Question: What are the qualifications expected of a new Yoga aspirant?
An unqualified person (in worldly sense) is better placed to enter the Yoga field. Yoga belongs to inner realm (inner world) of any "Being". We all know: Human beings exist in two world: External world; Internal world.
Worldly qualifications, achievements, smartness, material possessions are of no use; rather these are impediments for the progress of Yoga aspirants.
Our "Rishis", the spiritual scientists, were master of whole world i.e. external and internal both. They experienced that human beings belong either of the following groups:
- Who don't know that they don't know.
- Who know that they don't know.
- Who dont know that they know.
- Who know that they know.
Except for (1) all other belongs to Yoga realm. In fact No. (4) by himself/herself is a fully realized self, chase him/her to get the knowledge. Group (1) people are rock like, brute humans. Only God's grace can help them. Group (2) and (3) are the perfect cases for Yoga aspiration. They must approach to an ideal person to guide them, like (4) type.
Yoga aspirants are allowed to carry any desire, but the strongest desire must be to know the truth, the mysteries behind whole existence. Friedrich Nietzsche rightly said: "Live dangerously". We must understand the difference between "Absence of fear" and "To come out of fear". Well, Yoga besides ultimate achievements, allows both types of aspirants to join it. Proceed boldly.
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Question: Adoptation of Yoga as a status symbol is becoming a fashion. Enlighten us: After all, why should we go for Yoga?
It's derogatory to use the words like fashion or status symbol with a most pious concept like "YOGA", a part of "Real or Pure Religion". A fashion is, directly or indirectly becoming a commercial activity, fully a material world activity; while Yoga has nothing to do with any commercial or professional thinking. First, we have to understand what is Yoga? Sanskrit word "Yoga" means: To Unite. Let us discuss, in brief, its more applied meaning.
Human kind exist at physical level and finer level, this is no secret now. Correspondingly we have a grosser world (our whole material including our physical body) and a finer world (consisting mind, intellect, Ego, Spirit etc). Humans try to live at both levels. Because of apparent visibility, mankind finds it's easy to interact with external world. This way the internal world and its related knowledge, almost remain neglected. This creates a typical imbalance in the existence of human beings. All miseries and loss of mental peace, are results of this imbalance. In fact, "Religion" is assigned with this task of fully understanding the two worlds.
Gradually, with passing of time and development of intellectual philosophies whole activities got confined and concentrated on external world activities. "Pure Religion" must take care of whole existence. "Yoga" is the spiritual science that takes care on the internal plane and thus it unites with external world and brings a balance in one's existence. Almost whole world population, at least majority of them, now carries this imbalance. Lack of world peace, chaos in the Societies, are experienced by every one. This shows the urgent need for every one to go for "Yoga".
Unfortunately, and regrettably too, even "Yoga" is getting recognized with professional type of activities. Performing of some asanas, Pranayam or some practices of "Hath Yoga" is taken as real "Yoga". This is not true. We have to understand again: Any practice that unites the internal world and external world totally, and removes any imbalance, is Yoga. Different way or paths were developed by spiritual scientists, the "Rishis". They are: Path of Action (Karma Yoga), Path of Knowledge (Gyam Yoga), Path of Devotion (Bhakti Yoga), Path of Mind Control (Raja Yoga).
Which path should be chosen, shall depend on the basic nature and traits of seeker. A person of action, world action, can achieve his/her aim by acting in world. Man of intellectual bent, logic, discrimination is best suited for Gyan Yoga. Bhakti Yoga is suitable for emotion persons, who live by heart. Strong willed person, who likes to face dangers, must go for Raj Yoga. But, remember, a realized Guru can select the best-suited path for an aspirant. If chosen wrongly, this can lead to frustration and ultimately seeker may turn into an atheist, even not believing in him/her self.
Now a day the word "Yoga" has become synonymous with "Raja Yoga". But we must be very cautious while choosing the path of Yoga.
Choose carefully and move boldly.
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I'm doing meditation for last five years. After each session, I feel a typical heaviness in head. Of course, I observed a marked improvement in my performance in professional life, but still I suffer from anger. On home front, I find difficulty in maintaining the peace. Kindly guide me, what should I do in these conditions?
Let me tell you some basics about mind's constitution and its working. Mind is a big pool of energy, performing various functions under the light of “Consciousness”. Few functions are: Thinking; Analysis; Discrimination; Memory recording; Reaction; Execution; Emotional built-up etc. According to function performed different names are used like: Conscious Mind; Intellect; Sub-conscious mind; Ego; Spiritual Heart; Super-conscious mind etc. They all function under the light of consciousness. Wherever light of consciousness is present, that part of energy pool gets activated.
In wake-up state Conscious mind, Intellect, Ego, are main players, while sub-conscious mind remains in the background. Sub-conscious mind, in fact is a very deep-seated part of energy pool. It carries the imprints of all your memories including your basic nature and habits. Negative traits like anger, lust, greed, envy, and craving have their roots in the sub-conscious mind. Roots of basically all miseries of mankind can be traced to the sub-conscious mind.
When light of consciousness falls on conscious mind and some input are there through senses, whole phenomenon of wake-up state starts. In case of sleep state, light of consciousness is concentrated on sub-conscious mind, conscious mind and intellect are completely out of action, and rather withdrawn so sub-conscious mind creates all dreams using its memory storage. Ego helps in building up these dreams.
Even in wake-up state, whenever sub-conscious mind gets chance to connect with light of consciousness, it makes conscious mind to wobble into past and then to future like a pendulum. This is quite a normal experience with common human being.
