Life!

These have been the days of days for contemplation and meditation. Days when I found myself drowned in the materialistic pleasures that this civilization can throw onto us and yet I found myself asking some deeper inner questions amidst this state of plenty.

Most of us sleep walk through life.

Now some people may take offense at this statement, but if we look closely, then one does realize that most of our responses to life’s deeper questions have been “automatic”. We plan for business outcomes, projects and even money making schemes. We plan for annual priorities or goals at office, in essence we plan for everything - yet how many of us plan for life?

During younger days, the thirst for newer experiences takes us places and when we get a little older the fascination towards nature decreases in intensity and we turn towards the very real and practical problems of getting by both financially and otherwise – through the quagmire that is life…

I often remember the fascination I held for the celestial bodies (naw… I am not referring to those originating in Bollywood or Hollywood) – often looking at them through home made telescopes and wondering if there is anyone out there. Flights of imagination, fancy produced fantastic creatures which lived in oceans of Venus and of exotic creatures from Mars… Alas the illusion is broken when one gets older. The world of elders is much more practical

There are more practical things to worry about – the EMI for the house, buying things which we don’t need to impress people we don’t know or even if knew – wouldn’t like to be associated with… and the innocence is lost. We no longer question whether anyone lives on the moon or planets or if there is life “elsewhere”. We even stop planning long term.

I remember during my childhood – of dreams of becoming a scientist, an astronaut, explorer, writer – all at the same time. And now that 20 years have gone by… the dreams are no longer so vivid.

But as we age, our focus shifts. Planning for life is a tough thing. Have you ever asked yourself some really deep questions?

For example, I have tried to enumerate some of them…

• What is your deepest desire
• What would one like to accomplish in one’s life?
• What would one like to accomplish this year?
• Where would one like to be in 5 years?
• Where would one like to be in 20 years?
• What is one really good at?

Obviously there are deeper questions still, such as:

• What would one do if one had enough money not to work ever again?
• What were one’s dreams when one was younger?
• What does one think is impossible for one to do?
• What would one do if one won a million dollars?
• What would one do if this was the last day of one’s life?
• What would one do if one couldn't fail?
• What are one’s strengths and talents?
• Does one has a wish but doesn’t know how to fulfill it?
• What does one admire most about others?
• What would one’s ideal lifestyle look like?
• What does success mean for one?
• What makes one really happy?
• Is there anything that needs to be invented?
• What does a perfect day look like for one?
• What would one do if there were no restrictions?
• What really excites one?
• What would one be honored and recognized for?
• Where does one see one’s life in ten years?
• If one were immortal, what would one do with one’s life?
• What needs to change to make this a better world?
• What would one do if one were Superman?
• What is one proud of?
• What would one do if one were the President?
• What would one like to accomplish this year?
• What would one do differently if one could start over again?

To be able to answer such questions, one needs to do a lot more than spend an evening with oneself… it is a journey to one’s inner self… of self-discovery…

How many have undertaken it?

"Yog" - not Yoga

What is Yoga?

The word yoga, in Hindi pronounced as Yog, is derived from Sanskrit word yuj which means to join or unite. Yoga is an ancient Indian science and art. The practice of yoga integrates the body, mind and soul. Yoga can be practiced by all irrespective of religion, colour, caste, creed, sex and race. A practitioner of Yoga is called a Yogi (unisex term) or Yogini (for female).

According to Wikipedia – Major branches of a yoga include Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Hatha Yoga. Raja Yoga, compiled in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and known simply as yoga in the context of Hindu philosophy, is part of the Samkhya tradition. Many other Hindu texts discuss aspects of yoga, including the Vedas, Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the Shiva Samhita and various Tantras

What we know as yoga are the Asana-s or body postures. They are only a part of the yogic science. Yoga is the science of managing our mind. Managing our mind means that we can do the task of our choice, for the time we want, without mental or physical strain. Maintaining a happy disposition despite the world around us and the difficulties we face.

