Yoga Sadana

Treasures of the Past

Last issue ended with a question. That is whether there can be a possibility of life without suffering and also be full of enjoyment. The answer is YES! Our scriptures have stated that all material enjoyments are subjected to the influence of time and space. Naturally they will be limited in their existence and can not be perpetually be present. They constantly outlive their utility and soon are replaced by yet another object! Similar rule applies to sufferings too. So there is no individual who suffers eternally or enjoys eternally. Here one interesting phenomenon needs to be elaborated. Let us take a hypothetical example of an enjoyment being sustained by the will of a person. This possibility is theoretically true. But this enjoyment will turn into suffering because of other factors that come into play because of interaction of time and space. Two stories in the scriptures depict this scenario well.

The story of Nachiketas, he is offered longevity by the lord of Death! The Lord of Death says that you may live as long as you wish! This very boon is limited in time, the phrase ‘as long as you wish’ determines its limitation. Puranas are replete with stories wherein the Asuras ask for boon similar to the above and whenever they insist on perpetual nature, God always says that it could not be granted and modifies with a time limit! In this story, Nachiketas says that there is no use of accepting such a boon because living too long itself is a problem. Yet another story says that sage Bharadwaja wanted to learn Vedas and started learning them, in the process he lived for three hundred years, but could not finish learning so he thought of Lord Indra, and due to his sainthood Indra appeared before him. Bharadwaja asked his life span be extended by another three hundred years. Indra readily agreed and granted the boon! The sage spent next three hundred years learning Vedas but could not finish them. So he asked for yet another extension. This was also granted, and he continued learning Vedas but before the fag end of three hundred years Indra appeared before the sage on his own volley and asked the sage whether he had finished learning, for this, the sage replied in the negative. Then Indra pointed to the sage, three huge hills in front and told him what he had to learn is equal to them and took a hand full of sand and told him what he had learnt is just that much! And told him to contemplate upon God with draw his senses inward and realize the Eternal truth. These stories highlight the folly of achieving happiness by outbound senses and mind whereas if it is turned inward one would achieve everlasting happiness! This is what our seers called as Sadhana. To do this you need to have a good vehicle that is our body which is fit. Unfit body is like a vessel with hole that can not hold water.

Once equipped with a perfect body your attempt begins, to start with the physical plane, here the vital and physical consciousness operates. We have to understand yet another concept here. Our body is like a bag with nine openings! But within it we have substances that are made of the five basic elements. These are gross in nature, but there are also subtle impulses or forces that operate in these regions. This force is called consciousness. Vital consciousness is full of basic instincts and emotional forces. The desires, fear, hunger, physical feelings etc are all governed by this vital consciousness. This Vital consciousness operates or interacts through the physical consciousness that and finally executes through the organs of perception in coordination with our intellect and the physical brain! Through the practice of Yoga and pranayama we can direct the cosmic energy that is dormant in our physical nature to become active and rise up through the area of spine and reach the crown of our head! Once this is achieved a person gets into a state of Ananda which is eternal and unlike all other worldly pleasures that last during a limited period of time.

Can this state be achieved only by practicing Yoga and Pranayama? No, these two are not the ends but only the means to achieve the goal. These practices help in fine tuning the body and to a certain extent regulate the mind in its out bound sorties. One has to constantly contemplate upon God and increase the self awareness! What do we mean by this?
Initially every one in this world is a victim of circumstances! Voluntarily and involuntarily we open up to the influences that stream towards us from the surroundings! This statement may appear to be little puzzling. But it is true. All thoughts that come to the fore are not ours in fact most of them are from outside! We open to their influence and our mind consents and ego is satisfied and thus a false notion emerges and a make believe feeling is given shape. We believe that these thoughts are our own!
In fact these are vibrations that have attenuated with our existing vasanas or impressions that we carry. These vasanas need not be of one incarnation but can be of several incarnations as different individuals or beings. Each of these vasanas tries to fulfill its part through the vehicle that is the physical body. The present choice of the physical body is according to the strongest of these vasanas or impressions. During the present life span some may get exhausted others reduced, new ones added due to the above mentioned interaction.

Now do we have any choice of changing all these or simply submit ourselves to these dictates? Yes, we do have a choice. By gathering our scattered being, by integrating through a strong divine orientation the influence of these outside forces streaming into us can be stopped! Gradually one learns to watch these streaming thoughts and vibrations come within our being and leaving without consent of our mind due to its non involvement acquired by practice. This aptitude when becomes strong, the psychic consciousness takes control of our being and governs all our outward actions and naturally all our activity is centered on the Divine. This is easily said than done!