Ashtanga Yoga (Eightfold Yoga):
Ashtanga Yoga is that which has eight limbs or eight parts. 'Ashtanga' is a samskrita
word which is made of two words - 'ashta' (eight) and 'anga' (limbs). Yoga is a system or path which can be used for excellence of one's being. This system or path has been trodden by the many people till now and also will be adopted in the future to reach at the aim of life - "Complete merging with the Infinite
Consciousness or Divine Mind or GOD or Nirvana (no-thing-ness)". Some scientists of Yoga found one path as enough to reach at the aim, some detected two, some three, four, five, six, seven and some discovered eight. The eightfold path of Yoga is called
Ashtanga Yoga. In the Yoga world, two types of Ashtanga Yoga are popular, one discovered by Gautam Buddha बुद्ध; and other by Sage Patanjali.
Ashtanga Yoga of Buddha:
Right belief (samyag-dristi, sammā-ditthi) - Realizing the Four Noble Truths viz. - i. the Suffering, ii. the Origin of Suffering, iii. the Extinction of Suffering and iv. the Path that leads to the Extinction of Suffering.
Right mindedness (samyak-samkalpa, sammā-samkappa) - The immovable conviction. Or, the commitment to mental and ethical growth in moderation.
Right speech (samyag-vāc, sammā-vācā) - Lie not, but be truthful. Speak the truth with discretion, fearlessly and in a loving heart. Waste not the time with gossip, but speak to the purpose or keep silence.
Right actions (samyak-karmānta, sammā-kammanta) - Wholesome action, avoiding action that would do harm.
Right livelihood (samyag-ājīva, sammā-ājīva) - One's job does not harm in any way oneself or others; directly or indirectly (weapon maker, drug dealer, etc.).
Right effort (samyag-vyāyāma, sammā-vāyāma) - One makes an honest effort to improve oneself.
Right concentration (samyak-smriti, sammā-sati) - Mental ability to see things for what they are with clear consciousness.
Right meditation (samyak-samādhi, sammā-samādhi) - State where one reaches enlightenment and the ego has disappeared.
Ashtanga Yoga of Sage Patanjali:
Yama (Moral Conducts or Self Controls)
Ahimsa (non-violence)
Satya (truthfulness)
Asteya (non-stealing)
Brahmacharya (celibacy)
Aparigraha (non-cravings)
Niyama (Observances)
Saucha (cleansing or purification)
Santosh (contentment)
Tapa (austerity)
Swadhyaya (self study)
Iswara Pranidhan (Surrender to Dharma)
Asana (Postures),
Pranayam (Breathing Techniques),
Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses from external objects)
Dharana (Concentration)
Dhyana (Meditation) and
Samadhi (Complete merging of one's finite consciousness with Infinite Consciousness)
Ashtanga Yoga (Eightfold Yoga):
Ashtanga Yoga is that which has eight limbs or eight parts. 'Ashtanga' is a samskrita word which is made of two words - 'ashta' (eight) and 'anga' (limbs). Yoga is a system or path which can be used for excellence of one's being. This system or path has been trodden by the many people till now and also will be adopted in the future to reach at the aim of life - "Complete merging with the Infinite Consciousness or Divine Mind or GOD or Nirvana (no-thing-ness)". Some scientists of Yoga found one path as enough to reach at the aim, some detected two, some three, four, five, six, seven and some discovered eight. The eightfold path of Yoga is called Ashtanga Yoga. In the Yoga world, two types of Ashtanga Yoga are popular, one discovered by Gautam Buddha बुद्ध; and other by Sage Patanjali.
Ashtanga Yoga of Buddha:
Right belief (samyag-dristi, sammā-ditthi) - Realizing the Four Noble Truths viz. - i. the Suffering, ii. the Origin of Suffering, iii. the Extinction of Suffering and iv. the Path that leads to the Extinction of Suffering.
Right mindedness (samyak-samkalpa, sammā-samkappa) - The immovable conviction. Or, the commitment to mental and ethical growth in moderation.
Right speech (samyag-vāc, sammā-vācā) - Lie not, but be truthful. Speak the truth with discretion, fearlessly and in a loving heart. Waste not the time with gossip, but speak to the purpose or keep silence.
Right actions (samyak-karmānta, sammā-kammanta) - Wholesome action, avoiding action that would do harm.
Right livelihood (samyag-ājīva, sammā-ājīva) - One's job does not harm in any way oneself or others; directly or indirectly (weapon maker, drug dealer, etc.).
Right effort (samyag-vyāyāma, sammā-vāyāma) - One makes an honest effort to improve oneself.
Right concentration (samyak-smriti, sammā-sati) - Mental ability to see things for what they are with clear consciousness.
Right meditation (samyak-samādhi, sammā-samādhi) - State where one reaches enlightenment and the ego has disappeared.
Ashtanga Yoga of Sage Patanjali:
Yama (Moral Conducts or Self Controls)
Ahimsa (non-violence)
Satya (truthfulness)
Asteya (non-stealing)
Brahmacharya (celibacy)
Aparigraha (non-cravings)
Niyama (Observances)
Saucha (cleansing or purification)
Santosh (contentment)
Tapa (austerity)
Swadhyaya (self study)
Iswara Pranidhan (Surrender to Dharma)
Asana (Postures),
Pranayam (Breathing Techniques),
Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses from external objects)
Dharana (Concentration)
Dhyana (Meditation) and
Samadhi (Complete merging of one's finite consciousness with Infinite Consciousness)