Eight limbs of Yoga according to maharishi Mahesh Yogi

My inspiration for writing this post is all due to the teaching of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and his teacher Guru Dev. Gratitude to Maharishi for bringing out this knowledge and restoring the true wisdom of the Vedas for all of humanity!

Patanjali's eight limbs of yoga were wrongly interpreted to be steps or practices leading to the state of Yoga, but Maharishi explains that this is incorrect. According to to Maharishi, the eight limbs of yoga are not STEPS at all, or practices. Ashtanga Yoga is defined as eight 'limbs' of yoga.

Maharishi explains that the the eight limbs of yoga are really characteristics or qualities of the state of yoga and that Patanjali's yoga sutras really describe the state of yoga using the eight limbs rather than actually describing the actual practice used to gain the state of yoga. 

On a fundamental levels, all the eight limbs describe the qualities of the state of Yoga, It is a description of the Goal, not the practice leading up to the goal. 

These are the 8 aspects of the state of union:

1. Yama- Administrator. Eternal silence is the administrator of life. These are the qualities of administrator.

Ahimsa- means non-violence. When in the state of yoga, one will be no harmful as this is a state which transcends differences. 

Satya- truthfulness. in the state of yoga, one is abiding in the eternal truth of the non changing eternal nature of life. 

asteya- non stealing. in yoga, one is full within, and does not feel the need to take from anyone. One is full within one's self. and self reliant. 

Brahmacharya- chastity. In he state of Yoga union. One is in a chaste and pure state. 

Aparigraha- non possessiveness. One is free from the longing to possess in this state. 

2. Niyama-

saucha: purity. In the state of yoga, there is purity within. 

santosha-  contentment. there is contentment within in the state of yoga

tapas: austerity. one is purified of sin in the state of yoga. 

svadhyaya: study of veda. In the state of yoga, one is in touch with the veda, which is one's own unbounded immortal self. One is experiencing and exploring one's own self referral conciousness. 

ishvarapranidhana: surrender to God. In the state of yoga, one is fully surrendered to the Divine. 

3. Asana- stable posture. One is still in the state of yoga

4. Pranayama- breath restraint. The breath automatically is very still in the state of yoga. The breath becomes refined and slow. 

6. Pratyahara- introversion of the senses. In the state of yoga, the senses of flowing in the inward direction. 

7. Dharana- focus of attention. The mind is very one pointed in the state of Yoga!

8. Dhyana- The fully value of the mind is available in the state of yoga, where one is experiencing the finer levels of creation. 

9. Samadhi, the infinite unified reality of eternal existence is there in the state of yoga. 

Maharishi explains that The state of yoga is a state of integration of the full values of all the values of life. The body, mind and environment is all operating in its full potential.