Is Yoga an important part of buddhism?

BeachHouseGuy

(or being hindu possibly?...)

ajnast4r

Yoga as in traditional 8fold yogic practice or yoga as in the asana (exercise) component.

Mani

Hi there.

I would say that in terms of the yoga as most see it here in the West, it has little if anything to do with Buddhism, though others may find some parallels.

In some Buddhist traditions however, there are some aspects of working with the subtle body (energy, channels, etc., which I think is something that some types of yoga may involve.

ajnast4r

Imo, being hindu has nothing to do with being a buddhist.. Or a yogi for that matter.

The buddhist 8fold path and the yogic 8fold path are nearly identical as far as their structure and composition. The only real major difference I've found is yoga's emphasis on personalizing the 'divine' and the Buddhas emphasis on NOT personalizing it.

Imo, the Buddha took Patanjali's system and perfected it through his own genius. He cut out what was confusing and non-essential, clarified what was remaining, and added some things that were missing... Making it more simple, more clear and easier to practice and apply.


Don't forget, the Buddha was a yogi!

compassionate_warrior

There are many different kinds of yoga. The physical exercise we call yoga has nothing to do with Buddhism. But there is "guru yoga" in Tibetan Buddhism, at the higher levels. "Yoga" means "yoke", or discipline. In guru yoga one submits to the guru (or lama) as a form of discipline that's part of a methodology for reaching enlightenment.

Mountains

It certainly can't hurt though

taiyaki

I think of yoga as active meditation. Its a great support for sitting meditation.

Mani

In response to compassionate_warrior's post:

I think a more accurate translation of "yoga", especially in the usage of the word in the above post is "union". In Guru yoga, for example, I don't think one is submitting to the Guru as much is one is trying to merge their own body, speech and mind with the enlightened qualities of the Guru to achieve an inseparable union.

So to relate this to the original question, if one looks at yoga as meaning "union", then this is the real essence of the practice...not the western form of "stretching" we have seen become such a fad in the last number of years

compassionate_warrior

Thanks, Mani. I wholeheartedly agree. The word "union" somehow escaped me at the time I made my post. :dunce: Anyway, you completed my thought. There are other forms of yoga that are designed to bring the bliss believed to result from union with the Divine. Yoga's a fascinating topic. Why not research it, g-l-s?

dorje

In some Tibetan traditions there is the practice of Kum Nye.

compassionate_warrior

In some Tibetan traditions there is the practice of Kum Nye.

I thought of that, dorje, but it's not a part of the Buddhist practice, is it? It's more a part of medicine and health. Although one could argue that it's difficult to separate these things in Tibetan culture.

dorje

There's Kum Nye (part of tantra) and there's Kum Nye (body massage).

I know for a fact that Tarthang Tulku has termas relating to asanas and yogic breathing and the like.

Tikal2012

Nope. Only practicing the eightfold path is.

compassionate_warrior

asanas and yogic breathing and the like.

This is the type of Kum Nye I studied with one of the Tibetan doctors in Berkeley.

tjampel

There are various very specific yoga exercises that are part of Tibetan practice. Naropa included a number of specific physical asanas (plus various breathing practices (Pranayama) in his his famous "6 yogas" treatise. There are various other complete asana practice guides by Tibetan teachers such as Marpa (who translated some of Naropa's most important teachings into Tibetan); he wrote and entire instruction book containing both physical Asanas and breathing exercises; also Lady Niguma, who was Padmasambhava's main spiritual partner and a teacher in her own right, authored a series of asana practices. There are others as well in the various traditions.

In his introduction to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Swami Svatmarama states the the express purpose of the physical asanas, breath control, and sensory deprivation that are all a part of this system is to get the practitioner to Raja Yoga (meditation). They would agree with Buddhists that the highest form of union/yoking (YUG is the root Sanskrit word) occurs during deep meditation. Physical yoga is intended to make meditation more effective.

Specifically, these physical practices is to make it easier to meditate on the winds, drops, and channels (the subtle energy system of the subtle body that Tibetans, as well has the Hindus whose system they borrowed in part, believe contain the most subtle states of mind (within the heart chakra).

