Saturday, February 8, 2014

New Year 2014: Astanga Yoga

First of all I wish all of you a happy, healthy, and prosperous year 2014. Last year I talked about yoga
and how different meanings are there for the word. From Vedas viewpoint the word yoga is ikyam or
union between Jivatma and Paramatma. According to scriptures both Jivatma and Paramatma are one
only and because of ignorance we have created a division between them. Through knowledge when we
remove this notational division, it is called Jivatma-Paramatma ikyam which is nothing but Jnanam.
Therefore the primary meaning of the word yoga is jnanam and this is the goal of every jiva. Therefore
we call it Sadhya yogah and yoga the destination.
To reach his goal the scriptures prescribe several disciplines and all those disciplines are also called
yogah (more specifically, Sadhana yoga). There are many yogas talked about and we have seen karma
yoga which is one type of sadhana yoga, then upasana yoga and then finally jnana yoga which is
systematic and consistent study of scriptures like the Gita for a length of time under the guidance of a
competent an Acharya. Following these yogas an aspirant will reach the destination, Sadhya yoga, which
is jivatma-paramatma ikyam and this is moksha. There is also one more yoga which is very important
called Astanga yoga as a Sadhana yoga.
Today I want to briefly dwell on this topic of Astanga yoga and otherwise also called Patanjali yoga.
Patanjali Maharishi presented Astanga yoga in his well known work Patanjali Sutra. This Astanga yoga
has two darshanams, the theoretical part, the yoga darsham and the disciplines called yoga sadhanam.
Of the two, we dont take the yoga darshanam in our tradition because it deviates from the Vedic
teaching. Therefore the darshanam part is rejected. Vysya while presenting the Vedic darshanam sets
aside the yoga darshanam propounded by Patanjali Maharishi. Though we reject the yoga darshanam
part of Yoga sutra we accept the other part, yoga sadhana, which is called Astanga yoga. Astanga yoga is
accepted as a sadhana by both Vysacharya and Sankaracharya. This Astanga yoga is very useful and
beautiful for all the people. I propose to briefly present the principles of Astanga yoga in todays lecture.
Patanjali Maharishi present yoga sutra and defines yoga is Chitta Vritti Nirodah. Chitta means
mind, vritti means function meaning thoughts proliferation or mental function and Nirodha means
disciplining or regulating. Therefore Astanga yoga means a scheme for disciplining mental function. Or in
simple language yoga means mental discipline. We will know the importance of mental discipline if we
know two things regarding the mind. We must know the greatness and powerfulness of an internal
organ the mind that we are given. Mind is very important and powerful internal organ. We must know
the problems faced by the mind also. Mind is the most powerful instrument we have with which we can
accomplish all the goals of life; artha, kama, dharma and moksha. Mind is so powerful that we have to
use it in all our activities. We have different sense organs for different activities; to see form we have
eyes and to hear we dont use eyes rather another sense organ the ears. Therefore each sense
organ is used for a particular area and not always but the mind has to be employed in all the area. Mind
is so primary and powerful. Mind has a unique capacity to convert heaven into hell and hell into heaven.
A person with every convenience can feel miserable and a person weighed by so many negative things
can feel so wonderful. The quality of our life is dependent on the most powerful organ, the mind. All
these are the glories of the mind and you can do an archana which in Veda is hiranyagarba upasana.
The powerful mind also has another dimension; it has a serious problem in its nature. The mind has the
nature of producing/generating continuous thoughts without taking permission from us. Without our
will, without our permission, without our involvement the mind which is supposed to be our instrument
we are the owner but the mind acts on its own. The mind must produce thoughts of our choosing but
its nature is to produce thoughts continuously. The involuntary thoughts is happening even
now.(laughter). I have no way of knowing all the involuntary thoughts that are going in the audience
and who all are listening to me now. This generation of continuous involuntary thoughts is a very
serious problem. And because of which several adverse consequences takes place. When there are
involuntary thoughts, the thoughts kidnap the mind. And this means the mind is not available for my
use. Even though Bhagawan has given me a wonderful mind, I am deprived of the benefit. Like I buy a
car for my use and all the family enjoys it. I want to come to the morning class and the car is not there!
