As described in my earlier article… thoughts in the mind generate because we have five senses. So broadly there are five kinds of thoughts. Again each thought may either be of pleasure or of pain. This way there are ten types of thoughts. Patanjali further describes each of these ten types of thoughts may be based on proof(pramana), or an opposite(viparyay), or an alternative(vikalpa), or forming sleep(nidra) or forming memory(smriti).
Patanjali emphasized that thoghts based on proof should be accepted, because these are directly perceived. There are six things in the world which can be directly perceived; these are sight, sound, smell, taste, touch and soul(true self). While senses perceive sight, sound, smell, taste and touch, soul(atman) is perceived in the mind through total concentration(samadhi). No seventh thing exists in the whole universe that can be perceived directly. The thought of God and heaven as separate from soul is opposite to proven thought. This is because those who are unable to realise true self or are ignorant about the greatness of true self, depend upon alternative thought or dualism where soul is separate from and inferior to God. Such people remain in constant sleep and bear in themselves all past memories which include all traditional and religious believes and practices.
In order to control thoughts Patanjali teaches - thoughts may be controlled throgh practice(abhyasa) and detachment(vairagya)(I.12). Then he describes what practice is. Practice is to stay there carefully(I.13). But where is to stay? The answer lies in his previous instruction. A seer or practitioner should try to reach or stay there in true self.
In order to practice controlling of thoughts, one has to practice eight limbs(parts) of Yoga. The eight limbs of Yoga shall be described in a later article. At present, there are numerous Yoga shops operating accross the globe and selling yogic exercises, breathing exercises and meditation practices. But these are flawed and hazardous. Practitioners shall get the benefit of exercise only. They may not achieve the aim of Yoga, which is to realise true self.
This practice should continue regularly for a long time with sincerity and confidence(I.14). The final result may come later; but once a seeker starts practicing, he feels the difference. The body and mind becomes pure and light by dispelling undesirable elements like germs and disease from the body and evil thoughts from the mind. Mind becomes pure and intelligence becomes sharp. Such a mind overcomes ignorance, bondage and fear of death.
Now let us see what detachment(vairagya) is. Patanjali teaches - to remain dispassionate and to subjugate those things that are seen or heard of, is detachment(I.15). The world constitutes of all living beings and material things and to bring this world under control is subjugation(vashikara). Subjugation is not to bring everything under control through power, but to remain dispassionate to everything. This subjugation is detachment. One does not have to run away from the society; but by remaining in the society one may subjugate everything and develop detachment. Detachment is non-attraction. One should not be attracted to those things that are seen or heard of.
We see the attractive and beautiful objects of the world. But we should not be attracted towards them. Because the world is ultimately false. Objects that are seen and thoughts relating to them are based on proof. But they are of no use in realisation of true self. Similarly we should not believe those things that are heard of only. Gods and Goddesses, heaven and hell, angels and ghosts are only heard of. So Patanjali instructs a seer should not be attracted to those things that are either seen or heard of.
Author Mr Premansu Chand, 40, is and Indian and Govt. servent. He reads scriptures and practices Yoga. He has published a book “Quest for Truth: the spiritual and yogic way” recently. The aim is to spread true spiritualism and yoga.
http://www.bookstobelievein.com/questfortruth.php
premansu_chand@rediffmail.com
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
February 25, 2009
February 23, 2009
Karmic Yoga and the Breath
During ancient times, even before Abraham, there were a set of priests who worshipped the God Yahweh. It was said that Abraham was baptized and initiated in the order by one of the priests who already resided in the land of Canaan. When we begin to look deeply at the idea of God that this priesthood put forward, it is easy to see that this priesthood was a group of people steeped in the mystic tradition.
The name Yahweh is very interesting and powerful. Many Jewish people would not mention the name, because it was too sacred. It was said to be unmentionable. One reason, however, that others think it is unmentionable is because one is incapable of hollering the name or even saying it loudly. If you will do a little experiment with me you will see why. Here is the experiment.
Curve your tongue just a bit and move it close to the pallet of your mouth so that you can hear a soft hiss each time you exhale. With each exhalation listen to the sound of the breath as it leaves the body. You will find that it is constant and strong going out and then, just before you are ready to inhale again and the diaphragm is resetting itself, it changes. The breath sounds like the name of the God. Is it any wonder that the name of the God couldn?t be spoken? Is it any wonder that the name is translated in two ways?
