History of yoga
Ancient civilisations
In ancient India before religion was even developed there were people dedicated to understanding the mysteries and purpose of life. During the evolutionary process of mind there arose a culture of very powerful thinkers who were able to realise the subtle nature of the mind and transcend the influence of all mental conflicts and habits. These great thinkers witnessed in deep meditation the inspired intuitive mind. The spontaneous intuitive mind revealed a new understanding of their true identity and existence. This knowledge awakened the realization that there is a spiritual essence that is eternal and lives within the mind and body of all creation. Those great thinkers gave birth to the eternal science of spiritual wisdom and knowledge of the spirit. The great thinkers and revolutionary spiritual teachers were called Rishi's and their scientific practical philosophy became the basis of a highly developed society. Rishi means to see and to know what is normally unseen and unknown. What the Rishi's saw became Yoga the "science of spiritual wisdom and knowledge of the spirit"The Rishis lived in communities that were integrated with everyday life. These communities were established by people who lived in and cultivated an atmosphere of yoga. The residents were called yogis and the community was known as an ashram. Real ashrams are dedicated to self-development and offer an education in all aspects of social and spiritual life. In addition to the yoga techniques and daily meditation the basis of ashram life was karma yoga. This is the process of working together in an effort to learn new skills and transcend the weaknesses of each individual personality. All the yoga techniques combined with the teacher’s vision of active social service were an integral part of ashram life. The children practised yoga to improve their concentration and awareness of themselves and the schools were full of opportunities to learn the life skills that are so important for our future independence. Social ethics and laws of conduct were not dogmatic but were taught through awareness and practical demonstration. Wise elders who had realised the truth of their inner mind body and spirit were the guides and gurus (teachers). Yoga was the link that unified the fulfilment and purpose of everyone’s lives.
Anyone who wants to understand the principles and purpose of happiness and how to fulfill their dreams must realize within themselves the nature and relationship of their own body heart and mind. The rishis were motivated by the instinctive desire for knowledge and the difficulties in life to find solutions for happiness. Those Rishis of ancient India were the ones who realised within themselves the nature of creation. It was from that realisation that the universal and practical science known as Yoga emerged. Every science begins with an Aim and to achieve that aim there must be a method, which if followed will give us a positive result. The aim of yoga was harmony, wisdom and inner peace. The method of achieving that aim was the integrated practices of yoga and the philosophy of tantra. Yogis should not isolate themselves from the society. Their role is to work and live in the world. To inspire by example and teach the techniques of yoga.
Yoga is the method and the practice of exploring and transcending the individual mind. Yoga allows us to liberate the awareness from the conditioned mind and become aware of a subtle spiritual consciousness that is inherent in everything and is transcendental. The word Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root verb yugwhich means to join. Yoga is often translated as union; however we must ask the question what is united in Yoga? Let us begin with the basics and the most fundamental beginnings of what is meant by Yoga and union.
