Amid the hustle and bustle of your modern lifestyle, yoga has become a most sought-after practice to attain a healthy mind and body. An ancient art, which has been widely accepted in the West and all over the world, is known for its scientific healing powers.
The online tutorials might have led you to this question of whether or not yoga follows Non-Duality or Advaita. And to dig out the answers, you must first fathom the depths of its ideology.
How Would You Define Non-Duality?
Non-Duality, which means Non-Two, is an ethic that declares everything is one. For instance, you and this universe is nothing but one! This sense of oneness suggests that each and everything is made of one single substance; the apparent differences are phenomenal.
Non-Duality or Non-Secondness thrives on the belief that there is no other reality than the Brahman. Practicing Non-Dualism in life attempts to discover the consciousness of the Non-Dual self as the ultimate reality.
How Would You Define It
The popular theory of Non-Dualism finds its origin in the Sanskrit words Advaita or Advaya—the metaphysical concept that defines a state of spiritual realization. Advaita Vedānta refers to the idea that your inner self or the Atman doesn’t have any individual or separate experience but is a part of Brahman.
This states that Brahman is eternal and infinite. It is the very cause, the foundation, and the supreme goal. The Brahma neither has any origin nor an end. It’s nontransient and unchanging. The changes you experience are nothing but Maya or illusion.
Yoga leads the way to the plane of self-discovery, offering true knowledge and peace.
Does Yoga Follow Non-Dualism?
The kind of yoga probably you are familiar with is a set of physical postures to lose weight. However, in its original form, yoga has very little to do with weight loss. Instead, it sets the path for unifying with God or the Brahman; guides you to know your real self.
Adhyatma yoga that exclusively blossoms on Non-Dualism has been shaped by combining the four yoga forms’ best.
Yoga—Meaning, Origin, and Classification
‘Yoga’, the word emerged from the Sanskrit term ‘Yuj’, meaning to yoke or unite.
The four yoga forms can be identified with the four spiritual states, such as emotional, intellectual, physical, and meditative. They are:
Jnana Yoga
Jnanis, who worship the principles of Advaita Vedānta, revoke what is unreal, and embrace what is perfect and makes the highest sense. Non-Dual monism thus raises this query, is this universe real or unreal? Advaitabadis explain it with a beautiful example. Just like a coil of rope can be mistaken for a snake, the concept related to this universe’s reality is based on your perception, how you see yourself and this world.
The fundamentals of Advaita rest on the pillar of self-affirmation. This conception pioneers the truth about self. It proclaims that Atman is never born and can never die—it is pure and free.
Jnana Yoga: A Refined Route to Self Acknowledgement
This notion further adds that you must not think of yourself as weak with limited capabilities because such thoughts are only self-destructive. Jnana yoga is a method to awake your duped mind from sleep and to let it forward towards the actuality that is immortal and unrestrained.
Bhakti Yoga
The ultimate aim of a Bhakta is to gain devotion towards God—the divinity!
Bhakts believe that love is free and accessible to everyone. Unfortunately, when you superimpose this on something or someone you love, you misplace its power. Vedanta teaches not to squander the strength of love, rather use it for God-realization.
Karma Yoga
Karma is a chain of cause and effect—it is action and the result of an action at the same time. You perform a specific act with expectations that bring misery upon you. This triggers you to react in a particular manner, giving rise to a bunch of new actions.
With complete faith in serving the world, Karma yoga intends to break free of these rigid shackles.
Raj Yoga
To master the mind and set it free from trivial disturbances, you can practice Raj Yoga. However, it would be best if you took lessons from a qualified spiritual teacher in order to succeed in your tranquil journey.
If you wish to learn the art of yoga that bridges the gap between your Atman and the surroundings, accept the Advaita notion. Remember, the path of enlightenment can be achieved by absorbing the essence of Non-Duality and applying the same in your daily life.