University of Virginia Library

YOGA:

a SANSKRIT term meaning "to yoke." It is used to describe a process of SPIRITUAL discipline or harnessing of physical and mental powers to attain self-control and ultimate ENLIGHTENMENT. Generally it means a system of MEDITATION which is essentially common to BUDDHISM, HINDUISM and JAINISM and which shares many associated assumptions such as a view of KARMA, DHARMA and some notion of METEMPSYCHOSIS. The term also refers to one of the Six Schools of HINDU PHILOSOPHY which teaches and utilizes the practice of yoga to attain LIBERATION which is conceived as a state of perfect isolation.