| In the west yoga has become synonymous with the | | | | sake of the Supreme. Karma Yoga is man's genuine |
| aspect of physical exercises known as Hatha Yoga. | | | | acceptance of his earthly existence. Karma Yoga is |
| However Yoga is a wide ranging set of spiritual | | | | man's dauntless march across the battlefield of life... |
| teachings which seek to bring an aspirant closer to the | | | | Karma Yoga claims that life is a divine opportunity for |
| Universal Self. The word yoga means "union" and in | | | | serving God" (3) |
| this case it is the union of a seeker with God or union | | | | Raja Yoga |
| with the transcedental consciousness. Sri Chinmoy | | | | Raja Yoga sometimes known as ashtanga Yoga is |
| says the essence of yoga is " Yoga is our union with | | | | the yoga of gaining control over the mind in order to |
| Truth." Sri Chinmoy's path encompasses all aspects of | | | | achieve liberation. In Raja yoga the aspirant practices |
| Yoga. The principle strands of Yoga being | | | | concentration and meditation in order to still the mind. |
| 1. Hatha Yoga - physical exercises | | | | The great proponent of Raja yoga was Patanjali who |
| 2. Karma Yoga - Yoga of selfless action | | | | described the various practices in a series of |
| 3. Raja Yoga - Yoga of gaining control over mind | | | | aphorisms. Sri Chinmoy's approach to Raja Yoga and |
| 4. Bhakti Yoga - Yoga of love and devotion | | | | meditation is to take a path of simplicity. Sri Chinmoy |
| 5. Jnana Yoga - Yoga of wisdom | | | | recommends focusing on the spiritual heart. It is here in |
| Hatha Yoga | | | | the spiritual heart that a seeker can gain access to the |
| Hatha Yoga is the science of practising different yoga | | | | inner wealth of peace, love and happiness. By |
| postures for the improvement of physica health and | | | | meditating in the mind it is more difficult to be |
| general well being. It has been well documented that | | | | unemcumbered with thoughts. |
| regular practise of Hatha Yoga can also improve | | | | "Our path is basically the path of the heart and not the |
| posture and also contribute to an improved state of | | | | path of the mind. ... The heart is all love. |
| mind. | | | | The mind is quite often all confusion. When we say the |
| Hatha Yoga is not an integral part of Sri Chinmoy's | | | | heart, we mean the spiritual heart, which is flooded with |
| yoga. Meditation and spiritual growth depend primarily | | | | divine love." |
| on a seekers sincere inner cry. Sri Chinmoy says of | | | | - Sri Chinmoy |
| Hatha Yoga | | | | Sri Chinmoy Centres offer free meditation classes in |
| "If your aim is just to keep the body relaxed and fit, | | | | cities around the world. The courses are aimed at |
| then Hatha Yoga will certainly help you. But if you want | | | | beginners of meditation and are based on the |
| to complete your course in the inner life, you have to | | | | meditation teachings of Sri Chinmoy. The classes are |
| enter into the school of concentration, meditation and | | | | free at the request of Sri Chinmoy that spirituality |
| contemplation." | | | | should be available to all and not have a monetary fee. |
| But Sri Chinmoy does place great stress on the | | | | Bhatki Yoga |
| importance of physical health. A healthy body is of | | | | Bhakti yoga is known as the yoga of devotion. Here a |
| great benefit in the spiritual life. To this end Hatha Yoga | | | | seeker seeks to attain union with God through an |
| can complement meditation very well. Several of Sri | | | | attitude of love, devotion and surrender. Sri Chinmoy's |
| Chinmoy's students offer Hatha Yoga classes such as | | | | yoga places great emphasis on devotion. For example |
| Lotus Yoga in Ireland and Yoga centres in San | | | | his numerous songs emphasize a strong devotional |
| Francisco and Seattle.These hatha yoga classes are | | | | approach, as does his early poetry. |
| held independently of meditation classes, but often | | | | Jnana Yoga |
| there is an overlap with people benefiting from both. | | | | Jnana Yoga is the yoga of wisdom. In Jnana yoga the |
| Karma Yoga | | | | aspirant strives to understand the mystery of the |
| Karma yoga is the yoga of dedicated action or | | | | transcendental truth. |
| selfless service. The aim of Karma Yoga is to engage | | | | "A Jnana yogin declares: Neti, neti. "Not this, not this." |
| in activities without attachment to the result. An | | | | What does he mean? He means that there is a higher |
| example of this selfless service is the humanitarian aid | | | | world than this sense-world, a higher truth than this |
| programme founded by Sri Chinmoy called "Oneness | | | | earthbound truth. " |
| Heart Tears and Smiles." Staffed by volunteers from | | | | - Sri Chinmoy |
| the Sri Chinmoy Centres the OHTS has collected aid | | | | In one sense Sri Chinmoy does not give great |
| for distribution in over 100 countries. In the spirit of | | | | importance to the mind, advocating instead the path of |
| Karma Yoga the OHTS programme aims to be more | | | | the heart. However his prolific literary output serves as |
| than charity but to extend a feeling of oneness with | | | | a guide for those seeking to overcome mental |
| those less privileged in material needs. | | | | obstacles. In particular his short aphorisms and poems |
| Sri Chinmoy says of Karma Yoga | | | | (which number over 100,000) and designed as spiritual |
| "Karma Yoga is desireless action undertaken for the | | | | instruction. |