Yoga is spiritual discipline to link oneself with the God. Yoga refers to the union of your will to the will of God, enabling you to look sagaciously at life from all its myriads of aspects.
Yoga practice is more or less based on the principles of the Patanjali, the famous exponent of the yoga system.
Yoga practice is meditation on the soul within. To practice yoga, one should lay holy kuss grass (dharba mat) on the ground; cover it with a soft cloth, should sit on it and practice yoga. It shall be a zone of leisure and peace where loneliness can transform into solitude. The sacred kuss grass improves concentration of the mind. – Kanchi Swami
Brahma(for creation) the base, the middle Vishnu(to sustain and protect the creation, and upper part Maheswara(for termination) resides in kuss(dharba) grass. So kuss(dharba) grass is very sacred and holy.
Concentration removes mental disturbances and strengthens the mind. Concentration of the mind increases to concentrate on the inner knowledge. Increasing knowledge gradually decreases ignorance. The purpose of life is to reduce ignorance and to bring about harmony or equanimity.
Ignorance is the root cause of sorrow. Ignorance is holding on to the past and viewing an image that is not permanent, as permanent. Ignorance is thinking you have certain thoughts and emotions when you do not. There is accompanying ignorance inside.
In yoga, it is not man, but the spirit that awakens the depths, that calls from inside. When a little of your ignorance consents to transform itself into knowledge, a spark of light is seen in the mind.
Yoga practice is more or less based on the principles of the Patanjali, the famous exponent of the yoga system.
Yoga practice is meditation on the soul within. To practice yoga, one should lay holy kuss grass (dharba mat) on the ground; cover it with a soft cloth, should sit on it and practice yoga. It shall be a zone of leisure and peace where loneliness can transform into solitude. The sacred kuss grass improves concentration of the mind. – Kanchi Swami
Brahma(for creation) the base, the middle Vishnu(to sustain and protect the creation, and upper part Maheswara(for termination) resides in kuss(dharba) grass. So kuss(dharba) grass is very sacred and holy.
Concentration removes mental disturbances and strengthens the mind. Concentration of the mind increases to concentrate on the inner knowledge. Increasing knowledge gradually decreases ignorance. The purpose of life is to reduce ignorance and to bring about harmony or equanimity.
Ignorance is the root cause of sorrow. Ignorance is holding on to the past and viewing an image that is not permanent, as permanent. Ignorance is thinking you have certain thoughts and emotions when you do not. There is accompanying ignorance inside.
In yoga, it is not man, but the spirit that awakens the depths, that calls from inside. When a little of your ignorance consents to transform itself into knowledge, a spark of light is seen in the mind.
To know the spirit is to be inwardly full. You should accept it as a way of life; the outer life will be abundant.
An unreliable man or woman cannot go far in life and cannot come near the divine.
Discipline is to unite yourself to unite all the loose ends of your existence. Make changes to become positive, flexible and energetic.
Practice makes any difficulty seem less. Reduce over-eating, decrease fat and salt consumption to enjoy better health and healthy mind.
Fasting for one day in a week, for instance gives peculiar powers over human body. Fasting could be "as a great weapon of indulgence as restraint." - Mahatma Gandhi
Verily, Yoga is not for one who eats too much or who does not eat at all, nor for him who sleeps too much or who does not sleep at all. - Gita
Even so, sleeplessness causes nervous breakdown, and man becomes unfit for any kind of work, much less for meditation.
Moderation in food and recreation (like working, talking etc.), in sleep and wakefulness, are the conditions of Yoga, the Meditation of the Self. Unless the body is light and strong, meditation is difficult to practice. So, regulation of food and sleep is prescribed as the first condition of Yoga. - Gita
The body if not regulated is itself the chief obstacle for spiritual realization.
There are many pretenders, make a show of meditation. A pretender’s mind is always a show of yogic meditation has no value what so ever. One who restrains the senses of action but whose mind dwells on sense objects certainly deludes himself and is called a pretender. A pretender may also speak on dry philosophy, in order to bluff sophisticated followers, is the greatest hypocrite.
Dry philosophy is separated from direct experience. Conduct, practical life is the essence of all religion and philosophy.– Bhagavad-Gita
Though the mind is held under restraint by spiritual practices, it will go back to its original position if let free. One who is not self-controlled and whose mind is disturbed cannot practice meditation.
