PHILOSOPHY AND HISTORY OF YOGA
History of Yoga. Picture of one of the first historical proofs, Mohenjo Daro seals.
Do we know who was the first yogi?
There are no historical records of the first man to practise Yoga. According to the Hindu Vedic tradition, the first yogi or adi yogi was Lord Shiva. He is considered also the first guru being his wife Parvati the first student.
So... How old is Yoga?
Yoga is practiced since very ancient times. The oldest evidence known till the date is one of the Mohenjo – Daro seals that depict a man in a yoga meditative posture. This seal belongs to the Bronze Age Indus Valley Civilization and is dated around 2350 – 2000 B.C.E.
Wheel shaped sculpture dedicated to the Indian deity Surya (the Sun), mentioned in the Vedas
And Yoga origins? What are the main Indian philosophical currents?
We can distinguish between two sides. Ones don't follow the Hindu Scriptures (Vedas), and they are called Nastika Philosophies. The others do accept the authority of the Vedas, and they are called Astika Philosophies.
Nastika Philosophies. Una of them is Buddhism. In the picture, Buddhist monks
Nastika Philosophies. The most important are:
Charvaka Philosophy: Atheist, the only method to get right knowledge is direct preception. Follow the hedonistic motto of “eat, drink and be merry”. Encourages to be totally in the present while keeping a balanced state of mind.
Jainism: Emphasizes Ahimsa (non violence) and Tapas (austerities). It is atheistic in the sense that doesn't believe in God but in an Eternal Universe instead. Encourages the practise of the 5 Yamas (ethical rules). Mahavir was one of its most relevant leaders.
Buddhism: Agnostic. It was originated by Buddha and broke with the Vedic Hindu tradition. Teaches to live with equanimity and how to “Walk the middle path”.
(Although there are common elements, and there are Buddhist people who practice Yoga - as there are Hindu, Christian, Muslim… practitioners - Buddhism is a philosophical current different from Yoga.)
Picture of small particles of clay, symbolizing the (atomic) subtle elements of Vaisheshika Philosophy
Astika Philosophies. It comprehends the Six Systems of Philosophies (Shad Darshanas), usually paired in three couples:
Nyaya – Vaisheshika:
From the Sanskrit word Justice (Nyana), logic plays an importan role in this school. Its method is based in listening to spiritual instructions and consciously reflecting on them in a first step. After that, meditation is used to access further knowledge.
Vaisheshika uses also meditation to gain knowledge. It comes from the Sanskrit word Vishesha (specific or subtle). It explains that everything is made of more and more subtle things (atomism). The foundations of this school are written in the Vaisheshika Sutras of Kanada.
Warrior pose (Virabhadrasana) in a cave, here representing Yoga as historical philosophy.
Purva Mimamsa – Uttara Mimamsa (also known as Vedanta):
Purva Mimamsa is focused in the interpretation of the first two periods of the Vedas: The Samhitas and the Brahmanas; while Uttara Mimamsa tries to explain the last two periods (Aranyakas and Upanishads)
Samkhya – YOGA:
As explained before, Yoga shares most of its philosophical ground with Shamkya but the concept of Ishvara (God) is introduced. One of the most important texts on Yoga Philosophy is the Yoga Sutras compiled by Maharishi Patanjali.
Structure made of wires as a symbol of the strings (gunas) that form matter according to the Trigunas philosophical theory
Many people speak about sattvic food...What is the meaning of sattvic? The Triguna Theory in Samkhya and Yoga.
According to Samkhya philosophy all the things in our Universe are made of three different qualities or threads called gunas. These gunas are combined or interlaced in different proportions in everything and everyone. Her names are sattva, rajas and tamas. When sattva is the predominant guna in something, then we can say it is sattvic. The equivalent for the other two qualities would be rajasic and tamasic.
Hand holding a crystal clear sphere in a peaceful environment, representing some of the qualities of Sattva guna
Then, what are the characteristics of each guna: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas?
Sattva is the quality of intelligence, peace, balance, purity. It's the quality that allows the things to be known (knowability). Speaking about personality or mind it refers also to clarity of mind, calmness, positivity and virtue. Sattvic food, generally speaking is the kind of food that help us to maintain this sattvic state of mind.
Waterfall, as symbol of dynamism, one of the qualities of Rajas guna
Rajas is responsible of change, action and movement. The more rajas something contains, the faster it changes. In terms of personality is associated with passion and dynamism but also with hyperactivity, distracted action and search for appreciation.
Mountain as a representations of immobility, one of the qualities of Tamas guna
Tamas is the thread of inertia, stillness, dullness, retention, rigidness, lethargy. It is also responsible of memory. Regarding behavior, it is also associated to inactivity, apathy, laziness, sadness, negativity and ignorance.
Picture of a computer and a notebook with numbers, symbolizing the origin of the word Samkhya
What is Samkhya Philosophy?
As we saw, it is one of the Six Indian Philosophies (Shad Darsanas). It was compiled by Maharishi Kapila and it is quite logical and rational. It is agnostic and is usually paired with Yoga Philosophy.
The sanskrit word Samkhya means Numbering. It lists the break down of the Individual and the Universe in 2 principles and 23 evolutes. Those are:
Electricity, something invisible but which presence can be perceived for example in a lighted bulb, as a metaphor of consciousness
Principle of Purusha or Pure Consciousness (a concept similar to the Soul in the West).
Picture of a piece of rock, symbolizing the matter
Principle of Prkrti or Matter. The matter is bounded to the Trigunas (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas).
Picture of a person in a thoughtful attitude, as a representation of the intellect
When Sattvas gets dominant in the Prkrti over the other two gunas, the matter evolves to the Buddhi or Intellect.
Picture of a person watching its own image on the mirror, as a representation of identity sense
From the Buddhi, and again being Sattvas dominant, the Ahamkara or Ego (Identity, I-sense) is formed.
Picture of a computer printed circuit, as a symbol of the mind
Out of Ahamkara, and being Sattvas dominant we get 11 more evolutes:
The Manas or mind.
The human eye, one of the organs of perception (Jnanendriyas)
The 5 Jnanendriyas or 5 organs of perception:
Eyes
Nose
Tongue
Ears
Skin
Pedestrians walking thanks to the movement of their legs, one of the organs of action (Karmendriyas)
The 5 Karmendriyas or 5 organs of action:
Hands
Legs
Mouth
Reproductive Organs
Excretory Organs
Cup of coffee and coffee beans, as an allusion to aroma or smell, one of the 5 Tanmatras
Back to the Ego or Ahamkara, when Tamas is dominant, we get the 5 Tanmatras or subtle qualities of the matter.
Those are:
Rupa or Form
Gandha or Smell
Rasa or Taste
Shabda or Sound
Sparsha or Touch
Fire (Agni), one of the 5 Mahabutas
From the 5 Tanmatras, when Tamas is dominant, we get the Pancha Mahabutas or 5 gross qualities of the matter. Those are:
Agni or Fire
Vayu or Air
Akasha or Eter/Space
Prithvi/Kshiti or Earth
Jala or Water
Back view of a woman sitting with a big city at her feet, in a contemplative attitude, symbolizing the things that scape our control and the Universal Consciousness.
Yoga is based in Samkhya Philosophy and adds the concept of Ishvara or Universal Consciousness (God). This is also relevant in a practical approach. Accepting that humans cannot control everything that happen in their lives helps to manage the anxiety of the mind and improve its balance.