Alan Watts | The Art Of Yoga
The word “yoga” shares the same root as “yoke,” symbolizing union and connection. Jesus’ saying, “My yoke is easy,” can be interpreted as “My yoga is easy,” emphasizing a state of union rather than alienation, a concept familiar in both psychological and Buddhist contexts.
Many people feel a sense of separateness, focusing only on their own boundaries and failing to see the inherent connection between the inside and the outside. This lack of awareness creates anxiety about the end of the self, despite the fact that change and dissolution are necessary for a dynamic and interesting universe.
Alan Watts explains different forms of yoga:
1. Hatha Yoga: Physical exercises and postures, often seen on television.
2. Bhakti Yoga: The path of devotion, akin to the reverence seen in Christianity.
3. Karma Yoga: The yoga of action, using daily activities or sports to discover oneself.
4. Raja Yoga: Also known as Kundalini Yoga, involves awakening spiritual energy through complex psychic exercises.
5. Mantra Yoga: Using chants and sounds as supports for contemplation.
Watts also describes Jnana Yoga, the yoga of knowledge, where one seeks direct awareness of the world as it is, beyond descriptions and thoughts. In this state, thinking ceases, leading to a direct experience of the present moment without the distractions of past or future. This practice reveals the illusory nature of the separation between subject and object, or knower and known, highlighting the interconnectedness of all experiences.
The word “yoga” shares the same root as “yoke,” symbolizing union and connection. Jesus’ saying, “My yoke is easy,” can be interpreted as “My yoga is easy,” emphasizing a state of union rather than alienation, a concept familiar in both psychological and Buddhist contexts.
Many people feel a sense of separateness, focusing only on their own boundaries and failing to see the inherent connection between the inside and the outside. This lack of awareness creates anxiety about the end of the self, despite the fact that change and dissolution are necessary for a dynamic and interesting universe.
Alan Watts explains different forms of yoga:
1. Hatha Yoga: Physical exercises and postures, often seen on television.
2. Bhakti Yoga: The path of devotion, akin to the reverence seen in Christianity.
3. Karma Yoga: The yoga of action, using daily activities or sports to discover oneself.
4. Raja Yoga: Also known as Kundalini Yoga, involves awakening spiritual energy through complex psychic exercises.
5. Mantra Yoga: Using chants and sounds as supports for contemplation.
Watts also describes Jnana Yoga, the yoga of knowledge, where one seeks direct awareness of the world as it is, beyond descriptions and thoughts. In this state, thinking ceases, leading to a direct experience of the present moment without the distractions of past or future. This practice reveals the illusory nature of the separation between subject and object, or knower and known, highlighting the interconnectedness of all experiences.
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