The most powerful gift god has given us but these involuntary thoughts encroach upon it. There is a
property dispute which we are not even aware of. The dispute is who the owner of the mind?
Involuntary thoughts are the encroachers that kidnap the mind and the biggest problem is I dont have
the mind for my use most of the time. I do all the actions as an absent minded person as a mindless
person or living in absentia. I go through the entire life because the mind is not available, as a kartha I
am inefficient. In all the actions many mistakes are committed as forgetfulness is a problem. I misplace
something and waste hours searching for it always searching for a pen or book or anything. As a
Bogtha I cannot even enjoy a beautiful concert in Marghazi season. I am in the auditorium and I am
here but I do not hear such absented mindedness and all due to the involuntary thoughts that the
mind produces without my permission. As a kartha I fail, as a bogtha I fail, as a pramatha the learner I
fail because I dont listen. I dont listen because the mind is not behind it. It is engaged elsewhere and
robs me of my efficiency. I experience is often: I announce a class in the morning while one or two will
come in the evening and find the hall empty. They will call me saying, Swamiji there is no one. Case of
announcements not registered..(laughter).
Involuntary thoughts are the greatest enemies we have not recognized. The second problem when these
involuntary thoughts are constantly moving in the mind, several times they produce disturbing emotions
also. These involuntary thoughts produce toxic emotions like worry, anxiety, fear, depression, regret,
hurt, guilt all these are generated in the mind by the involuntary thought without my invitation. These
come and encroach my mind. Even when I ask them to go, they dont go away. The problem of
emotional disturbance is a serious one. When these toxic emotions stay for a long time, I even lose my
health. Loss of efficiency is first problem, loss of health is second adverse effect of involuntary thoughts
in the mind. In fact many of our modern diseases are caused by a stressful mind. Stress means
involuntary thoughts continuously running in my mind and running very very fast. And in the old age
when I retire from most activities I own a mind that I dont really own. I am stuck with a mind I cannot
set away, it comes with me wherever I go. Owned by whom actually? Involuntary thoughts! Thoughts
keep piling upon one another and all kinds of problems flare up. I call them FEDEREL problem. Fe
means fear, De for depression, Re is regret and L is loneliness. I am here and the children are away. Even
here L stands alone! I am stuck with a mind with FEDEREL problem in old age. My life becomes
miserable because of what? I did not realize the problem and seriousness of involuntary thoughts.
Astanga yoga is a scheme by which I learn to be aware of this serious problem and take measures to
tackling it. As the very word shows, Astanga yoga consists of eight steps. Yama, Niyama, Asana,
Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi. The first two are general disciplines and this we
have seen in my lecture The ten commandments of Hindusim. We will now see the later six disciplines
called the yogic meditation. Only when I am aware of this problem of involuntary thoughts only then I
will be serious to tackling them. These six yogas will let me see whether these involuntary thoughts are
the owner of my mind or I am the owner of my mind and capable of giving a job to the mind. Who is the
boss? I or the Mind? What are the Shadaga Yoga?
The first is Asanam in which I sit in a posture deliberately. I sit in a physical posture and am intensely
and totally aware of my entire body from top to bottom. I am conscious of the body, I am conscious of
the posture, and I consciously relax the body. If I consciously do that it means that my mind is available
for that job I have set for it. Incidentally it will help in relaxing also. This is asanam or consciously being
seated. The whole principle of Astanga Yoga is deliberate and conscious action.
The second step is Pranayama consciously and slowing breathing and being intensely aware of the
breathing process. Conscious and slow inhalation and exhalation and making sure my mind is aware
doing this job deliberately. If I do both Asanam and Pranayama I have used my mind and the flow
of involuntary thoughts would go away. Because I have taken possession of my mind doing them
deliberately; I have snatched my mind from wandering and for a moment free from the terrible and
powerful involuntary thoughts. By consciously doing asanam and consciously doing pranayama I am
exerting my ownership of my own mind. And if have succeeded in snatching my mind from involuntary
thoughts I have come to Pratyahara.
