According to Bhagavad gita, verse 48

yoga-sthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā dhanañjaya
siddhy-asiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṁ yoga uchyate
Meaning: Be steadfast in the performance of your duty, O Arjun, abandoning attachment to success and failure. Such equanimity is called Yoga

These are the words of Shri Krishna to Arjuna in the battlefield of kurukshetra.

In the material world we live in, whatever results we achieve are to be attributed to god completely. One must accept the results that are not as per one’s expectation and not feel elated or sense of pride for any of their accomplishments and consider both as a will of god. Thereby fame, infamy, success, failure, pleasure, pain are all treated equally and a feeling of equanimity is achieved…This he calls it as yoga!!!

Further, Maharishi Patanjali in his ashtaanga yoga, prescribes Yamas and Niyamas (self-restraint and self-discipline) as leading principles for a good life. Ahimsa (nonviolence), satya (truthfulness), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (abstinence), aparigraha (non-accumulation) constitute the five yamas, whereas soucha (internal and external cleanliness), santosha (being happy and content), tapas (penance), swadhyaya (self-study) and ishvarapranidhana (surrender to the god) constitute the Niyamas. These both help to clean our external body, purify our mind and lead a disciplined yogic life.

Further Patanjali mentions in sutra 2.1
tapaḥ-svādhyāya-īṣvara-praṇidhānāni kriyā-Yogah
Meaning: Accepting pain as a help for purifying the body/mind , study of scriptures and spiritual books and surrender to god is the practice of Kriya yoga. Kriya (Kr- action) refers to a stage that prepares one for liberation, to attain god.

It is said that human form has many layers of existence called the koshas. This has been mentioned in Taittriya Upanishads as sheaths or layers of our existences which are interconnected and each subtle layer comprises and encompasses the layer denser than it. In becoming aware of these aspects through the 8 limbs of Yoga, we can help bring our lives into balance and integrate on all these levels and transcend through them and rest in the Self.

The first sheath is considered the Anamaya kosha (Anna- food) – a food sheath relating to the earth element. This is our physical body- the grossest and the densest part of our existence. It is fueled by the food we eat. This is the sheath we feel and sense. The asans and healthy diet help to keep the physical layer healthy, and disease-free.

The second sheath is pranamaya kosha- This is a vital sheath and relates to water elements. It is known as aura and the life force which flows through the nadis making life possible. There are about 72,000 nadis. These nadis are fueled by prana (breath) and a universal life force that is absorbed by our breath. The practice of pranayama keeps this energy flowing freely and this sheath healthy.

The subtler of the first koshas is Manomaya kosha (mental sheath or fire element) which consists of thinking mind and emotions which affect the energy flow in and around us. According to Patanjali, there are five kleshas of the mind: Avidya(Ignorance), Asmita(Ego), Raga(Attachment), Dvesha(Hatred), Abhinivesa (Fear of death).

He has given a beautiful formula to remain happy, in the form of Citta prasadanam- “Blissful Mind”. The tiered approach he prescribes to attain bliss state is to cultivate the attitude of friendship (maitri), compassion(karuna), joy(mudita), (upeksha) develop indifference towards pleasure(sukha) and pain(dukha), virtue (punya) and viciousness(apunya).

By repeating this attitude one can achieve citta-prasadanam- the blissful and peaceful state of citta (mind).

For this, one should first slow down the thought process which can be achieved by the practice of Pranayama (control of breath), and then turn negative feelings into positive ones. We can also become aware of our thoughts, emotions as they arise and dissolve them through withdrawal (prathyahara) and one-pointed concentration (dharna). This practice alongside asanas and pranayamas can deeply enhance our wellbeing.

Permeating the 3 denser layers is the home of our inner knowledge and wisdom. When one taps into this sheath – Vijnanamya kosha (intellect sheath or air element), one knows life at the deepest level and from which he/she receive messages beyond what minds can comprehend. The duality of nature still exists in this sheath. Through asnas, pranayama, dharana and further through dhyana mind becomes still and one can listen to the silent messages of life.

1.3 verse of Patanjali’s yoga sutra says Tada drastushvarupe vasthanam – when the chitta activities cease to exist, the perceiver rests in his/her true nature.

When this happens it develops into svadharma our deepest purpose or calling in life.

Beyond these 4 koshas and yet permeating them is the layer or sheath of bliss. In this space is the deep source of inner joy and peace, which is free from distracting thoughts, emotions, energy and body yet embracing all of them. This state is called Sat-cit-Aannda – a state of absolute truth, wisdom and bliss. This is also considered the state of Samadhi. In this state, the duality of knower and the known exists. When we understand that these koshas we know that they are the veils which open the gateway from the path of oneness to the ultimate bliss.

As per the Vedanta and pursas in the yoga sutra, when one goes beyond the 5 koshas and yet comprising and embracing them all is the Brahman also called the Supreme self. This state is non explainable because duality ceases to exist. If one attempts to describe it, the words to explain itself creates a duality between the experience and description. Words can point to this state, as it is exists in the words themselves, the speaker himself, the listener himself and the meaning behind it too. This unchanging, timeless state makes us experience life such that what is inside, is outside and the whole universe is a reflection of our Self!

The 5 koshas and the entire practice of yoga essentially serve to point the way of examining, knowing, and experiencing the densest to subtler parts of our existence and eventually dissolving into the experiential knowing of Oneness- Bliss!!!