Posts Tagged ‘Maharishi Patanjali’

The Yoga Sutras of Maharishi Patanjali

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

By Sanjeev Patel, CYT

Many versions of the Yoga Sutras exist. Patanjali’s writings have been translated from Sanskrit to all of the major languages. The world reads Patanjali’s words and wishes for more. How can we benefit from reading his words? What will we learn?

When attending my first Yoga teacher training at Aura, Paulji told us, “The Yoga Sutras are an epic.  Repetitive reading and pondering can be appreciated over time. This same phenomenon exists, when you see a great movie more than once.”  In brief, what can you find in The Yoga Sutras? Many good things, but here are a few reflections to ponder from an unknown author.

“Mastery is only achieved by becoming one with that which we seek to master. Theory comprehension, data collection, statistics, and observation can only take one so far.

For example: One can never master baseball if they have never picked up a bat or a ball. They can comprehend the theory, they can observe the game, they can hear the sounds and smell the smells, they can quote statistics, but they cannot master the game. Players are told to “be the ball” in order to excel and master the game.

Don’t just see it, but feel it, really be it. Feel when the time is right, when all of the elements combine in just the right way for the perfect pitch, the perfect swing. Allow the bat to be an extension of yourself, not a thing you hold. Don’t push the ball as you pitch, allow it to fly as if from you. What does it feel like to soar through the air?

How does the air affect you? What holds you back? What will make you go higher, further, faster? Where do you want to go? Mastery cannot be obtained by any means other than surrender and through surrender, anything can be mastered.

The true solution to perception is that the spiritual man looks down upon psychic nature and observes it. The solution of the mystery lies not in the “mind” but beyond it. When the Self reaches self recognition, self comprehension, this is from one point of view the whole evolutionary process.”

If you are taken back by this writing, you are not alone. I’m completely impressed and I can’t find the original source! If you got nothing out of it, read it again a few times.

Hari Om Tat Sat

© Copyright 2010 – Sanjeev Patel / Aura Publications

Sanjeev Patel is a certified Yoga teacher and an exclusive author for Aura Wellness Center.

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/

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Teaching Yoga – Pranayama for Self-Realization

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

Yoga MeditationBy Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

As you know by now, pranayama (yogic breathing) is one of the most effective ways to create a link to the mind and body. Yet, pranayama is often over looked by Hatha Yoga practitioners. If you take a superficial view of Yoga: A photo of one’s breath cannot produce the shock value seen in some asana photographs.

Yet, Yoga cannot be summed up in one photo session or one book. Humans often make hasty judgments about subjects. This enables us to quickly sort, classify, and file ideas, in a specific order, so that we may retrieve them easily. The only problem is that we may not have gone beyond the surface layer of our filing system.

It takes years of Yoga practice to get beyond our superficial viewpoints. Yoga teaches us to look at the deeper aspects of life, without harsh judgments. Each limb of Yoga is as significant as the other. When we review the Eight Limbs, as described by Maharishi Patanjali, within the “Yoga Sutras,” we begin to realize the value of each area of study that may be lacking in our personal practice.

If we continue to practice and study Yoga for years, we begin to realize the value of each limb. We also begin to appreciate the subtle differences among Yogic schools and styles. Despite these differences, self-realization is a common objective among many Yogic schools of thought.

How can pranayama help you on the path toward self-realization? Some claim pranayama is boring, while others will tell you it is hard work. In many Hatha Yoga classes, breath awareness is integrated into asana or meditation practice, but it might not be a separate segment of the class. Some fitness Yoga teachers yield to the popularity of asanas and see little worth in pranayama as a separate practice.

With that said – it will take the fitness-oriented student a bit longer to become completely present for practice. Pranayama is a gateway to the state of seeing, knowing, and being, which we call self-realization. In some schools of thought, pranayama is the easiest way to connect mind, body, and spirit.

