The Light on Yoga: Ashtanga Philosophy

The Light on Yoga (first published 1966)

B. K. S. Iyengar (born December 14, 1918)

Book report

“The practice of the art is more difficult to communicate than a purely literary or philosophical concept”.

B.K.S. Iyengar makes frequent references to the philosophical and moral principles in his book called The Light on Yoga. He believed it is important for the people to understand the origin of asanas, and he stressed out the importance of following the correct and safe methods for practicing (mastering) asanas (poses) and pranayamas (breathing).

At first, B.K.S. Iyengar gives a definition to the word yoga by using the words like union, communion, join, bind, and attach. He further explains the meaning of yoga as: “…true union of our will with the will of God.”

Yoga is one of the six orthodox systems of Indian philosophy. It was systematized and documented (explained in the book) by Patanjali in his well known written word Yoga Sutras, which consists of 185 terse aphorisms. Yoga teaches the means by which human spirit can be united to God. For those who practice the philosophy, the meaning of Yoga is unfolded as the deliverance from the pain and sorrow. In the word of Sri Krishna  (referring to Indian mythology), “When the mind, intellect and self are under control, freed from restless desires, so that they rest in the spirit within, a man becomes a Yukta -  one in communion with God. When the restlessness of the mind is stilled through the practices of Yoga, the yogi by the grace of spirit within himself finds fulfillment.”

The Bhagavad Gita (ancient Sanskrit/text) gives other explanation of yoga and places more stress on the yoga by action, referred as Karma Yoga. In exact words: “Work alone is your privilege, never the fruits thereof.” In other words, the philosophy stresses out the importance of not placing emphasis on the fruit of your work, it instructs to abandon selfish desires, and never stop working. One cannot be lazy, or cannot be selfish or motivated by selfish means and desires.

Yoga is also being described as wisdom, a skilful living amongst activities, harmony and moderation. Yoga is not for the one who gorges or starves oneself, sleeps too much or deprives oneself from the sleep. Moderation and regulation is the key.

Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras describes Yoga as discipline that restrains mental modification (or fluctuation of consciousness.) He details the important means of yoga in the eight limbs (or stages) of yoga: Yama – universal moral commandments; Niyama – self purification by discipline; Asana – posture, physical practices; Pranayama – control of the breath; Pratyahara – withdrawal of the mind from exterior objects and senses; Dharana- concentration; Samadhi – individual becomes one with the object of his meditation.

Asanas keep the bodies healthy and in harmony with the Nature. The first two, Yama and Niyama, control yogi’s passions, emotions and desires. Those three stages are considered outward quests.

The next two stages are inner quests that help yogi to regulate the breathing and control the mind. This helps to free the senses from the objects and desires. And the last three stages, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi take yogi into the innermost recesses of his soul. The yogi does not look into heaven to find God; he knows that HE is within. With that, the last three stages are called the quest of the soul.

B.K.S. Iyengar states that “happy is the man who knows how to distinguish the real from the unreal, the internal from the temporary,  and the good from the pleasant by his discrimination and wisdom. He explains that the mind is the king of the senses. One who has conquered his mind, senses, desires, and thoughts is a king (raja) among men. The expression Raja Yoga implies a complete mastery of Himself. Thus the Ashtanga Yoga (the eight limbs of yoga) is the science of Raja Yoga.

Swatmarama, a yogi lived in 15^th century in India, and the author of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, called the same path described earlier a Hatha Yoga (hatha means force or effort.) It is because the practice requires rigorous discipline.

 Iyengar explains that some people believe that Raja Yoga and Hatha Yoga are distinct. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (Raja Yoga) deals with spiritual discipline and the Hatha Yoga of Swatmarama deals with solely physical discipline. In reality, both complement each other and form a single approach toward Liberation. Yoga aspirant needs to know the discipline of Hatha Yoga to reach the heights of Raja Yoga.

Further in his book, Iyengar moves on to explaining the causes for the Modification of the Mind discussed in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Thus, our minds are affected by the following:

Pramana – a standard by which things are measured, values.

Vipariyaya – a mistaken view, which perceived to be true until discovered faulty.

Vikalpa – imagination without any factual basis.

Nidra – when a man forgets himself in a sleep.

Smrti – memory, keeping oneself chained to the past.

Patanjali lists five causes that create emotional pain. There are:

Avidya – ignorance.

Asmita – the feeling of individuality that distances person from the rest.

Raga – attachments.

Dvesa – aversion (hatred).

Abhinivesa – thirst for life and bodily enjoyment.

These causes of pain remain deeply seeded in the mind of a person. As long as those cannot be controlled, there can be no peace. The yogi learns how to live in the present and detach from the past formed judgments and senses. They form ability to sense and evaluate each new experience in its own originality.  Fear, attachments, and desires are based on the memories that possess the mind. Through yoga practices, the aspirants learn how to conquer the mind, how to still the mind and free himself from the pain.

Further on, B.K.S. Iyengar offers the following explanation of the Destructions and Obstacles which hinder the aspirant’s practice of yoga: sickness, lack of mental disposition, indecisiveness, indifference, laziness, sensuality, illusion, failure to concentrate, instability.

The first obstacle is sickness. To the yogi, his body is the prime instrument. The physical health is important for the mental development, as normally the mind functions through the nervous system. When the body is sick, the system is affected and the mind becomes restless.

The mind and the breath are intimately connected. Thus, in addition to asanas practices, Patanjali recommends Pranayama (rhythmic breath control) for achieving mental and inner piece.

Iyengar, in his book Light on Yoga, leads us to a conclusion that all should treasure love, moderation and humility. He states that “love begets courage, moderation creates abundance (wealth), and humility generates power. Courage without love is brutish (rough). Abundance (great quantity or wealth) without moderation leads to over indulgence and decay. Power without humility creates arrogance and tyranny.”

All the important texts on yoga lay great emphasis on constant practices of the eight limbs of Yoga.

Without practicing all the aspects, it will remain to be a theory with no possible effect.

In his masterpiece The Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar offers us a plethora of techniques, cautions, and effects of Asanas (poses) and Pranayama (breathing.) The Light on Yoga is a comprehensive source for those who is seeking guidance to the path of yoga.
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