The principles within the full depth of Yoga is huge and includes such aspects as self-study, mind control, devotion, selfless service, purification by fire, surrendering self, Union with Pure Consciousness on many ascending levels and even eventually with the Godhead. It is a complex journey along a path toward the Ultimate Union. Western society's understanding of Yoga has separated some of these holy practices into smaller parts, the most popular being a form of exercise and meditation which misses the incredible depth of the true Yoga entirely.
From the book; Heavens and Hells of the Mind, by Imre Vallyon,
"There is a profound Mystery concerning Man, the human species
on this planet. The Spirit becomes veiled by the Soul, the Soul
becomes veiled by the personality, and the personality becomes
veiled by the physical body. Thus it is that you, in your bodily self,
are not even a fragment of a fragment of Yourself."
Vallyon explains the basics of Yoga, a highly complex and extensive practice, which has been dismantled over the centuries by misunderstanding societies. By accepting only a small piece of the whole, such as the physical exercise aspect, serves to break apart the profound purpose of the entire practice which ultmately is Ascension.
Our true self, once fully realized is what I call a "Point of Light", a concentrated ray from the "Light of the Universe" existing here on this plane, complete with the ability to move, create, reason, procreate, choose, live and die. We are always therefore connected to, and filled with, the Universal Light, call this God, Spirit or soul or whatever you like. It is our experience here on this planet which maintains the distraction that keeps us away from this powerful gift and keeps us searching endlessly for something to fill the void we all feel inside.
Sometimes we even think we know what the reason for the void is such as unworthiness, lack of confidence, lack or loss of love, failure, bits and pieces that are missing from our material world, and so on. And what it really is, and always has been, is our disconnection to The Source Energy ...Spirit. We disconnect by being distracted by life and by altering our vibration with negative and habitual patterns of personality that eventually we can no longer connect because our vibration is all wrong.
Yoga has always been there to help humans connect and reconnect with the Life-Giving Energy of The Source; Spirit. And it was never intended to be "just an exercise or meditation program." Understanding that ancients from over 10,000 years ago practiced Ascension is hope for the future as we now experience the Dawning of a New Age where our Spirits will evolve quickly and surely for the first time in human history.
Welcome aboard!