Here is an example: Sit in a quiet room and notice what you can easily focus on. Is it a sound, an object, an image, or a function? For many, the breath is easy to isolate and focus on. Our perspectives will be different, depending on our training and the amount of time we put into practice.

Each of us is different, but you can put this to the test along or with students. Being truly present for practice is an exercise in self-realization. To bring self-realization into daily life is a way of life.

© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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The Yogic Path – Truth and Inner Vision

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

Outdoor MeditationBy 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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Yogic Insights – Faith in Humanity

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

LotusBy Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Could Yoga help you restore your faith in humanity? Have you ever had “one of those days” where everything seemed to go wrong? On one of those days, it may start with one crisis of the moment, and continue onto the next, until we become exhausted by the events of the day.

In the worst of times, we might feel like: “What worse can happen next?” Maybe your faith in humanity is challenged by rude behavior, traffic, or an Email that attempts to steal your identity. You might begin to think: “Whatever happened to courtesy, honesty and compassion?”

There are some points to review, while you are off the Yoga mat. Some Yoga teachers explain the wealth of Yoga, we may know, as “Raja.” Some will refer to this as the “Yoga of Patanjali,” because he classified many aspects within the Yoga Sutras.

Within the Eight Limbs, mentioned by Maharishi Patanjali, are the Yamas. One of the five Yamas mentioned is, “Satya,” which we may roughly translate as “truth.” Truth and honesty seem simple enough, but they can become complicated. Are we truthful to ourselves when we get caught up in believing the world has taken a turn for the worst?

There is a quote from Hamlet by Shakespeare, which reads, “This above all: to thine ownself be true.” It is so easy to see the weather, friends, family, and our jobs, as not up to our expectations. If we expect anything, it should be with tolerance and compassion. Life is full of surprises. Therefore, expect the unexpected, and do not worry about the worst possible situation.

Worrying about a situation, that never happens, is a waste of energy and will shave years off your life. Worrying, during a bad situation, will not solve the problem. To prepare is wise. To seek a solution, during a crisis, is an example of how Yoga can train your mind to maintain rational thoughts.

The teachings of Yoga allow us to renew our faith in humanity, because our viewpoint of life is what we choose. If I choose to be a member of the “doom club,” I can see everything has gone wrong everywhere. This is like Rush Limbaugh’s quote, when he stated, “I Hope Obama Fails.”

Regardless of our beliefs and differences, as contributing members of this planet, let us never wish for anyone to fail an attempt at a noble cause, especially if the situation affects millions or billions of people.

© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Yogic Insights – The Significance of Dharana

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

Bound Angle Pose - YogaBy Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Dharana is the sixth limb, of the eight limbs, described by Maharishi Patanjali, within the Yoga Sutras. We also classify Dharana as a focused concentration of the mind. In this world of cell phones, lap tops, and television, the mind becomes trained to sift messages quickly – without looking at them in depth.

Unfortunately, we can miss out on valuable knowledge and relationships by skimming over everything, without really reading into it. The value of pointed thought, self-analysis, and introspection, cannot be understated. Time spent on self-observation of inner thoughts, desires, and conduct, helps guide us toward Dharana.

Many Yoga teachers, and respected Gurus, believe that the mind must be brought under control, through withdrawal of the senses (Pratyahara), before attempting Dharana. It is logical to look at the Eight Limbs as steps, but a seeker (sadhaka) could benefit from self-observation at any point in life.

Time spent on introspection is not a “short cut” to higher levels of concentrated meditation, but it serves as a measurement of progression while training one’s mind. At the same time, self-analysis and introspection are good foundational practices for Dharana. To completely still the mind, and focus the mind, is not an easy task.

When viewing classical Yoga texts, some students ask: “What is the objective of Dharana?” The purpose of this practice is to train the mind, and the ego, by mentally pointing toward one single object, subject, or experience. The controlled mind then becomes an ally in all aspects of life.

