|
Yoga comes from the
Sanskrit word 'Yukt' which means to join or to yoke. In a very
practical sense of the word that would signify the synchronizing of the
body with the mind. But in a deeper sense, though it refers to the
bonding, or the marriage of the individual with the universal.
Yoga
is a Science. It seeks to explain in a very straight forward
'no-nonsense' way what would be the requirements of any seeker, should
he embark upon the journey from the Finite to the Infinite. It strives
to show the different paths that one may have to follow. It cautions
the Yoga Practitioner about the pitfalls he may encounter and also
declares the results and outcomes of ones endeavors.
In
a sense it is the best means by which one can come closest to
understand that which cannot be understood...
that which can only be
experienced.
According
to yoga the Human being is made up of 3 bodies.
-
The Outer physical
body Karya Sharira
-
The Middle Subtle Body
Suksma Sharira
-
The Inner Spiritual
Body Karna Sharira
These three bodies are nourished by feedlines called Kosyas --
-
The Outer Body has one
Kosya -- The Anamaya Kosya.
-
The Middle Body has 3
Kosyas -- The Pranayama Kosya, The Manomaya Kosya, The Vijnyanamaya
Kosya.
-
The Middle Body has 3
Kosyas -- The Pranayama Kosya, The Manomaya Kosya, The Vijnyanamaya
Kosya.
It is important to
note what the bodies are made up of, and only of the specified
constituents. e.g. Food & Nutrition make up the Physical body.
If food is withdrawn from the Physical body for a prolonged period of
time the body will die. Similarly if the middle body is deprived of its
specific kosya then that kosya will dissolve and be no more.
The whole idea of
Yogic practice is to move from the physical state of existence to the
spiritual . This can be done only by moving through the Middle, Sukshma
Sharira which bonds the two.
The 3 Bridges which
support this journey are Breath, Mind and Intelligence.
It is interesting to
note that all religions at some stage or the other employ one of these
paths, singularly or in combination, to in volute and experience the
Bliss of the soul.
All Saints and
Prophets have eventually worked on 'The harnessing of the Breath' or
'The Silencing of the Mind' or 'The Awakening of the Intelligence', to
experience the Supreme and all religions employ Scientific methods for
silencing the mind. A very common example of this is the use of the
Japa or the repetitive prayer used by all religious groups. The
Christian Mantra is Jesus, Maranatha, or Lord Jesus Christ have mercy
on me etc., The Hindus Recite Ohm, Hari Ohm, Ohm Namo Sivaya, etc, The
Muslims repeat Bismillah, Subhanallah etc.
The constant
repetition of these types of 'prayer words' can concentrate the
conscious mind and occupy it to the point that the subconscious
surfaces.
The Yogi's and rishi's
of the past realized that the introverted mind, in the process of
silencing becomes aware of the breath. The major question now was: What
if one consciously stays in a state of awareness of ones breath?
Bingo! The mind becomes
silent
They, the Rishi's,
also knew that the only organ in the Human Body that operates
consciously as well as subconsciously is the Diaphragm. They
experimented with various types of breathing, i.e. prolonging,
hastening, retention, smoothening, churning etc. the breath and a
completely new science of 'Pranayama' was born.
They have paved the
way for us to use. We can learn from their mistakes and the rich wisdom
of their experiences.
One of the greatest of
these sages was Lord Patanjali. He was able to gather all the knowledge
and compile it in the four of the yoga sutras............
CONTD.
IN THE YOGA SUTRAS BY MAHARASHI PATANJALI.
 Goa Retreat
Jan - Feb 2008
|
