RAJA YOGA OR DHYANA YOGA

Raja Yoga (Dhyana Yoga):
Path of Meditation:

Raja Yoga is the path of Meditation. Patanjali, the teacher of Raja Yoga has given us a spiritual ladder with eight steps that takes us to perfection.

 1. Yama – observance of five virtues:

  a)Ahimsa – non-violence

  b)Satya - truth

  c)Asteya- non-stealing

  d)    Brahmacharya- continence

  e)     Aparigraha- non – dependence on others’ charity.  

2. Niyama – five rules of conduct:

a)    Sauca—purity of body and mind

b)    Santosa – contentment

c)     Tapas – austerity of life

d)    Svadhyaya – self study

e)     Ishvara-pranidhana – self-surrender ot God.

3. Asana – sitting postures

4. Pranayama – breathing exercises

5. Pratyahara – detachment

6. Dharana – fixing the mind

7. Dhyana – meditation

8. Samadhi – realization of the Paramatman, the Supreme Being

It is shown above that by  following this path of spiritual ladder one attains spiritual perfection.

Source: 'Meditation and Spiritual Life'