One translation is the verb of being?that which is, which was, and which will be. Another is that which creates. It is also interesting that the word spirit in almost every religion, can be translated as wind, or breath. When we look at this and think about the idea in Genesis where it says that God breathed his breath into the man made of the earth and he became a living soul, it can take us to an even deeper realization: The breath that exists in every person, or the spirit that exists in every person, is that little creative part of God in all of us.
As we inhale and exhale we are saying the name of God over and over again in our daily lives. When we cease to call the name of God life in the body ceases. Thus comes the importance of breathing and seeking the divine.
One of the first thing a meditation teacher will tell you, usually, is to concentrate on the breath when you are first beginning. The amount of breath taken in or pushed out is what makes the meditation work. The amount of the spirit taken in makes the meditation work, in other words.
As we breath we breath in oxygen. We breath in sub atomic particles and molecules that repair, or recreate, the damaged parts of the body. As we exhale carbon dioxide and the parts of the body that have been discarded along with toxins and poisons are carried out of the body. We are being recreated using the parts of other people, plants, animals and the other. This is done by the creative power of what many of us call God, or spirit.
Next time you meditate, or breath deeply, or chant, be sure to pay attention, realizing just how important every breath is, because it is the name and essence, in action, of God. And when you meditate you may just be able to try to find the secret name of God. Perhaps the secret name of God can be found in the silence of inhalation.
John Gilmore is a writer, martial artists, healer and Four Minute Chi-Kung Seminary leader. For more information on this topic read On Being Love?s Warrior: A Warrior?s Manual on Becoming the Compassionate Warrior Within, by Kendall Ronin (Free ebook copies are available for a limited time), visit http://www.dswellness.com, or explore some of the writings of Matthew Fox or Brian Swimme.
The name Yahweh is very interesting and powerful. Many Jewish people would not mention the name, because it was too sacred. It was said to be unmentionable. One reason, however, that others think it is unmentionable is because one is incapable of hollering the name or even saying it loudly. If you will do a little experiment with me you will see why. Here is the experiment.
Curve your tongue just a bit and move it close to the pallet of your mouth so that you can hear a soft hiss each time you exhale. With each exhalation listen to the sound of the breath as it leaves the body. You will find that it is constant and strong going out and then, just before you are ready to inhale again and the diaphragm is resetting itself, it changes. The breath sounds like the name of the God. Is it any wonder that the name of the God couldn?t be spoken? Is it any wonder that the name is translated in two ways?
One translation is the verb of being?that which is, which was, and which will be. Another is that which creates. It is also interesting that the word spirit in almost every religion, can be translated as wind, or breath. When we look at this and think about the idea in Genesis where it says that God breathed his breath into the man made of the earth and he became a living soul, it can take us to an even deeper realization: The breath that exists in every person, or the spirit that exists in every person, is that little creative part of God in all of us.
As we inhale and exhale we are saying the name of God over and over again in our daily lives. When we cease to call the name of God life in the body ceases. Thus comes the importance of breathing and seeking the divine.
One of the first thing a meditation teacher will tell you, usually, is to concentrate on the breath when you are first beginning. The amount of breath taken in or pushed out is what makes the meditation work. The amount of the spirit taken in makes the meditation work, in other words.
As we breath we breath in oxygen. We breath in sub atomic particles and molecules that repair, or recreate, the damaged parts of the body. As we exhale carbon dioxide and the parts of the body that have been discarded along with toxins and poisons are carried out of the body. We are being recreated using the parts of other people, plants, animals and the other. This is done by the creative power of what many of us call God, or spirit.
Next time you meditate, or breath deeply, or chant, be sure to pay attention, realizing just how important every breath is, because it is the name and essence, in action, of God. And when you meditate you may just be able to try to find the secret name of God. Perhaps the secret name of God can be found in the silence of inhalation.
John Gilmore is a writer, martial artists, healer and Four Minute Chi-Kung Seminary leader. For more information on this topic read On Being Love?s Warrior: A Warrior?s Manual on Becoming the Compassionate Warrior Within, by Kendall Ronin (Free ebook copies are available for a limited time), visit http://www.dswellness.com, or explore some of the writings of Matthew Fox or Brian Swimme.
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