Yoga Psychology

Understanding the connection between the body, mind and spirit

What is yoga psychology?

Systematized by Ashtabakra over 2000 years
ago, called Raja dhi Raja yoga.

Extensively developed by P.R. Sarkar -- Indian

philosopher and spiritual teacher in late 20th century. Anandamurti.

Sarkar - known by the spiritual name Shrii Shrii

Revitalized ancient yogic understanding of how

the chakras are related to our mental/emotional states and how we can use yogic practices to create balance.

The Theory - Propensities and Yoga

Yogashcittavrtti Nirodhah - Patanjali

Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind.

That is: the Nirodha (channelisation) of all the Vrittis (propensities) of the mind.
Is it entirely correct?

Yoga is unification
This cittavrttinirodha (i.e. suspension of propensities) is also a negative stage? The correct interpretation of yoga is unification. Unification by whom, with whom? Sam'yoga yoga ityukto jiiva'tma Parama'tmanah. Unification of the unit self with the Cosmic Self is yoga.

Yoga is unification micro merges with Macro

When your little I becomes one with your great I, that state is the state of yoga. The spiritual aspirant who has attained that state, that stage, is a yogi. That desideratum, the goal of life, is hidden within your I feeling. It lies covert within your I feeling. Microcosm Macrocosm

Chakras
Subtle PsychoPhysical Centers
Mental/Emotional tendencies are located at different chakras throughout the body.

Glands and Sub-glands: relationship to chakras

C - 7th pineal B - 6th pituitary A - 5th thyroid D - 4th thymus E/F - 3rd pancreas/ adrenals G/H - 2nd ovaries/ testes 1st no official glands
*Science has recently discovered that not only glands, but also different areas of tissue throughout the body produce hormones.*

Propensities
(tendencies of mind) Examples:

Altruism Hope Fear

Worldly desire

Human Expression Through the Chakras

beyond expression

all knowledge self-expression

compassion drive inferiority/superiority longings

Vrittis propensities or tendencies of mind

50 tendencies
x2 (internal and external expression) = 100 x 10 (5 motor and 5 sensory organs)

= 1000 tendencies

Sahasrara chakra

Chakras the specifics

What is a cakra? It is a collection of glands and sub-glands, and the location of these glands and sub-glands differs from animal to animal. In humans the cakras are situated at the intersecting points of the id'a', sus'umna' and piungala' [psycho-spiritual channels]. In the human mind various thoughts are constantly emerging and dissolving. Behind these psychic phenomena are the underlying vrttis [propensities] which are primarily related to the inborn sam'ska'ras [mental reactive momenta] of human beings. Propensities are formed according to one's inherent sam'ska'ras, and the expression and control of these propensities are dependent upon the various cakras. - Shrii Shrii Anandamurti

Muladhara Chakra
First chakra the root

Solid factor
Visualization color: Gold

Vrittis of the
Vrittis of the 1st Chakra - longings (propensities):

st 1

Chakra

Kama physical Artha psychic Dharma psychospiritual Moksa spiritual

Svadhisthana Chakra
Second chakra
Liquid factor Visualization color: Silvery white (like moonlight)

Vrittis of the 2nd Chakra

Belittlement of others, indifference Psychic stupor, lack of common sense Indulgence Lack of confidence (in oneself or another) Crude expression, cruelty Thought of complete annihilation (defeatism)

Manipura Chakra
Third chakra
Luminous factor

Visualization color: Red

Vrittis of the 3rd Chakra

Third chakra Some tendencies: Shyness Fear Melancholy Craving Attachments Irritability

What are all the vrittis or propensities of the 3rd chakra?

