Yogi, Interrupted.

Pursuit of Goal

Apoorve Saxena — Sun, 13 May 2012 07:00:42 +0000

Pursuit of goal means by following your duty – whether you encounter happiness or unhappiness, whether it is hot or cold, whether you get respect or disrespect, whether you are put to pain or pleasure – enduring every sorrow with a smile and marching towards your pre-determined aim. As the metals get clean by undergoing the process of heating again and again, in the same manner, by concentrating on pursuit of goal, the Yoga practitioner gets clean.

By pursuing your goal,

you get rid of impurities.

Contentedness

Contentedness does not mean sitting idle, doing nothing and relying on luck. On the contrary, it means being contented with whatever you receive as a result of your whole-hearted efforts. Being contented does not stop you from putting in efforts, rather, it stresses on being contented with the results, after you have put in all the efforts. Not being slave of greed, is contentedness. According to Yoga Darshan (“Insight into Yoga”), there is no happiness greater than contentedness.

Describing the importance of contentedness, Goswami Tulsidas has said:

As you cannot row a boat on dry ground,

In the same manner, without contentedness

You cannot get happiness in life

Even if you put in billions of efforts.

Having Faith in God

It is apposition of unshakable faith in God. When body and soul surrender themselves before the god or the deity that the person believes in, then the Yoga practitioner can conquer even god.

When he is able to take his mind away from materialistic things and meditates in the glory of God, then the Yoga practitioner conquers the time and the death and acquires position of nirvana. Faith in god is of great importance and fruit bearing. This is the principal base of self-progress. On the contrary, an atheist is like a no-good person who roams aimlessly like a boat without row. He is of no use either to himself, or to others.

Charity (Danna):

Giving a portion of your income for the welfare of others without any selfish interest is known as charity. Holy Gita preaches of three types of charity: Satvik Charity, Tamasi Charity and Rajasi Charity. ), Virtuous charity, Contemptuous Charity and Selfish Charity respectively)

1. Satvik Charity:

It is everyone’s duty to contribute some money to charity. Giving timely charity in the welfare of your motherland or other deserving person, who is not doing charity to you on reciprocal basis, is known as satvik charity.

2. Tamasi Charity:

The charity given with contempt or without any respect, to the undeserving country or undeserving person, is Tamasi charity.

3. Rajasi Charity:

The Charity given under considerable pain and in return for a favour, is known a Rajasi Charity.

What is meant by prayer is devoting your body and mind to god by placing Him in your mind in whatever form or manner you wish.

The practitioner prays to god by offering Him fruits, flowers, etc. by doing so, he attains qualities to be submissive and thus his ego vanishes. Describing the result of prayer in Holy Gita, Lord Krishna has stated thus.

Holy Sentences

Holy sentences do not mean just reading them – rather, it means understanding them and also trying to put them in practice. Until we understand these words (and questions like: What is God?), till then we cannot contribute to uplift ourselves and the society. To succeed in any work or worship of god, it is very essential rule to know about their fundamental principles. Our interest in this rule only, can take us to the heights of success of our life.

Probity

Probity means being ashamed while doing bad deeds. When a person becomes conscious that if he will do something wrong, then his reputation in society will be adversely affected and people will think of him in bad light, then he will avoid doing wrong deeds. Grace is rule which helps us directly or indirectly to maintain our character. Probity is an ornament of noble persons. While describing probity in Bhakti Sagar (sea of Mediation’) Swami Charan Dass has said that gentlemen and preachers must observe probity. They must not do anything bodily, mentally and by spoken words which is contrary to the command of decency. These persons must observe probity in all situations.

Prudence:

Prudence means doing anything after considering its pros and cons. Using prudence, a person must test everything that he does – whether it is useful for society or not. Holy Gita makes three classifications of Prudence: Satvik Prudence, Rajsi Prudence and taamasi Prucence (virtuous Prudence, Selfish Prudence and Contrary Prudence respectively).

Satvik Prudence:

The prudence, which can make a correct distinction between good and bad, duty or not a duty, fear or lack of fear, obligation or not an obligation, is Satvik Prudence.

Rajsi Prudence:

A prudence, with which a person cannot make a correct distinction between good and bad, duty and not a duty, is Rajsi prudence.

Tamsi Prudence:

A prudence which recognizes bad as good, and all things full of vices as full of virtues, is taamasi prudence.

Virtuous prudence helps a person attain eternal happiness. Therefore, the persons who want their own welfare must make their prudence virtuous prudence.

Recitation

Recitation means speaking and repeating the name of god and thinking about god again and again. This is done both by speech and by speech and by mind. In Yoga recitation has been described as the act which takes the human mind away from the unorganized and material things and to the god. Recitation is important form the point of view that it helps achieve concentration of mind, which concentration cannot be achieved by any other means. Lord Krishana has also said in Holy Gita that recitation is better than any other form of prayer. The learned men have given three classifications of Recitation: Sound producing Recitation (Bekhri), Recitation in silence ( Upansujay) and Mental Recitation (Maansik). These are described below:

Sound Producing Recitation

In this form of recitation, the word “Om” is spoken so that others can also listen to it.

