vidya; that was what he taught and that was the basis of his interaction with everyone. He imparted vidya wherever he went. He would go on a tour and say, "I am teaching you this much now; practice this, when I return the next time I will teach you beyond." He never told anybody, "Practice and teach." The first generation of his disciples followed that same principle. We imparted that same training wherever we went, and we were successful in doing that as we were connected to the vidya.

However, after the first generation the essential connection to vidya was lost and propagation itself became the direction. The next generation of teachers came in, and they in turn began training others. Eventually a whole sea of yoga teachers emerged who had no direct contact with the source and no connection with the vidya. After all, how can the tenth or fifteenth generation of teachers represent the original teachings? Yet all these people believed they had the authority to teach yoga, and this trend has continued.

Now, in order to connect with and preserve the parampara, the tradition, in the second chapter of yoga our focus has to be to once again connect with the vidya, to water the roots.

The phase of propagation

What was the first phase of propagation? What is called 'integral yoga' or Bihar Yoga, the yoga of head, heart and hands, in the first fifty years has remained as an idea only.

What was practiced and taught by teachers across the globe were some limited practices of hatha yoga and raja yoga.

A limited understanding of hatha yoga, the dynamic part consisting of physical asana and movements, captured the imagination of yoga teachers. Similarly, a limited aspect of raja yoga, only certain aspects of pratyahara and dharana such as yoga nidra, antar mouna, ajapa japa, tattwa shuddhi, captured the imagination of people.

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