Difference between revisions of "Raja Yoga"
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Revision as of 01:29, 28 June 2006
See Wikipedia entry for raja yoga, for details of the traditional Patanjali codification of raja yoga.
BK Raja Yoga
The BKs version of Raja Yoga is not related to the traditional Raja Yoga, involving no breathing exercises or specific body postures but focusing on the main aspect of controlling the mind. The BK's meditate at 4 a.m. in the morning and again at set periods throughout the day. The ultimate aim is constant yoga 24 hours a day, whatever you are doing, even while sleeping. This is a tall order of course, but the idea is to be continually spending more and more time in the consciousness of being a soul, and in union with God. Because of this full time approach BK are taught to meditate with their eyes open. Usually when sitting down for timetabled yoga, a red light will be used. Often there will a yogi at the front facing everyone else conducting the meditation by use of drishti - this is a peculiarly BK practice. When sitting in meditation, the yogi can go deeper than when involved in everyday activities.
The BKs have claimed Raja Yoga as their own, to the extent that until recently they marketed themselves outside of India as "Raja Yoga" rather than "Brahma Kumaris".
But Raja Yoga is not the property of the BKs, although many BKs persist on referring to the teachings of the BKWSU as 'Raja Yoga', and there is a blurring together of the concepts of BK Gyan and Raja Yoga. Indeed, many BK dogmas which are not even part of BK Gyan, have also become associated in the minds of many former and current BKs as being Raja Yoga. This is confusing and misleading. Even within BK teachings Yoga and Gyan are separate subjects.
The understanding of individual BKs concerning Raja Yoga tends to be a bit sketchy. There is very little practical information about it available from them and almost no information on the higher stages of it beyond a few, generally misunderstood, terms like 'Seed Stage' and 'Third Eye'. BKs claim to teach Raja Yoga but in fact they are teaching BK 'Gyan' (i.e. 'enlightenment'). The Raja Yoga just "happens" if you are lucky, or have suitable karma depending on your beliefs, and the spiritual atmosphere at the BK centres is very conducive to it.