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The Relationship Between Meditation And Yoga It was in the fourth century when the Yoga Sutras were consecrated. A man by the name of Patanjali is said to be the author of this collection of sutras all leading to the eventual stillness of the mind. The Yoga Sutras contain eight limbs and are more commonly referred to as the Eightfold Path. Fast forward to the present, this collection has become the very foundation for the development of Hinduism-based meditation and yoga. How? We’ll discuss more of that in the following sections.
The origins of yoga and meditation It might surprise you to know that yoga and meditation have the same origins. The Yoga Sutras, as mentioned above, are known as one of the earliest texts which mention both yoga and meditation within them. The eight limbs of the Yoga Sutras can also be referred to as stages. These stages would conclude at the highest and most difficult state of oneness with the universe. We would list below the components of the Yoga Sutras along with brief descriptions so you could gain a better understanding of them as a whole.
The eight limbs of the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali 1. Yamas (Self Control) - The yamas include non-violence, chastity, non-falsehood, non-stealing and non-greediness. As you can probably guess, the yamas are unethical conducts that one must avoid in order to reach the highest stage of Yoga Sutra. This is why Hinduism promotes vegetarianism because all living things to them are sacred and have divine spiritual energy. Eating pork or chicken can be a violation of this first stage because even animals are considered sacred for this religion.
2. Niyamas (Deeds) - The niyamas include purity, contentment, perseverance, self-introspection and surrender to an ultimate being. In contrast, these are the virtues that a person must do in order to reach the highest stage of Yoga Sutra. It is not enough that you avoid material or worldly things. You must take your practice at a higher level by practicing these five virtues. 3. Asanas (Poses) - If we consider the modern application of yoga, then we can refer to the asanas as the true definition of it. The asanas can be defined as a position held for a duration of time by the individual. The individual must remain motionless, stable and relaxed whilst holding that specific position. Different types of yoga today have various poses as well. In the traditional sense though, asanas were meant to prepare the mind and the body for a deeper kind of concentration. 4. Pranayama (Breath Control) - In relation to both modern yoga and meditation, pranayama is simply the controlling of one’s breath. If you have read through some of our previous blog posts, you’d understand that breath control is an essential part of meditation as well. In ancient Vedic texts, the prana is regarded as the life force of an individual. Thus, being able to control and restore it can lead to a longer and better health. 5. Pratyahara (Withdrawal) - The last four limbs of Yoga Sutra are concerned with the inner self. Starting with pratyahara or simply the withdrawal from the external world into our inner self. The ability to remove ourselves from the sometimes chaotic and materialistic world can help us reach the highest stage in the Yoga Sutras. 6. Dharana (Concentration) - The next limb is called dharana or concentration. Once the individual has developed the capacity to withdraw from the external world, then he or she can tackle the viscosities of the mind itself. It is very much the foundation of focused meditation that we know today. The individual must find one object, subject or thought that he or she wants to focus on in the mind.
7. Dhyana (Absolute Concentration) - The seventh limb is dhyana or absolute concentration. To distinguish it from dharana, dhyana is at the higher stage, wherein the individual has little to no thoughts at all. In a way, it’s almost like the traditional version of the modern self-transcending meditation. 8. Samadhi (Enlightenment) - The final limb is called samadhi or simply enlightenment. At this point, there is no more self nor thoughts but merely the experience of oneness of all things that is. Samadhi is very difficult to achieve without proper practices that must include all the former stages mentioned above.
As you can see, meditation and yoga came from the same background They really are closer than you might have thought. Look closely at the collection of Yoga Sutras above. You might have noticed that almost all of the first four limbs have some connections with modern yoga as we know it. The last four limbs have to have some connections with modern meditation as we know it. In essence though, Patanjali assimilated these eight limbs in a structured manner. Thus, to attain enlightenment, all stages must be completed by the individual, from the yamas to the dhyana. Keep in mind that these concepts were taken from the Vedic era of India, hence it has mainly Hinduism-related ideals.
Is yoga a part of meditation or is meditation a part of yoga? If we look back into the Yoga Sutras above, both meditation and yoga are important for the achievement of samadhi. But if we look into the modern application of meditation and yoga, the statements can be debunked. Yoga is not always a part of meditation and meditation is not always a part of yoga. In fact, some yoga practitioners adapt this practice merely for fitness and flexibility without engaging on meditation at all. On a side note, meditation practitioners could also be engaging on meditation without the aim of improving bodily control or posture.
