School · 200 BCE–1600 CE

Yoga

Classical Yoga articulates a disciplined path of concentration, ethical restraint, and meditative absorption aimed at isolating consciousness from the transformations of mind and nature. Its metaphysics shares much with Sāṃkhya, but its practical and theistic emphases prevent treating the two as simply identical.

Shared questions

Which practices still the mind and make discriminating liberation possible?
How should concentration, ethical discipline, and devotion to Īśvara relate to metaphysical knowledge?

Internal disagreements

Commentators disagree over Yoga’s relation to Sāṃkhya, the role of Īśvara, and the means sufficient for liberation.

Key texts

Yoga Sūtra · c. early centuries CE — Text traditionally attributed to Patañjali and organized around the eight limbs of practice.