online yoga forum

I though that 'yoga' was the term used for asana, pranayama etc. so I was interested to hear about this new style of yoga (well new to me). Apparently it is a type of yoga that follows a higher power or god, but I don't know much more about it than that. Are there still asanas and things like that or is this totally different style? Maybe I'm confused?

Bev,

Yoga is an umbrella term, it means union, so any action which leads to union with the divine (or samadhi) is a type of yoga. You can do asanas until you attain it, or meditate (kriya yoga), or serve others (karma yoga). I'm sure there are others, but can't bring any to mind right now.

Bhakti means devotion, so anything which expresses devotion to the divine can be attributed to Bhakti yoga. It tends to take the forms of selfless service, deity worship/ veneration, chanting of mantra's & of bhajans. Basically anything which brings God to the forefront of your mind as often as possible would be termed as Bhakti yoga.

i'm sure there's more to it than that, but that's my humble understanding.

Reuben

Bhakti Yoga or 'devotional yoga' is considered one of the major paths in yoga. Bhakti in Sanskrit means a blissful, selfless and overwhelming love of God or a higher power. Interestingly repeated studies have found that people who are religious are healthier due to a combination of meditation and prayer.

I had a google around about it further and apparently there are 9 primary activities of bhakti, with the instruction that by following all, or just one, of these activities perfectly the aspiring devotee can achieve pure love of God:

They are:
1. Hearing about the Lord - singing & chanting God's names (japa), hearing stories from scripture.
2. Glorifying the Lord - describing God's all-attractive features.
3. Remembering the Lord - internal meditation on the Lord's form, activities, names or personality.
4. Serving the lotus feet of the Lord - providing a form of physical service.
5. Worshiping the Lord - deity worship (puja) is a popular form of this within India.
6. Offering prayers to the Lord - any form of prayer offered to please God.
7. Serving the Lord - offering a service for Lord's pleasure, such as preaching activity.
8. Building a friendship with the Lord - having an internal, loving relationship with God.
9. Surrendering everything unto the Lord - surrendering one's thoughts, actions and deeds to God.

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