Yoga 101: The 4 paths of Yoga

As we said in the last post, Introduction to Yoga, yoga is the union between the limited self and the True Self. When we are disconnected from our true selves, we are also further away from finding our freedom (or moksha). This disconnection is called avidyā, and can be traced back to the unawareness of our mind about who we are, our individual identity, and the reality that everything in the universe is connected.

According to Vedanta, one of the world’s most ancient spiritual philosophies based on the Vedas, avidyā is caused by three impurities of the mind:

• Mala: means debasement, both physical and mental. The physical impurities are easy to dispose but the mental ones are fixed in the depths of our consciousness and can be more difficult to get rid of.

• Vikshepa: are the internal and external disturbances that plague us. Our mind has the tendency to always move from one thought to another, we can develop mechanisms to block external disturbances, as noise and sensations, but the inner ones, as feelings and traumas, are more difficult to control.

• Avavana: is the curtain of “not knowing” that dulls our mind. This veil is the reason why we do not recognize who our true self is and which generates separation from the rest of the universe.

As we discussed in the previous post, Yoga is not only about the practice, it’s not a fitness modality, not a standalone combination of breathing and postures.

Yoga is also a path to rediscover who we are and return to a life of everlasting peace, happiness and freedom. The Vedanta also describes four paths of yoga to help us to dispel these mental impurities and re-establish our connection with the rest of the universe, following the Truth we already know in our hearts:  our existence is beyond our body, mind, emotions and intellect.

These are the four paths of yoga:

Karma Yoga | the yoga of action and selfless service

Karma yoga purifies the heart and reduces the ego eliminating selfish tendencies, encouraging selfless actions with no expectation of recognition or reward, nor egoism or attachment. The action itself is not the most important, but the attitude and motive during the action. 

By changing our attitude, we spiritualize our work, converting it into sacrifice and worship. We learn how to serve others with tolerance and patience, being able to experiencing the joy of supporting those around us. A great example of a well-knowing karma yogi is Mother Theresa.

Bhakti Yoga | the yoga of devotion

It is believed that the lack of faith in the Divine is the main cause of the loss of connection with our True Self. The solution proposed by Bhakti Yoga is devotion and surrender to the Divine, channeling emotion into love. Mantras, puja and devotional rituals are some examples of this path that takes us to a higher level of consciousness and union with the Supreme and brings humility, compassion and unconditional love.

Rāja Yoga | the yoga of meditation

Our restless mind is constantly carried away by thoughts that disconnect us from our True Self. The solution proposed by Rāja Yoga is to stilling or restraining the thought-waves, by controlling body and mind and transforming mental and physical energy into spiritual energy through the ‘8 limbs of Yoga’ or the ‘Ashtanga Yoga System’ , culminating in meditation and in a superconscious state. Most of the yoga classes known today are based on this path.

 Jñāna Yoga | the yoga of will and intellect

Jñāna Yoga is the yoga of wisdom and knowledge. This path states that our ego-based ignorance prevents us from knowing our true nature. Through the teachings of Vedata (logic and reason), the yogi uses the mind to investigate his own nature and, through this practice, learns the essential divinity, the unity of life and the oneness of consciousness. This removes the veils of ignorance and oblivion through knowledge and reveals the Truth that is unchanging in our hearts.

What is the best path for me?  Each path will allow you to connect with different areas of your true self, clean you from impurities, enable the individual with more clarity and compassion with what surrounds us, and how it connect us all.

You can pick one and start, or incorporate a combination different technics to your routine, but most importantly, deep connections and liberation are only achieved with continued frequent practice, each practice and line of study needs to be incorporated as part of your routine, and grow as your awareness about your True Self evolves within you.

Namaste