Let Yoga Lead The Way

By Sonali Dash

Why does life seem unfair at times? Why do some people have to go through much more pain than others? Why does opulence come to only a chosen few? Amidst all the vagaries of life, when one starts wondering and looking for answers, one is considered to embark on his spiritual journey.

In the language of Yoga, he is called a Sadhaka. While trading this path, it makes sense to understand what this life is all about. While everyone’s life purpose might seem different when we look at it from outside, the objective as per Yoga is the same for all, which is purification of mind.

YOGA & SAMKHYA DARSHANAS

Indian philosophies are not mere intellectual discussions. Instead they contain the knowledge that our sages have realised through their own experiences in deep states of meditation. These teachings being more existential in nature, are called Darshanas, which means something that has been seen.

There are six major Darshanas - Vedanta, Mimansa, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya & Yoga. For the purpose of this article, we will stick to Samkhya and Yoga.

Samkhya and Yoga are sister Darshanas, which means Samkhya gives us a theoretical understanding of mind matters while Yoga gives us practical ways to realise what is given in Samkhya. While Samkhya Darshana is a profound scripture, I would like to highlight what it has to say about the root cause of all pain.

It is the six enemies of mind - Kama (lust), Krodha (anger), Lobha (greed), Mada (pride), Moha (infatuation) & Matsarya (jealousy). Let us look into the possible root cause of each of these six enemies:

• Kama (Lust) - Uncontrollable desire for sensual pleasures

• Krodha (Anger) - Fueled by unfulfilled desires

• Lobha (Greed) - Desire to get more of what we already got

• Mada (Pride) - Excess attachment to existing materialistic possessions

• Moha (Infatuation) - Excess attachment to material possessions

• Matsarya (Jealousy) - Uncomfortable feeling because of desire to acquire what others have

So what is the root cause of all sorrow?

It is uncontrolled desires stemming from lack of control of senses. Srimad Bhagavad Gita articulates this in Chapter 3, Shloka 34 -

Indriyasya indriyasyaarthe raga dwesha vyavasthitau, Tayoh na vasham agachhet tau hi asya paripanthinau

Translation: Attachment and aversion happen when senses are excessively attached to the sense objects. When not disciplined, they become obstacles in the spiritual path.

So the senses need to be disciplined to be free of sorrow and the process of doing that is the path of Yoga. This process cannot be the same for all because every individual is different. As many individuals, that many paths of Yoga. So how does one find one’s path?

THERE IS NO ESCAPE FROM DUTIES

The Indian system of thought places a lot of importance on Dharma (duties). But as one trades this path, one often encounters the question - What is my Dharma? We must understand that our only Dharma is to realise our divine nature. It does not mean we should drop all our responsibilities and run away into the forest.

We should understand that the kind of situations that we are put in is to facilitate our spiritual journey. Running away from them will only cause more trouble.

Swami Chinmayananda articulates it beautifully - “By non-doing of duty and by omission of completing your duty, regret comes in mind continuously”.

Since every individual is different, situations around him are also different. Circumstances around us are the way they are because it is the necessary stimulus to propel each individual's spiritual progress toward a sorrow-free state. Though many things seem so out of place when seen from outside, the role that every situation is playing is aimed towards spiritual progress.

In cosmic play, the role of a beggar on the street is no less important than the role of the prime minister of a country. When this becomes our living reality, we understand what true equanimity is really.

When we face our challenges bravely, fulfil our duties with the best of our potential, true wisdom dawns upon us. The great saint Sri Anandamayi Maa put it beautifully - “Only when you fight your battle of Kurukshetra like Arjun, the wisdom of Gita arises in you.” Our daily life can be akin to Kurukshetra where we are pulled by several forces in all directions.

Truth be told, being Arjun is not an easy task. Even a highly trained warrior like him was trapped in an ethical dilemma in the middle of the battlefield. This is the true representation of the situation that most of us are in.

The first chapter of Gita, Arjuna Vishada Yoga, is all about this sorrow. When we keep doing our best, but are unable to find the happiness we are seeking, the true submission happens.

This has been beautifully put in the Shloka 7 of 2nd chapter of Gita -

“kārpaṇyadoṣopahatasvabhāvaḥ

pṛcchāmi tvāṃ dharmasammūḍhacetāḥ

yacchreyaḥ syānniścitaṃ brūhi tanme

śiṣyaste’haṃ śādhi māṃ tvāṃ prapannam”

Translation: My heart is overpowered by the taint of pity; my mind is confused as to duty. I ask Thee. Tell me decisively what is good for me. I am Thy disciple. Instruct me, who has taken refuge in Thee.

This is a significant stage in the journey of the seeker. With this submission comes the true knowledge. Even in Bhagavad Gita, Krishna starts revealing the spiritual wisdom only after Arjun’s surrender. Till then he was tight lipped about these matters.