Recitation in Silence

In this form of recitation, no sound comes out of the lips. Rather, the sound is produced somewhere between the navel and the throat. Thus, although there is lip movement, no sound is produced. Bekhri Japa converts into Upansujay Japa automaticallyand slowly.

Mental Recitation

Mental recitation has been described to be the best of all forms of recitations. This recitation takes place in the area of navel and this is the place where the sound finds stability. However, to reach the stage of Mental Recitation form Sound Producing Recitation, one has to be very patient and wait for considerable time.

Saints like Gorakh Nath and Kabir have widely mentioned about ajapajapa (recitation without words) in their literature. When sound gets concentrated in the navel, then recitation automatically takes place without any conscious effort.

With the help of recitation, the practitioner soon becomes of virtuous mind and begins to get spiritual thoughts.

Fire Worship

Fire worship, worship with holy fire as a witness, or offerings to holy fire forms part of Hindu mythology since times immemorial. None of the happy or sad rituals of the Hindus is deemed to be complete without fire. Since birth till death, there are sixteen rituals in which Havana is always included. The Aryans worshipped fire since ancient times.

In every religious discourse, religious fasting and festivals, Havana is considered to be essential. Festival of Holi is the biggest festival which is celebrated at community level. Holy Gita amply describes the benefits arising out of performing havanas and the ill-effects of non-performance of havanas have been described as follows:

The Gods become pleased with those performing Havanas.

Even this Earthly life is not a happy life for those not performing the Havanas.

Then how can they be happy in the spiritual world?

While performing Havana, refined butter and other articles are offered to fire, which is symbolic of the emotion of sacrifice inside the person performing the Havana. From scientific point of view, the articles which are put into fir purify the air, which is beneficial not only to us, but also to the society.

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SAMADHI – Uniting with the Superior Through Samadhi

Apoorve Saxena — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 07:00:45 +0000

The last and the most important constituent of Ashanga Yoga is Samadhi.

After practicing the Yoga Rituals, and then Dhaarna and meditation, the Yoga practitioner tries to take his mind and soul to the ultimate destination of spiritualism which is Samadhi. While in state of meditation, when the practitioner gets completely lost, this satiation is known as Samadhi.

According to Yoga Darshan “when the practitioner, reaches such a meditative stage that he is not aware of his own existence, this situation is known as Samadhi.”

In the stage of Samadhi, all the sensory organs get directed towards the mind, rather than getting directed outwardly. The practitioner is no longer conscious about his body or what is happening to or around him.

He who is lost in a Samadhi

is not conscious about

the sense of smell, taste, shape, touch, sound

or what is his and what is not.

As the salt, when put into water loses its won physical existence and becomes just lite water, in the same manner, losing touch with the entire world and getting connected with the mind is what is known as Samadhi.

It is the meditative position, which matures into Samadhi. So long as the practitioner is aware of his own body organs he remains in meditative stage. When he is not aware of his own existence or his body organs convey no outward messages to him, he reaches the Samadhi stage.

When the person is not aware of the process of inhalation and exhalation and the mind becomes quiet, that position of Samadhi. In Samadhi, the person need any other feelings because, when the mind meets the soul, both become one and do not need any other thing.

According to ancient meditative literature, holding one’s breath for five minutes, concentrating one’s mind for sixty minutes and being conscious about the inflow and outflow of breath for twelve days, is Samadhi. Getting rid of all thoughts and considering the god and the soul to be one and unified, when the practitioner gets lost in meditation, this position is known as Samadhi.

TYPE OF SAMADHI:

There are many schools of thought regarding types of meditation. However, Patanjali has described two types of meditation:

Conscious Samadhi

In conscious Samadhi, the practitioner is able to see the shortcomings and futility of this physical world and gets adverse to the material things and, as such, ceases to have any desire for them. In this position of being free from desire, he reaches conscious Samadhi.

In Conscious Samadhi, the practitioner is not thinking of anything at all except the idol or the god that he is meditating upon. Apart from it, his mind wanders nowhere.

Vitarkanugata Samadhi-Idolatry Samadhi:

Mediating upon the sun, the moon, the planets, any deity or any physical thing by looking at these things or the pancha bhootas, the five constituents of the body and getting completely lost in meditation is Idolatory Samadhi.

Vicharanugata Samadhi-Thoughtful Samadhi:

When a Samadhi is practiced meditating upon abstract things like taste, smell sound, etc, it called is micro Samadhi which involves conscious thoughts. In this Samadhi, instead of placing something in front of him, the practitioner mentally imagines actual presence of the deity in front of him and meditates upon Him.