Differentiating meditation and yoga based on various characteristics Let’s set it straight, meditation and yoga are not one and the same. They are different limbs, or concepts if you may, that have the same origins. Sure, the purpose for doing these practices was the same if we refer to the Yoga Sutras. But in the modern times,
these practices have adapted to the new world era. This is why it’s important to distinguish their differences so one can choose which practice is more suitable for him or her. 1. Purpose
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Meditation - The primary purpose for doing meditative practices is to gain awareness and control of one’s mind. There are various types of meditation but they all come down to one intention, being aware of one’s thoughts, gaining intense focus and eventually being able to control how thoughts appear or disappear in the mind. The meditator could have the end intention of achieving enlightenment or not.
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Yoga - The primary purpose for doing yogic practices is to maintain stability in a set of varying postures. Yoga brings about bodily stability, emotional control and a whole lot of health benefits. In the modern world, there is a Westernized approach to yoga wherein the end intention is to gain flexibility and strength. So depending on the type of yoga practiced, the purposes can vary.
2. Activity
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Meditation - We can think of meditation as an exercise for the brain. It is similar to completing puzzles or crosswords. Only instead of the mind being taught to think, the mind is being taught to stay still. Thus, meditation is a mental type of activity, which can help in strengthening cognitive function and reducing brain cell aging. In fact, there’s a collection of studies indicating that meditation can help increase telomere length which is an indicator of stress exposure to individuals.
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Yoga - On the other hand, yoga is a physical type of activity. It requires one to engage in various positions and holding them for a duration of time. As the practitioner engages in yoga more, various benefits such as flexibility and strength can
be gained. Yoga therefore has positive effects on the muscles, bones and joints which are all physically found. 3. Benefits
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Meditation - In relation to the number above, we go on to the benefits of both practices. Meditation has long been proven to be effective for improving mental health. You only need to look at our previous blog posts to find relevant studies with regards to this characteristic. In a nutshell, meditation increases gray matter, increases alpha plus theta wave patterns and activates areas of the brain related to cognition, emotion or memory. It has also been proven that mindful meditation can reduce cortisol levels in the body.
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Yoga - The benefits of yoga are mainly physical though there are some mental benefits as well. Since yoga requires one to engage in a variety of positions, this helps in the circulation of blood. With continued practice, the muscles and joints loosen up relieving pain from conditions like arthritis and back pain. There are also studies proving that yoga can effectively increase the vital capacity of the lung and improve cardiovascular functioning. With regards to the mental effects of yoga, it has been proven to be effective for reducing symptoms associated with depression and anxiety.
4. Difficulty
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Meditation - It is easier to get into meditation as it doesn’t require any equipment or experience at all. That being said, maintaining focus and removing all outward stimuli can be a daunting task at first. But with consistency, you would be able to channel your inner guru and master meditation even within just a few weeks or months of practice. Meditation is also easy to do, you can practice it any where, at any time, without people even noticing it.
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Yoga - There are over a hundred poses that one can do in yoga. Some require little experience but many require assistance or at least some experience. In the beginning, the practitioner might find it hard to keep up with the poses, especially in a class full of experienced yogis. It is also a must to invest in a mat and some stretchable clothing if you want to be comfortable while doing the poses. In comparison, yoga might be more difficult to get into because not all people are flexible enough in the beginning. You would also need an ample space where you can engage in the poses or perhaps enroll in a class where someone can guide you.
5. Resources
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Meditation - There are many websites and online resources for doing meditation, like ours. You can even find guided meditations on platforms like YouTube or video sharing websites. Many of them are free but if you are truly serious about your meditative practice, it’s also okay to invest in paid materials. But even without the financial aspect, you can get into the meditative practice very easily just by searching for resources locally or online.
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Yoga - There are also many websites and online resources for doing yoga. Some channels on YouTube provide for free guided videos for basic and even advanced postures in different types of yoga. But if you want to be serious about your yogic practice, it’s best to enroll in a local class as the experienced teacher can help you in more advanced poses. Further, this can help in the avoidance of accidents as compared to doing complicated poses on your own.
It is possible to incorporate both meditation and yoga in one’s life Meditation can help in nurturing the health of your mind. On the other hand, yoga can help in nurturing the health of your physical body. By doing both, you are engaging in a holistic approach to your well being. Whether or not you practice Hinduism or Buddhism, the end stage of samadhi is an additional reason for engaging in both practices. The relationship between meditation and yoga can be traced back thousands of years ago. And though they have parted ways these days, at least in the Westernized version, it’s not bad to use them together to gain the most health benefits for your mind and body. Did you enjoy this blog post on the relationship of meditation and yoga? If you answered yes, then please like and share this post to your friends or loved ones. If you answered no, please let us know in the comments section below what you found missing or lacking in the blog post. Thank you! All vectors used in this blog post are from Vecteezy, credits belong to the creators and uploaders