The purpose of yoga

 

The definition of ‘asana’ is a posture that is stable and pleasant. You should feel comfortable when doing yoga asanas. What is the definition of comfort? When you don’t feel the body. If you are sitting in some odd positions then you feel those parts of the body, painfully. Your focus is more on the discomfort there. When you do any asana, what you feel first is discomfort. But if you take your mind through it, you will find that in just a few minutes the discomfort has disappeared, and you don’t feel the body. You feel an expansion or infinity in the postures.

How should a posture be done? Get into a position and let go of the effort. What happens then? Infinity abides in you. So each asana should be done keeping in mind that the goal of this is not just the correctness of the posture, but to feel an expansion within. This is the most important thing in yoga asanas. The purpose of yoga is not only to keep a good physical shape but also to experience infinity and timeless expansion within. And that starts happening to you with some practice.

The other definition of yoga is to get back from the scenery to the seer. Slowly take your attention from outside to inside. First, from the environment, bring your attention to the physical body. Then go one step further because even the body is the scenery and take your attention to the mind. Now when you witness the thoughts that are coming into the mind, even that becomes the scenery. Go deeper. So movement from the scenery to the seer, to the one who is seeing everything is another definition of yoga.

Whenever you experience joy, ecstasy, bliss and happiness in life, knowingly or unknowingly you are abiding like the seer. Otherwise, at other times, you are with different activities of the mind, and you are lost in them.

What are these different activities of the mind? The modulations of the mind are of five forms; some are problematic and some are not. These are:

• Pramana: when the mind is engaged in wanting proof
• Viparyaya: means wrong understanding
• Vikalpa: means an imaginary notion, not conforming to reality
• Nidra: which means sleep
• Smruti: living in memory

These five vrittis or modulations of the mind drain the potential of a human being. Having control over these modulations of the mind is what yoga is all about. They are like horses. If the reins of the horses are in your hands, then you can give them direction, but if you are at the mercy of the horse then it takes you wherever it goes. So it is said, ‘Yoga chitta vritti nirodaha’ – Yoga is that which arrests the modulations of the mind. When you practice an asana, the goal is to feel comfortable and then feel the expansion; not by wanting to feel, but by letting go; by not ‘doing’ something. So the first step in yoga is to let go, to relax and the last step in yoga is also to let go and relax.

One world family

 

There is an underlying unity in all the cultures around the world. We should realise that we are a one world family and find the common thread in different religions and cultures. I remember my father used to say, "The world is full of people and mistakes. Love the former and forgive the latter."

We need to forgive the mistakes, forget the wrong doings of people and bring everyone together in a spirit of celebration, spirit of love, compassion and serving. Bringing all the cultures of the world together, and stringing them in a beautiful garland; this sense of belongingness, that we belong to one global family in spite of different colours, languages and food habits, has to be developed in all of us and in our children and youth. Let’s enjoy the diverse variety of creation by honouring, respecting and loving them all.

We no longer live in an isolated world. We have no other choice than to honour diversity. It is a necessity, not an option. It is in our nature, and it is a sign of intelligence and evolution when we feel that all the cultures, all the civilizations, all the different schools of philosophy, belong to us.

Unfortunately, prejudice based on ignorance is the greatest impediment to embracing diversity. The time has come to love each other’s religion as one’s own. Certain things are same, and there are certain other things which are unique to each culture and country. It is time to celebrate the differences and celebrate life on this planet.

We have to create a society for our children, which is better than what we inherited. Today it is said “sanghe shakti kaliyuge”- only unity has power in this era. When many bristles are put together to make a broom, they are far more effective in sweeping a large hall than they would have been individually. If we move together, we can do something big. Come what may, whatever the circumstances, everyone must keep his spirit high and realise the dream of seeing the world becoming one family.

The world is converging at Washington DC to send out a message that we are a one world family. People from all cultures, nationalities, races, languages are coming together on one stage at the World Culture Festival, 29 September – 1 October. Learn more – wcf.artofliving.org

Ego disappears in unconditional love

 

Ego is simply being unnatural, pretension, showing something that you are not. It always needs someone else to appreciate and recognise you. Ego is something like: “I am intelligent, I like this, I don’t like that, I am ugly, I am beautiful etc.”

