The Four Paths Together

Integral Yoga

Integral Yoga implies an understanding of Yoga in its completeness—an all-encompassing, all-aspected union with the Universal Self or God. In other words, an aspirant or Yogi must unite himself with God or the Absolute through every aspect of his personality—Action, Emotion, Will and Reason. In order to succeed, all these four must be cultivated in a balanced and integrated manner.

Therefore, Integral Yoga presents a blend of four major Yogas corresponding to the four aspects of the human personality. Karma Yoga (the Yoga of Action) unfolds one’s hidden potentialities while preparing one’s psychological being to confront life’s day-to-day activities in the spirit of surrendering oneself to the Divine Will. Bhakti Yoga (the Yoga of Devotion) cultures the feelings and brings about emotional integration in the personality. Raja Yoga (the Yoga of Meditation) allows one to develop a strong will and a controlled mind. Jnana Yoga (the Yoga of Wisdom) trains and renders the reason sharp and subtle.

Integral Yoga combines these four Yogas—Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga—along with supplementary minor Yogas, such as Hatha Yoga, Kriya Yoga, Nada Yoga, into one dynamic movement toward the goal of Self-Realization. Integral Yoga provides a safe, steady and sure method to enrich and perfect every aspect of

REASON
WILL
EMOTION
ACTION

The Four Aspects of the Personality

one's personality, to bring about peace and harmony in one's life and in the world.

Karma Yoga

Karma Yoga is the Yoga of Correct Action, to mold and shape your destiny. The world is an organized, intelligent system. Nothing happens randomly or as a mere accident. A deeper study of the mind shows that what appears as an accident on the surface is, in reality, the result of a conscious will operating through the mind. You develop an understanding that your own past thoughts and intentions are the basis for your present conditions.

In Yoga philosophy, one learns that every development in life has a meaning and significance. You do not blame the world for your troubles and turmoil. You are the architect of your own destiny. Realize, therefore, that you have the ability to change the thought-patterns of your mind and direct them towards any goal of your choice. You have the potential to tide over all adversities and bitter conditions in your life. This is the subject of Karma Yoga.

The practice of Karma Yoga is the ultimate test of the Yogic movement. Rather than living a secluded life, you apply and practice Integral Yoga while performing your duties in day-to-day life.

You will not be in conflict with your life when you realize that the world presents different conditions of pleasure and pain in order to aid your spiritual advancement. You will develop a healthy attitude and learn to consider the world and all circumstances as instruments to help you in your spiritual task of discovering your Inner Self.

Bhakti Yoga

Bhakti Yoga is the Yoga for cultivating Devotion or Love of God and deals with the feeling and the emotional aspect of one’s personality. All the world’s religions have one dominant feature—that of cultivating Love of God. In Yoga philosophy, you are given a rational process, a sequence of discovering that Divine Love and devotion. You cannot love God simply because you are threatened to be cast into hell if you don’t. The unfoldment of Divine Love and learning to surrender to His Will must be studied and understood in a rational and scientific manner. This is what is addressed by Bhakti Yoga.

Yoga recognizes that there is a transcendental basis in one’s personality. When you are confronted with problems, it is very important to find a place within your mind where you can objectively view those problems without being entangled in them. If you are able to do so, it is easy to find a solution to any problem. On the contrary, inability to objectively view the problem renders one vulnerable to be embroiled in the maladies of the mind. The study of Bhakti Yoga teaches a person how to gain a “transcendental foothold” from which he can lift himself from the turmoils of the mind.

Raja Yoga

Raja Yoga addresses the art of Concentration and Meditation, and is a profound study of the mind and a means of unfolding its powers for the purpose of Self-Realization. It gives you deep insight into the science of psychology. A practitioner of Raja Yoga becomes one's own psychoanalyst. You learn the art of controlling your body, mind and senses. One is able to change a negative thought-process into a positive one by one's aptitude in the art of thought-culture. One can also realize any personal desire or goal through concentrated effort and a controlled mind.

Also, it is important to know that the practice of Raja Yoga does not require an absolute withdrawal from the world. All noises of the world need not be silenced. You can acquire concentration of mind even while living a busy life. You can hold inner serenity even in the midst of intense activity. Raja Yoga gives you this amazing art of developing a controlled mind, no matter where you are or what you are doing. It teaches you to be the “master” of your mind.

Jnana Yoga

Jnana Yoga or the Yoga of Wisdom is the philosophical aspect of Yoga, also known as Vedanta. The purpose of Jnana Yoga is to enable one to clearly understand the nature of his deeper Reality “Who am I?” “What is the purpose of life?” “What is the nature of the world?” “What is God or the Divine Self?” Through a process of deep spiritual enquiry into questions such as these, the aspirant trains his reasoning and renders it subtle and sharp. The transformed intellect then, unhampered by negative attitudes or unconscious complexes and concepts, is able to see through the illusion of Maya (ignorance) and comprehend the Vedantic truth, “I am Brahman.”

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From the book Integral Yoga: The Secret to Enlightenment by Swami Jyotirmayananda, published by the Yoga Research Foundation. © Swami Jyotirmayananda. All rights reserved.

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