Four yogas: 3 definitions
Introduction:
Four yogas means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Google Books: The Crystal Mirror of Philosophical Systems1) The Four Yogas of Mahāmudrā are known in Tibetan as phyag rgya chen po'i rnal 'byor bzhi. They are:
- one-pointedness,
- non-elaboration,
- single taste,
- non-meditation.
2) The Four Yogas of Vajrabhairava are known in Tibetan as rdo rje 'jigs byed kyi rnal 'byor bzhi.—Accordingly, [while describing the transmission of secret mantra], [regarding the Sé and Mé Tantra system]: The members of the lineage (with uninterrupted Dharma transmissions) appear to be the only ones who gained high realizations of the generation and completion stages. [...] They gave expositions on what were known as the Eight Great Guidelines [e.g., the stages of the four Yogas of Vajrabhairava] [...].
They are:
- mantra,
- commitment,
- form, and
- pure wisdom.
Note: These Yogas are roughly equivalent to the first four of the five stages of Guhyasamāja. A fifth Yoga, great union, is equivalent to the fifth of the Guhyasamāja stages, namely, union.—See, e.g., Mullin, Selected Works of Dalai Lama II, pp. 83–90.
Source: WikiPedia: Tibetan BuddhismThe Four Yogas (Tibetan: Näljor, rnal 'byor) refers to an important feature of the practice of contemplation in Semde [sems sde] textual tradition (one of the scriptural divisions of Dzogchen).—Semde texts claim that striving for liberation through structured practices (like tantric visualization and ritual) creates more delusion. Instead, Semde works recommend simple contemplations to recognize the pure and empty awakened mind. [...] The main contemplation in Semde works was a formless "technique free immersion in the bare immediacy of one's own deepest levels of awareness".
One feature of the practice of contemplation in semde as taught today is "four yogas":
- Calm state (gnas pa),
- Non-movement (mi g.yo ba),
- Non-duality (mnyam nyid; Sanskrit: advaya),
- Spontaneous presence or Self-perfected state (lhun grub; Sanskrit: anābhoga or nirābhoga).
These Four Yogas are said to parallel the Four Yogas of Mahamudra.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Triveni: Journal (Buddhism)The Four Yogas of Mahamudra are described by Takpo Tashi Nam in his Mahamudra: The quintessence of mind and meditation. This work is a Tibetan Buddhist classic on both the theory and practice of meditation in vogue in Buddhist circles. Incidentally metaphysics of Buddhism also is presented here. [...] Differentiation between stages of tranquility and insight meditation, meditation on the two kinds of selflessness, preparation for Mahamudra practice, methods for removing obstacles, aberrations, and deviations that cloud and impede the meditation, method for achieving realization and maintain it through day and night and the Four Yogas of Mahamudra.
The Four Yogas of Mahamudra are:
- meditation on the lucidity of one’s mind;
- abandoning of the view of absolute arising, dwelling or dissolving;
- understanding that external reality is without substance and
- a deep yearning for awareness “by commanding which all Bodhisattvas and Mahasattvas can obtain the great stage of yoga”.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Full-text (+8): One-pointedness, Non-elaboration, Non-meditation, phyag rgya chen po'i rnal 'byor bzhi, Single taste, Pure wisdom, Commitment, rdo rje 'jigs byed kyi rnal 'byor bzhi, mnyam nyid, gnas pa, Yoga, Advaya, Kamayoga, Ekarasa, ro gcig, Anabhoga, lhun grub, Nirabhoga, Mi g.yo ba, Vaishishtya.
Relevant text
Search found 11 books and stories containing Four yogas, Fourfold yoga, Four-fold yoga; (plurals include: Four yogases, Fourfold yogas, fold yogas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The concept of Yoga in Yoga Upanishads (by Philomina T.L)
4. Description of Karmayoga and Jñānayoga < [Chapter 4 - The contents of the Yogopaniṣads]
3. The Classifications of Yoga < [Chapter 4 - The contents of the Yogopaniṣads]
Social philosophy of Swami Vivekananda (by Baruah Debajit)
Chapter 3.8 - Conclusion (concept of Religion)
Chapter 2.1a - Social Reforms: Cultural
The Brihaddharma Purana (abridged) (by Syama Charan Banerji)
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Part 2 - Explanation of the word ‘mayā’ < [Chapter II - Evam Mayā Śrutam Ekasmin Samaye]
Book Reviews < [July – September, 1994]
The Pursuit of Human Excellence < [January – March, 1993]
Reviews < [October – December, 1982]