Asanas balance the energies of body and mind helping us to regain and maintain health and wellbeing. The body postures are very gentle and will not cause exhaustion or fatigue, but they will help to release the stiffness and exertion of hours of office work sitting in front of the computer etc. they will make the body flexible and strong. After the practice one should feel refreshed, energetic and peaceful.

Pranayama or breathing techniques have a profound effect on body and mind. Correct breathing nourishes every cell with oxygen. Breathing is directly linked to the mind, the pattern of breath changes with different states of mind, emotions and stress-levels. Using this we can calm the mind with breathing techniques. Only a relaxed mind can be attentive and creative.

Some good resources on Yoga can be found on the about.com site. A more westernized view of Yoga can be found at the Yoga Journal.

But the best resource that I found on Yoga is this site ABC of Yoga.com! Although it too has a somewhat westernized outlook on Yoga, the compilation of information in one place along with the real world benefits for humdrum mortals like us instead of the wisdom of ancients is what attracted me.

Speaking of ancients - the ancient seers laid down four ways by which the practitioner can attain Samadhi or spiritual salvation, the goal of yoga. These are:

Jnana Marg: The path of knowledge.

Karma Marg: The path of action.

Bhakti Marg: The path of selfless devotion.

Dhyan Marg: The path of introspection whereby pupil learns to cleanse the body, control the senses and restrains fluctuations of the mind. Dhyan Marg is clearly explained by Sage Patanjali.

History of Yoga

While the most ancient mystic practices are vaguely hinted at in the Vedas, the ascetic practices (tapas) are referenced in the Brāhmaṇas (900 BCE and 500 BCE), early commentaries on the Vedas. The Rig Veda, earliest of the Hindu scripture mentions the practice. Robert Schneider and Jeremy Fields write, "Yoga asanas were first prescribed by the ancient Vedic texts thousands of years ago and are said to directly enliven the body's inner intelligence." Certainly breath control and curbing the mind was practiced since the Vedic times. It is believed that yoga was fundamental to Vedic ritual, especially to chanting the sacred hymns.

In the Upanishads, an early reference to meditation is made in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, one of the earliest Upanishads (approx. 900 BCE). The main textual sources for the evolving concept of Yoga are the middle Upanishads, (ca. 400 BCE), the Mahabharata (5th c. BCE) including the Bhagavad Gita (ca. 200 BCE), and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (200 BCE-300 CE).

Several seals discovered at Indus Valley Civilization (c. 3300–1700 BC) sites depict figures in a yoga- or meditation-like posture, "a form of ritual discipline, suggesting a precursor of yoga" that point to Harappan devotion to "ritual discipline and concentration", according to Archaeologist Gregory Possehl. According to prof. Egbert Richter Ushanas, concerning the IVC seals he has said, "All the seals are based on Vedas -- Rig Veda and Atharva Veda

Sage Patanjali

Sage Patanjali was the first person to present the ancient tradition of yoga in a systematic way. Thus he is considered the father of yoga. In his most important work- The Yog Sutras of Patanjali, he presented an eight fold path for attaining salvation. The path is called Ashtang Yog i.e. it is eight part yoga.

Ashtanga Yoga

The eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga are-

1. Yam - Social Disciplines
a. Ahimsa - (Non Violence)
b. Satya - (Truth)
c. Asteya - (Non Stealing)
d. Brahmacharya - (Self control)
e. Aparigraha - (Non Hoarding)
2. Niyam - Personal Disciplines
a. Sauch - (Cleanliness)
b. Santosh - (Contentment)
c. Tapas - (Great Effort)
d. Svadhyay - (Introspection)
e. Ishwar Pranidhan - (Faith in God)
3. Asan - (Postures)
4. Pranayam - (Breath Control)
5. Pratyahar - (Withdrawal of Senses)
6. Dharana - (Concentration)
7. Dhyan - (Meditation)
8. Samadhi - (Union)