The Tree of Life: A Metaphor for the Philosophy of Yoga

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can be studied by use of the tool of metaphor, but, discrimination is necessary. In discussing the metaphor of a great tree in the representation of a philosophy and theory of yoga it will here not be used in the traditional manner, as it would in a discussion of schools of yoga. HE EIGHT ASPECTS OF YOGA

It will here be used in such a way as to display the structure of Yoga as an algorhythmie*, and as a manual of the dynamic for the traverse of the outer and inner.

THE TREE OF LIFE

EIGHT ASPECTS OF YOGA

– BASED ON THE –

– AN HEURISTIC, RECURSIVE METAPHOR OF THE YOGA DARŠANA –

‘Hariolation’ ~ Speculative guesswork rooted in plausibilities.

THE PHILOSOPHY AND VISION OF YOGA

In this, a prototype of the Tree of Life metaphor?

Categories and sub-categories, the Eight Aspects of Yoga: sourced by Patanjali, here rephrased.

A Theistically neutral approach

The Paradigm

Meditation Dhyâna

of Yoga:

Dhyâna Meditation

Rest & Activity

inwards

Focusing Dhâranâ Dhâranâ Focusing

(Detail)

Withdrawal of the senses inwards

Absorption Pratyâhâra

Seal of Mohenjo-daro

Material: Tan steatite

sight

smell taste

out

in

Islamabad Museum NMP 50.296

The Body Âsana

Âsana / Posture Posture

rythm flow

Morals

massage, balance stretch, bend,

suspended

Conduct Niyama

stamina

twist, roll, turn, etc.

Niyama,The TheLaws Laws of Life Morals, Life

santosha contentment

shaucha simplicity

T

touch

Prânâyâma The Breathing

Mohenjo-daro DK 12050

he categories of Yoga (and the subcategories implied therein) presented in the schemata of the metaphor of “The Tree of Life” and in the traditional listings all refer to the process of Yoga as such and are not to be ideologically transferred to any other domain, their qualities will rather become infused into our life and into our living depending on what application gives and what circumstance brings.

hearing

fade

The Breath Prânâyâma

Dimensions: 2.65 x 2.7 cm Thickness: 0.83 to 0.86 cm



Pratyâhâra Retracting of the Senses

outwards

Stamp seal with a seated male figure Ca. 2000–1900 B.C. Harappan. Indus Valley

tapas purification

f. ex. padma âsana

stability

and others as the cobra

orendurance hala asana

Ethics

orstimularatory sun greeting, etc.

Attitude Yama

.

.

swâdhyâya refinement

Mudras?

aparigraha non-attachment

îshvarapranidhâna surrender the Lord sense oftowonder

Yama, The Rules Ethics, Rulesfor forLiving Living satya ahimsa truthfulness non-violence

asteya integrity

brahmacharya restraint chastity

Prakriti Samâdhi Nirbîja Samâdhi Samâdhi without object

with object

The Deep Samâdhi Samâdhi, Restful Alerness

Manifest Yoga Cat

Purusha

I mean business!

Unmanifest

Morph of ‘Ladder’ metaphor into ‘Tree’.

Dynamic Bliss •

Sat, Chit, Ananda

Sat, Chit, AnandaBliss Existence, Intelligence,

Existence, Intelligence, Bliss

Transcendent Transcendent Virtual Self-Referential Field

Virtual Self-referential Field

Beyond Perplexitie

Beyond any concept of the beyond!

An Hariolation on the Interconnectivities of the Eight Aspects of Yoga focused on the Grounds of Knowledge conducive to effortless subjective and objective experience

Juri Aidas

– 18 April 2013 (Updated 4 July 2015)

understanding of The Deep.

Tools for Thinking

Three Metaphors

?

1 1

Yoga creates well-being. AAAP: 58, Issuu, 4:3

2 2 2

33 3

A ladder / stair

A Grand Piano / Table

A Tree of Life

Sequence

Interconnectivity

Dynamic

Yogi http://issuu.com/albatross

* Algorhythmy ~ The dynamic of yogic process as one mentally and physically proceeds from activity unto deep rest, back an’ forth, back an’ forth; an effortless spiralling into The Deep according to the mechanism of yoga. Line drawings: India ink on paper – Magnus Malmsten; Sun / Moon logo and Pikeboros – Nina Aidas; Conceptualizations: ‘The Tree of Life’, ‘Paradigm’, and ‘Tools for Thinking’ – Juri Aidas (‘Albatross’ of the Cyber)


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