Anandanugata Samadhi- Samadhi that Leads to Joy:

In this Samadhi, the mind becomes completely blank. It is a state of quietness which results in joy and joy only.

Asmitanugata Samadhi- Egotistic Samadhi:

In this Samadhi, even the joyu vanishes. The person is conscious of only his existence and nothing else. Patanjali has described this Samadhi to be the best Samadhi because in this Samadhi, the practitioner is just conscious about himself and nothing else.

In Bhakti Samadhi

Yoga Samadhi

Gyana Samadhi

Bhakti Samadhi:

In this Samadhi, the practitioner meditates on the feet of his dity. After constant practice, a stage comes when he is able to actually See the feet with his mind’s eye. He forgets himself and even the fact that he is into a Samadhi.

Yoga Samdadhi:

In this Samadhi, help of Yoga Asanas and pranayamas is taken and simultaneous, the practitioner mentallyshifts his meditation from the lowest Chakra to the Highest chakra and in the end, concentrates on the Sahasrara Chakra. While in this process, when the practitioner forgets himself and that he is into a meditation, then this stage is called Yoga Samadhi.

Gyana Samadhi:

In this type of Samadhi, one involves his mind on just one thought –that in this universe, there is none except lord Brahma (the god) Whatever is into existence, is Brahma. Soon the practitioner gets lost into the meditation of Brahma and for him everything becomes Brahma.

IMPORTANCE OF SAMADHI

The most important part of the Ashtaanga Yoga is Samadhi. To reach the Samadhi stage, one has t perfect the seven lower stages (saupana) with great labour. Samadhi is the only position in which one is able to understand the reality of this materialistic world. There is no beginning or end to the elements in which presence of god can be felt. The God, for his own existence, leans on no one and has no shape. The God is not a part of this marerialistic world and is the purest. He who understands this fact, has the real knowledge of Yoga.

According to Gorakh samhita , when a Gogi is into a Samadhi, then he acquires the knowledge that the god has no beginning, no end, is not dependant on anybody, is away from manipulation, is pure and shapeless. After this knowledge is acquired, there remains no further knowledge which needs acquisition.

Lord Krishna has so stated in Gita “The person who has adopted yoga in his life, sees the presence of god in everything. When he sees god in everything, then he looks at everything with equality.”

In the position of Samadhi, the practitioner gets rid of his worldly attachments and gets attached only to te truth-like god and thus becomes just like God.

According to Shankaracharya (head priest of Hindu religious high place) those who have fully denounced world the pleasure, are truly detached from this materialistic world. Those who talk of god only, without conquering their own weaknesses, never get detached from the world.

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Shava Asana: How Lying Like a Corpse Can Benefit You?

Apoorve Saxena — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 07:00:16 +0000

The Posture of the Corpse

In this posture, the body is made dot relax. As there is no effort or movement in a corpse (dead body), endeavor is made to make the whole body relaxed. When the body is in a completely relaxed state, full rest is received by the body while all the veins, arteries and muscles collect power during this period. This posture is performed in a supine position i.e. lying on back with face upward. This posture makes true the old saying that a best posture is the one which makes the body relaxed.

The main characteristic of this posture is that the whole body becomes like a corpse, thereby making the life-energy flow in the body. As you can clean a substance by passing it through a sieve, in the same manner when you act as a dead person, your body and mind becomes completely free from tiredness.

BENEFITS:

This posture is unique for conservation of energy. The body gets peace and relaxation. Those suffering from nervous disorders. High blood pressure and neurasthenia can greatly reap benefits from this posture. While performing a number of Yoga postures, the corpse posture must be included in it. This posture relieves mental tension and helps attain a state of mental equilibrium. During this posture, none of the body part has to work against the gravitational forces. When muscles are relaxed, tiredness goes away and the body becomes more active and energetic.
The heart does not have to exert much effort to pump the blood. The body being parallel to the ground, the impure blood easily flows towards the heart. The heart gets some rest, thus reducing high blood pressure.
Mental tension is one of the reasons attributed to diseases like high blood pressure, heart ailments, asthma, diabetes, etc. The corpse posture reduces mental tension, thereby reducing severity of these diseases.
Physically evidencing the process of regulated inhalation and exhalation has very calming effect on the nervous system. When nervous system is tense, all bodily activities become chaotic. As against sleep, corpse posture is a posture during which the person is in a state of complete, yet conscious relaxation. It has been experimentally observed that during this posture, both body and mind are more relaxed than they are during sleep. With this posture, blood circulation, inhalation-exhalation and digestive organs become slower and calm along with the nervous system. Both body and mind get complete rest. Napoleon Bonaparte, performing this Yoga posture for just five minutes, was capable of working for twenty-four hours at a stretch.