Pratyahara means retrieving, bringing back from the clutches of involuntary thoughts; indicating I am
the original owner of the mind but unfortunately the mind had been owned by involuntary thoughts.
We try retrieving the mind for 15 minutes by being aware of this serious problems and deciding to take
steps.
Having retrieved the mind in the third step, I continue to make sure I own the mind. If I dont take any
step then the involuntary thoughts are waiting there. You will retrieve your mind for a minute and these
thoughts would swamp you under. These are most powerful internal enemies. So after retrieving the
mind in the third step, I continue to give a job to the mind. I suggest whatever prayer you know in any
language by-heart; say it mentally with a lot of deliberation. That you chant mentally with total
awareness. It may be a guru strotram, it maybe Gita dhyanam or Shiva manasa puja by being aware of
every word; like you are hearing yourself or the words appearing in your mind screen. You dont have to
think of the meaning for this a shabda pradhana manasa parayanam. I should be aware of every word
for 5 minutes only. When I am doing that I am only extending my attention; dharanam is attention in a
particular area and then I go to the next step Dhyanam.
Dyanam is remaining in that thought for a length of time, maybe 5 or 10 minutes. Dharana is
attention while Dhyanam is attention span. Many people have attention but they dont have attention
span. In any lecture they will be attentive for ten minutes and after that OUT. They will then look
around, exclaim that there is a good crowd and start looking for the face of your friend in the audience!
And all this happens without your permission involuntary thoughts can take your attention away at
will. If one can listen to a 60 minute lecture with attention then that mind has a converging power.
Dyanam is these thoughts must continue in the same field.
If Dyanam determines the length of attention the last part is Samadhi; which is the depth of attention.
How deep and total my attention is? Samadhi means absorption and if I can have my mind absorbed
in the field I have provided. We are not talking about one hour now; we are only seeing if we can remain
aware in one thought for five minutes. What is the yardstick that you are absorbed totally? In that case
you will forget the surroundings; I dont hear anything, I dont smell anything (in the neighborhood they
may be preparing masala vada!). In Samadhi I am ignorant of the world; it is called Savi Kalpaka
Samadhi. Not only do I forget surroundings, I forget myself also. This total self-absorption is
called Nirvilpaka Samadhi. These six steps put together is called Shadaga Yoga Abyasa. When we
practice them we will know whether we are the owners of our mind or the involuntary thoughts own
our mind. If we dont practice this yoga we will never know the seriousness of this problem. And if we
dont diagnose the problem how can we attempt a solution?
Therefore we go through Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi for ten or
fifteen minutes and by that time we will know where we stand; whether I am yogi or a rogi (manasa
roga). Manasa roga is called samsara roga. Once you discover this problem then you will need a sankalpa
Acknowledge I have this problem of involuntary thoughts and these become masters of my mind.
Now I have to get back my property back by defeating these involuntary thoughts. When my war
becomes with my involuntary thoughts then I am called an Astanga Yogi. This war is not with my
family members or any external actor but with my own involuntary thoughts. I take a strong sankalpa
that I will live an alert and conscious life. I will watch involuntary thoughts and gradually reduce them
and slowly they become weaker. They may not be totally removed but I can achieve an FIR reduction
frequency and intensity of reaction. How frequent are the involuntary thoughts that snatch away the
mind and the intensity of these involuntary thoughts that rob my mind and how long these involuntary
thoughts lasts; I will be alert and vigilant. My goal would be reduce involuntary thoughts and they must
become weaker while I must become stronger and owner of my own mind.
