What are the requirements for a new Yoga aspirant?
An unskilled person (in the worldly sense) is in a better position to enter the field of Yoga. Yoga belongs to the inner realm (the inner world) of every “Being”.
We all know: Humans exist in two worlds: The Outer world and the Inner world.
Worldly qualifications, achievements, wisdoms and possessing material goods are all useless; on the contrary, they are obstacles for the progress of Yoga aspirants. Our “Rishis”, spiritual scientists, were masters of the whole world, that is, both the external and the internal. They showed that all humans belong to one of the following groups:
- Those who don’t know they don’t know.
- Those who know they don’t know.
- Those who don’t know they know.
- Those who know they know.
Except for the number (1), all the others belong to the realm of Yoga. In fact, the no. (4) has full self-realization, striving for knowledge. The people in the group (1) are like rock, like beasts. Only the grace of God can help them. Those of groups (2) and (3) are the perfect cases for aspiration to Yoga. They must look for an ideal person to guide them, such as type (4).
Yoga aspirants can bring with them any desire, but the strongest desire must be to know the truth and mysteries of all existence. Friedrich Nietzsche rightly said: “Live dangerously”, but we must understand the difference between “the absence of fear” and “getting out of fear”. So, despite the final successes, Yoga allows both aspiring types to be part of it. Proceed with courage.
The adaptation of Yoga as a status symbol is becoming a fashion. Enlighten us: After all, why should we go to Yoga?
It is derogatory to use terms such as “fashion” or “status symbol” together with a pious concept such as “Yoga”, a part of “Real or Pure Religion”. Directly or indirectly, fashion is a commercial activity, an activity that takes place entirely in the material world; Yoga, on the other hand, has nothing to do with any commercial or professional thinking. First, we need to understand what Yoga is. In Sanskrit, the word “Yoga” means: to unite. Let’s talk, in short, about its most applied meaning.
Humankind exists on a physical and more subtle level; now this is no longer a secret. Consequently, we have a coarser world (our entire material world including our physical body) and a more subtle world (composed of the mind, intellect, ego, spirit, etc.). Humans try to live on both of these levels. Given its apparent visibility, man finds it easy to interact with the outside world. In this way, the internal world and the knowledge connected to it, remain almost neglected. This creates a typical imbalance in the existence of humans. All miseries and loss of mental peace are the results of this imbalance. Indeed, “Religion” has the task of fully understanding both of these worlds.
Gradually, with the passage of time and with the development of intellectual philosophies, all activities have been locked up and concentrated in the outside world. The “Pure Religion” must take care of all existence. “Yoga” is the spiritual science that takes care of the inner plane and therefore unites it with the external world, bringing a balance in the existence of the person. Almost all people in the world, or at least the majority of them, nowadays have this imbalance. The lack of peace in the world and chaos in societies are experienced by everyone.
This demonstrates the urgent need for each of us to approach “Yoga”.
Unfortunately, unfortunately, “Yoga” is also becoming a type of professional activity. The execution of some asanas, pranayama or some “Hath Yoga” practices is taken as the actual “Yoga”. This is not true. We must understand better: Yoga is any practice that totally unites the internal world and the external world and removes any imbalance. Several ways or paths have been developed by spiritual scientists, namely the “Rishi”. They are: The Path of Action (Karma Yoga), the Path of Knowledge (Gyam Yoga), the Path of Devotion (Bhakti Yoga), the Path of Mind Control (Raja Yoga).
The path to be chosen depends on the characteristics and the basic nature of the aspirant. An action person, action in the world, can achieve his goal through activities in the world. The intellectual, logical, discriminatory man is best suited for Gyan Yoga. Bhakti Yoga is suitable for emotional people, who live with the heart. Strong-willed people who like to face dangers should choose Raj Yoga. But, remember, a realized Guru can choose the most suitable path for an aspirant. If chosen wrongly, this can lead to frustration and finally, the researcher could turn into an atheist, who does not even believe in himself.
In these times the word “Yoga” has become synonymous with “Raja Yoga”. But we must be very careful when choosing a Yoga path.
Choose carefully and proceed with courage.
I have been doing meditation for five years. After each session, I feel a typical heaviness in the head. Sure, I have observed a marked improvement in my performance in professional life, but I still suffer from anger. At home I find it difficult to keep myself at peace. Please guide me, what should I do in these conditions?
Let me explain some basic notions about the constitution of the mind and its functioning. The mind is a large cone of energy which performs various functions under the light of “Consciousness”. Some of these functions are: Thought, Analysis, Discrimination, Memory recording; Reaction, Execution, Emotional Accumulation, etc. According to the function performed, different names are used, such as: The Conscious Mind; the Intellect, the Subconscious Mind; Lego; the Spiritual Heart, the Super-conscious Mind, etc. All of these operate in the light of consciousness. Wherever the light of consciousness is present, that part of the energy cone is activated.
In the conscious state, the Conscious mind, Intellect and Ego are the main actors, while the subconscious mind remains in the background. The subconscious mind, in fact, is a very deep part of the energy cone. It bears the imprints of all your memories, including your basic nature and habits. Negative characteristics like anger, lust, greed, envy and desire have their roots in the subconscious mind. The roots of almost all the miseries of mankind go back to the subconscious mind.
When the light of consciousness falls on the conscious mind and some stimuli enter through the senses, the whole phenomenon of awakening begins. In the case of the sleep state, the light of consciousness focuses on the subconscious mind, while the conscious mind and intellect are completely out of order and withdrawn, so that the subconscious mind can create all dreams using its storehouse of memories. The Ego helps in building these dreams.
Even in the conscious state, whenever the subconscious mind has the opportunity to connect with the light of consciousness, it causes the conscious mind to swing in the past and then in the future, like a pendulum. It is a completely normal experience in the common human being.
