Laya yoga
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Laya Yoga is a shaivic system of practicing Yoga based on focusing the mind in specific ways on the chakras, and inducing Kundalini energy to arise.
Laya means "dissolution" and refers to the melting of all the impressions which have accumulated throughout one's lifetime/s, thereby liberating one's mind from all obstacles and limitations and freeing one from the holds of karma. This also causes the seeds of habitual inclinations (i.e. samskaras) to be dissolved and turned into primal energy. Laya Yoga is usually called the yoga of absorption, or absorbing the lower nature by the higher spiritual forces.
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[edit] History
The term "Laya Yoga" is usually used in two different ways: firstly to refer to a very particular method of practice or even a single exercise (sadhana), which melts mental conditionings, or causes of suffering. The second meaning refers to a many-sided and ordered initiation system designed to lead the practitioner to liberation (via the methods of absorption and dissolution). Laya Yoga can be practiced either as a tantric system or vedic system – "Tantrika Laya Yoga" or "Vaidika Laya Yoga".
Philosophically the spiritual aim of the Laya Yoga school is described in the treatise "Yogabija" (142) as identity, uniformity (aikya), kshtera (fields of mind and ego) with kshterajna (authority of field, cognitive consciousness). After realizing this identity the mind melts itself, and when the Laya state appears, vital force (pavana) becomes stable. Because of the state of absorption (Laya) a man can achieve the state of ananda- unlimited bliss resulting from a transcendental state of consciousness and mind.
The Laya state as a higher spiritual state of Yoga, is described as entrance of one single soul (atman) to the Absolute or All-Spirit, unification with God (unification with ocean-of-awake-souls ). Laya is entrance into God, coming into divine consciousness, merging with Highest Consciousness, with All-Spirit. "Laya" term as ending state of consciousness or spiritual realization is identified with fourth level of consciousness expansion called as Turiya or it's sophisticated higher phase.
Laya Yoga pays attention to practicing such groups of exercises as mantras, mudras, yantras and dayata – appropriately work with sound, shape and gestures, and work with signs and symbols (mandala). This sequence complies with methodology of introducing exercises – what is often forgotten by teachers of chakras in the West, who usually teach in rather accidental way, much different than Eastern Masters. Mantra purifies speech organs and sense of hearing. Mudra enables higher energies to flow through all our body and yantra enables us to contact with higher extraterrestrial creatures. During contact with higher existences we should be very careful, because not all of them are Gods or "demi-gods" or "angels". Indeed and demonic worlds are full of spirits as well, even often pretending to be Gods.
Asana-yoga exercises usually associated with Laya Yoga meditation: sitting (sit on knees, lotus), standing (tree), lying (sawasana) or walking. Of course appropriate focusing, visualization, rhythm of breathing and prayer (mantra) are part of the practice, as well. Lots of bows and half-bows, and ritual moves called sthulla-karira. Laya practice also contains "transcendental runs", well known in northern India, which are similar to jogging. Also, tranquil lying in water at the surface with minimal moves, indispensable for maintaining one's surface-position. It is called "water relaxation" and is usually connected with session of intensive purifying breathing.
Laya Yoga at its basis is correctly associated as a mystic way, a way to unification with God ( or Awake-Soul, or Universal Divine Essence ) through intensive prayers, singing mantras, meditations of light and revering (nods, glorification) which all leads to stimulation of Kundalini power. Work with chakras and chakra therapy which commonly are used in the West should be more connected with practice of Laya Yoga that to Kundalini Yoga. Unfortunately, from the methodological point of view, western systems of chakra therapy sometimes are devoid of elementary basis, such as making correct connection with God through intensive exercises and long lasting glorification some form of God.
Treatises like "Bhagavata – Purana" (2.4.14.) or "Uddhavagita" (23.29.), persons practicing in wrong way, without appropriate basis call it by "Ku-Yogi" term – literally "Bad Yogin". It is a trainee which because of mistakes can not achieve divinity, spirituality, enlightenment or liberation. Ku-Yogi is a person who has been deluded by obstacles and other people or demons (asures). Such Ku-Yogi achieves only psychical emptiness, spiritual asepsis, he tries to pretend enlighten ego or suddenly leaves spiritual path because it "gives non profit" to him; experiencing crisis in spiritual life – always because of already made mistakes and not appropriately strengthen basics.
[edit] See also
[edit] Further reading
- Shyam Sundar Goswami (1991). Layayoga: The Definitive Guide to the Chakras and Kundalini, Inner Traditions, ISBN 0-89281-766-6
- Arthur Avalon (Sir John Woodroffe). The Serpent Power ; Being the Sat-Cakra-Nirupana and Paduka-Pancaka: Two Works on Laya-Yoga, Translated from the Sanskrit, with Introduction and Commentary, Shivalik Prakashan, ISBN 8-18880-814-8
