Yoga Vaashishtaa - Yoga/Meditation/Praanaayaama (b) - 52:

Yoga Vaashishtaa - Yoga/Meditation/Praanaayaama (b) - 52:

All the qualities and practices described earlier prepares one for serious Yoga and what follows. Yoga is a technique for ‘uniting the body and the mind’ for the purpose of realizing the full potential of a human being, who has been endowed with not only a physical body just like other animals, but also possesses ‘ego, mind, intellect and self will to attain the highest goal. As in every aspect of life, to reach the highest level of achievement, one has to make determined and consistent efforts.

Patanjali’s Yoga Saastra stipulates ‘eightfold steps’ known as Ashtaanga Yoga.

These are -

1. Yama - meaning ‘Abstention’: non-violence, non-lying, non-covetous, non-indulgence in sensuality and non-possessivenenss.

2. Niyama -  meaning ‘Observances’: purity, contentment, austerity, study and humility.

3. Aasanaa - meaning ‘Seat’: to be seated in a comfortable cross-legged posture with an erect back and head held high, ready for meditation.

4. Praanaayaama - meaning ‘Control of Breath’:  this is the process of regulating one’s breath, through blocking each nostril, alternately or together to either regulate flow of air through each nostril or to hold the breath, in a measured periodic manner.

5. Pratyaahaara - meaning ‘Abstention’: all that the sense organs are craving for from the external world.

6. Dhaarana - meaning ‘Hold/Concentration’, to focus attention on the chosen object/idea/thought.

7. Dhyaana - meaning ‘Meditation’, intense concentration on the chosen object/idea/thought to the exclusion of all others.  

8. Samaadhi - meaning ‘Trance of Merger with the Infinite’, the final end point where one is in communication with the Supreme Self and in sheer Bliss.

We can understand the power of Meditation through the final goal reached.

The path is strenuous, but with practice, it becomes easier during the succeeding attempts. The beauty of this final state is that having reached this, one’s whole vision of life changes. One is able to ‘see oneself in all’ and all sense and perception of division is gone. The feeling on being One without the Other, gives Peace through elimination of all negative tendencies.

This is true Yoga, not all that is being touted today on the public fora.

We all can attain this and so let us start our journey. (Also, in this context recall chapter 6, Dhyaana Yoga of Bhagawad-Geetaa, where Sri Krishna gives step by step instruction on how to prepare and do Meditation). 

Harih: OM!

Vijendran