Exercises

Is yoga a physical or a mental discipline? If it is primarily a mental discipline, why do you think physical and breathing exercises associated with it?
What is the primary goal of yoga? What do you think about it at this stage of your yogic understanding? It will be of interest to compare your current thoughts and the thoughts you have at the end of the course.
Outline the steps and successive stages involved in the yogic process.
Is objective knowledge the ultimate aim and the ultimate gain of yoga? How does yoga help in gaining objective knowledge?
How important in your opinion is the object of contemplation is the yogic process?
What do you understand by the concept of kaivalya? Is that a good ideal worth aspiring for?
Is there an intellectual basis for the concept of kaivalya? Explain from your own perspective.
What is perception? What are the two stages in ordinary perception of physical objects?
Why is there a multiplicity of subjective perceptions? What do you think are the factors underlying subjectivity?
How do you ordinarily eliminate subjectivity in the case of observable objects? Is the yogic process any different?
“Reality lies in objectivity.” Comment on this statement. What do you think are the implications of this statement?
Why, in your opinion, should objectivity be valued? What are the problems with subjectivity? Why not live in the world of appearances and delusion rather than truth?
Are we ordinarily capable of objective perception? If not, can we be capable of objective perception?
Is objective vision the ultimate goal of yoga? If not, what is the ultimate goal? Can you get to the ultimate goal without getting through objective vision?
The word “yoga” is a Sanskrit word meaning “to join”. What are the different things that yoga promises to join? What is the ultimate in joining that it promises?
Do you think that the methods of validation proposed by yoga philosophy are sufficient?
What do you think is the difference between acquired and experienced knowledge? Why is acquired knowledge not enough? What are the reasons in your opinion of gaining direct experience? Is it worth the extra effort?
Can any object get you to the ultimate goal of yoga? How does the object of focus matter in determining whether all the yogic goals would be achievable?
Comment on the ultimate objects of focus that yoga can unravel. How do rate their importance.
Is yoga worth pursuing if its ultimate goal of yoga is not within your vision?
How does the method of yoga relate with the scientific method? What are the differences between the two? Which is more general in scope?
Comment on the yogic origin and its historicity.
What is the yogic worldview?
How do the samkhya and yoga principles of prakriti (energy) and purusha (spirit) fit in your modern scientific view of the world?
What are the implications of identifying the self with prakriti?
What are the implications of identifying the self with purusha?
Which is the natural identification and which identification needs to be cultivated and why?
What is understood by viveka? Would a person with viveka identify with spirit more than with energy or vice versa?
Why is viveka and dawn of unlimited human potential related? Why would viveka result in the awakening of boundless love?
What do you think would be the ethic of a person with viveka? Comment on the practicality of that ethic.
What do you think yoga can offer you?
Why do you think all yogis, mystics and contemplators think alike irrespective of the method used or the their respective cultural backgrounds?

Yoga Module 1-Exercises

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Glossary References

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