Yoga in relation to human consciousness

Abstract

Yoga deals with the evolution and development of the human personality. The word yoga means a process of uniting the different phases of our personality. Although in many texts yoga is defined as union of the individual self with the higher self, when we look at the classical teachings, we find the system described is a very practical approach to knowing oneself. Human beings are composed of two forces: prana, the cosmic energy, and consciousness, the evolving energy. Energy is dynamic, but consciousness is static. It is like a blind person and a lame person. One cannot see but can move, the other can see but cannot movef. What will they do? The lame person will sit on the blind person’s shoulders and act as the guide. This is exactly the concept of consciousness and energy in yoga. Energy is dynamic, but it does not have cognition, awareness, or consciousness. Consciousness can see everything, but is unable to move without the help of energy. These two forces govern our body and mind, emotions and feelings.