Yoga teacher training Raja Yoga

When there is no target to gaze, there are no bondages of the mind, where there are no restrictions of place and time, when there are no restrictions of breath and when Dharna (focus) and Dhyan (Meditation) happen without hard efforts, this state is happening  in thriving Raja Yoga. ||14||

During our journey of yoga, when following symptoms are visible then thriving Raja Yoga happens:

1. There is no target or goal or task including gazing on any object or thought remains.
2. During this journey there are no imprisonments of our own mind, this means a total freedom from mind.
3. One experiences self beyond time and place or one transcends the time and space.
4. One does not feel the mind to control or guide prana or breathe.
5. Dharna (focus) happens on its own.
6. Dhyan (Meditation) happens without any hard efforts

Fortunate are those who walk on this path. Raja yoga has been described by many scriptures in different ways but this is royal yoga.

One is raised to Râja Yoga undoubtedly after successful Kumbhaka which results in rising of Kundalini thus Sushumna becomes pure. ||75|| chapter II (HYP)

Hatha Yoga Pradipika,

Upon mastering Kumbhaka, the mind rest and one attain Raja Yoga.

||75|| chapter II (HYP)

Shrimand Bhagvad Gita, Patanjali Yog Sutra, Hatha Yoga Pradipika and several other scriptures talk about Raja yoga. Raja Yoga is also known as Royal Union or Royal Yoga or Classical Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga. This is also said to be the King of Yoga or yoga for kings. The ultimate achievement is enlightenment or Kaivalya. How to master the mind and its movements and go beyond the mind is said in Raja Yoga. Raja yoga is also referred as Ashtanga yoga (eight limbed yoga). Raja Yoga is one of the four major paths of yoga. This is also sometimes referred as path for the mind awakening, meditation and yogic psychology.

Adi Shankaracharya says in ‘Vivekchudamani'(Crest-Jewel of Wisdom) for Raja Yoga a deserving practioner is that who qualifies to acquire:

1. Viveka (decimation)
2. Vairagya (freedom from desire / detachment)
3. Shat-Sampatti  (six virtues: Sama (balance), Dama (control), Uparati (Cessation from objects), Titiksha (endurance) and Shraddha (trust)
4. Mumukshuta (Longing for self-realization)

For Raja Yoga, Patanjali guides for eight steps; Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi.

In Bhagvad Gita, Krishna says that Yogi is the best among all. So be a yogi. Chapter 6.

na न = no

dṛṣṭi दृष्टि = vision, crystal vision

lakṣyāṇi लक्ष्याणि = aim, objective, goal

na न = no

citta चित्त = mind, higher mind, base of mind

bandho  बन्धो = holding, binding

na न = no

deśa देश = country, place, region

kālau  कालौ = era, time

na  न = no

ca च = and

vāyurodhaḥ वायुरोधः = breath barrier, wind hold,

na न  = no

dhāraṇā धारणा = focus, concentration

dhyāna ध्यान = meditation, dhyan

pariśramo परिश्रमो = hard work, trouble, exertion

vā वा = a question, so

samedhamāne समेधमाने = thriving, prospering

sati सति = female, virtious woman

rājayoge राजयोगे = raja yoga

अशेषदृश्योज्झितदृङ्‌मयानाम

अवस्थितानामिह राजयोगे।

न जागरो नापि सुषुप्तिभावो

न जीवितं नो मरणं विचित्रम्॥ १५॥

aśeṣadṛśyojjhitadṛṅmayānāmavasthitānāmiha rājayoge |

na jāgaro nāpi suṣuptibhāvo na jīvitaṁ no maraṇaṁ vicitram || 15||

इस प्रकार जो राजयोग में स्थित हो जाते हैं, वह द्रश्य के बंधन से मुक्त, उनके लिए न तो जाग्रत अवस्था, न ही सुषुप्ति अवस्था का भाव रहता है. और न ही जीवन का और न ही का मृत्यु का बंधन रहता है। यह विस्मयकारी है ||15||

Thus, who established in Raja Yoga, there will be no distractions from scene and the mind? For him there will be no expression of wakening state, no expression of deep sleep state. No bondage of Life or death, this is surprise!||15||

When one is free from bondages of life and death they have obtained total presence of Raja yoga.

Krishna says that true life is not bondage. Expectations, desires, attachments are bondage. One who lives in hopes deeply desirous of new birth after death. Such birth becomes bondage. Ignorance is bondage.  True love is freedom.  True action is freedom. True life is freedom.  One attains total freedom from this bondage during Raja Yoga.

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