Yoga practice without the control of conscious mind, is a waste of time. For a man in the practical world who has to fight so many opposing elements, it is certainly very difficult to control the mind. Running thoughts in the mind out of control is the surface level of your mind.
You expect enlightened behavior from everybody around you, and when you do not behave in an enlightened way, how can you expect everyone else too.
There are so many repulsions and so many attractions that lure the mind. Everything tries to keep the mind from sinking into bliss. It is the consciousness that puts you down.
Comfort is different for different people. Shorter your comfort, the more miserable you are. This is because life is vast; you are comfortable is only in a limited sphere.
When you are happy, you are so up and when you are unhappy, you are so down. Your mind swings up and down. You are too much excited or you put yourself down. This is called duality.
Personality signifies the inner endowment, not the outer appearance. Personality is the quality which makes a person what he is as distinct from other persons. Manners are outer behavior, which may not reflect what one feels inside. Manners that truly reflect what one feels are behavior. Manners are outward and behavior is inner, but both issue from the surface of one’s being.
The organized character lies deeper at various levels of intensity. Character lies at the depth of your most serious thought that stands for your values.
Words used and body language reflect your state of mind. The Divine does not care about your behavior. The Divine only cares about how you are inside. The Divine cares for how you feel inside, whether you feel stiff or free from within.
Some people are very nice on the outside, but they are very rough inside. Some people are very rough on the outside, but nice inside. Some may be very polite on the outside, their behavior is very nice, but inside, they are stiff.
However, people do not care how you feel inside. They just care about how you are outside. If you are not stiff inside, if you are like a flower inside, automatically you become gentle on the outside. It is preferable to be rough outside and gentle inside, rather than gentle outside and rough inside.
One man may speak beautiful language and express beautiful thoughts, but he does not impress people. Another man speaks neither beautiful language nor has beautiful thoughts, yet his words may charm. Where thought can turn into action, there creativity can bloom into expression.
Usually, when you are comfortable, you are not steady. You are not sitting erect. And when you are erect, you are so stiff. You are not comfortable.
Your happiness depends on the extent of your comfort zone. So Asana is something that depends on your comfort zone. You are not just the mind; you are not the body. You are the combination of body and mind. Your body language shows what you are within you.
If someone walks with stiff and elevated shoulders, there is so much of ego and stiffness in that person. They twist their neck and walk in some particular manner. They are not comfortable with people. So, stiffer you are, stiffer the body, stiffer the mind. To loosen up your mind, to loosen up your ego, to expand yourself, you need to do certain exercises, certain posters. These postures are called Asana.
Patanjali also says that the posture should be firm and comfortable. The posture which is steady and comfortable is Asana. Asana is that which enables you to maintain the equanimity. Asana is not just doing exercise. Whichever posture brings you comfort and stability that is Asana. Asanas have to be coordinated with the breath and with awareness.
Though the mind is held under restraint by spiritual practices, it will go back to its original position if let free. One who is not self-controlled and whose mind is disturbed cannot practice meditation.
Yoga practice without the control of conscious mind, is a waste of time. For a man in the practical world who has to fight so many opposing elements, it is certainly very difficult to control the mind. Running thoughts in the mind out of control is the surface level of your mind.
You expect enlightened behavior from everybody around you, and when you do not behave in an enlightened way, how can you expect everyone else too.
There are so many repulsions and so many attractions that lure the mind. Everything tries to keep the mind from sinking into bliss. It is the consciousness that puts you down.
Comfort is different for different people. Shorter your comfort, the more miserable you are. This is because life is vast; you are comfortable is only in a limited sphere.
When you are happy, you are so up and when you are unhappy, you are so down. Your mind swings up and down. You are too much excited or you put yourself down. This is called duality.
Personality signifies the inner endowment, not the outer appearance. Personality is the quality which makes a person what he is as distinct from other persons. Manners are outer behavior, which may not reflect what one feels inside. Manners that truly reflect what one feels are behavior. Manners are outward and behavior is inner, but both issue from the surface of one’s being.
The organized character lies deeper at various levels of intensity. Character lies at the depth of your most serious thought that stands for your values.
Words used and body language reflect your state of mind. The Divine does not care about your behavior. The Divine only cares about how you are inside. The Divine cares for how you feel inside, whether you feel stiff or free from within.