The above explained is, in summary, the functioning and constitution of our inner part. The life of the common man is normally lived involuntarily, mechanically. Meditation is an effort made to live some moments voluntarily in order to stimulate the inner energy. Inner practices of the mind are carried out in two ways:
Concentration:
Whenever we try to access the subtler inner body voluntarily (that is, with full awareness), the aim is to focus the dispersed energy of the mind in one place. During concentration, this phenomenon remains confined to the surface or to a much smaller depth than the energy cone of the mind. The light of consciousness affects only the thinking mind and the intellect. This surface energy of the mind begins to flow in one direction. To perform this practice, we normally help ourselves with the use of a mantra, an object, a color, etc. For this practice, some mental energy is already being consumed. Remember, during concentration the light of concentration remains confined to the surface of the energy cone and does not penetrate deeply into the subconscious mind. And our negative characteristics or habits are based in the subconscious mind. They remain unchanged. Once you exit the practice of concentration, the initial consumption of mental energy leads to a heaviness that will go out in a few moments. At this point, your newly recovered and concentrated mental energy will help you perform your worldly chores in an optimal way. It is not surprising to find greater efficiency in such people. But since there has been no effect on the subconscious mind, your negative habits and characteristics will remain the same. Thus, people of high concentration will continue to suffer from their negative characteristics, such as anger, lust, etc.
In history there are many cases of these “so called” Yogis who would have done “miracles” thanks to the concentration of the mind, but who have lived immoral lives. Thus the concentrated mind can be a trap, unless it evolves completely through the cleansing of the subconscious mind.
Meditation:
This is a very profound practice to get rid of negative habits and characteristics. And this will never happen unless you deal with the subconscious mind. We must bring the full light of consciousness into the subconscious mind. And without getting involved in the act of practice, we allow the light of consciousness to focus on the subconscious mind. During practice, we remain in a state of observation, with full awareness. An initial practice of concentration will certainly help in meditation, but we must free ourselves from concentration after a few moments. Otherwise, concentration will not allow the light of consciousness to penetrate. So, in meditation, the easiest approach is: Sit down and start concentrating for a few moments initially and then let go and retire as an observer. Let the light of consciousness do its part. Just stay like an observer, a completely neutral observer.
Comment on the Question: Apparently, our interlocutor is most likely performing concentration in the name of meditation. The proof of this is the feeling of heaviness in the head after each session. Thus the light of consciousness will have no effect on the subconscious’ archive, including its negative anger characteristics. This anger wakes up periodically. Unless negative characteristics and habits are overcome, expectations of peace will remain a mirage.
So it is recommended to adjust the practice according to your needs. Best wishes.
Why should I do an act of charity? After all, I created all my wealth, putting my own effort into it. How is charity connected to moral life?
At first glance his statement “I created all my riches” seems perfectly acceptable. But, before passing any judgment, let’s analyze the whole act of charity.
Let’s talk about the whole scenario of the life of a very successful person (materially) in this world, from birth to death. We observe:
- He was conceived in the womb through the collaboration of a woman and a man, whom he affectionately calls mother and father.
- He survives in his womb thanks to the collaboration of his mother, who shares food and air with him. The father collaborates by providing food, etc.
- Once out of the womb, this defenseless child grows up to become a professional adult through the collaboration of all society (family, friends, school, teachers, agricultural producers, etc.), of the mother “Earth “and animated and inanimate things (buildings, roads, etc.).
- At this point, after all this collaboration, he begins in life to create the wealth that he claims to be his creation. Where does this so-called wealth come from? It comes from the collaboration of an infinite list of sources.
- Then he comes to the twilight period of his life with all the riches he has created. Without the collaboration of a stick, he cannot move even one step …
- Finally, with the collaboration of four shoulders, he reaches his last home.
Now, if we withdraw the collaboration in all the phases indicated above, where will our “wealth creator” remain? One should feel truly humble in the face of such a collaboration from all sections of society, from apparently inanimate things (buildings, streets, etc.) to all animated objects. How can humankind boast of self-creation, while it is not even able to manage, in its own body, respiration, digestion and blood circulation? It is the “Lord”, on the other hand, who takes care of all these involuntary activities in the Cosmos.
Misunderstanding about charity: Giving is not charity. In modern times, something useless is considered a thing for charity. Just observe, whenever anything becomes superfluous or useless, one immediately thinks I will give it to someone for charity. Think, if something is of no use to you, then it becomes garbage for you. By giving it away, you are getting rid of this garbage. This act of giving is simply a cleaning of the garbage. Unfortunately, in wealthy societies around the world, charity takes place with such reasoning.
Charity is a feeling, an emotional outflow from one’s heart, in response to the debt that we all bear in front of the collaboration of the whole universe. Charity is an act of “thanksgiving”.
Charity does not only mean “giving away” in the physical sense. It should come from the heart, like an emotion. This is the quality of one’s heart. Charity can exist in various forms: In the gross form, material can be given away; in the form of teaching, good advice can be given; physical acts of help can be offered, as in the case of elderly people or children; one can pray for someone’s well-being, as a more subtle form of charity, etc.
Think that there are beggars in the world who perform charity, giving alms to other disabled beggars, as a thank you.
So, dear interlocutor, it’s time to let go of this feeling: “I created my wealth”. Statements of this kind are signs of “Ego”, which comes from ignorance and illusion. Remember, all religions consider “ignorance” a huge sin. And spiritually, even the “Ego” is a great obstacle for the evolution of any human being. “Ecology” is the right way to live in this Cosmos. Ecology represents a garland made of all things in the Cosmos, with the thread of God’s grace. Honor this grace.
Come out of ignorance and humbly do charity. Amen.