[nandm]

Patanjali's system of yoga is a map of the process of awakening the possible human in each of us. Although the eight limbs, or basic beliefs, or yoga are intertwined, rather than linear, for clarity's sake I will divide them into two groups. The first four are associated with how a person conducts his life. I think of them as the "goods" of yoga. They are:

• Yama. Do good. This boils down to the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." The yamas encourage moderation and discourage violence, stealing, lying, and possessiveness.
• Niyama. Be good. The niyamas give the ground rules for self-discipline and inner awareness. They encourage purity, contentment, chastity, self-study, and awareness of the spirit.
• Asana. Feel good. The physical body is a temple for the spirit. Yoga postures, or asanas, keep the body healthy and the mind calm, creating an atmosphere in which the spirit can more easily flow. Asanas, literally, "steady poses," are yoga postures and exercises that enhance physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
• Pranayama. Live good. Pranayama focuses on understanding the link between the breath, mind, and body. The practice of conscious breath control allows for a vital and long life.

The importance of theses four first limbs is reflected in yoga as it is practiced today. Sometimes yoga is further reduced to a simple emphasis on the physical body through asanas (yoga poses). But, as you will see, the second four teachings are just as important in developing the body/mind/spirit connection. They focus on meditation, which is the process of quieting or controlling the constant waves of thought. They are:

• Pratyahara. Inner focus. This is the process of becoming aware of, and learning to control, thought patterns. One's attention is drawn away from the five senses of sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. Instead, the meditator is focused inwardly in order to quiet the mind.
• Dharana. One-pointedness. The mind, once withdrawn into itself, is fixed in one-pointed inner concentration.
• Dyana. Deep meditation. This is meditation without focus on an object, and is rooted in a deep, inner space of awareness.
• Samadhi. Absorption. This is the ecstatic state of being in which the mediator becomes one with the object of meditation. Here, one is spiritually awake and absorbed in the Infinite.