________________
Haribhadra-suri propounded Ashtanga yoga as a path to attain liberation.
17-JAIN YOGA
ПÂÂÂÂ
Ce
2-Niyama
- Yama
4 - Pranayama
C. Ashtanga Yoga (Eight Steps of Yoga)
1) Yama - Restraints
In the initial stage, a person should restrain from violence, untruthfulness, non-chastity, stealing, and material possessions.
5- Pratihära
2) Niyama - Observances
In the second stage, a person should develop virtues like cleanliness (external and internal), contentment, austerity, religious study, and self-surrender to God/Self.
The first two stages are meant for moral purification. Without these, no spiritual progress is possible.
3) Asana - Physical Exercise
In the third stage, a person should do physical exercise (Hatha yoga) to keep the body healthy and the spinal cord straight in preparation for long periods of meditation (example -1 hour).
104
4) Pränäyama - Rhythmic Breathing
In the fourth stage, a person should practice, regularly, the control of vital energy through certain breathing techniques. breathing helps concentration of the mind.
Rhythmic
Sitting still (step 3) and rhythmic breathing (step 4) makes the mind fit for looking inward.
JAINISM AND SPIRITUAL AWAKENING
