The sanskrit term anga, usually translated in the context of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga as “limbs” is generally translated as “folds” in the ariya aṭṭhaṅgika magga (the noble eightfold path) of Buddhist. The term implies different parts or subdivisions of a whole, and it is possible that Patanjali was influenced by Buddhism, one the major religion of India in his time, in his choice of word and in the numbers of “angas“.
The eight limbs of yoga are:
- Yama Ethical practices in the world
- Niyama Personal ethical practices
- Asana Postural practice (literally means “to sit”)
- Prāṇāyāma Breathing practice (literally controlling the life force)
- Pratyahara The practice of taming the senses
- Dhāraṇa Concentration practice
- Dhyāna Meditation practice
- Samādhi Altered states of consciousness (absorption) brought about by deep concentration, called jhanas in Buddhism
It is tempting to understand the eight limbs of yoga and the eight-fold path of Buddhism as linear trajectories: we start at the beginning and then continue (upwards) to an end point– the goal. We are so conditioned to think in this way that we often can’t imagine any other alternative. This formulation expresses ideas of advancement, progress, perfection.
The crude version of this model is upwards, step by step like a ladder, when we take the next step up, we leave the previous rung behind– and we won’t revisit that previous rung unless, god forbid, we have to climb back down the ladder which might mean we have failed.
There are a number of problems with this way of thinking: those lower rungs or steps are regarded as less important than those further along. Thus, the yamas and niyamas are less important than samadhi. Or there is an assumption that they can be mastered and left behind as you advance. Or, if you are nimble and can jump, you can avoid those first rungs altogether and go straight to asana! There is also a clear end point, which is the sole reason for embarking on the training at all– to achieve the goal at the end.
This isn’t the case. All limbs are practices that must be constantly perfected!
The choice of the word angas also implies that all these practices support and enrich one another. Neglect one (or more) of them at your own perils!