There is also mention about qualifications of a seeker in the Upanishads - “The seeker is one who has seen the worlds won by good deeds and also the utter futility and emptiness of the achievements of this world. He has seen how happiness is such a short-lived experience. How nobody is completely happy, how, in any happiness, there is always some unhappiness hidden, which, at any moment, can show up. The Upanishad will not penetrate, however much we talk, unless and until one understands the impermanence of this world.”

When a person reaches this stage in his life experience, submission naturally happens. Till submission happens, the mind is unsteady and unfit for steadfast attention. But the good part is that things are not as hopeless as they seem; many things can be done to make the mind fit for absorbing spiritual knowledge.

SELF DISCIPLINE & PATIENCE

The role of self discipline is extremely important in the path of Yoga. As one of the great modern day guides, Sri M, puts it - “Nishkama karma (actions without expectations), coupled with practice of introspection and meditation, are recommended practices to achieve a silent mind.”

One has to have some discipline based on one's potential. In my experience of teaching yoga for the last five years, I have seen great results in my students who have followed these habits:

1. Practice Awareness

Set aside some time every day and watch your thoughts and emotions very closely, trying to disengage from them at the same time. In the process one will most likely realise that what we call mind is just a bunch of impressions that we have gathered from our past experiences. Quality of our thoughts depend on the quality of these impressions. With consistent practice it is possible to disempower these impressions.

2. Keep one hour every day for yourself without fail.

Dedicate one hour every day to do things that make you feel centred. It could be practice of yoga asanas, any exercise of your choice, meditation, practice of any art form, etc. You can also break down this hour into multiple slots during the day.

3.Try to live with an attitude that there is no failure, there are only learning experiences.

4.Whenever possible, do something good for others without any expectation. As much as possible don’t hurt others. Choose your words and actions carefully.

5.Practice gratitude even for the smallest things. Even when things go wrong, be grateful for the learning that came out of the episode.

6.Breathing practices help immensely to keep emotions in balance.

Consistent practice of the above habits conserves energy. This energy helps one to become meditative. It is important that we don’t get discouraged if we fail initially. If we don’t let the negativity of failures affect our one-pointed attention and only focus on the learning, success is bound to come.

VAIRAGYA

In Patanjali Yoga Sutra (PYS), one of the most profound texts of Yoga, we find the definition of Yoga and how to achieve tranquillity of mind.

Yogaschitta vrtitti nirodhah

- PYS, Chapter 1, Sutra 2

Translation: Yoga is transcending the disturbances of mind.

Abhyasa vairagyabham tannirodhah

- PYS, Chapter 1, Sutra 12

Translation: Transcending the disturbances of mind is possible with consistent practice and detachment.

With practice of self discipline comes Vairagya (detachment). As self mastery deepens, so does Vairagya. In Indian society, Vairagya is often misunderstood as giving up actions and retiring to forest. Vairagya actually means dropping of attachment to the results of action, not abandoning the action.

Vairagya is beautifully explained in the text Srimad Bhagavatam. Mind cannot stay without attachment. As long as it is attached to materialistic desires, we will be trapped in the neverending cycle of sorrow. But if it is attached to the Divine, materialistic desires automatically drop. Self discipline strengthens our connection with the Divine. This is the real essence of Vairagya.

Deeper the Vairagya, the more meditative one is. It is possible that when Vairagya becomes more and more firm, one experiences a blissful tranquillity regardless of external turbulence. One’s inner peace is unaffected by what is going on outside and at the same time one is able to work for the welfare of others, no matter what the situation is. This is key to one’s well being. Food habits, sleeping patterns, lifestyle choices automatically change as one is established in Vairagya. A yogi who has perfected Vairagya will always be respectful to the people & resources around him and will never consume anything more than what is needed. His senses are always in control and he always works for the welfare of others.

ROLE OF ASANAS (PHYSICAL POSTURES)

While there are numerous paths of Yoga, for example Mantra Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and so on, in the modern times, most people understand Yoga as bendy physical postures. Let us understand the importance of practice of physical postures in Yoga.

There is a path of Yoga called Hatha Yoga, which uses deep knowledge of how energy flows in our body. In our body, there are energy channels called Nadis and energy clusters called Chakras, which when blocked result in imbalance of physical and mental health. Without a healthy body and mind, spiritual practices become very difficult. Asanas play a very important role in maintaining good health by helping in the optimum functioning of Nadis and Chakras. Muscular, skeletal, endocrine & nervous systems work much better with regular practice of asanas. Asanas also help to keep the spine strong & supple, which later helps in meditation.

Asanas work much better when one practices them with the aim of progressing faster in the spiritual path. Practice of breathing techniques (Pranayama), awareness and good behaviour along with Hatha Yoga postures produce results even faster.

As a Hatha Yoga teacher, I have been very fortunate to work with many meditators. And all of them have reported that their mediation got better after starting Hatha Yoga practice. Swami Kuvalyananda used to say that Yoga is Kalpataru (the wish-filling tree). It provides a holistic approach to well-being from all fronts - physical, emotional, intellectual & spiritual. It gives us a true purpose to life. It is my heartfelt wish that Yoga becomes a way of life for everyone.