Keep a fixed time each day for study of scriptures. Study thoroughly, prayerfully and unhurriedly with an alert mind and without interruption. – Swami Sivananda
Raja Yoga is an exact science. It aims at controlling all thought waves or mental modifications. It is focused on the mind, its purification and control. Hence it is called Raja Yoga – the royal king of all Yogas. It is otherwise known as Ashtanga Yoga – the Yoga with eight limbs.
The eight limbs are:
Yama (self-restraint),
Niyama (religious observances),
Asana (posture),
Pranayama (restraint of breath),
Pratyahara (abstraction of senses),
Dharana (concentration),
Dhyana (meditation) and
Samadhi (super-conscious state).
Yama is practice of Ahimsa (non-injury), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (celibacy) and Aparigraha (non-covetousness) in thought, word and deed. This is the foundation of Yoga.
Niyama is observance of the five canons: Saucha (internal and external purity), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (austerity), Svadhyaya (study of religious books and repetition of Mantras) and Ishvara Pranidhana (worship of God and self-surrender).
Cultivate Maitri (friendship), Karuna (mercy), Mudita (joy, delight), Upeksha (indifference). You can eradicate jealousy and hatred to attain peace of mind.
Ascend the ladder of Yoga patiently through its different rungs and attain the highest summit of the ladder – Asamprajnata Samadhi, wherein all Samskaras – impressions – are absolutely erased.
If you really aspire to unfold the lurking divinity within, if you really want to get rid of the meshes of this Samsara, you must know the technique of thought control which is embodied in the system of Raja Yoga.
Know the ways of right living, right thinking, right speaking and right acting. Practice the five rules of Yama – right conduct or Sadachara. Know how to withdraw the mind from external objects and fix it on one point. Practice the right method of concentration and meditation. Then you can be really happy. Then you will have power, independence and sovereignty. Then you will attain immortality, freedom and perfection.
A knowledge of the ways and habits of the mind, its operations, the laws of the mind and the methods of mind-control and mental discipline is very necessary if you want to enjoy real happiness and peace of an unruffled and abiding nature.
Practice Raja Yoga, control your thoughts, discipline the mind, meditate regularly and attain independence, immortality, freedom and perfection.
From the DLS article An Exact Science by Swami Sivananda