Paramahansa Yoganananda called it the state of God-Union. The first five steps yama, niyama asana, pranayama, and pratyahara are the preliminaries of yoga and build the foundation for spiritual life. They are concerned with the body and the brain. The last three, which would not be possible without the previous steps, are concerned with reconditioning the mind. They help the yogi to attain enlightenment or the full realization of oneness with Spirit.
Enlightenment lasts forever, while a flat tummy can disappear with a week of binging.
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