Philosophy

Question 1

What does “yoga” mean?

Answer 1

Derives from “yuj” meaning to join or bind together

Question 2

What was the ancient yoga “practice”?

Answer 2

Sitting still in meditation

Question 3

What are the vedas?

Answer 3

The sacred texts of the Brahmans (priests)

Question 4

What are the Upanishads?

Answer 4

First philosophical texts composed by the Brahmans. 4 classical Upanishads have the first mention of yoga as a spiritual discipline

Question 5

What is moksa?

Answer 5

Freedom or release (more specifically from continuous round of rebirth, senses, worldly entanglement)

Question 6

What was the maitri upanishad 6 fold path?

Answer 6

pranayama (breath control)
pratyahara (withdrawing the senses) 
dhyana (meditation)
dharana (meditation on an object)
tarka (reasoning)
samadhi (trance)

Question 7

What is atman?

Answer 7

Identity of one’s own self

Question 8

What is brahman?

Answer 8

The invisible cosmic power of the universe

Question 9

What is tapas?

Answer 9

Discipline and austerities (from ‘tap’, meaning ‘heat’)

Question 10

What are some examples of tapas?

Answer 10

Ways of developing control over the restless mind include:

fasting, sleep-deprivation, only standing for years

Question 11

What is samadhi?

Answer 11

The goal of yoga/meditation
The trance-like state of consciousness that eradicates the negative passions of the mind
Helps move you out of the cycle of rebirth

Question 12

What is the Bhagavadgita?

Answer 12

The 2,000 year old best known text on yoga. In it is a conversation between Krishna and Arjuna the solider. It lays out various paths of yoga. Establishes that you don’t need to renounce the world to obtain liberation.

Question 13

What is bhakti?

Answer 13

Devotion

Question 14

What is jnana?

Answer 14

Direct knowledge

Question 15

What is dhyana?

Answer 15

meditation

Question 16

What is Patanjali’s 8 fold path of yoga?

Answer 16

Yamas- shouldn't do
Niyamas- should do
Asana (sitting steadily and comfortably)
Pranayama (breath control)
Pratyahara (sense withdrawal)
Dharana (meditation on an object)
dhyana (meditation)
samadhi (trance)

Question 17

yamas

Answer 17

shouldn’t do

Question 18

niyamas

Answer 18

should do

Question 19

Asana

Answer 19

sitting steadily and comfortably

Question 20

pratyahara

Answer 20

sense withdrawal

Question 21

dharana

Answer 21

meditation on an object

Question 22

What is the Samkhya system?

Answer 22

two fundamentals: purusa (pure consciousness) and prakrti (all creation, mind, senses, body)

Question 23

What is the yogic goal in the Samkhya system

Answer 23

To isolate pure consciousness from thought, body and the external world

Question 24

Who do tantric yogis follow?

Answer 24

Shiva- they want to manifest the consciousness of Shiva

Question 25

What are tantric ritualists trying to attain?

Answer 25

Siddhis (powers) | Jivanmukta (liberation while alive)

Question 26

What does 'Hatha' mean?

Answer 26

force or exertion

Question 27

What is the hathapradipika?

Answer 27

one of the best known medieval texts on yoga that expands lists of namas and niyamas, body cleansing practices, bandhas and 11 postures

Question 28

Who is Vivekananda?

Answer 28

The most influential person in bringing yoga to the west. Went to conference in Chicago.

Question 29

What are the 4 paths of yoga?

Answer 29

Bhakti (devotion) Karma (selfless service) jnana (knowledge/insight) raja (meditation)

Question 30

Who are the three major "dads" of yoga

Answer 30

Krishnamacharya (Mysore) Sivananda (Rishikesh) Bikram (Calcutta

Question 31

Describe Hatha yoga

Answer 31

Yoga of force or exertion | Energetic practices to activate kundalini including breathing, purifying, visualizations and mantra

Question 32

What is Shiva's power?

Answer 32

Shakti- the cosmic female power

Question 33

What is Shakti?

Answer 33

Shiva's power to manifest the world/cosmic female power

Question 34

What are the gunas?

Answer 34

The three fundamental forces of nature sattva- light/white raja- dark/black tamas- red/fire you aspire to sattva

Question 35

What is parusha?

Answer 35

pure consciousness (male)

Question 36

What is prakriti?

Answer 36

Mind, body, world (female) | Daily practice removes praktiri

Question 37

What are the 5 yamas

Answer 37

Ahimsa- non-violence/compassion for all things Satya- non-lying/speak the truth Asteya- non-stealing Brahmacharya- sense control Aparigraha- non-greed/letting go of attachment

Question 38

Ahimsa

Answer 38

non-violence/compassion for all things

Question 39

Satya

Answer 39

non-lying/speak the truth

Question 40

Asteye

Answer 40

non-stealing

Question 41

Brahmacharya

Answer 41

sense control

Question 42

Aparigraha

Answer 42

non-greed/letting go of attachment

Question 43

What are the 5 niyamas?

Answer 43

``` saucha- purity and cleanliness santosha- contentment tapas- discipline svadhyaya- self-study isvara pranidhana- dedication to the divine ```

Question 44

Saucha

Answer 44

purity and cleanliness

Question 45

Santosha

Answer 45

contentment

Question 46

svadhyaya

Answer 46

self-study

Question 47

isvara pranidhana

Answer 47

dedication to the divine

Question 48

What is Brahman

Answer 48

``` Invisible cosmic power Also priests (high caste) ```