Pre-classical period
The creation of the Upanishads begins the Pre-Classical period of yoga. This period unravels the transition of yoga to other religions and worshippers. Throughout the Pre-Classical period, scriptures concerning yoga delineate stronger meanings of it. The Upanishads consists of a total of 200 scriptures that describe the inner vision of reality that comes from the worship to Brahman. The Upanishads explain three subjects: the ultimate reality, the transcendental self, and the relationship between the two. The Upanishads continue to explain and develop the thoughts and teachings found in the Vedas.
The word Upanishad means to "sit near." It also implies that for one to have learned in depth the true meanings of the words spilled out on the text was to sit close to a guru, a yoga teacher. One of the most famous scriptures in the Upanishad, The Maitrayaniya, outlined a six-fold path to liberation. This six-fold yoga path included some of the first practices of yoga. First, it began with the controlling the breath through the word, pranayama. Next, it continued with eliminating the senses through the word, pratyahara. Next came meditation through the word dhyana. Fourth came concentration through, dharana. Fifth came contemplation through tarka. And, the final fold of this yoga path was absorption through samadhi. These words and meanings gave prominence to the practice of yoga. They showed that yoga was not a light subject matter and the importance reflected on those who practiced it. Today, there are many different types of yoga that have been passed down to us. At the time however, two yoga disciplines evolved. Karma yoga, very popular in classes today, was the path of action or ritual. Jnana yoga was the path of knowledge or study of the scriptures. Both paths led to the ultimate goal of the six-fold yoga path; liberation.
Although yoga has originated with Hinduism roots, it also shares some characteristics with Buddhism in which we can trace in its history. During the sixth century B.C., Buddha started teaching Buddhism, which stresses the importance of a commonly known practice called meditation, the practice of physical postures. Soon after, around 500 B.C., the Bhagavad- Gita evolved. Also known as the Lord's Song it is currently the oldest known Yoga scripture. It is devoted entirely to yoga and marks the formation of the practice of yoga. The focus of the Lord's Song is that, "to be alive means to be active and in order to avoid difficulties in our lives and in others, our actions have to benign and have to exceed our egos (Bance 1). The Bhagavad Gita also brought upon another yoga discipline, the bhakti yoga. This type of yoga is the path of devotion. The words of the Upanishads served as a foundation for the Gita by encouraging it to incorporate its doctrines.
During the time the Upanishads were written, the idea of ritual sacrifice came about and became the idea of sacrifice of the ego through self-knowledge, action and wisdom. Even today this remains an important part of yoga’s philosophy. However, in comparison to the Vedas the Upanishads contained nothing of what we would term as the yoga practice occurring today. Today, we do not follow the majority of the spiritual outcome the rishis and guru's professed. But, we do continue to take praise in the several yoga paths formed at the time of the Upanishads. The first and probably most important presentation of yoga came about in the next period.
The word Upanishad means to "sit near." It also implies that for one to have learned in depth the true meanings of the words spilled out on the text was to sit close to a guru, a yoga teacher. One of the most famous scriptures in the Upanishad, The Maitrayaniya, outlined a six-fold path to liberation. This six-fold yoga path included some of the first practices of yoga. First, it began with the controlling the breath through the word, pranayama. Next, it continued with eliminating the senses through the word, pratyahara. Next came meditation through the word dhyana. Fourth came concentration through, dharana. Fifth came contemplation through tarka. And, the final fold of this yoga path was absorption through samadhi. These words and meanings gave prominence to the practice of yoga. They showed that yoga was not a light subject matter and the importance reflected on those who practiced it. Today, there are many different types of yoga that have been passed down to us. At the time however, two yoga disciplines evolved. Karma yoga, very popular in classes today, was the path of action or ritual. Jnana yoga was the path of knowledge or study of the scriptures. Both paths led to the ultimate goal of the six-fold yoga path; liberation.
Although yoga has originated with Hinduism roots, it also shares some characteristics with Buddhism in which we can trace in its history. During the sixth century B.C., Buddha started teaching Buddhism, which stresses the importance of a commonly known practice called meditation, the practice of physical postures. Soon after, around 500 B.C., the Bhagavad- Gita evolved. Also known as the Lord's Song it is currently the oldest known Yoga scripture. It is devoted entirely to yoga and marks the formation of the practice of yoga. The focus of the Lord's Song is that, "to be alive means to be active and in order to avoid difficulties in our lives and in others, our actions have to benign and have to exceed our egos (Bance 1). The Bhagavad Gita also brought upon another yoga discipline, the bhakti yoga. This type of yoga is the path of devotion. The words of the Upanishads served as a foundation for the Gita by encouraging it to incorporate its doctrines.
During the time the Upanishads were written, the idea of ritual sacrifice came about and became the idea of sacrifice of the ego through self-knowledge, action and wisdom. Even today this remains an important part of yoga’s philosophy. However, in comparison to the Vedas the Upanishads contained nothing of what we would term as the yoga practice occurring today. Today, we do not follow the majority of the spiritual outcome the rishis and guru's professed. But, we do continue to take praise in the several yoga paths formed at the time of the Upanishads. The first and probably most important presentation of yoga came about in the next period.