THE TREE OF LIFE – BASED ON THE – EIGHT ASPECTS OF YOGA – AN HEURISTIC, RECURSIVE METAPHOR OF THE YOGA DARŠANA – THE PHILOSOPHY AND VISION OF YOGA T HE EIGHT ASPECTS OF YOGA can be studied by use of the tool of metaphor, but, discrimination is necessary. In discussing the metaphor of a great tree in the representation of a philosophy and theory of yoga it will here not be used in the traditional manner, as it would in a discussion of schools of yoga. It will here be used in such a way as to display the structure of Yoga as an algorhythmie*, and as a manual of the dynamic for the traverse of the outer and inner. Yoga Cat I mean business! The Paradigm of Yoga: Rest & Activity T he categories of Yoga (and the subcategories implied therein) presented in the schemata of the metaphor of “The Tree of Life” and in the traditional listings all refer to the process of Yoga as such and are not to be ideologically transferred to any other domain, their qualities will rather become infused into our life and into our living depending on what application gives and what circumstance brings. Yoga creates well-being. Tools for Thinking Three Metaphors A ladder / stair Sequence 1 ? * Algorhythmy ~ The dynamic of yogic process as one mentally and physically proceeds from activity unto deep rest, back an’ forth, back an’ forth; an effortless spiralling into The Deep according to the mechanism of yoga. Line drawings: India ink on paper – Magnus Malmsten; Sun / Moon logo and Pikeboros – Nina Aidas; Conceptualizations: ‘The Tree of Life’, ‘Paradigm’, and ‘Tools for Thinking’ – Juri Aidas (‘Albatross’ of the Cyber) Yogi http://issuu.com/albatross An Hariolation on the Interconnectivities of the Eight Aspects of Yoga focused on understanding the Grounds of Knowledge conducive to effortless subjective and objective experience of The Deep. Juri Aidas – 18 April 2013 (Updated 4 July 2015) A Theistically neutral approach îshvarapranidhâna tapas shaucha contentment refinement surrender to the Lord purification simplicity santosha swâdhyâya touch taste smell sight hearing brahmacharya truthfulness asteya non-attachment non-violence integrity chastity aparigraha satya ahimsa inwards outwards inwards twist, roll, turn, etc. or hala asana . stretch, bend, or sun greeting, etc. flow suspended rythm in out Nirbîja Samâdhi Samâdhi without object Samâdhi with object Prakriti Manifest Unmanifest Purusha sense of wonder restraint stimularatory stability balance stamina endurance Meditation Dhyâna Focusing Dhâranâ The Breath Prânâyâma Absorption Pratyâhâra The Body Âsana / Posture Attitude Yama, The Rules for Living The Deep Samâdhi, Restful Alerness Conduct Niyama, The Laws of Life Withdrawal of the senses Ethics Sat, Chit, Ananda Existence, Intelligence, Bliss Transcendent Virtual Self-Referential Field Beyond Perplexitie Beyond any concept of the beyond! • A Grand Piano / Table Interconnectivity 2 2 fade ‘Hariolation’ ~ Speculative guesswork rooted in plausibilities. Morph of ‘Ladder’ metaphor into ‘ Tree’. A Tree of Life Dynamic 3 Seal of Mohenjo-daro Morals (Detail) Stamp seal with a seated male figure Ca. 2000–1900 B.C. Harappan. Indus Valley Material: Tan steatite Dimensions: 2.65 x 2.7 cm Thickness: 0.83 to 0.86 cm Mohenjo-daro DK 12050 Islamabad Museum NMP 50.296 AAAP: 58, Issuu, 4:3 In this, a prototype of the Tree of Life metaphor? Categories and sub-categories, the Eight Aspects of Yoga: sourced by Patanjali, here rephrased.