Some people are very nice on the outside, but they are very rough inside. Some people are very rough on the outside, but nice inside. Some may be very polite on the outside, their behavior is very nice, but inside, they are stiff.
However, people do not care how you feel inside. They just care about how you are outside. If you are not stiff inside, if you are like a flower inside, automatically you become gentle on the outside. It is preferable to be rough outside and gentle inside, rather than gentle outside and rough inside.
One man may speak beautiful language and express beautiful thoughts, but he does not impress people. Another man speaks neither beautiful language nor has beautiful thoughts, yet his words may charm. Where thought can turn into action, there creativity can bloom into expression.
Usually, when you are comfortable, you are not steady. You are not sitting erect. And when you are erect, you are so stiff. You are not comfortable.
Your happiness depends on the extent of your comfort zone. So Asana is something that depends on your comfort zone. You are not just the mind; you are not the body. You are the combination of body and mind. Your body language shows what you are within you.
If someone walks with stiff and elevated shoulders, there is so much of ego and stiffness in that person. They twist their neck and walk in some particular manner. They are not comfortable with people. So, stiffer you are, stiffer the body, stiffer the mind. To loosen up your mind, to loosen up your ego, to expand yourself, you need to do certain exercises, certain posters. These postures are called Asana.
Patanjali also says that the posture should be firm and comfortable. The posture which is steady and comfortable is Asana. Asana is that which enables you to maintain the equanimity. Asana is not just doing exercise. Whichever posture brings you comfort and stability that is Asana. Asanas have to be coordinated with the breath and with awareness.
The ultimate goal of life is to continue spiritual activities silently, desiring perfection. God situated in one’s heart is the object of yoga practice.
In yoga, the body, breath and the mind are all united. It is slow motion, moving from one posture to another posture. Yoga postures, exercises and breathing techniques, aimed to develop strength, physical endurance and well-being.
An ideal life style based on yoga that helps to remove stress and leads to relaxation of the mind. Yoga is extremely effective in reducing the allergy symptoms by tempering the immune system’s response to the offender. The treatment and the remedy both should start from mind only.
Yoga means union of the individual-Self with the universal. Yoga is possible only when the mind is steady. The mind is sustained by the practice of Yoga. - Gita
When the mind is energized with the yoga, it develops self-confidence and the individual besides curing his diseases also cures the other diseases. Yoga strengthens your muscles and joints. Blood circulation to the organs will improve. Yoga strengthens the body’s natural resistance, helps the body block toxic reactions, and strengthens the liver, which boosts the immunity.
Yoga, attempts in the beginning to enter into meditation through regulative principles of life and practice of different sitting postures are considered fruitier material activities. All such activities lead to achieving perfect mental equilibrium to control the senses. When one is accomplished in the practice of meditation, he ceases all disturbing mental activities.
Several breathing techniques cleanse all the negative impressions that are embedded deep with in the body.
Pranayama is an ancient breathing technique which leads to control emotions, balancing the head and heart. Prana is the life force and vital energy acquired through breathing. Pranayama is breath control, as a means of advancement in yoga.
Persons, who are learned in Vedas, utter Omkara. After uttering 'OM' there will be silence. 'OM' merges into silence. The OM mantra is a most sacred syllable in Vedic culture. It enhances and sharpens the intellect and purifies the body.
'OM' comes from Sama Veda. One should restrain the mind from unnecessary thoughts; control of senses is called Sama. - Bhagavad-Gita
Pranayama does the internal purification. Pranayama helps the healthy functioning of the nerves. By chanting of OMkara, circulation of blood increases there by increasing the capacity of lungs and lengthen the breath.
The regulation of breath, the withdrawal of the senses (from their respective objects), the inquiry consisting in the discrimination between the eternal and the non-eternal, the method of mind-control associated with the muttering or chanting of mantras - perform these with great care. - Bhaja Govindam of Sankara Bhagavatpada
Chanting of 'OM', as we develop this ability, we can progressively dissociate ourselves from material objects and desires of the flesh.
Pranayama or regulation (in specific ways) of breath holds the secret to a good body and sound mind. By consistent practice of pranayama, the heart rate slows down, blood pressure goes down, relax the chest muscles, stress fades away and the mind gets calm.
Practice makes man perfect. Practice and dispassion, the mind can be controlled. The effect of the practice, purifies the inner organ, the mind. - Gita
Yoga teachers world over insist pranayama is the best way to calm down. Pranayama improves calmness of the mind and digestion capability. It is very beneficial in stomach disorders.
