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A Comparison of the Yoga Systems
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by the scriptures (āgama or vacana), or without any consideration (asanga). When they are not performed out of love and reverence, they lead to worldly and other-worldly prosperity (abhyudaya), and when they are performed as duty without any consideration whatsoever, it leads to final emancipation (niḥśreyas).
And, out of the five special kinds of activities, enumerated by Haribhadra, it is the practice of the last one comprising the meditation on the abstract attributes (anālambana-yoga) through which one crosses over the ocean of delusion, the crossing that marks the completion of the process of ascending to the top of the successive stages (śreny-ārohana). After that one first attains omniscience, then one goes down into the trance in which all bodily, mental and vocal activities come to cease, and one finally attains liberation (mokşa).
Thus, to conclude: 1. Although Patañjali and Haribhadra have used different
terminology in the exposition of their respective Yoga
Systems, there is much similarity in practice. 2. The metaphysical foundations and ethical code of
conduct are the essential part of both these Systems, and this spirit is witnessed at every step in their respective
exposition. 3. While some fundamental concepts like Purusa and Prakrti
of Patañjali and Jiva and A-jīvan of Haribhadra, play very important role in their respective Systems, the theories of bondage and liberation are the deciding factors in the formulation of their codes of conduct and the gradual spiritual stages.
