The word yoga covers many ideas from time to time, from one text to another, across schools. When studying yoga, these contexts need to be understood to avoid misunderstanding and confusion in the vast, wide, and deep discourse on yoga. This also means, that there is no single absolute understanding of Yoga—neither its philosophy nor practice.
This orientation is necessary for those who are just beginning to explore the deeper dimensions of yoga and hopefully help you with a preliminary “map.”
Yoga As Postural Training
In the modern context, yoga is usually simply referred to as “physical exercise,” a kind of “gymnastics” performed for physical (and mental) health. Therefore, it is not surprising that yoga is usually practiced in fitness centers, or not infrequently also in luxury villas and resorts.
Yoga in this context emphasizes its practice of various postures (āsana). In fact, yoga is also considered only limited to the practice of this posture. It’s no wonder then that “yoga” and “meditation” are considered two different terms; one as a physical exercise, and the other as a mental exercise.
Sometimes the āsana is seen as the foundation and the initial stage of yoga. However, yoga as postural training was a new development, dating back to the British colonial era. Long before that, yoga was a mental exercise, not a physical exercise.
Yoga As Philosophical System
For some who study Hinduism, the term yoga is also associated with a philosophical system, namely Yoga Darśana. Yoga as a philosophical system is based on The Yoga Aphorism of Patañjali and its commentaries (bhāṣya). The Yoga Darśana is one of 6 orthodox Hindu philosophical systems. And it needs to emphasize that besides “orthodox” Hindu Philosophical Systems, there are also other yogic schools in Hindu Traditions, e.g., the Tantric streams.
Patañjali was one of the authorities on Yoga, but not the only one. Patañjala Yoga is also not the only “yoga” that was developing at that time, nor was it the only one that came after or before it. Patañjali himself is simply “composing” and structuring the yogas in his Yogasutras – he is not the creator of yoga but only compiling pre-existing teachings.
Another thing to remember is that Patañjala Yoga Śāstra is a meditative practice and has nothing to do with postural training. The discussion of āsana in the Patañjali Yoga Sūtra is presented as a seated position for meditation, not involving the practice of folding and bending the body.
Yoga as Union
The most popular definition of yoga in the global community is “union.” To be more precise, the union between ātma (personal soul) and Brahman (The Divine) – an understanding that is rooted in the Vedāntic ideas.
When applied to Patañjalian Yoga, this definition is incorrect, because Patañjali overtly stated that the ultimate goal of yoga is “separation” not union – separating Puruṣa from Prakṛti (and Puruṣa is not “united” with the Divine, just be as its true nature).
The “mix and match” of yogic teachings from various schools is rooted in the Colonial era.
Yoga Nonetheless
Besides those popular ideas about yoga, there are also more hardcore yogic ideas; from the cultivation of supernatural power to a way of dying and melting into light, etc.
As in the modern world, in the traditional context yoga, can mean whatever it needs to mean. Yet, no single meaning of yoga holds universal truth.
What is “Balinese Yoga?”
Having established various understandings of yoga, now, what is “Balinese Yoga”?
- Balinese yoga refers to a yoga tradition that was developed in pre-modern Bali. The pre-modern Balinese yoga tradition is inseparable from Javanese religious tradition during that era, hence I called it the Javano-Balinese Tradition.
- Balinese Yoga refers to any contemplative practice found in Javano-Balinese Literature, which is Śaiva and Buddhist.
- Balinese Yoga has nothing to do with postural training and āsana practice – and no such practice is found in Java-Balinese Tradition.
The understanding provided above is only general remarks before progressing further in this course. More detailed descriptions of the development of yoga through history are provided in the First Lesson. While in the first Topic of the Third Lesson, various definitions of Yoga in Balinese literature are provided.