Regular exercise improves thinking, learning and memory functions. Form is temporary. Class is permanent. Punctuality must be a way of life. Research says, “Success is sure for the rigid practitioner.”
The yoga of self-control is meditation. Meditation is based on attainment of individual moral perfection; the attainment of inner purity.
Meditation contemplation and prayer can become a way of life for people, even while engaged in onerous duties of life. The need for you to meditate on all that is positive is to get moving with the right energies.
First learn to love one another purely and unselfishly, and contemplate your navel. Love for other is only love of Self in all things. Love others as you love yourself, feel of others as you feel for yourself. Love needs space to grow untangled.
Meditation is inner breathing; breathing exercises to balance flow of energy. Just as we breathe outer air while doing pranayama, we breathe consciousness. Cleanliness, happiness, penance, self-study and devotion to God are the rules or niyamas.
Meditation as a spiritual exercise or a just a way of distressing. Through meditation you learn to keep anger under control, feel free from restless body, mental stress and strain. Meditation helps you wash everything out.
Yoga and meditation practice will purify body and mind, and removes all dual conceptions such as happiness and distress, pleasure and pain.
Meditation causes relaxation. Gradually you feel light and focused. Meditation helps to focus, analyze the situations dispassionately. Your inner energies will unfold. Your negative emotions will be transformed. You are tuned with the nature. Above all, meditation triggers creativity.
Meditation is superior to ascetic practices mentioned in the Vedas like fasting etc., causes elevation in the general level of consciousness. It brings about transformation in our perspective on life.
The navel is the source of vitality, the seed source from which everything else comes. Consciousness must be pushed down to the source, to the roots. Only then there is the possibility of transformation.
Yoga practice is not meant for attaining any kind of material facility; it is to enable the cessation of all material existence. - Bhagavad-Gita
Yoga actually means Bhakti yoga; all other yoga’s are progressions toward the destination of Bhakti yoga. Bhakti yoga is the highest perfection stage of the yoga system, is confirmed in all Vedic literature. The culmination of all kinds of yoga practices lies in Bhakti yoga – Bhagavad-Gita
Yoga actually means Bhakti yoga; all other yoga’s are progressions toward the destination of Bhakti yoga. Bhakti yoga is the highest perfection stage of the yoga system, is confirmed in all Vedic literature. The culmination of all kinds of yoga practices lies in Bhakti yoga – Bhagavad-Gita
Bhakti is greater than karma, Jnana and Yoga. Purification is attained by karma yoga; illumination by Bhakti and Dhyana(meditation); union by Jnana yoga. Love of God is Bhakti, Bhakti alone directly leads to liberation. Jnana (real knowledge) is difficult but Bhakti (devotion)is easy.
Devotion and karma-yoga are inseparable twins. Devotions is profound meditation on one's own nature. By the practice of karma-yoga, the mind becomes very pure. Devotion towards Iswara deepens. Realisation of the Truth dawns only in a pure mind.
As far as Self-realisation is concerned, Bhakti-Yoga is especially practical. Determined faith in God is the beginning of Bhakti-Yoga. One who gets total devotion does not aspire for anything else. He knows neither sorrow nor hatred. He does not seek sensual pleasure. He masters his senses.
Bhakti-Yoga is the purification of senses. Knowledge will develop to the point of meditation. People steeped in meditation, who care not for worldly pleasures and saints endowed with true knowledge of the self are impersonal towards life.
Devotion and karma-yoga are inseparable twins. Devotions is profound meditation on one's own nature. By the practice of karma-yoga, the mind becomes very pure. Devotion towards Iswara deepens. Realisation of the Truth dawns only in a pure mind.
As far as Self-realisation is concerned, Bhakti-Yoga is especially practical. Determined faith in God is the beginning of Bhakti-Yoga. One who gets total devotion does not aspire for anything else. He knows neither sorrow nor hatred. He does not seek sensual pleasure. He masters his senses.
Bhakti-Yoga is the purification of senses. Knowledge will develop to the point of meditation. People steeped in meditation, who care not for worldly pleasures and saints endowed with true knowledge of the self are impersonal towards life.
Yoga and meditation gives you inner peace and harmony, better health and longer life.
OMKARA-The Absolute Truth
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