Embrace Yoga: A Path to Oneness and Holistic Living
Yoga – As a ‘Way of Life’ Based on the Vision of ‘Oneness’
Yoga, derived from the Sanskrit root “yuj”, means “to join,” symbolising the union of the individual self with the universal consciousness. More than a physical discipline, yoga is a comprehensive lifestyle and philosophical system that promotes holistic well-being. When embraced fully, yoga becomes a transformative path rooted in the vision of oneness—a deep awareness that all beings are interconnected, interrelated and interdependent, and that the self is not separate from the cosmos.
The Vision of Oneness
The foundational texts of yoga, particularly the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Bhagavad Gita, emphasise unity between body and mind, self and others, the material and the spiritual. This vision of oneness fosters compassion, empathy, and equanimity. It teaches that the boundaries we perceive between ourselves and the world are illusions created by ego and ignorance (avidya).
In the yogic perspective, oneness is not merely a spiritual idea but a lived reality. It calls for dissolving the barriers of race, religion, gender, and status, promoting peace and harmony at both the individual and collective levels.
Yoga as a Way of Life
Rather than being confined to the mat or the meditation cushion, yoga as a way of life integrates ethical conduct, mindful living, self-discipline, and spiritual inquiry into daily existence. The eightfold path of Ashtanga Yoga, as outlined by Patanjali, provides a roadmap:
- Yamas (ethical restraints) – such as non-violence (ahimsa) and truthfulness (satya), guiding how we relate to others.
- Niyamas (personal observances) – including contentment (santosha) and self-study (svadhyaya), shaping how we relate to ourselves.
- Asana – physical postures that build strength, flexibility, and inner awareness.
- Pranayama – control of breath, connecting body and mind.
- Pratyahara – withdrawal of the senses, turning attention inward.
- Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi – concentration, meditation, and ultimately union with the divine consciousness.
Living yoga means embodying these principles in how we eat, speak, think, work, and interact with the world.
Practical Implications of Oneness
When one adopts yoga as a lifestyle guided by oneness:
- Health and well-being become aligned with nature and inner balance.
- Relationships grow more harmonious as one recognises the divinity in every being.
- Work and service are approached with dedication and selflessness, as acts of collective upliftment (seva).
- Environmental care becomes instinctive, born of the understanding that harming the Earth is harming oneself.
Conclusion
Yoga, in its truest form, is not about mastering postures but about mastering the art of living—consciously, compassionately, and in unity with all that is. The vision of oneness at the heart of yoga invites us to transcend dualities and live in alignment with a higher truth. As a way of life, yoga becomes a journey of returning to our essential nature: whole, connected, and divine.
Further Reading – https://prakashan.vrmvk.org/yoga/yoga-the-way-of-life-based-on-the-vision-of-oneness.html
