Having made his senses firm with his mind, oh lord of Mithila, and having his mind firm with his intellect, he is motionless like a stone. He should be without trembling like a pillar, and motionless like a mountain; the wise who know to follow the precepts then call him one engaged in yoga’ [yukta]. He neither hears nor smells nor tastes nor sees; he notices no touch, nor does [his] mind form conceptions. Like a piece of wood, he does not desire anything, nor does he he notice [anything]. When he has reached the Original Nature [prakriti], then sages call him engaged in yoga’ [yukta]. And he looks like a lamp shinning in a place without wind; not flickering and motionless it will not move upward or sideward (MBh 12.294.1318)
This variety – linking mortification with Samkhya notions (like prakriti) – is typical for the many examples of Samkhya-yoga in the MD. But as we have seen, there are many other varieties where all kind of Sramanic discourses are mixed together. Then other sections mentioning yoga as meditation focus on some of the different meditation notions already known from the Upanishads. For instance one section describes yoga meditation as dharana (i.e. concentration meditation’ – of which there are said to be seven levels leading to hard achievable release), while other places equate yoga with samadhi.
Avoid collapsing down, but extend the spine horizontally as you Yoga for seniors widen your thighs. Curl your tailbone down and lift your belly in and up. Place Yoga for seniors your right hand down on your ankle or on a block. Stretch the left arm straight up. If you are unsteady, lean your hip and one or both shoulders lightly against the wall. Roll your left shoulder, left ribs, and left waist back and up, remaining steady in your legs. Gaze up at your left thumb. Radiate energy out through all your limbs and your spine.
