Changes

=== योगे ॥ In Yoga ===

=== योगे ॥ In Yoga ===

Maharshi Patanjali has systematised the methods to remove various factors that distract the mind and has chalked out an eight-limbed process that slowly leads a person towards the ultimate state of samadhi. These eight limbs are:

Maharshi Patanjali has systematised the methods to remove various factors that distract the mind and has chalked out an eight-limbed process that slowly leads a person towards the ultimate state of Samadhi. These eight limbs are:

{{columns-list|colwidth=10em|style=width: 400px; font-style: italic;|

{{columns-list|colwidth=10em|style=width: 400px; font-style: italic;|

# Yama (external discipline)

# Yama (external discipline)

# Samadhi

# Samadhi

}}

}}

Yama and Niyama are foundational without which the practice of Asana or Pranayama will never bear fruit. And the tenets of Yama and Niyama are the tenets of Samanya Dharma that are universal and apply to everyone. Yama includes non-violence, truth, non-stealing, brahmacharya and aparigraha (not holding more than what is necessary). While Niyama includes cleanliness, cheerfulness, austerity, svadhyaya and surrender to the Supreme Being. The practice of these tenets of Samanya Dharma will regulate one’s lifestyle, build character, remove mental distractions and purify the mind. And purification of mind leads to stillness of the mind. Hence, when a person established in Yama and Niyama practises Asana and Pranayama, he or she will be able to withdraw the senses and attain one-pointed concentration which will ultimately lead to samadhi. Therefore, Samanya Dharma is an inseparable aspect of Yoga, without which any practice of Yoga would be fruitless.<ref name=":7" />

Yama and Niyama are foundational without which the practice of Asana or Pranayama will never bear fruit. And the tenets of Yama and Niyama are the tenets of Samanya Dharma that are universal and apply to everyone. Yama includes non-violence, truth, non-stealing, brahmacharya and aparigraha (not holding more than what is necessary). While Niyama includes cleanliness, cheerfulness, austerity, svadhyaya and surrender to the Supreme Being. The practice of these tenets of Samanya Dharma will regulate one’s lifestyle, build character, remove mental distractions and purify the mind. And purification of mind leads to stillness of the mind. Hence, when a person established in Yama and Niyama practises Asana and Pranayama, he or she will be able to withdraw the senses and attain one-pointed concentration which will ultimately lead to Samadhi. Therefore, Samanya Dharma is an inseparable aspect of Yoga, without which any practice of Yoga would be fruitless.<ref name=":7" />

=== भक्त्याम् ॥ In Bhakti ===

=== भक्त्याम् ॥ In Bhakti ===

=== ज्ञाने ॥ In Jnana ===

=== ज्ञाने ॥ In Jnana ===

The tenets of samanya dharma are very vital in the path of knowledge as well.

The end goal of all spiritual practices is attainment of moksha or freedom from the cycle of birth and death. That results from direct knowledge of the Atman, the innermost Self, expounded in the Upanishads or Vedanta. This direct knowledge of the reality of Atman liberates a person from the bondage of birth and death because bondage itself is rooted in ignorance about the true nature of Atman.

The liberation from the cycle of birth and death results from the direct knowledge of Atman, the innermost Self, which is realised as Brahman itself.

The Upanishads lay down the requisite qualifications for a person to become eligible to practise Vedanta. The Taittiriya Upanishad, through the instructions imparted by the preceptor to students after having taught the Vedas says,  <blockquote>सत्यं वद । धर्मं चर । स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः ।<ref>Taittiriya Upanishad, Shikshavalli, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80#%E0%A5%A5_%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8A%E0%A4%BD%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A5 Anuvaka 11]</ref> satyaṁ vada । dharmaṁ cara । svādhyāyānmā pramadaḥ ।</blockquote>Meaning: Speak the truth. Practise righteousness. Make no mistake about self-study.

At the dawn of knowledge, all the objects of the universe which were previously perceived as being different from Brahman are realised as being non-different from Brahman in reality. This direct knowledge of the reality that Atman alone exists, liberates a person from the bondage of birth and death because bondage itself was rooted in ignorance about the true nature of Atman.

Adi Shankaracharya also, in his Vivekachudamani, enumerates the basic qualifications necessary to practise Vedanta called sadhana-chatushtaya or the fourfold spiritual practice. It includes discernment, dispassion, control of the internal organs, control of the external sense organs, forbearance, withdrawal of the mind from external sense objects, faith in the guru and scriptures, one-pointed meditation on Brahman and an intense desire for moksha.

The Upanishads lay down the requisite qualifications for a person to become eligible to practise Vedanta. The Taittiriya Upanishad says: ‘Having taught the Vedas, the preceptor imparts this post-instruction to the students: “Speak the truth. Practise righteousness. Make no mistake about study.”’30 In Vivekachudamani, Acharya Shankara enumerates the basic qualifications necessary to practise Vedanta called the sadhana-chatushtaya, fourfold spiritual practice: discernment, dispassion, control of the internal organs, control of the external sense organs, forbearance, withdrawal of the mind from external sense objects, faith in the guru and scriptures, one-pointed meditation on Brahman, and an intense desire for moksha. These are also either the tenets of samanya dharma themselves or those that are attained through the practice of samanya dharma.<ref name=":7" />

These are either the tenets of Samanya Dharma themselves or those that are attained through the practice of Samanya Dharma. Hence, the tenets of Samanya Dharma are very vital in the path of knowledge as well.<ref name=":7" />

=== अध्यात्मे ॥ In Adhyatma ===

=== अध्यात्मे ॥ In Adhyatma ===