Vrittis of the 3rd Chakra

Shyness, shame Sadistic tendency, cruelty Envy, jealousy Lethargy, inertia, staticity Melancholy

Peevishness, irritability Craving, thirst for acquisition Infatuation Hatred, revulsion Fear

Anahata Chakra
Fourth chakra
Aerial Factor Visualization color:

Smokey gray/green

Vrittis of the 4th Chakra

Hope

Effort
Mine-ness and attachment, love

Self-esteem, vanity, arrogance Anxiety, impersonal worry Conceit, egotism Greed, avarice, voracity Hypocrisy, deception

Discrimination, conscience
Mental numbness due to fear, nervous breakdown

Repentance
Argumentativeness (to point of wild exaggeration)

Vishuddha Chakra
Fifth chakra
Ethereal factor Visualization color: Multi-colored/shaped

Vrittis of the 5th Chakra

1-7 feelings inspired by the musical scale: 1st note, vibrancy (peacock) 2nd note, relieving (bull, ox) 3rd note, quieting (goat) 4th note, peaceful (deer) 5th note, joyful (cuckoo) 6th note, sweetness (donkey) 7th note, tender longing (elephant) OMN - creation, preservation, destruction HUM - movement of the divine force (sound of the kundalinii) PHAT - fruition or inspiration, theory into practice (practication)

Vrittis of the 5th Chakra (continued)

Expression Poisonous quality of voice/speech, (for mundane welfare) repulsive expression Altruism Attractive quality of (for psychic welfare, voice/speech, sweet subtler sphere) expression Universal welfare (noble actions) Surrender to a higher power (Supreme Entity)

Ajina Chakra
Sixth Chakra Beyond the factors and colors 2 propensities (vrittis): - mundane knowledge - spiritual knowledge
mundane knowledge

spiritual knowledge

Sahasrara Chakra
Seventh chakra - thousand petalled

Devotion Surrender Love

Why are some people born happy, others sad, others scared, others outgoing?

Samskara
a seed of reaction
We all enter the world with our own samskaras:
often called karma (but karma is action while samskara is the reaction in potentiality and karmaphala is the results of action or the spent reaction).

Samskaras are accumulated from past lives, and are also imposed and acquired. Samskaras determine our chakra symphony.

How can Yoga Help?

If we can strengthen the chakras, the mind will become more balanced. Yoga in its entirety is holistic. Diet, therapy/counseling, exercise, etc. help create a holistic approach. Yoga postures can contribute some are very specific, others help balance several chakras at once.

Synthetic system
Yoga Psychology or approach to yoga - is a synthetic approach. Systems approach never separates one element from another, sees all as interactive: asanas, meditation, diet, ethics, service. Tuning/cleaning the mind/body instrument in order to harmonize the symphony.

Yogas 8 limbs (Ashtaunga)

Yama Niyama Asana Pranayama Pratyahara Dharana Dhyana Samadhi

Let us briefly look at asanas and meditation (pratyahara, dharana, dhyana)

Whats special about asanas (poses)?

Postures are held in order to put sustained pressure on the specific glands. Breath is controlled. Postures are repeated to maximize their effectiveness. Postures are done when you are cool. Postures are followed by self-massage to help with the assimilation of the glandular effects.

Whats special about meditation?

The wave of Supreme Consciousness is attained in the process of meditation (sadhana). If anybody does this sadhana with great determination, they will move on towards that Supreme. They will become one with that Supreme form of Bliss (Ananda). Human beings will have to dive into this wave of the Supreme. This is the true success in life this is the Ananda Marga (Path of Bliss).

Aspects of Yoga Psychology

Asanas glands hypothalamus nerves mood behaviour glands Meditation nerves

Adaptation
(physical, mental/emotional, spiritual)
environmental stimulus
Affects: Limbic system * Hypothalamus * Endocrine glands readiness heightened mental state

altered physiology (blood sugar, adrenalin, temperature, immune cells, electrolytes)

Integration of Internal and External Stimuli Environmental

Limbic system

stimuli

Cortex - memory
Limbic system
correlates with past experiences

hypothalamus pituitary

Hormones released
defense digestion reproduction

Adaptation
SUCCESSFUL ADAPTATION Relaxation, efficiency, focus Subtle, higher mind/ propensities FAILURE TO ADAPT Sickness, stress Crude, lower mind/ propensities

Adaptation and Evolution

Sustained demand for adaptation Psychic urges (hopes and fears) Psychic transmutations Genetic transmutations (changes in DNA) New species
Vibrational energy

Spiritual Evolution
Spiritual practice begins with the body and towards the end it culminates in spiritual evolution. In the first phase, sadhana (meditation / spiritual practice) is physico-psychic, and in the second stage it is only psychic. In the third stage psycho-spiritual and in the fourth stage it is entirely spiritual. These are the different stages of physicopsycho-spiritual practice.