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Some Rules of Pranayamas Which are not Meant to be Broken

Apoorve Saxena — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:50:49 +0000

Pranayamas should always be done at neat, clean and pollution-free place. If possible, it should be done near a water body (like river pool, tank, sea, etc.)
If you are living in city where some pollution is there, then it is better to light incense sticks to make the surroundings pleasant. If that is also not possible, light a flame by burning cow-milk ghee (refined butter).
It is most appropriate to sit in Siddha Asana, vajra Asana or Padma Asana. The material, on which you sit for doing pranayamas, should be a bad conductor or electricity like a blanket or a mat made of tree leaves.
You should always breathe through the nostrils. This way the air gets filtered, moistened and warmed.
Like yoga asanas, you should not have taken any meals at least for to five hours before doing pranayamas. The best time to do pranayamas is early in the morning, after visiting the toilet and before doing Yoga Asanas. You should start practice of pranayamas beginning with five to ten minutes daily and increasing this to half an hour to an hour daily. Always do pranayamas in the recommended numbers. If you are constipated in the morning then you should take a trifla mixture (an herbal laxative) with hot water before retiring to bed. After doing Kapal bhati Pranayama, the constipation soon goes away.
While doing pranayamas, the mind should be peaceful and pleasant, although with pranayamas the mind becomes quite and happy as well.
One should do pranayamas in accordance with one’s capacity and constitution. Some pranayamas generate heat inside the body, some generate coolness inside the body and some are heat neutral.
If you feel tired during pranayamas, then you should do some deep breathing for five to six times before starting pranayamas.
Pranayamas should not be done when while you very hungry and during pregnancy. Those suffering from some particular bodily complaints should take necessary precautions.
If you plan to practice pranayamas for a long duration, try to practice some celibacy also. The food that you eat should be saatvik and rich of milk, ghee and fruits.
The breath should not be held by force during pranayamas. During pranayamas, breathing-in is called Pooraka, holding the breath inside the lungs is called Kumbhaka and breathing out is known is Rechaka and keeping the breath out is called Brahma Kumbhaka.
The sole aim of pranayamas is not to just do Pooraka, Kumbhaka and Rechaka but also to monitor and control the speed of breathing while setting the mind at peace.

Importance of Cleansing the Astral Tubes Before Doing Pranayamas

Before beginning pranayamas, one should practice cleansing the astral tubes by doing the Cleansing.

Pranayamas: Prominent among these are Bhastrika Pranayama and Kapal Bhati Pranayama. Since pranayamas are concerned with the web of tubes spread all over inside the body, pranayama will not be much effective unless these astral tubes are cleansed first. That is why knowledge about cleansing of astral tubes is necessary.

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The Energy Centres (CHAKRAS)

Apoorve Saxena — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 07:00:02 +0000

These seven energy centers and their effect on human beings are described below:

Root Energy Centre (Mooladhar Chakra):

In the seven energy centers described in Yoga, the ‘Root Energy Centre’ is situated lower-most in the body i.e. in the base of the spine. The persons in whom this energy center is very active, are materialistic by nature. Wealth and material things have natural attraction for these persons. They are, in a way, ruthless by natural attraction for these persons. They are, in a way, ruthless by nature. Those persons, in whom this energy center is less active, they are quiet by nature and weak by physique. Persons, who have healthy and balanced base Energy center, have wisdom and in a way feelings of security.

To keep the base energy center healthy, one should try to conquer one’s fears and maintain a balance between the materialistic and the spiritualistic aspects of life. By awaking this energy center by yogic actions, a person acquires additional physical power and capability.

The Prostatic Energy Centre (Swasisthana Chakra):

This energy center concerns with sex and pleasure in human beings. When this energy center is over-active, a person becomes excessively obsessed, with sex and pleasure. Such a person spends his entire life seeking excitement. Those persons, in whom this energy center is less active are not so much obsessed with sex.

The Navel Energy Centre (Manipoorak Chakra) Which is also Known as the Great Junction of Nerves:

This energy center concerns with heat, energy and power. This energy center is situated near the navel (or ‘belly button’). Those, in whom this energy center is active, are ever in search of power and invention. Such persons feel satisfaction by keeping others in their power and supremacy. Those, in whom this energy centre is weak, show exactly opposite signs.

The Cardiac Energy Centre: (Anahata Chakra):

This energy centre is situated near the heart. Those, in whom this energy centre is very active, are very emotional, rather out of reign, so long as the emotions are concerned. Such persons are very logical and act only after giving due thought of everything. When this energy centre is balanced, then the person has fellow-feeling and such persons devote to social service or take up professions like nurses, etc. Awakening of this energy centre gives rise to qualities of spiritualism and telepathy in person.

The Laryngeal Energy Centre (Vishudhi Chakra):

This fifth energy centre concerns with mind. Persons having this energy centre as active one, view everything and every incident analytically and critically. They are ever-ready to enter into an argument and are enjoy belittling, insulting or making fun of others.

