By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500
One, who studies Yoga, is traveling down the Yogic path, but where is he or she going? What is truth, and how can Yoga help us find it? Will the eight limbs of Yoga, described by Maharishi Patanjali, reveal the true path? How can inner vision help us as we continue to practice Yoga? Let’s examine these questions, and dig deeper, as we continue to study Yoga.
When one travels the Yogic path, where is he or she going? Yoga is made up of many components. An exceptionally flexible person may visit one Hatha Yoga class. After one class, he or she may leave bored and go back to dance or gymnastics. This happens every day because some people view all forms of Yoga as an exercise in physical mastery.
If you have a purely physical goal, why would you want to open your mind toward mental, emotional, and spiritual health? To the long-term practitioner, the Yogic path is not one single streamlined highway. Yoga has many paths, styles, and forms. To every practitioner, Yoga is a quest for improved well-being.
If the Yogic way is a spiritual quest, then the path leads to Samadhi (a state of concentration, which leads to a pure presence of mind). Yet, there are many ways to describe Samadhi. Some may describe Samadhi as a state of deep meditation, a state of bliss, or a state of supreme union.
What is truth and how can Yoga help us find it? Truth could be described as: “a fact that has been verified.” Yet, propaganda is verified by organizations, companies, and governments. Worse still, propaganda often appears to be a fact, until we research it in greater depth. Research and study is the key to finding the truth. The Yoga of knowledge, which we know as “jnana,” is the search for truth and enlightenment.
Will the eight limbs of Yoga, described by Maharishi Patanjali, reveal the true path? Yes, but each of us is different, and we may be hypnotized by a single limb. There is nothing wrong with that, but we should know what Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi are. How many people are familiar with Yama and Niyama? Most practice Asana or pranayama and ignore the rest. Remember: There are many paths and the best direction is usually, but not always, forward.
How can inner vision help us as we continue to practice Yoga? The most common questions people ask are: “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?” Inner vision requires self-study. To know oneself, without judgment, is a major step in life. Many people do not know their strengths or weaknesses. These perceptions of strength or weakness are not based on someone’s opinion, but on pure internal focus.
Each of us has true worth. Each of us has a special skill set and purpose in life. If you find your life purpose, you are making progress in your study of Yoga.
© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
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