The reason we have ego is because it is necessary for our growth in life. Ego should be there when there is challenge and creativity. In success, drop your ego but in failure, hold on to it. When you think you are failing, the ego says, come on what is this, nothing can touch me.

The “I” or ego is a tiny atom. It causes heaviness and discomfort. When this atom, the ego, identifies with the body, it becomes miserable. But when it is associated with the spirit, the Self, it becomes Divine. It becomes shakti (energy).

In a huge atomic reactor, it is just one atom that has exploded. In the same way, in our whole body, there is just one atom of “I.” And when this “I” explodes, it becomes the light of the Self. 

In ‘Giridhari’ (Krishna’s name), Giri means mountain, which is ego. Ego is like a stone. It is not hollow and empty; it is solid. And Giridhari lifted the whole mountain with his little finger. This means that even though the ego is like a mountain but with a little bit of love, you can lift it. 

Everyone is made up of love. Knowledge is an aid to develop this innermost state in you. A seed has a shell over it and when you soak it in water, it sprouts and the covering drops. In a similar manner, ego is a necessary unnaturalness that develops in you.

Knowledge uncovers the shell over you and makes you like a child again – natural, simple and innocent. If you find you have a big ego, don’t try to destroy it because that effort will only increase it. The antidote for ego is just being natural like a child. So, be in unconditional love and then ego automatically disappears.

Six levels of relationship with the Guru

 

The first and the highest level of relationship between Guru and shishya (disciple) is called para sambandh. It means that there is no difference between Guru and shishya. There is no two, there is only one, soham, meaning ‘you are that’. That unity of consciousness is no relationship at all. It is simply a realisation of the highest, wherein there is no difference between Guru and shishya, there is only one.

Then comes mahan sambandh – that is recognising the greatness and where the master doesn’t see any imperfection in the student nor does the student see shortcomings in the master. It is the greatness kind of relationship, when you do not see any shortcomings in the other. It is almost like the relationship between a mother and a child. There is total alignment.

The third level is called antaraal sambandh, where there is a gap. The master speaks from one level and the student understands from another. There is no perfect alignment, only some degree of understanding between the two. In this relationship, there is an effort from the side of the master and the student to make each other understand their points of view.

The fourth level of relationship is called divya sambandh. Here exists a divine connection that comes with a blend of different emotions.

The fifth is divyadivya sambandh. In this connection, the student is there to get something from the master, lives in his own world, and reels in faultfinding beyond a healthy measure. There are people who come to the spiritual path not for spirituality, but to get something else, or just to be seen as being spiritual. They use the knowledge for some trivial goals and purposes. This is divyadivya sambandh.

The last is called adivya sambandh. You cannot escape a guru in your life. You even learn from others’ mistakes. Someone made a mistake, you saw that and learnt that you don’t want to make a mistake like that. They have taught you something. There is a proverb in Sanskrit that says, ‘Durjanam Pratamam Vande, Surjanam Tadanantaram’, meaning I salute the wicked one first, then the good, because he taught me what I should not do.

As part of divya sambandh, you go through different emotions. Sometimes you are angry, happy, sad, and sometimes furious at the master. Because these emotions are part of your life, you just move within these emotions. You are yet to go beyond them. When you go beyond them, there is antaraal sambandh where you see the differences, but you begin to align. And then one step beyond that is mahan sambandh, great relationship, where no questions exist. There is no want. You are simply blossoming, as you radiate bliss, beauty, and positive energy, fully soaked in joy and wisdom of the Master.

In all this, what is important is connection, your connection to your Self. The Self, the Master, and divinity are not different. You are divine. That’s what is meant by ‘Tat Tvam Asi’.

Yogi is becoming a baby again

 

Sometimes people come to the spiritual path when they face disappointment in life. However, the fact is that every child is born with spiritual knowledge. And as you grow up, you start losing that. Yogi is becoming a baby again. Getting in touch with your pure essence. It is as simple as that. You don’t need a yoga teacher. Just look at a baby from the time it is born, to the age of three and they will teach you everything. The way they breathe, the way they smile, in that they feel so connected with everybody. It is we who corrupt the children and spoil their naturalness.

