What is the position of Patanjali’s ashtaanga yoga in the Gita?
From the technical point of view, Gita belongs to the Vedanta school of thought. Patanjali’s ashtaanga yoga belongs to the Yoga school of thought. Patanjali describes the goal of ashtaanga yoga as “chitta vritti nirodhaha” – cessation of all modifications of the mind. Vedanta accepts this as a milestone and means in the spiritual path, but not as the end. The first four stages – yamaa, niyamaa, aasanaa and praanaayaama are considered as a part of Karma Yoga. They help the person to become free from likes and dislikes. They help the person to move away from identification with the physical body (stula sariira). The second four stages – pratyaahaara, dhaarana, dhyaana and samaadhi are considered as a part of Upaasana Yoga. They help the person to become introvert and help to calm the mind. They help the person to move away from identification with the subtle body (shukshma sariira). At the peak of ashtaanga yoga, the identification is with the causal body (kaarana sariira). It does not t
