The Essence of Yoga

And thus shall ye think of all this fleeting world

A star at night, a bubble in a stream

A flash of lightning in a summer cloud

A flickering lamp, a phantom – and a dream.

Katha Upanishad

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Look to this day,

For it is life, the very life of life

In its brief course lie all the varieties and realities of your existence

The bliss of growth, the glory of action,

The splendour of beauty;

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Be still.

Pour your thought from the head down into the region of the heart.

From thinking love, begin to feel Love and radiate your Love – to things, creatures, to friends and to those in need and to Nature itself.  Love has no limits…

Having emptied our hearts in lovingness…again Be Still ….

To feel the incoming tide of Universal love drawn to replenish us!

A talk delivered by renowned philosopher and teacher of Raja Yoga, Gerrit Janssen at the Naturopathic Convention 1967 Sydney NSW

I have been asked to say a few things about the training of the mind or Raja Yoga. It is known as the Royal Path because for its noble purpose in seeking to develop human excellence and apply self control in the most difficult area of self discipline- the personality.

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DABAI Canarium odontophyllum from Sarawak, Borneo is a fruit that is best prepared before eating by soaking in warm water until it becomes softer before seasoning it with soy sauce. The yellowish flesh is creamy.

DAMSON PLUM, SATIN LEAF Chrysophyllum oliviforme  small plum like fruits with blue black skins with bloom. The flavour is strong and tart. Grows wild in hedgerows and also commercially availableas it is popularly used as a stewed fruit and as ‘damson cheese’ or wine in England and Europe.

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The aspirant undertakes certain self disciplines when following the spiritual path of Yoga. These are essential for everyone who wishes to apply themselves to the art of living with spiritual values replacing the material ones that dominate at present.

Classical yogic disciplines have remained unchanged for centuries. Although they can be adopted and also adapted by people of any culture or religion, the fundamental principles do not alter. Many aspects are incorporated in the lives of people of every nation and culture.

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If we undertake personal self discipline for the purpose of allowing better and clearer reflection of our higher of nobler self it demands a degree of self analysis as a starting point. It will help us to comprehend the character of the ‘clay’ that we seek to mould and re-shape to our design.

So we need to acknowledge our present personality.

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Yoga is well known to involve personal undertakings regarding self culture of body, emotions and mind. In concert these represents our whole outer personality. The purpose aims at excellence – a concept determined by the individual’s perception of the ideal.

Once we understand and can govern the personality we are better able to demonstrate the deeper expressions of our soul. As we further aspire to spiritual understanding we open our consciousness to the limitless spheres beyond – the Universal Consciousness or God.

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Many parents who practise the physical disciplines of Yoga are able to pass on appropriate health benefits to their children by helping them to understand natural health principles and so encourage their co-operation. Building better health of course begins under direction of the parents but the practical skills and benefits are usually readily experienced, to serve as an encouragement to young ones.

Yoga teachers who have been trained to understand the modifications and cautions that accompany the health practices that were first designed for adult application are able to train and inspire children to take a positive life approach.

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Whether we seek for relief from pain and suffering, or for courage to melt our fears, or for enlightenment and understanding, or look towards a recipient for our aspiration and devotion, we turn to prayer.

Although it is generally formulated in religious observances and rituals, it is something that arises in us spontaneously from our hearts and most intensely when we feel the need for a power we cannot generate ourselves when seeking to relieve the pain of another.

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