The Essence of Yoga

Indian Vedic wisdom originated in remote antiquity and covers a wide range of knowledge including astronomy, mathematics, grammar, philosophy and physical health matters.

Yoga is one of the six classical schools of philosophy and was established as a system by the early Rishis and saints with Patanjali and Shankara being amongst those best known and followed ever since their written work dating several centuries before the time of Christ.

The science has since been developed further by the experiences and discoveries of generations of  successive teachers or Gurus and by exponents who continue to apply simple natural laws relating to health and to human consciousness. This valuable science that has endured for so long, offers benefit on all levels of man’s being. It is an integral system with the purpose of combining knowledge of the body, personality, mind and spirit.

The aim of yogic philosophy is to assist an individual to spiritual realization of truths for himself. It comprises several margas or pathways which have been designed to satisfy people with different approaches. For instance, an emotional person who seeks to realise God as Love will be attracted to incorporate the Bhakti marga of devotion. An intellectually inclined aspirant will no doubt be satisfied to develop the mind through Raja marga and someone wishing to know all about physical health matters will choose the path of Hatha Yoga. However, essentially all knowledge is to become integrated and all disciplines incorporated in the spiritual practice of the student which is known as his Sadhana.

Meditation is common to all yogic disciplines, not only for relief of stress but to stretch and expand the mind, enabling us to experience deep relaxation and peace as well as heightened states of consciousness.

The natural simplicity of yoga teachings attracts the attention of many people today who are searching for guidelines as to how to help themselves towards a healthier, happier, more meaningful and nobler way of living.

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Yoga is one of the 6 major Indian classical schools of philosophy within the ancient system of the Vedas. Although something is known of the development of some aspects of the yogic methodology and several great yogis are known to us from that early period, in the west we are humbled by the immensity of the coverage of subject matter in Vedic teachings. We would be overwhelmed by the studies necessary to understand in depth its wisdom. Nor are we in a position to fully evaluate the accumulated contributions made to the science over the thousands of years of its existence by the wise. Even Indian scholars find it difficult to penetrate the extent of its teaching and rely upon traditional legend to provide them with a basis for their insight and understanding.

The Vedas would seem to be the blanket wisdom teachings from antiquity which inherently possessed or perhaps gave birth to the methods for developing spiritual consciousness by which we identify the branch of the teaching known to us as Yoga.

Yoga as a philosophy is traditionally woven into the living mental fibre of all people of any race and culture who accept natural ethical and moral laws and precepts and seek to integrate these universal teachings into their lives.

The law of Karma and consideration of re-incarnation although considered a new concept by many in western culture is understood as a natural human recycling experience by those tutored in cultures that have embraced the idea for thousands of years. Our opinions matter little when considered the truth of this law. Nature’s laws function, whether we observe them working or not. Personal confirmation will remain as our only proof and this can only come to us through our own experience.

To seek the truth in physics or science is one thing. To try to prove a non-material law can be a waste of time when we have every great spiritual teacher instructing us similarly regarding life certainties and laws. Eternal truths, when embraced, offer us a support to move forward with acceptance of the larger issues, and encourage us to apply what we know to our advantage. This is the advantage of a tradition that focuses upon age-old truths and the wisdom of great men and teachers who have lived, and still live in various countries and cultures throughout the world.

Yogic disciplines commence with the aim to know God. Its methods are designed to discipline the body, emotions and the mind in order to focus upon the wisdom within our soul self.  It is this that prepares us to know the reality of our own soul before the ultimate spiritual reality when we experience a sense of at-one-ment with Universal Consciousness.

This expanded awareness is not possible without first consciously releasing ourselves from the enslavement of self consciousness of the personality ego. We must be able, having first built up our different parts of the personality, to let go our selves – to become selfless. This is so easy to say, so hard to do. The personality is designed to express itself and to defend its existence. Much of our early years of life are spent in building up the strength of the personality and asserting our individuality, and asserting our personal free will.

 We then have to learn to re-evaluate life with selflessness as the requirement if we wish to seek wider adventures in consciousness.