How many people can say their mind is their best friend? Based upon the number of people, who seek relief from their minds, it might be safe to say that very few people can achieve mental mastery. The mind commonly wanders through the past, immersed in guilt over decisions that have already occurred.

How often do people say: “If only I could go back into the past and change that”? The past is “water under the bridge.” Past deeds, experiences, and mistakes, must be put to rest in order for us to make progress at this moment. The past is also a useful tool – if we learn from our mistakes.

One of humankind’s greatest mistakes is our failure to learn from the past. People and governments repeat mistakes because of the inability to learn from set backs. History does not have to repeat itself, if we learn from past experiences.

How can humanity change a cycle that never seems to end? The answer is within Dharana. Point the mind toward a single entity, and hold it there. After enough time has passed, a logical solution will be revealed.

© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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THE MONKEY MIND

Friday, July 3rd, 2009

monkey-mindWritten By Dr. Rita Khanna

Patanjali says you have something permanent with you and that is called “The Monkey Mind.” It is compared to a monkey drunk with the wine of desire, stung by the scorpion of jealousy, and possessed with the demon of pride. Lust, greed, jealousy, anger, ego, tensions, reactions, grudges, depression, stress, and strain are the symptoms of this mind. We suffer from these because we gave all the powers to the mind and made it our master. We are happy when the mind is cheerful. We are depressed when the mind is gloomy. We are at the mercy of the mind that waxes and wanes. We consider ourselves nothing but mind.

WHAT IS MIND

Mind is what you make it with your thoughts. Mind is matter. It has no power of its own. Your thoughts create your mind. Every thought, emotion, or word produces a strong vibration in every cell of the body and leaves a strong impression there. If you entertain healthy thoughts, you can keep good health. If you hold on to sickly thoughts in the mind, you can never expect good health, beauty, and harmony. If the mind is healthy, the body will be healthy. Remember that the body is a product of the mind. If you hold on to vigorous thoughts, your body too will be vigorous. Thoughts of love, peace, contentment, purity, perfection, and divinity will make you, and others around you, perfect and divine. Otherwise, we will be the victim of mental and heart diseases.

TRAIN THE MIND

The human mind functions within a certain field. Your mind works only within the boundaries of the field of whatever you have previously heard, seen, thought of, or imagined. Maharishi Patanjali says that you can cross that field by training your mind, and all its faculties, so that you can go beyond. According to Maharishi Patanjali, the mind (Chitta) is made up of three faculties – Manas (Mind & Memory), Buddhi (Intellect), and Ahamkara (Ego). Manas are the recording faculty, which receives impressions gathered by the senses from the outside world. Buddhi is the discriminative faculty, which classifies these impressions and reacts to them. Ahamkara is the ego-sense, which claims these impressions as its own and stores them up as individual knowledge.

For example, your teacher tells you to do Kapalbhati Pranayama. She also reminds you that always start with slow speed. Your mind listens to that and your intellect confirms in the same manner. But after some time, your ego starts reacting. It notices that the teacher is doing much faster and why can’t I do it the same way? Hence, ego becomes the spoiler and it always needs to be controlled and trained.

HOW TO TRAIN THE MIND

That monkey mind always gets in your way and creates barriers for you. One day it helps you to understand something, and then the next day, you undo the same thing. One moment you think you have known something; after half an hour, the same mind will say you have not known anything. Sometimes, you think you are going toward insanity; sometimes, you think you are doing very well. That monkey mind comes between you and realization. There is no attempt, however, to control the mind; the idea is to go beyond it through meditation. Meditation is where thoughts get dissolved naturally, enhancing your concentration power, memory power, will power, right thinking, and fitness power, automatically. Meditation is neither a mental exercise nor a practice. It is a direct and natural process beyond mind itself.