The Cavernous Energy Centre (Agya Chakra):

This energy centre is also referred to as the ‘third eye”. This energy centre concerns with control. According to Hindu mythology, the logic behind applying a bindi or tilak (a dot of vermilion or other brilliant pigment) on the forehead, is to make this energy centre strong and powerful.

The Supreme Energy Centre (Sahtara Chakra):

This is the seventh energy center. A person, who is able to discover this energy centre, is able to control even death.

In most of the people, the last two energy centers always remain dormant. However, many Yoga specialists do not consider that activating these energy centers is useful for a common man. According to them, due to ordinary efforts of human beings to live a happy life, these energy centers automatically become active. Therefore, it is advisable for every ordinary being to direct his efforts to live a happy life, rather than forcing these powers to awaken. The act of awakening the energy centers by conscious yogic methods, and thereby connecting oneself with the god, is known as Rhythmic Yoga. Accordingly, this is also an extreme situation of Yoga through Persistence (Hatha Yoga).

Control of the mental activities by yogic exercises is known as Scientific Yoga. According to sakhya Darshan (a Hindu test), the nature consists of three powers:

The noble (Satva)
The Kingly (Rajasa)
The Cruel (Tamasa).

Expression of these powers can be said to be action and inaction. Rajasa signifies action and Tamasa signifies inaction. Satva signifies the power which balances the action and inaction to reach the state of equilibrium. Satva Rajasa and Tamasa powers are concerned with Yoga through Persistence, Yoga through science (Raja Yoga) concerns with both body and the mind. In addition to this, there is fourth i.e. Yoga through philosophy (Gyana Yoga) which is a method of attaching knowledge of reality. Yoga knowledge can be derived from these four powers.

The ultimate aim of all human life is to find true happiness, peace and enjoyment after getting rid of all types of sorrows, state of dissatisfaction and temptation. To fulfill this aim, every prudent man takes help from various resources in accordance with his actions, interests and wisdom. To achieve this situation, Patanjali, the great sage, has preached eight parts of Yoga as follows:

By practicing eight parts of Yoga

When all the sorrow and impurities die,

There is light of knowledge

And eternal happiness is achieved.

He has described the eight parts of Yoga as follows:

Proper conduct (Yama)
Regulated life (Niyama)
Systematic breathing (Prayanama)
Diet (Pratyahar)
Meditation (Dhyana)
Meditative Esctasy (Samadhi)

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The Historical and Scientific Aspect of Pranayama

Apoorve Saxena — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 07:00:00 +0000

WHAT IS PRANAYAMA?

There are many views and myths as to what pranayamas are and what the method of doing them is. A few experts describe it to be a way to attain Siddhi (supernatural bliss), yet others describe it to be simply a way to get rid of blood impurities. Science tells us that the body absorbs the Oxygen present in the air and throws out carbon Dioxide. Before knowing what pranayama is, it is pertinent to know what prana is. Prana or life-force means consciousness. Live-force and life are often treated as synonyms and used interchangeably.

Pranayama is a word formed out of two words- Prana and Ayama. One means life and the other means extension. With the word prana, the word vayu (air or breath) is added which means the process of breathing through the nostrils i.e. taking the air to the lungs, absorption of Oxygen and then transportation the same to the entire body. This process keeps us alive.

WHAT IS PRANA?

Out of the pancha bhootas (five elements), the air, when it takes the form of breathing, keeps us alive and, when it takes the form of gas, becomes one of the three common ailments of the body.

According to Sharddhar Samhita the body and its organs cannot move from one place to the other on their own. It is the air (through the process of breathing) which moves it, in the same manner in which the wind moves the clouds.

In Upanishads (ancient holy Hindu texts), life-force has been equated with the God. Prana is present in every smallest part of the body even to the microscopic level. The organs of the body must sleep or take rest after regular intervals. However, this life force neither sleeps nor takes rest. It continues to work day and night uninterruptedly. “Work and work” is its fundamental mantra. A creature is alive so long as this prana power is working. When prana stops working, then the life is over and the person is termed as “dead”. A creature is said to be alive only when its prana is working. Looking deeply prana means the sum total of all the energy in this universe, and this energy is present both in the living beings and non-living things. The living beings have tow activities – consciousness and movement. To keep both of these activities working, prana provides food and nutrition. The life of living-beings depends on this food. Since the sanctity and hierarchy of prana-power is the topmost and the creatures depend on this power, that is why the creatures are called ‘living-beings’. The nature provides only so much prana to the creatures as will enable it to find its own necessities to remain alive. If the creature has to get something important over and above this, then it has to exert extra labor for that. It has to pull more prana from this universe by force. As we have to breathe in extra quantity of Oxygen to freshen us, in the same manner, it (the creature) has to pull in extra prana and make it reach where it (the prana) is required in the body. In this way, the prana gets extended and fulfills the spiritual requirement of pranayama. Yoga Darshan has described Pranayama as activity of prana. “Stopping any movement of the body, stopping the inhalation and exhalation process, is pranayama.” In other words, deliberately controlling the process of breathing-in and breathing-out is pranayama. Inhaling the external air and exhaling the internal air systematically is pranayama.