Above is, in nutshell, the explanation of inner built up and working. Life of a common man is normally lived involuntarily in a mechanical way. Meditation is an effort to live few moments voluntarily to stimulate the inner energy. The inner practices of mind are done under two approaches:
Concentration; Whenever we try to attend inner finer body voluntarily (i.e. under full awareness), the purpose is to focus the scattered energy of mind into one-pointed ness. During concentration this phenomenon remains confined to the surface or to a very lesser depth of mind’s energy pool. The light of consciousness affects only thinking mind and intellect. This surface mind’s energy starts flowing in one direction. To do this practice we normally take the help of some mantra, object, color etc. For such practice some energy of mind itself is spent. Note, during concentration, the light of concentration remains confined at the or near the surface of energy pool, it does not penetrate into deeper-seated sub-consciousness mind. And our negative traits or habits are seated in sub-conscious mind. They remain unaffected. Once you come out from concentration practice, initial spending of mental energy brings heaviness that goes out in few moments. Now your newfound concentrated, laser like, mind energy helps you in performing your worldly affairs with high quality. An increased efficiency of such person is no surprise. But, because the sub-conscious mind nowhere got affected, so yours habits and negative traits still remain as they were. So such persons of high concentration will continue to suffer from their negative traits like anger, lust, etc.
There are lot many cases in history of such "So Called" Yogis who did miracle like acts because of concentration of mind, but lived an immoral life. So concentrated mind may be a trap, unless you fully evolve by cleansing your sub-conscious mind.
Meditation: This is very deep-seated practice for getting rid of negative habits and traits. And this will never happen unless and until sub-conscious mind is attended. We have to carry full light of consciousness to the sub-conscious mind. And without getting involved into the act of practice we allow light of consciousness to focus on sub-conscious mind. We maintain an observer status with full awareness during the practice. Initial practice of concentration certainly helps in meditation, but we have to release the focus of concentration after some moments. Otherwise the concentration will not allow the light of consciousness to penetrate. So in meditation easy approach is: Sit, start initially with concentration for few moments and then release yourself from focusing and withdraw as an observer. Let the light of consciousness do its part. Just remain like an observer, a completely neutral observer.
Comment on Question: Questioner, it seems, most probably doing concentration in the name of meditation. Heaviness in the head after each session is a proof of it. Then the light of consciousness making no effect on sub-conscious storage including yours negative traits of anger. This anger raises its head periodically. Unless negative traits and habits are not overcome, expectation of peace will remain a mirage.
So it is advised to get adjustment in your practice according to need. Good wishes.
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Question: Why should I perform an act of charity? After all, I created all my wealth, giving all blood to it. How is this charity connected to moral living?
In first casual glance your assertion "I created the wealth", appears perfectly acceptable. But, before passing any judgment let us analyze the whole act of charity.
Let us discuss the whole life scenario of a very successful person (materially) in this world, from birth to death. Observe:
- He/she was conceived in the womb with the cooperation of a woman and a man, whom he/she lovingly calls as mother and father.
- He/she survives in womb due to the cooperation of mother's intake of food and air. Father cooperates by arranging the food etc.
- Once out of womb, the helpless future rich person grows as a professional adult with the cooperation of whole society (family, friend, school, teachers, agricultural growers and what not), mother "Earth", animated and unanimated things (buildings and roads etc).
- Now he/she, after all such cooperation starts the life to create the wealth that he/she claims to be his/her creation. How does "the so called wealth" come into being? After cooperation from an unending lists of inputs.
- Then he/she reaches to twilight period of his/her life with all his/her created wealth. Without the cooperation of stick he/she can't move a step…
- Finally with the cooperation of four shoulders he/she reaches to his /her final resting place.
Now if you withdraw cooperation from every stage above, where remains our "wealth creator". One should feel really humbled under such burden of cooperation from all section of the society right from, apparently looking unanimated (buildings, roads etc.) to all animated objects. How mankind can boast of self-creation while he/she can't manage his/her own body's respiration, digestion, blood circulation etc. Thanks to "Lord", He takes care of all such involuntary activities in the Cosmos.
Misconcept About Charity: Giving is not charity. In modern time anything of no use, is considered as thing for charity. Just observe, whenever any thing becomes redundant or of no use, immediately one thinks: Let me give it someone in charity. Think if something is of no use for you, then it becomes garbage, a trash for you. By giving it, you are getting yourself free from such garbage. This giving is simple an act of cleaning of the garbage. Unfortunately in rich society all over the world charity is being done with such a mind set.
Charity is a feeling, an emotional overflow from one's heart, in response to the debt one carries because of cooperation of whole universe. Charity is a "Thanks giving" act.
Charity doesn't mean only giving away in physical way. It should come from the heart as an emotion. This is the quality of one's heart. Charity can be in various form: Giving away material form in gross state; Providing good advices in form of teaching; Physical act of help as in case of old people or children; to pray for welfare of any one is a finer form of charity etc.
It's interesting that there are such beggars in the world who does charity by giving alms to handicapped fellow beggars as thanks giving.
So, dear questioner, come out of this feeling: "I created my wealth". Such statements are sign of "Ego", which comes of ignorance and illusion. Remember all religions consider "Ignorance" as a big sin. And spiritually also "Ego" is a big obstruction in the evolution of any human being. "Ecology is the right world to use for the Cosmos. Ecology represents a garland made of all things in Cosmos with the thread of grace of God. Honor that grace.
Come out of ignorance and humbly do the charity. Amen.
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