Everyone has child-like qualities in them. Not childish but child-like. When one is a yogi, this happens automatically. There is naturalness in life. Everyone seems to be one’s own. Ego, any kind of self-identity that one has, gets dissolved. A baby smiles, cries and radiates love from every cell of the body.

You can read a lot of books, and write volumes on love, but if, in your vibrations, love does not show up, it is no good. Your dog or baby at home, will tell you what love is with one look, with all its heart, and then you know what love is. Love is in the presence. And there is no need for words where presence carries love. This is an indication of a yogi – he/she speaks through existence.

That is why a baby is superior to a monk. An ascetic has an ego, “I have renounced the whole world.” But a child has not even grasped the world yet, let alone renounce. If you ask a baby, or a small child of three years of age what they want. They will look at you and say “nothing.” Desire is wanting joy, not being joy itself. But when you are joyful, there is no want there. As a child we were in that state of joyfulness. Our actions were expressions of joy.

Wisdom is cleansing our presence, not just our words. It makes you happy from within. A Yogi and a baby may not have much intellectual knowledge, yet they are better than an ascetic, better than a scholar, better than someone who does a lot of work, because they are united with existence, and with divinity. And if you understand this, you are the greatest.

See positivity everywhere and in everyone

 

There is a beautiful Sanskrit proverb that says, “Nobody gives happiness or misery. It is created by one’s own mind.” It means that you take unhappiness only from others.

You question people, “Why did you behave like that? Why did you insult me?” It is useless to do so. You should have compassion and feel, “Oh this person does not have that refined level of consciousness.” If you don’t want to be insulted, then nobody can insult you.

If you are basing your life on these feelings, you will be ruined because emotions are not stable at all. And not only are you bothered by your feelings, you also bother everybody by your feelings which are anyway momentary.

The first thing in spiritual path: Praise yourself and praise others. And stop blaming yourself as well as others. In the Bhagvad Gita, Lord Krishna says to Arjuna, “You are so good, you already have all the good qualities. I am only just bringing them up in you. Don’t worry.”

There is a story of a Guru who had stupid disciples. So, any work that the Guru would give, the disciples would do the opposite. Once the Guru’s daughter was getting married and he told the disciples to whitewash the front of the house. They went and whitewashed the opposite house.

The Guru asked, “What did you do? Now the baraat (bridegroom’s family) is coming. Quickly white wash the front.” When the guests arrived, the disciples caught hold of each guest and started painting them. The guests got so annoyed that they cancelled the wedding. The Guru was very upset. But then he later found out that the groom was not mentally sane.

The lesson: Even though the disciples were stupid, something good came out of all their mistakes.”

So, the point is to see positivity everywhere and in everyone and, hold the mind steadfast in the self. That is a sign of yoga and it will bring skill in action, success in endeavours and happiness in one’s being.

You are the universe

 

Your body is a universe in itself. So is your mind, which is a part of the big mind called Brahman. Even realising, “I am not just somebody, I am just the whole, I am the Brahman,” immediately washes away all the impurities. You start shining, sparkling like the day in which the clouds have disappeared.

The brightness of the sun shines through. So even though many cells are being born and dying but you still exist. In the same way, the Brahman still exists even though so many people are born and so many people are dying.

With a gentle touch of that Brahman, extreme happiness and bliss wells up in you. Love is in that space and that is why when you feel love, you feel that person belongs to you. If they feel something you feel something. You feel they are not different from you. Your space and their space are merged. But one whose space is merged with the infinite space, sees everyone as part of himself.

Lord Krishna talks about the word that is coming from the big mind when He says, “He who sees me everywhere and sees all things in me does not lose sight of me nor do I of him”. The big mind says you feel the air. Do you know air also feels you? You look at the mountain. How about the mountain which also looks at you?

If the entire universe is prana and if one prana can feel the other prana, then the other prana can also feel. This is quantum physics. The subject has an impact on the object. When the yogi realises that this is the same space that is present in her, in him and feels the inner connectivity with that space and with every one, that is real prayer, real worship, real honouring.

That is when you know that the universe feels you, the big mind never loses sight of you and you are not alone. The whole world belongs to you.