Purna Yoga or integral yoga is said to be an
improvisation over the traditional Yoga systems of India. It was thought
that the traditional Yoga system revolved more around salvation and next
life rather than the present one. The integral Yoga lays more emphasis
on the importance of Karma in day today life. Purna Yoga gives Yoga a
positive and dynamic form. Integral Yoga suggests three levels of
integration- the integration of the inner, the integration of the human
psyche with its external environment, and the integration of the psyche
with its ultimate spiritual Ground. Purna Yoga is a world-affirmative
and body-positive spirituality that skillfully combines
self-transcendence with love, compassion, and veneration for all life.
According to the Integral Yoga the ultimate goal of life is complete
self-integration. This self-integration involves other important
elements like action, love, wisdom and peace. The yoga of love or
devotion (Bhakti yoga) is perfectly right in affirming love as the
fulfillment of life and as an essential ingredient of salvation. It is
important to note that Purna Yoga does not separate love from wisdom and
selfless action. Love in its spiritual essence is an attribute of
wisdom. Integral yoga points out that knowledge is inseparable from love
and action but that action is not merely a means to self-purification
resulting in salvation.
