Yoga "An introduction to the system" YOGAINTRO.TXT *********************************************************************** Yoga is a complex technique of personal development and an accurate science of attaining spiritual enlightenment and liberation (Mukti). The final purpose of all forms of Yoga is to integrate the human being completely into the outer objective Reality by merging harmoniously and consciously into the different levels the cosmic manifestation. The main objective aimed for is always to act in perfect agreement with the superior cosmic harmony, for fully awakening the latent power of the consciousness and for finding the eternal dimension of the Spirit. In this way, the human being returns to the original state of absolute purity and attains a permanent condition of wisdom and subtle beatitude known in Yoga as Samadhi. Through Yoga techniques, the field of consciousness is extremely expanded and the abilities for superior perception are awakened, amplified and developed to the fullest. The main idea of this system is that we do not use but a very small part of our powers and possibilities. We have in us, so to speak, a very big and hyper-complex construction, only we do not know how to use it. In western countries, the Yoga Science is famous rather that understood and practiced. Nowadays very few people can really offer genuine theoretical and practical information about this ageless discipline, based upon personal experience. Yoga is at the same time a system of knowledge and a system of action. It shows how to act and think differently, for having a better, healthier life and for achieving an accelerated spiritual evolution, even under very hectic circumstances. Combining the knowledge with the action, you can change your being. Genuine Yoga confronts the human being with the fascinating and ineffable mysteries of its own inner world. It raises the eternal questions: "Who am I?", "For what reason was I born?", "Where do I come from?", "Where am I going after death?". Have you ever asked yourself these questions? Can we really live our life to its fullest without finding meaningful answers to these questions? Obviously not. Nowadays, most people follow blindly the patterns imposed by an ever more artificial society, without trying to discover what is the meaning of their life. Some even think that there is no meaning at all. This ignorance of the inner nature of man and his connections with the environment and his life's purpose on earth, is responsible for the confusion we live in, the want of moral values and for the great conflicts that occur between humans and between nations. The original purpose of Yoga is therefore to teach how to ask correctly and meaningfully the above-mentioned questions and how to discover the ultimate truth about the human being, life and the Universe. An ancient text says: "He who realizes the truth of his own being can then come to know the truth of the Universe." --(Kularnava Tantra) The answers that Yoga helps you to discover are experienced in your own inner Universe, through a controlled expansion of consciousness. The essential conditions for such a discovery is to approach this Science seriously and to practice the appropriate method long enough, under the guidance of a competent instructor. Yoga stipulates the deepening of self-knowledge, i. e. the complete awareness of what you are and what you can become. Through Yoga, the human being attains a total inner freedom and a perfect control over the enigmatic inner energies that animate his visible and invisible body. The word "Yoga" means to "unite", "tie up" or "fuse". Yoga is therefore a method of Resonance between the beneficent, superior aspects of the Universe, and the human being, who is considered to be an identical copy of the Universe on a smaller scale. In other words, all that exists in the Universe exists also, in some form and proportion, in the human being. This idea of reintegrating into the original Source of Life was the very essence of all world religions. The word religion comes from the Latin re-ligere, which means to re-connect (man and Universe). Even though Yoga is not a religion in the modern sense of the word, it contains the nucleus of all religions. Yoga is perfectly adapted to the necessities of modern civilization, even though it was discovered many thousand years ago. Anxiety, stress, nervous breakdown, chronic fatigue, diminution of vitality, overweight - all these problems are gradually resolved through a persevering Yoga practice. Among other things, Yoga quickly removes tiredness: five minutes of complete and profound relaxation are much more reposing than hours of sleep. Yoga also prevents the premature wear of the body and mind, offering an exceptional vitality even at a very old age. The Yoga system of psycho-physical exercises is unique, being the most complex and complete system of human growth. The brain, muscles, nerves and all other organs and tissues of the body are invigorated, balanced and energized. All chronic diseases are gradually ameliorated and sometimes even completely cured. The physical postures (Äsana-s) make the body supple and powerful and the spine flexible. The sexual force is controlled and amplified. A Yoga practitioner is always in good shape and has an enthusiastic attitude toward life, he is open-minded, self-confident and radiates happiness wherever he goes. His face has a specific expression of peace and relaxation. By practicing with regularity, you will get a wonderful figure, your beauty and charm will be fully expressed and your body will get the suppleness and elegance that gives charm to every movement. Attending this Yoga initiation course will among other things, result in the following very important and priceless gains: In a short time you will discover the true Yogic relaxation, profound and complete; You will regain and keep a young-looking and supple body; You will accumulate a much increased vitality through total oxygenation and energizing of the subtle nervous plexuses (Chakra-s) and subtle power ducts (Näòi-s) that each posture activates, according to the secret oral tradition; You will obtain a superior state of inner harmony and a perfectly balanced physical and psychical condition, which will make you stronger in all daily disturbances and conflicts. This course is a step-by-step approach to Yoga in the secret oral tradition of the Tantric schools of India and Tibet. It points out the coexistence and complementariness of the apparently different Yoga philosophies, which are completing rather than excluding each other. The Yoga initiation course is a necessary preparation for every student who seriously