The Library of the Sphinx 31 & 32 ... Among all the traditional knowledge teachings, perhaps the Islamic one is the one in which the difference between the two complementary views that we can call "Exotericism" and "Esotericism" is observed in the most clear way. In Arabic terminology, the former is called "Es - sharia," which literally means "the broad road," that is, the road which is available to all, while the latter is "El - Haqiqa," which means "Inner Truth" intended for the chosen ones who have not embraced this out of their own will alone, having come about more or less after reflection, but because of the very nature of things since not everyone has the necessary abilities and qualities required to reach awareness of it...

...This observation automatically leads to a reconsideration of some mistaken interpretations that have been given to the term "Yoga." Indeed, do not some claim too often that what they mean by this word, the Indians, is the development of certain latent powers of the human being? What we said above is sufficient to show that such an interpretation must be rejected. In reality, the word “Yoga,” which we translated as faithfully and literally as possible, means “Union.” Therefore, what it truly signifies is the ultimate goal of metaphysical realization, and a “Yogi,” if we wish to interpret this word in its strictest sense, is exclusively one who has reached this goal. However, it is true that by extension, these same terms are used on certain occasions for the preparatory stages that lead to “union” as well as for some other introductory means, just as they are used to denote the being who has reached the corresponding states or who employs these means to achieve them. But how can it be argued that a word whose original meaning is “Union” clearly and fundamentally denotes breathing exercises or something else similar?