Health and 'Raja Yoga'

In the context of the eleventh 'International Yoga Day' on 21st June 2025, led by PM shri Narendra Modi ji, and Government of India, we are giving a perspective on health and Raja Yoga.

What is Yoga anyway? (Spiritual definition)

"The Yoga system of Patanjali is known as the Eightfold Path. "

"The first steps are

(1) yama (moral conduct), and

(2) niyama (religious observances).

Yama is fulfilled by noninjury to others, truthfulness, nonstealing, continence, and noncovetousness. The niyama prescripts are purity of body and mind, contentment in all circumstances, self-discipline, self-study (contemplation), and devotion to God and guru. The next steps are

(3) asana (right posture); the spinal column must be held straight, and the body firm in a comfortable position for meditation;

(4) pranayama (control of prana, subtle life currents); and

(5) pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses from external objects). The last steps are forms of yoga proper:

(6) dharana (concentration), holding the mind to one thought;

(7) dhyana (meditation); and

(8) samadhi (superconscious experience). "

"This Eightfold Path of Yoga leads to the final goal of Kaivalya (Absoluteness), in which the yogi realizes the Truth beyond all intellectual apprehension. "

'“Which is greater,” one may ask, “a swami or a yogi?” If and when oneness with God is achieved, the distinctions of the various paths disappear. '

"The Bhagavad Gita, however, has pointed out that the methods of yoga are all-embracing. Its techniques are not meant only for certain types and temperaments, such as those few persons who incline toward the monastic life; yoga requires no formal allegiance. "

"Because the yogic science satisfies a universal need, it has a natural universal appeal. "

"A true yogi may remain dutifully in the world; there s/he is like butter on water, and not like the unchurned, easily diluted milk of undisciplined mind. "

"Fulfilling one’s earthly responsibilities need not separate man or woman from God, provided s/he maintains mental uninvolvement with egotistical desires and plays his her part in life as a willing instrument of the Divine. "

"There are a number of great men, living today in india, American or European other Asian African or others who, though they may never have heard the words yogi and swami, are yet true exemplars of those terms."

"Through their detached loving service to mankind, or through their mastery over passions and thoughts, or through their singlehearted love of God, or through their great powers of concentration, they are, in a sense, yogis; they have set themselves the goal of yoga — self-control."

"These men women could rise to even greater heights if they were taught the definite science of yoga, which makes possible a more conscious direction of one’s mind and life."

"Yoga has been superficially misunderstood by certain Western writers, but its critics have never been its practitioners."

"Among many thoughtful tributes to yoga may be mentioned one by Dr. C. G. Jung, the famous Swiss psychologist. “When a religious method recommends itself as ‘scientific,’ it can be certain of its public in the West."

'Yoga fulfills this expectation,” Dr. Jung writes. “Quite apart from the charm of the new and the fascination of the half-understood, there is good cause for Yoga to have many adherents.

"It offers the possibility of controllable experience and thus satisfies the scientific need for ‘facts’; and, besides this, by reason of its breadth and depth, its venerable age, its doctrine and method, which include every phase of life, it promises undreamed-of possibilities."

Yogananda, Paramahansa. Autobiography of a Yogi (Self-Realization Fellowship) (pp. 252-254). Self-Realization Fellowship. Kindle Edition.

How is Hatha Yoga different from Raja Yoga ?

"Hatha Yoga is a specialized branch of bodily postures and techniques for health and longevity. Hatha is useful, and produces spectacular physical results, but this branch of yoga is little used by yogis bent on spiritual liberation."

Yogananda, Paramahansa. Autobiography of a Yogi (Self-Realization Fellowship) (p. 255). Self-Realization Fellowship. Kindle Edition.

Where is the health connection?

If we read the 'Aims and Ideals of Yogoda Satsanga Society' here, https://yssofindia.org/about/aims-and-ideals , one of the items is .....

To liberate man from his threefold suffering: physical disease, mental inharmonies, and spiritual ignorance.

Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS), is a non-profit organization that promotes 'Raja Yoga' as taught by Sri Paramahamsa Yogananda.

So, what is 'Raja Yoga'. And what does it have to do with health of body, mind and soul?

'Raja Yoga' is one of the eight types of Yoga .......

"Various methods and bypaths are termed yoga: Karma Yoga (the path of good actions); Jnana Yoga (the path of discrimination and self-enquiry); Bhakti Yoga (the path of prayer and devotion); Mantra Yoga (the path of God-union by chanting and incantations of seed sounds); Laya Yoga (the path that teaches how to dissolve the ego in the Infinite); and Hatha Yoga (the path of bodily discipline). Raja Yoga, specifically Kriya Yoga, is the quintessence of all yoga paths, the path especially favored by royal sages and great yogis in ancient India." - Paramhansa Yogananda in 'God Talks To Arjuna', page 923 of Kindle edition.

Though 'Raja Yoga' is a path towards spirituality, and God-consciousness, the initial steps, like exercise and techniques of concentration, can help even an atheist to achieve some physical health, mental health and professional health. The later steps of 'Raja Yoga' lead to meditation on God, which is the ultimate goal of any Yoga, but can be set aside by those who only look for the health benefits of Raja Yoga.

Some people may benefit from the first four steps of Raja Yoga, even if they do not wish to pursue the eightfold path of Yoga, as prescribed by Patanjali.

Note : This is the web site co author's interpretation and does not represent the views of Yogoda Satsanga Society of India or any other particular school of yoga.