MEDITATION

Meditation

 

 

 

 

 

The mind is always full of all types of thoughts. It continues like this from birth to death because there is no switch to turn it off. Meditation helps in controlling the mind. By doing regular meditation, it is possible to put a switch on the mind and turn it off when it is not needed. In fact, it teaches us how to manage the mind just by witnessing it through neutral energy. It is not interfering with the intricacies and doings of mind. Just remain a non-doer and directly watch the thoughts neutrally, without any judgment, analyses, participation, visualization, imagination, contemplation, suppression, repression, condemnation, or concentration. To watch is our true nature. It is a natural, non-doing state. No effort is required to watch. We all have full potential to look within, as we all are blessed with the ‘Third Eye’. It is not forcing the mind to be quiet; it is to find the quiet that is there already.

TECHNIQUE

Adopt any comfortable sitting position… Close the eyes… Relax your body part by part mentally… Be still… Withdraw the mind from the outside world… Direct the mind within oneself towards breathing… Breathe slowly, deeply, and regularly… If thoughts come into your mind from time to time, just go on watching those thoughts …. Do not identify with them… Do not get friendly with them…Do not argue with them… They will go away…Keep a distance from the thoughts… Feel that thoughts are yours but you are not the thought… Just like your shadow is yours but you are not the shadow… just keep deleting all the undesirable thoughts… Do not let those thoughts come back to you… (It is like watching a film. If we do not like the film, we do not remember the story. As soon as we come out of the cinema hall, we forget the story because we don’t need it)… If we do not, it means that we are carrying an extra burden in our mind and that makes our mind weak and diseased, mentally, as well as physically… Give your conscious mind a rest…. There is a state of mind where you have no thought…Only consciousness remains… If you can experience this state, you can experience strength, power, creativity, courage, confidence, decisiveness, and happiness … This is Pure Existence.

CONCLUSION

With more and more meditations, monkey mind starts learning to be silent. Once it knows, that by being silent it becomes powerful, energetic, and positive – and then the mind is a good servant of immense power in the hands of silence. Then the being is the master and master can use the mind whenever it is needed and can switch it off whenever it is not needed.

If you feel inspired by this article, feel free to publish it in your Newsletter or on your Website. Our humble request is to please include the Resource as follows: Courtesy: Dr. Rita Khanna’s Yogashaastra Studio. A popular studio that helps you find natural solutions for complete health and detoxification.

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Dr. Rita Khanna

Dr. Rita Khanna

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Rita Khanna is a well-known name in the field of Yoga and Naturopathy. She was initiated into this discipline over 25 years ago by world famous Swami Adyatmananda of Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh (India).

She believes firmly that Yoga is a scientific process, which helps us to lead a healthy and disease-free life. She is also actively involved in practicing alternative medicines like Naturopathy. Over the years, she has been successfully practicing these therapies and providing succour to several chronic and terminally ill patients through Yoga, Diet and Naturopathy. She is also imparting Yoga Teachers Training.

At present, Dr. Rita Khanna is running a Yoga Studio in Secunderabad (Hyderabad, India).

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Yoga for Happiness – Santosha for Successful Relationships

Thursday, December 25th, 2008

Yoga - Tree PoseBy Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

How can Yoga help someone with establishing and maintaining good relationships? Successful relationships require mutual effort from both sides. Whether a relationship is with someone at work, at home, or with a friend, there is a need to maintain a stable connection. If there is an emotional connection, such as love or romance, this can be complicated, but Santosha can still be applied.

What is Santosha? In the Yoga Sutras, Santosha is one of the listed Niyamas (moral observances). The Niyamas could easily be identified as virtues. Within the Yoga Sutras, Maharishi Patanjali reveals Santosha and its value in daily life.

Santosha is often described as a state of contentment. If you can maintain a state of contentment, you can find happiness, and you can remain happier for longer periods of time. We should be pro-active in our cultivation of contentment, in order to release the mind from the burdens of pain.

Yet, how does this apply toward cultivating successful and healthy relationships? Practice complete acceptance of friends, co-workers, associates, and family members. In other words: Accept each individual for who he, or she, is, without pre-conditions.

