Raja yoga

Raja Yoga is also called the royal yoga and a combination of the following forms of yoga: hatha yoga, bhakti yoga, jnana yoga, karma yoga and mantra yoga. In this form (raja yoga) will be asked to put everything in the light of yoga.

The doctrine Raja Yoga is designed for those wishing to walk the path and practice yoga to bring about fundamental changes in their own nature and consciousness.
Patanjali is known as the 'father' of yoga. He lived two centuries before Christ. The book The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, developed by IK Taimni, the basic literature for those who studied yoga. In this book, the eightfold path is indicated as a guide to studying.
The Raja Yoga in the Netherlands is growing more and more. Due to the specific goals of Raja Yoga was necessary to express this in a partnership to make clear that these Netherlands on achievement-oriented form of yoga is classical yoga form, based on the Himalayan Tradition. In eight steps, known by the great father of this yoga form, Pantañjali, the previously fit man will join a road at night that dedication and discipline, in a very short time can lead to overall realization or liberation.
 

Self-knowledge

liberation from earthly bonds - either releasing the identifiers with the physical, astral and mental body - the ultimate goal of human existence, but it can only succeed by developing true self-knowledge. One important way of doing this is to accept the lesson of life and learn that every spiritual development is based on the realization of the five yamas or disciplines and five niyamas or moral codes, the first two as main steps of the eightfold path as Patanjali. The revelation of the cleanest and clearest in ourselves and realizing the highest spiritual equilibrium (samadhi) is possible by integrating the Raja Yoga path in our daily lives.

Raja yoga

Raja Yoga follows the eightfold path of Patajali:
 
 

Yama's

Moral principles of giving up certain habits -not wenselijke-. You refuse to let you live by old patterns that hinder you.
 
 

Niyamas

Moral principles of learning new, desirable patterns that are constructive in your life.
 

Asanas

Body postures, which are the physical exercises that yoga has become known in the West. They promote health and vitality, provide mental and physical relaxation and thus prepare for meditation.
 

Prânâyâma

exercises for breathing and subtle 'prana' or energy flow, which further control is achieved on energy and vitality.
 

Pratyahara

This is the withdrawal of the senses and the inward focus of the mind. The senses -and thus the denkvermogen- normally outwardly oriented and a large part of our everyday consciousness is occupied by processing external impressions. This whirl our minds from one to the other. Pratyahara is a necessary step to prepare for meditation.
 

Dhârana

concentration, the ability to keep the attention on a topic you choose, without having to be distracted you with that. When the mind is directed to the inside, as described in pratyāhāra, then there is the derivation that occurs from the inside out, emotions, thoughts and which will start to spin around. In concentration to be directed and held the attention.
 

Dhyâna

Meditation, according to Patanjali, meditation: the single-pointedly to focus the attention. That is, not only can stay with a topic, but have only one image, one thought in mind. The concentration is hereby brought together in such a way to a point that it is much more powerful. This is similar to the tip of a nail or pin, the force with which there is beaten on the head, is on the larger section, since the surface is smaller, and thereby acquires the wall is driven in. So the mind in meditation is a deeper level of consciousness in 'driven'.
 
 

Samâdhi

Contemplation, this is what also higher meditation is called, being passed mental boundaries. As the closest approximation in our language is this immediate knowledge, intuition. Intuition, however, for most of us something that happens to us from time to time in glimpses and what not always seem reliable. In our society we are not accustomed to use intuition. We are not trained to direct observation and intuition is often clouded by emotions, desires and thoughts. In meditation we train intuition and discernment to know the direct learning distinguish thoughts and self-created illusions.
 
Patanjali describes the path of meditation in the Yoga Sutras to finally: "... to be established in your own essential and fundamental nature." (I, 3) Basically, to be who you really are!
 
 

Samyama

Ultimately, all eight steps of Patanjali together Samyama. In Samyama are concentration, meditation and contemplation and simultaneously integrated place. It is possible to be busy concentrated, with one-pointed attention focused and awareness rising above duality, where there is more direct. This can be in the here and now and in our daily lives.
 
This meditation is not only a way to expand their own consciousness, but also a way to be fully in life, in the here and now. Meditation is not only a way in, it is also a way out into the world!