The underlying purpose of the practice of yoga is to reunite the individual self (Jiva) with the absolute or pure consciousness (Brahman). The word yoga means literally "joining". Union with this unchanging reality liberates the spirit from all sense of separation, freeing it from the illusion of time, space and causation. It is only our own ignorance, our inability to discriminate between the real and unreal, that prevents us from realizing our true nature.

Each path is suited to a different temperament or approach to life. All the paths lead ultimately to the same destination - to union with pure consciousness - and the lessons of each of them need to be integrated if true wisdom is to be attained.