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TYPES OF YOGA: Different Paths with One Goal

Apoorve Saxena — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 08:00:35 +0000

There are number of paths, leading to one common objective. The rivers flow in the east, the west, the north and the south directions and have different names initially. However, all of them merge with the ocean and lose their own identity. They surrender themselves completely to the ocean. The same thing applies to Yoga. Yoga may adopt any path. Initially all these paths will appear to be different but the objective of all these paths is to give a correct direction to the mind, to correct the thought pattern, to direct the mind to the soul and to provide eternal peace. Yoga has different types:

Yoga Through Persistence (Hatha Yoga)

Yoga Through Action (Karma Yoga)

Yoga Through Devotion (Bhakti Yoga)

Yoga through Philosophy (Gyana Yoga)

Yoga Through Science (Raja Yoga)

Yoga Through Serpentine Energy Centre (Kundalini Yoga)

Yoga Through Chanting Holy words (Mantra Yoga)

Out of the above types of Yoga, you may choose particular type. Whatever type you choose, you will have to work your way according to the rules o the type chosen. The path is full of obstacles. You will definitely ace difficulties but you will be able to achieve your goal if you pay no attention to the difficulties. The individuals, who are emotional by nature, can choose the path of bhakti Yoga. Those who are restless by nature and remain busy doing one thing or the other all the time, may choose Karma Yoga. Those, who are always deep in thoughts and are always concerned with what is happening with them, may choose the path of Raja Yoga. Those of us who are never willing to agree to what has been written in holy epics or what the others say and give recognition to their own experiences only, should choose Gyan Yoaga. Those who want development of body and mind should choose Hatha Yoga. Diligent and devoted efforts are absolutely necessary for reaching the desired goal through these paths.

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Understanding Breathing and the Importance of Pranayamas

Apoorve Saxena — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:00:06 +0000

Systematic Breathing Exercises

Directing all your thoughts in just one direction is another name for meditation is a part of Yoga. Systematic Breathing Exercises (pranayamas) is one of important constituents of meditation. Maharishi Patanjali has termed pranayamas and meditation as Yoga. He has shown that rather than letting the thoughts wander in each and every direction, directing all the thoughts to the inner self is necessary to attain Yogic perfection. He and other great Indian sages have tried to draw the attention of the world to this fact. To take the soul to the greatest heights, Yogic exercises (pranayamas are a part of Yoga) are very essential.

Pranayamas are the fourth constituent of Yoga. When the Yoga practitioner is able to be in control of his body by Yoga Asanas, then to be in control of mind also, practice of pranayamas is very essential. Manu Smiriti has described the importance of pranayamas in the following words:-

“As the gold, silver and other metals

when heated on fire

become free of impurities

in the same manner,

the Pranayamas remove

all the ailments

Present in our body

and makes it perfect”

Yoga recognizes the fact that life-force and mind has a connections with the body. As the driver automatically stops when the motor-car stops or the ,motor-car automatically stops when the driver stops, in the same manner, when prana stops, mind also stops and when the mind stops, prana also stops. To stop unnecessary wonderings of the mind, one must practice pranayamas for some time daily.

The ancient sages believed that the number of breaths of every creature who has taken birth, is fixed. When a living-being unnecessary wastes his breaths in a disorderly manner, he is soon deprived of his live-force and dies and untimely death. On the other hand, if he concentrates on breathing in an orderly manner, then not only the duration of his breaths increases but he also increases his mental and physical consciousness, thereby increasing the quality of his life. Ordinarily, human beings breathe 18 to 20 times per minute. The fact that with the practice of pranayamas, this frequency can be decreased by four to ten breaths per minute has been scientifically established. Since the number of breaths that a creature will take in his life-time, is pre-determined and fixed by the Almighty Gog, short or shallow breathing will soon exhaust this number. On the other hand, deep and systematic breathing will increase life-span. The ancient sages used to live for a long time with the help of pranayamas. They also used to go into a Samadhi through the medium of pranayamas and during the duration of Samadhi, they would stop breathing. Hence their body and life-spam remained untouched by the ill-effects of passing time.

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Understanding the Chakras: The Energy Centers of Human Body

Apoorve Saxena — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:22 +0000

After gaining control over body with the Yoga postures, gaining control over breathing with systematic breathing exercises and the pleasure-seeking organs with abstention, it is time to gain control over the mind. To gain control over the mind (mental concentration), there are three stages, the lowest stage being Dhaarna (Determined Mental concentration) and the highest stage is Samadhi (merging with God). To reach the Samadhi stage, one has to pass through Determined Mental Concentration and Meditation.

