Sanskrit words such as "yuj" underlie the roots of words that mean to join or to become one: such as yoga as the one joining one of the most profound metaphysical concepts of Hindu philosophy. Beyond physical postures getting known and shown to the West, yoga in its traditional sense refers to the union of the individual self (Atman) with the universal consciousness (Brahman or Paramatman). This sacred union is recognized as the goal of life in Hinduism spirituality and lays the most immediate path toward liberation from the cycle of rebirth into this state.

The Philosophical Basis of Yoga 

Many sacred Hindu scriptures recognize the concept of yoga as a spiritual union. The Bhagavad Gita, one of the sacred books of Hinduism, describes yoga from the voice of the Lord Krishna to Arjuna, where he states in Chapter 6, Verse 19: "As a lamp in a windless place does not flicker, so is the yogi of disciplined mind, absorbed in his yoga with the Self." This is such a beautiful metaphor to show the steadiness of consciousness when the individual soul recognizes its unity with the universal.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, dated back nearly to 400 CE, provide the most systematic account of yoga philosophy. In the very second sutra (1.2), Patanjali defined it: "yogas chitta-vritti-nirodhah": that is, "the cessation of consciousness fluctuations made in yoga". As soon as the mind quiets down, the individual self can recognize its actual status-being pure consciousness, the same with universal consciousness.

The Path to Union

Hinduism recognizes several paths (margas) to this ultimate union:   

Jnana Yoga (Path of Knowledge): The Upanishads indicate, for instance, the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (4.4.22): "The Self cannot be reached by any instruction nor by intellectual prowess nor through much hearing. It is he alone that is reached by it whom it chooses. To such a person the Self discloses its very nature." Realizing that all Atman is Brahman through deep meditation and discrimination between real and unreal is how the seeker actually gains insight into one's Self.

Bhakti Yoga (the path of devotion): The Bhagavata Purana (7.5.23-24) tells how, by devoted worship to "Hearing about, glorifying, remembering, serving, worshiping, and surrendering completely to the Lord," one's soul becomes connected with the divine. Within this loving relationship, devotion and deity lose the limitations of separate identity step by step.

Karma Yoga (Path of Selfless Action): The Bhagavad Gita (3.19) commanded, "Perform your duty, equipoised, and without any attachment to the fruits; for the renunciation of the results leads a man to the Supreme." The person performs selfless service by transcending the limited self through action without ego-attachment to results.

Raja Yoga (Path of Meditation): Patanjali's eightfold path culminates in samadhi, the state described in Yoga Sutras (3.3) as "the same contemplation when there is consciousness only of the object of meditation and not of itself." In this state, the subject-object duality dissolves to experience the unity underlying all.

The Experience of Union

Katha Upanishad (2.1.1) refers to a kind of union thus: "The smaller than smallest; greater than greatest; the Self is hidden in the hearts of all creatures." This is found in yoga, and it changes everything so greatly. 

There are the physiological and psychological signs of union's proximity within the Svetasvatara Upanishad (2.8-10): "Holding the body steady, with the three upper parts erect, and drawing the senses and the mind into the heart, the wise person crosses all the fearful currents by means of the boat of Brahman."

It is by no means theoretical. The Mandukya Upanishad describes the experience: "not conscious of internal world, conscious of external world, nor conscious of both worlds together; nor a mass of consciousness... It is not perceived, non-related, non-comprehended, non-inferable, non-thinkable, non-describable." It is pure being-consciousness-bliss (sat-chit-ananda).

Practical Applications for Modern Seekers

That was about how yoga could be a relevant framework for someone who wants to do any kind of spiritual practice-an average Hindu practice. Regular meditation, regular study of scriptures, selfless service, and devotional practice would weaken egoism and impart recognition of what one's real nature is

In the Chandogya Upanishad (6.8.7), the phrase "Tat Tvam Asi" ("That Thou Art") is known as a mahavakya (great saying). This reminds practitioners that the journey of yoga is meant to be recognition of what has always been true: the individual consciousness is not apart from the universal consciousness.