Integral Yoga
Integral Yoga: Synthesizing the Paths
Integral Yoga, also known as Purna Yoga, is a comprehensive system of yoga developed by the Indian philosopher and sage Sri Aurobindo in the early 20th century. It aims to synthesize the major paths of yoga—Hatha, Raja, Bhakti, Karma, and Jnana—into a single, unified practice for spiritual evolution.
Core Philosophy
The central goal of Integral Yoga is not to escape the world or achieve a transcendent state separate from life, but to bring down the divine consciousness into every aspect of one's being and transform life itself. It is about the evolution of human consciousness. Sri Aurobindo believed that humanity is at a transitional stage, moving towards a higher, "supramental" consciousness. Integral Yoga is the method to accelerate this evolution.
The practice involves a "triple transformation":
- Psychic Transformation: Opening to the true soul-personality within, which is a portion of the divine.
- Spiritual Transformation: Realizing the higher Self, or the universal consciousness (Brahman).
- Supramental Transformation: The descent of the supramental consciousness, which fundamentally transforms mind, life, and body.
The Practice
Integral Yoga is less about a fixed set of physical postures and more about a complete way of living and being. The practice is centered around:
- Aspiration: A constant, burning desire for the divine.
- Rejection: A conscious rejection of the movements of the ego, desire, and falsehood.
- Surrender: A total surrender of oneself to the Divine Mother (Shakti), who is seen as the agent of transformation.
While physical yoga (asanas) can be a part of the practice to prepare the body, the primary emphasis is on this internal psychological and spiritual work.
Key Distinction
Unlike many traditional yogas that aim to ascend out of the physical world, Integral Yoga aims to bring the divine consciousness down to transform the material world. It is a world-affirming, not world-denying, philosophy.