Well, this year is coming to a close! The next Somvaar will be in the New Year. I take this opportunity to convey to you all, my Heartfelt Greetings and Best Wishes for a Very Happpy New Year 2010, and an entry into a New Decade. Wish you all all the best in all your endeavours, and, may your cherished desires be fulfilled !
Regarding today's subject, I propose to dwell briefly on 'Yoga and Yogi'. In many western countries, Yoga is understood mainly as a physical exercise, including 'Aasana-s' and breathing practices (Pranayama) and perhaps some meditation too. But in the land of its birth, i.e., Bharat (also called Aryavarta), Yoga was an ancient system, a very comprehensive one. We have seen in the Somvaar Sandesh of 30 Nov 09, the great Sage Patanjali's Ashtaanga Yoga, and also a few of his Yoga Sootra-s. The eight stages -- Yama, Niyama, Aasana, Pranayama etc -- upto Samaadhi, a sort of purifying and refining process, from the gross to the subtlest as it were, were briefly dwelt upon.
Sadaa Subhamastu ! Aaroagyamastu ! Vijayoastu !
Regarding today's subject, I propose to dwell briefly on 'Yoga and Yogi'. In many western countries, Yoga is understood mainly as a physical exercise, including 'Aasana-s' and breathing practices (Pranayama) and perhaps some meditation too. But in the land of its birth, i.e., Bharat (also called Aryavarta), Yoga was an ancient system, a very comprehensive one. We have seen in the Somvaar Sandesh of 30 Nov 09, the great Sage Patanjali's Ashtaanga Yoga, and also a few of his Yoga Sootra-s. The eight stages -- Yama, Niyama, Aasana, Pranayama etc -- upto Samaadhi, a sort of purifying and refining process, from the gross to the subtlest as it were, were briefly dwelt upon.
Sadaa Subhamastu ! Aaroagyamastu ! Vijayoastu !
( From Sir Edwin Arnold's 'Song Celestial' ) revealing the chief characteristics of Yoga and a Yogi.
The word Yoga has a deep spiritual significance. It isaid to be derived from the word 'Yuj' meaning 'to join, become one, merge into'. Beginning with control over the physical activities, control of senses, and, mastery over mind, the 'Saadhana' (effort) ulti-mately, thru the Gnyaana Maarga, leads to the union or merger of the illusion of the Individual Self (Jeevaatma) with the Universal Self (Paramaatma) or 'Supreme Conscious-ness', the One without a second. Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Geeta, in 6th chapter declares:
" When mind broods placid soothed with holy want;
When Self contemplates Self, and in Itself
Hath comfort; When It knows the nameless joy
Beyond all scope of sense, revealed to Soul --
Only to Soul ! And knowing, wavers not,
True to the farther Truth; when holding this,
It deems no other treasure comparable,
But harbored there, cannot be stirred or shook
By any gravest grief, call that state 'Peace',
That happy severance 'Yoga', call that man
The perfect 'Yogin' ! - - - - - -
Well, it is a vast enlightening subject that propels one towards the achievement of life's Supreme Objective of Deliverance ( release from the worldly fetters ).
Here now, coming to terra-firma, concerning our day-to-day lives, perhaps even from a secular point of view, I wish to reproduce below, the revealing narration of the Head of the 'World Teachers Trust', Dr K. Parvati Kumar, regarding who a Yogi is :
" A Yogi is one who is: (a) friendly to all beings, (b) unpossessive of persons, properties, things and thoughts, (c) tolerant and not affected by adversities or fortunes, (d) not critical of others, and accomodative of other's faults, (e) content, and works for precision and perfection, (f) a Yogi at all times, in all places, and in all situations, i.e., his mind, senses and body, are in alignment with himself, (g) is not emotional, and does not stimulate other's emotions, (h) is not glamored for things, however valuable they are, (i) is pure of body, senses and mind, (j) is capable and dependable, and is not dependent on others , (k) is detached mentally, even amidst problems, (l) respects other's freedom of thought, movement, and beliefs, (m) is stable, (n) does not commence any act for his personal benefit, (o) has no particular situations to be particularly happy, (p) carries no jealousy for others, (q) craves for and lives in the presence of the One, (r) is unmindful of profit or loss, victory or failure, and, comfort or discomfort, while discharging his duties, and, (s) enjoys every life-situation as an interesting part of the Grand Play. "
I am sure the above Lines of Wisdom would be good guidelines for our way of living, and would help us in becoming better individuals, and, in causing others also to be so.
Wishing you a pleasant week ahead, and an auspicious entry into the New Year, the New Decade,
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