Dhaarna can be achieved in two ways-the External Means and the Internal Means. Taking the mind away from all worldly thoughts and concentrating on any deity, idol, mantra or word (like Om) are the External Means. In Internal Means, one forces the thoughts on any part of the body, like the Chakras (energy centers) lime swadhisthana, Manipooraka, Anahara, Ajna Vishudhi Chakras. This process continues in determined Mental Concentration. In other words, the mind continues to drift to other subjects and the practitioner with conscious and determined efforts, brings the mind back to the desired thoughts until he is able to stay in the desired thoughts for longer periods. To understand internal means, it is essential to know about the seven Energy Centers.

CHAKRAS-THE ENERGY CENTRES

In human body, there are seven plexuses which act as energy centers or centres of consciousness in the body. These are located at different places in the body. These are symbolized as lotus petals. That is why these have also been called and army of petals.

Mooladhara Chakra contains four petals. Swadhishthana Chakra contains six petals. Manipoora Chakra contains ten petals. Anahata Chakra contains twelve petals. Vishudhi Chakkra contains sixteen petals. Ajna Chakra contains two petals. The uppermost energy centre is located in the upper part of chakra. The practitioners must have detailed knowledge of these chakras.

1. Mooladhara Chakra-Root Plexus:

This plexus may also be called sacro-coccygel plexus. This energy centre is located approximately two inches above the anus, i.e. the place from where the spinal column begins. In this lotus flower, there are four petals and its color is red. The deity who controls this chakra is lord Ganesha. The job of this energy center is to control and regulate the body from toes to the anus. The dormant powers of a person, when not awakened, lie in this energy centre. This is the gateway to reach the sahasrara chakra. Without passing through it, one cannot enter other energy centers. Perfecting this chakra cures the following diseases: warts, dysentery, passing blood in stool, constipation, leg pain, etc.

2. Swadhisthana Chakra- The Prostatic plexus:

This energy centre is located between the Mooladhara Chakra and the navel. This is a lotus with six petals and there color is yellow. Lord Brahma is its deity in control of this plexus. The job of this energy center is passing urine and controlling sexual ejaculation and urges perfecting this energy centre results in curing the following diseases: diabetes, impotency etc.

3. Manipoora Chakra-The navel plexus:

This energy centre is located in the navel (belly-button) which is also known as the great junction of nervous. This lotus contains ten petals and their color is blue. Lord Vishnu has command over it. The job of this energy centre is to control digestive system. Perfecting this posture cures all ailments of the digestive system like gas, constipation, loose motions, stomach ache, abdominal spasms, stiffness of the stomach and other ailments like eczema, blackheads, pimples, etc.

4. Anahata chakra-Cardiac Plexus:

This energy centre is located near the heart. This lotus has twelve petals of white color. Lord Shiva has command over it. This energy centre controls the emotions like love, hate anger, greed, etc. perfecting this energy centre cures diseases like high blood pressure, low blood pressure, heart attack, cough, asthma, arthritis, etc.

5. Vishudddhi Chakra-Laryngeal plexus:

This energy centre is located near the throat. This lotus has sixteen petals of brown color. The life forces itself control. The life forces itself control this energy centre. The job of this energy centre is to give knowledge about words and power to speak. It is through this energy centre that we are able to express through our lips what is in our mind. Perfecting this energy centre cures the following ailments: unclear voice, sore throat, deceases of the wind pipe and the food pipe.

6. Ajna Chakra-Cavernous Plesus:

This energy centre is located in the middle of the eyebrows. This lotus has two petals or orange color. This is controlled by the light. The job of this energy center is to provide sight to the eyes. Perfecting this posture cures all mental diseases.

7. Sahasrara Chakra-The Supreme Plexus:

Also known as the Zero or supreme plexus, this energy centre is located in the uppermost portion of the head. This lotus petal has thousands petals of different colors and almighty God has command over it. The job of this energy centre is to recognize different tastes. After entering through the above six energy centers, the practitioner concentrates his life forces in this seventh energy centre. This energy centre is concerned with all the parts of body. This can be said as the head quarter of the body from which instructions to all the body organs are issued.

Now the question arises how to do determined mental concentration. For this one has to try to mentally ‘see’ these chakras. We begin with the rood plexus. First of all, we should visualize (see through mind’s eye) that lotus of red color (specific color assigned to this chakra) is lying upside down at the center of the place assigned to it. Then we mentally try to correct the position of this lotus. Then, we think about the respective deity in command thereof. After having done this mental exercise, then we again mentally turn this lotus upside down and shift to the next higher chakra. We do the same mental exercise with this lotus and the deity. Like this visualizing all these chakras, we ultimately reach the Sahasrara Chakra. This was, we are able to practice mental concentration and stop the mind from drifting to other things. This is the position of determined mental concentration, which prepares the practitioner for mediation.

