Raja Yoga—Yoga of Mind-control

Yoga concentrates the mind back on itself to control it from moving outward and externalizing. Through the powers of concentration and self-analysis, the mind comes to know its own nature.

The mind is active and ever-changing. In Raja Yoga, we first practice asana to calm the breath in order to still the waves of the mind.

After mastering asana, pranayama is practiced to control prana* through the breath. Through these practices, the mind turns inward, enabling one to directly approach the mind through meditation.

*Prana is the cosmic energy in the universe (macrocosm), and the vital energy in human beings (microcosm). It is the manifestation of the original force of the universe as the life force in all creation, through which all of our physical and mental activities evolve.

In meditation, one first practices binding the mind to one object. When this concentration becomes strong and deep, it is called meditation. Meditation removes the mind's ignorance, revealing the Truth in its absolute tranquility. The mind then directly experiences the object's essence in samadhi (the Super-Conscious state). This direct knowledge is different than regular knowledge and reveals the unity of subject, object, and essence.

1. yama (abstinence):

control of actions, words, and thoughts in relation to others

Ahimsa (nonviolence): to not injure any being
Satya (truthfulness): to speak only the truth; to be sincere and honest
Asteya (non-stealing): to not steal anything
Aparigraha (non-greed): to possess no more than one's minimum need; to abstain from receiving gifts
Brahmacarya (continence): to be chaste

2. Niyama (observance):

practices in relation to oneself through discipline in actions, words, and thoughts

Sauca (purity): to maintain the purity of the mind and body
Santosha (contentment): to discern and realize only the bare minimum sufficient for living
Tapas (austerity): to conquer all physiological and psychological dualistic conditions, such as heat and cold, like and dislike, comfort and discomfort
Svadhyaya (study of sacred scriptures): to cultivate one's understanding of the Truth
Isvarapranidhana (faith and commitment to a personal god): pure faith in God; the vow to realize the Truth

3. Asana (posture):

to sit steadily and comfortably, and to control the physical body. All asanas are practiced simply to enable one to sit still and comfortably for a long time.

4. Pranayama (prana control):

to control prana through breathing practices.

5. Pratyahara (sense withdrawal):

to withdraw the sense organs and the mind, then to control them.

6. Dharana (concentration):

to control the mind and to concentrate on a specific object (Truth).

7. Dhyana (meditation):

the condition in which the mind (subject) penetrates the object and assimilates the essence of the object.

8. Samadhi (super-conscious state):

subjectivity dissolves, only the object remains. Then, only the essence of the object is perceived and experienced.

Hatha* Yoga: The method that emphasize asana and pranayama practice.

"Hatha Yoga is a stairway for those who wish to ascend to the highest stage of Yoga, which is Raja Yoga (Self-Realization)."

— Hatha Yoga Pradipika I:1

*hatha - Originally means "force". Hatha Yoga is the fervent practice of physical disciplines. The word "hatha" is traditionally interpreted as two parts: ha (the sun) and tha (the moon). Metaphysically it means the control of the sun (activity) and the moon (passivity) in microcosm.