THE YOGA The Yoga differs from the Samkhya in its insistence on mental discipline and acceptance of theism, though its connection with belief in God is somewhat loose. God does not create, reward or punish. Union with God is not the goal of Yoga endeavour. God is only a particular soul not essentially different from other souls co-eternal with him. He stands in an eternal connection with the most refined constituent of matter and is endowed with supreme power, wisdom and goodness.
Our bondage is due to non-discrimination. The true light of the spirit will shine if the obscuring mental activities are sup pressed. The method of Yoga consists in the suppression of all mental activities, conscious as well as unconscious. The eightfold path is a means of it. The first two, yama (abstention) and niyama (observance), refer to the ethical preparation. The next two asana (posture), prdnayama (regulation of breath) insist on the discipline of the body so as to make it flexible. We can con trol involuntary muscles as well by the breathing exercises. The next step of pratyahara or the withdrawal of the senses from their natural outward functioning answers to what modern psychology calls introversion. While these five are only accessories, dhyana (fixed attention), dharana (contemplation), and samadhi (con centration) are integral elements of Yoga. Through concentration we get into direct touch with the reality of the things and obtain intuitional knowledge. The process of concentration is to be continued until the mind is dissolved and self illumination results. Samad/ii is the perfect life of spirit.