Image Source: mariposalanding.net

VASTI – Abdominal Washing

Apoorve Saxena — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:00:54 +0000

In Yoga literature, abdominal washing has been described to be of two types abdominal cleansing by air and Abdominal Cleansing by Water. With the help of Nauli pulling the air inside and then throwing it out in the posture of the peacock (described under Yoga Postures) is known as Pawan vasti. When Pawan Vasti has been fully practiced, then Jala vasti becomes easier to perform.

In Hatha Yoga Pradeepika, its method has been described as follows:

Take a hollow bamboo tube about six inches ling, the whole of which is o large to accommodate the little finger in its hollow. Smear one end of it with refined butter or edible oil and insert about four inches of the lubricated end inside the anus, taking care that the two inches of the bamboo remain outside. Now sit in a tub filled with water in Utkasana (on your heels), so that the water level comes up to your navel. The weight of the entire body should be on the feet. Now contract the muscles of your abdomen. The water of the tub will start rising inside your large intestine. Thereafter, get rid of the water by performing nauli. With the water that comes out, the excreta, worms and toxins collected in the large intestine will come out. Washing the abdomen by this process is called Vasti.

A lot of exercises like steam bath, spinal wash, navel bath, etc are prescribed under the Water therapy system of energizing the body parts and maintaining beauty. In the same manner, vasti cleanses the intestine and stomach from the inside. According to Hippocrates, out of all the systems of medicines, Vasti Karma is the best in Ayurueda (traditional Indian herbal system of medicine) also. Vasti Karma has been stated to be the best of the six Yoga Rituals.

People often complain of lack of time to perform this Ritual. However, a simple instrument (Known as ‘vasti Yantra’) is available in market, with the help of which vasti Karma can be practiced at home or even while traveling in a train.

How to Use Vasti Yantra

After excreting in the morning, attach one end of this instrument with the tap and open the tap. Water will start flowing out with force from the catheter located at the other end of the instrument. Open the tap in accordance with the pressure you like. Now insert the catheter end of the instrument (with the water still flowing) inside the anus. If required, this end may be lubricated with any edible oil. Hold the catheter with the left hand. Water will soon enter the anal region. Soon, a pressure will build up inside your bowels and the water will automatically stat flowing out of the anus and with the water, will come out excreta. This process may more than five minutes and is painless process. You can either take out the catheter when the water starts flowing out or take out the catheter when the entire bowels are cleaned. Thereafter, perform the Nauli Karma and rid of the water inside the body. This will cleanse the intestines and the internal organs.

Another Method of Using Vasti Yantra

First of all, attach this instrument with the water tap and open the tap. This way the air inside the tube of the instrument will come out. Thereafter, put some oil on the other end of the instrument or on the anus, hold it with your thumb and a finger, and insert it inside the anus slowly. Remember that this has to be done while the water is still running. Let the water rise within your body. After sometime, when adequate pressure is built up inside your body, the water will start coming out. Let the tube is still inside. This will thoroughly cleanse the internal organs and the excreta trapped inside the large intestine will be seen coming out. Continue this activity for about ten minutes and then take the tube out, wash it with soap and water for use next time.

Another instrument, known as High Vasti Yantra has been made, which costs about Rupees 6500. Instead of it, we have made this simple and cost effective instrument which has been successfully used by thousands of persons. Earlier, proper training of Uddiyana Bandha was very essential before doing Vasti Karma, which was not possible for many weak bodied patients. However, with the help of this instrument, which has been successfully used by thousands of persons. Earlier, proper training of Uddiyana Bandha was very essential before doing Vasti Karma, which was not possible for many weak bodied patients,. However, with the help of this instrument, one can clean one’s abdomen from the inside, even while sitting inside the toilet, by drawing 10 to 15 liters of water directly from a tank.

One of the main roots for all the ailment is constipation. It will not be an exaggeration to call constipation to be the mother of all the ailments. This is such a disease which results into many other ailments due to the rotting of the excreta trapped inside the intestines acting as a breeding ground for bacteria, besides producing toxins and gases. If one is not constipated, one will be free from many diseases.

Many drugs are available in the market to get rid of constipation which agitate the anal region, as a result of which stool can be passed easily. However, frequent use of these drugs is just like beating the tired intestines with a stick. Soon the drugs lose their effectiveness. Therefore, vasti Karma is a boon to cleanse the heap of waste products tapped inside the body without causing any harm to the body organs.

In addition to cleansing the inner side of the abdomen, this Ritual will also cool the internal organs and you will feel very easy and fresh. Laziness will go away. When the stomach is clean, there will be no gas formation. There will be no chance of diseases like piles, fissure, etc.

Image Source: karmakerala.com