The practices are said to help repair damaged channels, get the winds flowing properly through the channels, and help move the various airs of the subtle body from side channels to the central channel, which is where yogis, who practice in this method need to be able to visualize and work with them in order to obtain very subtle states of mind. Physical yoga (asana practice) has been described as a kind of outer practice akin to a plumber banging on your pipes to free them of deposits. You still need to be able to meditate at the highest level to make use of any of the benefits conferred by yoga (unless you just want to be more relaxed, less stressed, more limber, more energetic, or enjoy other samsaric ephemeral benefits ---they're not too bad, though, either).

Of course the Chinese have practiced various forms of movement, such as Tai Chi or other martial arts, in conjunction with, or as an adjunct to their meditation practices for many years. I don't know if this is done at all in any Theravada system; perhaps they use some breathing exercises; I've meditated with a Theravada practitioner; he used the 9 round breathing method that I was also taught by a teacher in the Tibetan tradition.

ddrishi

Yoga is a set of physical exercises to keep one's body in shape - it has nothing to do with any religion. However, if these exercises are performed with full awareness, it would be meditation and hence a part of Buddhism.

caz

The only Yoga's Buddhists practise are Yogas of the mind such as Guru Yoga, The Yoga of non dual profoundity and clarity, Yogas of higher Tantra's etc...These are all mind practices.

Daozen

It can be, up to a point. But ultimately, yoga and buddhism diverge in that the yogi seeks to unite their atman with brahma, whereas the bodhi seeks realisation of their truly empty nature as anatman.

ThailandTom

bam, there is a clear cut answer! But as someone stated, it cannot hurt, the actual body exercises and not the actual beliefs/concepts.

Eliz

As many people above have outlined, it seems to me that they are two different things that are not dependent on each other. Yet, I have found that if I'm mindful in my yoga practice, it helps my meditation practice. For example, through yoga practice I've learned how to "just stay" with a difficult or uncomfortable physical pose (I don't mean dangerous pain here - just something that's uncomfortable). When I want to spring out of a yoga pose because it's edgy, I can now just breath through it and stay with it until the edginess goes away or loosens up. Even though I didn't expect it, that practice with my yoga poses has really helped me to "just stay" with any emotional edginess during my meditation. But that's just my own personal experience - it might be very different for others.

Eliz

If you want to explore what I described in a book format, I would recommend the book "Yoga and the Quest for the True Self" by Stephen Cope (http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Quest-True-Self-Stephen/dp/055337835X/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1)

ajnast4r

I don't know if this is done at all in any Theravada system; perhaps they use some breathing exercises; I've meditated with a Theravada practitioner; he used the 9 round breathing method that I was also taught by a teacher in the Tibetan tradition.

a few Theravadin teachers who's teachings I frequent use basic Pranayama to influence the mind... to calm it before meditation, to awaken it when sleepy, etc.

one book I read recently had an entire chapter dedicated to the basic buddhist pranayam but went on to say that the concept of prana and pranic body is somewhat outside of the 'dhamma propper'

Hanzze

Simply body exercises and stretching is very useful for one who sits a lot (its correct that even Theravadin call this useful movements yoga). As for Yoga (as we might broadly know it), well it is one of many compensation to wrong livelihood and therefore not really as part of the eightfold Path taught. *smile*

SeaOfTranquility

Yoga is about the exploration of stillness through action and finding out for yourself that heath and harmony in mind and body are arrived at by just being.

Hanzze

That might be the idea, but if we follow the Dhamma its about bringing actions (karma) to an end *smile*

That's why it is just a compensation. So one in one out. Good action bad action, gain and loos.

Just being needs no action

taiyaki

in all action there is being as well.
being is just the natural state of the stateless.

all action is merely the expression of being and being, being the total expression of all action. whether walking or sitting, there is no difference.

SeaOfTranquility

Yes it does depend on what your definition of "just being" is.

Substitute "acceptance of what is before judgement and subsequent attachment and aversion."

To arrive at this understanding is where the Buddha's teaching come in handy.