Essence of Yoga
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Yogananda, Paramahansa (1950)
Autobiography of a Yogi; Rider; 0 7126 1424 9
Yoga is a method for restraining the natural turbulence of thoughts, which otherwise impartially prevents all people, of all lands, from glimpsing their true nature or spirit.

Like the healing light of the sun, yoga is beneficial equally to people of the East and to people of the West. The thoughts of most persons are restless and capricious; a manifest need exists for yoga: the science of mind control

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (c200BC) recognise eight steps on the path of Yoga.

Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952)
restraining the natural turbulence of thoughts The first steps are (1) yama (moral conduct, and (2) niyama (religious observances).

Yama is fulfilled by non injury to others, truthfulness, nonstealing, continence and noncovetousness.

The niyama prescripts are purity of body and mind, contentment in all circumstances, self-discipline, self-study (contemplation), and devotion to God and guru.
The next steps are

(3) asana (right posture); the spinal column must be held straight, and the body firm in a comfortable position for meditation;

(4) pranayama (control of prana, subtle life currents); and

(5) pratayahara (withdrawal of the senses from external objects)

The last steps are forms of yoga proper:

(6) dharana (concentration), holding the mind to one thought;

(7) dhyana (meditation) and

(8) samadhi (superconscious experience)
This eightfold path of Yoga leads to the final goal of Kaivalya (absoluteness), in which the yogi realizes the Truth beyond all intellectual apprehension. like butter on water

A true yogi may remain dutifully in the world; there he is like butter on water, and not like the unchurned, easily diluted milk of undisciplined humanity.

Fulfilling one's earthly responsibilities need not separate man from God, provided he maintains mental uninvolvement with egotistical desires and plays his part in life as a willing instrument of the divine.

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