considers the practical approach of Tantrism. Why is this program different? What people "know" about Yoga today, both in the East and in the West, is not Yoga. Physical postures, breathing exercises, meditation, etc. are an offshoot of Tantra. The original secret, the primary keys of this system were lost. For example, the Äsana-s (physical postures) are considered to be bodily exercises. But in Tantra it is known that Äsana-s are very complex and accurate procedures of accumulating certain forms of subtle energy, modulated in a specific way. You must know what kind of energy you resonate with and what Chakra (subtle center) is energized during each Äsana. You must also know in what order these energies are to be accumulated in the body so that a perfect harmony results. Without this information, Äsana-s have very little value and in any case they are not Yoga. NATHA offers an intensive group study and practice of the oriental spirituality in a way that fits the western mind: it gives the students the how and the why of all its teachings and techniques. You will be given all this information and much more, so at the end you will have a clear vision of the whole. In this way you will start to practice the real Yoga, probably for the first time. This initiation requires no preparation and no previous knowledge about Yoga or Tantrism. It does require a very serious attitude and a genuine motivation. The lessons will start with very simple exercises and gradually will continue with ever more complex techniques. The goal of this initiation is double: To impart the teaching of a deeper understanding of the ultimate goal of life, to those who are fit to receive; To show the way in which one can grow spiritually through Çiva's (The Supreme Absolute) Grace and the right application of the means to realization that this Tradition teaches. The highest state of spiritual enlightenment is attainable through the techniques revealed in this program. Mukti, or spiritual liberation, does not mean deliverance from the manifested world but a close and permanent identity with the Supreme Consciousness, which is the true nature of one's own self. Liberation is only possible by realizing one's own identity with the Universe; this state though is not to be attained after death or in another dimension of Reality, but here and now. "Only liberation in this life (Jivanmukti) is authentic liberation." --Spanda Pradipika Numberless centuries ago, the great Sage Patanjali, defined eight stages of the Yoga Science in a book called Yoga Sutra, which is the most precise and scientific text ever written on Yoga. These eight stages are: Yama and Niyama Inner and outer attitudes, whose aim is to harmonize our interactions with the outer world and with ourselves Asana Motionless physical postures for balancing the body's subtle energies Pranayama The accumulation of cosmic energy (Pränä) through rhythmic breathing Pratyahara The withdrawal of the senses' energy from their objects, with the purpose of focusing it toward our inner Universe Dharana Focusing the mind upon a unique object Dhyana The unidirectional and continuous flow of mental processes around an object Samadhi Telepathic identification (co-penetration of the object of meditation with the practitioner's own being). Samadhi is the highest state of expanded consciousness and a complete participation of the human being to the Cosmic Life. Samadhi is the ultimate goal in Yoga, leading eventually to the state of spiritual enlightenment and total wisdom. Due to its profoundness and symbolism, Yoga cannot be fathomed easily by the common human understanding, especially if we keep in mind that everything that is received is reflected in accordance with the inner development of the student. The relation between the object or science that is to be known and the knower, has an infinite diversity. The knower can know more or less, depending on his degree or level of consciousness. This is especially valid for Yoga. Nevertheless, you will be given in this course some little known practical keys for understanding the meaning of the hidden symbolism of the Yoga Science and for correlating the information thus obtained with the already known scientific knowledge. With the appropriate and sincere effort, Yoga practice can be successfully approached by every human being, regardless of sex, religion, race or age. "If you go where few have been you will find what few have found." "A bad sailor is not the one who suffers shipwreck, but the one who never sails." Yoga can only be fully understood by those who seriously practice it. In this respect, a gram of practice is worth tons of theory. The accumulation of sterile theoretic information only, superficiality, hurried conclusions and impatience make the correct and successful approach of this perfect Science impossible. "Above those who are ignorant (about Yoga), are those who read. Above those who read, are those who remember. Above those who remember, are those who understand. Above those who understand are those who practice Yoga. Above those who practice Yoga are those who get positive results. Above those who get positive results are those who develop Siddhis (paranormal powers). And above those who develop Siddhi-s are those extremely rare individuals who realize the permanent and beatific fusion with the Supreme Consciousness, the causal source of Wisdom." --Kaula Tantra NATHA's teaching is based upon the idea that Man is an epitome of the Universe. This teaching reveals that the human being is a small-scale copy or summary of the Universe. The human being is a Microcosm (small Universe) and the Universe is a Macrocosm (big Universe). In this vision, everything is contained in everything else, everything is the epitome of all. This idea of similitude between Man and Universe is present in all genuine spiritual traditions: "That which is up is alike that which is down; that which is down is alike with that which is up, for completing the miracle of the Whole." --Tabula Smaragdina, a Cabbalistic text "I am in the Father (the Universe) and the Father is in Me." --Jesus This Truth is sometimes called The Law of Correspondence. It occurs at all levels of Cosmic manifestation. This idea proposes that through self-knowledge at all levels of the inner being, man can realize a superior and re-integrative knowledge of the outer surrounding Reality, which is one of the purposes of the Yoga system. NATHA's teaching stand out as unique, mostly because of the disclosing of the Law of Resonance, which is the hidden Key of all the keys of the manifestation of the Universe, being of paramount importance in the understanding of all spiritual phenomena.