Date of Award
Winter 2-25-2019
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
MA - Master of Arts
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Nancy Waring
Second Advisor
Melissa Jean
Third Advisor
Chip Hartranft
Abstract
This paper explores the relationship between the Buddhadharma and Pātañjala-yoga. Specifically, it looks at how the two traditions respond to the predicament of human suffering(dukkha). Though the two situate dukkhawithin their respective systems of metaphysics, resulting in divergent understandings of suffering, unsatisfactoriness, and stress and different rationales for practicing, the two employ nearly identical practical yoga methodologies to overcome this ubiquitous phenomenon. Each tradition situates meditative yogawithin an eight-part wise and ethical framework. Through this practice one is able to harness the power of concentration in a way that makes it possible to witness the flowering of a momentary experience. The arising and passing away of what to the untrained mind congeals into an experience structure is seen as it is. This yields liberating insight, leading to freedom from dukkha.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Piermarini, Erin, "Achieving Freedom from Suffering through the Practice of Meditative Yoga: A Comparative Investigation of the Buddhadharma and Pātañjala-yoga" (2019). Mindfulness Studies Theses. 2.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/mindfulness_theses/2