And what are the steps to lead an alert life? The shadaga yoga will help me become a master of my own
mind and it is called Karma Yoga. Karma yoga not only includes doing the duty, not only includes
Ishwara Arpanam, and Prasada Bhavana; Karma yoga includes according to Sankaras Bashyam Samadhi
or Shadaga yoga. This Astanga yoga is integral part of Karma yoga which is spending some time to find
out where my mind is and try to lead an alert life. As Krishna says: traigunya-visaya veda, nistraigunyo
bhavarjuna, nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho, niryoga-ksema atmavanby leading a mindful life. Even in
Buddhism they talk about Right Mindfulness. Which means whenever you are doing an action, do
them consciously. When we do actions consciously we have two-fold advantages: when I am deliberate
my efficiency improves (if you place your pen or book consciously then you will not have to search for
them), as opposed to doing actions mechanically where involuntary thoughts proliferate. So one
method of defeating involuntary thoughts is by being deliberate in ones actions; before we start the
class we chant guru strotram. Now see whether you can chant deliberately, or mouth chants and the
mind rants! So the first benefit of deliberate action is we become efficacious and we make fewer and
fewer mistakes. Even in giving cheques you will put the year properly or you will still be used to 2013
even this year. Why? When I put the date my mind is not there. I am telling this so that you write your
cheques from today on.(laughs). Conscious actions will make me efficient, the second benefit is we win
our war against the most powerful enemy which is involuntary thoughts. Krishna calls all the conscious
actions as Sattvic actions. Mechanical chanting or mechanical puja is Rajasic karma; so increase your
Sattva guna.
For regular chores like walking you dont have to be deliberately conscious whether it is right or left leg.
But in India, you better be conscious you dont where there is a gutter! Therefore walking must be yoga
in India! Especially if you are old, or you will land up in a hospital with a fracture. Because of what?
Actions are mechanical. You place your feet after purifying them with your Dhristi, then even walking
becomes a yoga. But if you are doing a regular chore and acting mechanically then have a programme
for your mind otherwise involuntary thoughts will take over. Learn some slokas and repeat. The sloka
which have to chant consciously, recently learnt sloka. If you know Vishnu Shastra Namam then you
dont chant that; then it becomes mechanical and involuntary thoughts will be generated. So have some
conscious action by learning new slokas. By repeating them constantly and with alertness, you will learn
them by-heart. Once they also become mechanical, learn a new set of slokas. You must have some
conscious action ready for utilization to defeat the involuntary thoughts.Ultimately a successful person is
one who is the owner of this own mind. So what is Astanga Yoga? It is winning the property dispute after
several years; it is the longest war more than 30 years in a land dispute and involving Indian courts. My
property is my own mind. And I can accomplish all the goals like Artha, Kama, Dharma and Moksha with
such a mind.
Once I reduce involuntary thoughts I gain freedom from worrying habits. New Year starts and it is called
Janworry ..(laughs). Freedom from habitual worry, habitual anxiety, habitual depression; all these
problems are because of mechanical life. And we try to solve these problems by prayers and these
prayers are done mechanically! The problem is mechanical and we add to the problem by Temple visit,
mechanical. Puja, mechanical. Vedantic meditation, mechanical. Break mechanicalness and own your
mind. This is a fantastic scheme presented by Patanjali Maharishi through the Shadaga yogah. Which I
consider very important during the New Year by waging war with involuntary thoughts
I will briefly mention the first two steps Yama and Niyama which is a set of rules given in the form of Ten
Commandments. I have dealt with them earlier; I will briefly list out the ten values that have to be
observed if you are a serious spiritual seeker. For success both shadaga yoga and these two together is
extremely important. Yama is observance of five values: Ahimsa (non-violence), Satyam (truthfulness),
Asteyam (not owning any illegitimate property), Brahmacharyam (following the sexual morality), and
Aparigraha (not possessing too much, which is a simple life). The five Niyamas are: Shoucham
(cleanliness in word and deed), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (moderation), Svadhyaya (Scriptural
Study), and Ishwarapranidanam (Surrender to the Lord). These ten values along with Shadaga yoga will
give spiritual success. With this I conclude and wish you success in your war against involuntary thoughts
in 2014.
Posted by A.Sathyanarayanan at Saturday, February 08, 2014 2 comments:
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