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ANCIENT INDIAN CUSTOMS

 Various traditional practices of Yoga are maintained but most are modified or adapted to suit western culture. However, one should be aware of the Indian customs as they are generally regarded as the basis of Yoga teaching courtesies everywhere.

 In India, generally after a period as householder and applying the general health practices and ethical discipline, it is accepted as natural for a mature person who wishes to advance his spiritual life and follow a life of renunciation and philosophic studies, to leave family life and seek a spiritual Guru.

Although many young people are encouraged to take interest in spiritual life, there are few who of their own volition, choose the way of austerity and are willing to renounce all the experiences of material life. However, in India these rare souls are respected and sometimes commence intense meditation and studies as children and grow to tutor others, but these are the exceptional ones.

Centres of general teaching, established for the purpose of spiritual training and meditation, are known as Ashrams. As with the monasteries of the west, part of their function is concerned in healing and they remain open to everyone in need. 

As the practices of Yoga, both physical and ethical, are usually integral in the daily life of the householder from childhood, as is the acceptance of reincarnation, the idea of going off to a group gathering ‘to practise Yoga’, as in the west, is a foreign one. There were no formal yoga classes nor was Yoga taught in the schools in India until comparatively recently. The general philosophy was that parents serve as initial guides in ethics and morals as well as the spiritual principles until the child matures to seek his or her ideal personal spiritual Guru. The Gurus were considered supremely wise aesthetics living as recluses and were sustained by tributes and offerings of flowers, fruit and other foods.

  A string of beads known as a mala provides a type of rosary used in prayer and mantra and held in the hands for meditation.  The Guru magnetizes or impregnates the beads with his influence when initiating the chela, to provide a psychic link, but afterwards, no one but the chela touches it. We respect this observance that applies to any sacred symbol.

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WESTERN PRACTICE OF YOGA

Practising Hatha Yoga has few material requirements.  Some of the simple traditions are retained in western teaching according to custom when individuals are comfortable when adopting them.  However, the basic preparations and guiding rules for the physical health practices are adhered to universally before any Yoga practice and particularly classwork in Hatha Yoga.

Firstly a natural environment is chosen in the fresh air, preferably near water – or in a studio free of air conditioning but where an attractive atmosphere can be created by flowers, incense and natural influences.

Prior attention ensures that bowels, kidneys and stomach are empty

Clothing as light as possible and of natural fibre – avoid synthetics

A personal mat made of natural fibres placed upon the earth or floor establishes hygienic personal area in group work

When entering an ashram or teaching studio – taking off footwear is symbolic of a temporary shedding of the contact with worldly activities.  This rule is insisted upon.

A teacher is an Acharya.   A spiritual teacher who inspires and is responsible for spiritual guidance of a Chela is known as his or her Guru. Casual western use of the term is therefore offensive to those who understand its significance.

Courteous greeting and acknowledgement of the teacher or Acharya is natural. Generally in Indian society, greetings are not by touch and handshake but by the customary gesture of placing the two palms of the hands in the prayer position and slight bow of the head in sign of mutual respect and acknowledgement of the goodness within the other.

The traditional spiritual Asana of devotion to the Guru is modified when at the conclusion of practice the Yoga Mudra position  may be taken as a ‘thank you’ to the teacher or as an impersonal acknowledgement of God and the great Universal Consciousness.

The position facing East or North is chosen for practising meditation.

North/South polarity is used for placement of the body for relaxation.

Best Yoga practice times are recommended as dawn, midday, sunset, midnight or 6am, noon, 6p.m and midnight

Vegetarian diet is obligatory in India and followed by all serious students of Yoga who practise the ethic of non-violence

Fasting at special times for physical purification to cure disease and also it is advised universally prior to spiritual festivals.

If suffering illness, herbs and foods and water are taken as medicines as advised in Ayurvedic system or as now aligned to naturopathic practices.

A serious student seeking spiritual truths is called a Sadhaka and encouraged in study of all wisdom teachings and sacred writings of the world.

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