Do not hold anyone to your expectations. To accept people for who they are is extremely difficult for some people. Relationships often fail because of pre-conceived expectations. Many people go out on a “first date” with a pre-qualifying list of requirements for a prospective partner to fulfill.

While it is true that each of us has expectations in regard to the pursuit of a “soul mate,” it is also true that you cannot change people to suit your requirements. This concept applies to every relationship we have. You can choose your spouse and friendships carefully, but you must accept what you cannot control.

A passive state of mind will also help cultivate your work, business, and family relationships. Patanjali points us toward the appreciation of life’s difficulties. It is easy to embrace joy, happiness, and bliss. On the other hand, life can be full of suffering, pain, and sorrow.

Santosha teaches each of us to accept and learn from the difficult experiences we will encounter in life. Know that life will change, and we should be happy with what we have at this moment. When we stop the outer world from affecting our inner-being, we have found true happiness.

It is hard to believe that one Niyama can be so valuable, but contentment, and the resulting states of happiness, will serve a Yoga practitioner like a flashlight down a dark path. Light gives us vision and focus. With the help of Santosha, a dark path that we were once lost on, can become an adventurous journey.

Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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Yoga Meditation – The Priceless Jewel of Breath Awareness Meditation

Friday, November 14th, 2008

Seated Yoga MeditationBy Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

When writing the Yoga Sutras, Maharishi Patanjali makes it obvious, that states of meditation, are of extreme value. The ancient Yogis, who practiced and documented the value of meditation, understood the significance of a regular daily practice.

At this time, it is easy for us to make excuses to avoid anything that may help our mental and emotional health. The most common excuse is: “I don’t have time to meditate.” It is amazing, when we cannot find five minutes out of a day for our mental health.

One of the best excuses is: “What if I lose my mind and become a disciple of the devil?” Meditation teaches us to control and train the mind. Leaders from every religion meditate. According to the King James version of The Holy Bible, Psalm 1:2 – “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

To go further on this, in Genesis 24:63, it is stated: “And Isaac went out to meditate in the field, in the evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming.” Meditation is mentioned more than a few times in the Holy Bible. It has also been said that the Prophet Mohammed meditated in a cave on Mount Hira in 610 AD, during the month of Ramadan, and the angel, Gabriel, came to him.

For those who believe that you will lose your mind by training it – this theory has no logical foundation. For those who sincerely believe that you will find the devil by practicing meditation: Do not meditate if your mind is focused on the devil and negative thoughts.

Why do I say this? Meditation is an instrument of extreme mental focus. Therefore, it is wise to focus on good things. Many people meditate on God, goodness, and Holy Scriptures. If a person’s focus, in life, is filled with the devil and negative energy, then professional counseling should be sought.

For the vast majority of us, our lives are fairly balanced, so it should not be too difficult to focus on the most basic of life’s functions. Your breath is a basic body function and it is good because it makes life possible. Here are some streamlined directions for breath awareness meditation.

1. Sit up straight. Whether you sit on the floor or in a chair, your spine should be as straight as possible.

2. Choose a comfortable position (asana) that feels natural for you.

3. Your hand position (mudra) should also be comfortable. Choose a mudra that feels natural for you. Dhyana mudra and Guyan Mudra are just two of many choices.

4. Close your eyes. There are many forms of meditation with the eyes open, but this is not one of them. The eyes are the gateway to your mind. To focus your mind on your breath, please close your eyes and relax.

5. Now that your physical activity is slowing down, you will notice the constant chattering, which we call the “Monkey Mind.” Let go of self-criticism, worries, problems, and fleeting thoughts.

6. Observe your breath. Do not try to control your breathing – just let it happen.

7. Ultimately, we strive to focus more toward the observation of breath and less toward random thoughts.

Breath awareness meditation is a simple exercise in mind training, which leads to less stress and a healthier lifestyle. This one technique can improve your life exponentially, if you invest a minimum of five minutes per day.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles) – Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste, Paul
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