Patanjali’s eight limbs of yoga

The practice of the limbs of yoga destroys impurities; thereafter, knowledge continues to brighten all the way to Viveka Khyati, the domain of unshakeable discernment.

Avidya (ignorance) is the root cause of suffering. When Avidya disappears, so does suffering. The disappearance of Avidya goes hand in hand with the appearance of Viveka Khyati, un-shakeable discernment. 

Reaching the highest level of purity accompanying Vivek Khyati is a process. It requires us to make an effort to cleanse our mind of its acquired conditioning. We need to transform our old mind filled with fear, aversion, attachment, distorted self-identity, ignorance, and all the conditioning acquired. 

The body and mind are totally intertwined; both are nurtured and held together by the power of breath. Because nature has established an indestructible relationship between breath, body, and mind, the purification and transformation of the mind inevitably involves disciplines pertaining to the body and breath. 

Yoga is that very thing, Patanjali introduces a system for transforming ourselves on all three levels, this is the Eight Limbs. When all the components of yoga work together harmoniously, we achieve our goal of minimising afflictions and achievement of Samadhi.