Yoga teaches mind control, discipline and spiritual harmony
In an interview with The Tribune, Dr Satish K Kapoor, former Principal of Lyallpur Khalsa College, explains the relevance of yoga in modern times.
What is Yoga? To some, it is a bunch of postural and breathing exercises designed to instil a sense of wellbeing in the practitioner. To others, it is a mystic way to obtain perfection or paranormal ability (siddhi).
To many more, it is a spiritual discipline having many dimensions like Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga, Mantra Yoga, Laya Yoga, Dhyana Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Vihangam Yoga, Surat-Shabda Yoga, etc. All forms of yoga seek to expand human awareness beyond neural fields so that the individual spirit can unite with the supreme spirit.
The popular Hatha Yoga, in its various forms today, relates to physical exercises, breathing methods, internal locks, hand gestures, cleansing practices, etc. The syllables ha and tha, in Hatha Yoga, symbolise the sun and the moon respectively and correspond to positive and negative currents of life-force that flow through the left and right nostrils of a person. The aim of Hatha Yoga, as described in Hatha Yoga Pradipika (I.69), is to help the seeker to gradually move “from muscle to mind and beyond.”
To some, Yoga is jivana-darshana, a philosophy of life that is integral to Sanatana Dharma (popularly called Hinduism); to others, it aligns with the fitness tradition that has evolved over a period of time, incorporating the spiritual elements of Buddhism, Jainism, and other faiths.
Some styles of yoga are slow-paced, others dynamic; some focus on physical variations, others on breathing practices. Some combine yoga with aerial arts, soft music or devotional songs; others stick to its classical form. Some use mantras in yogic practice, others avoid potent sound lest it violates their religious belief. Yet, all forms and styles point to the popularity of yoga and its relevance in present times.
Yoga cannot be equated with gymnastics, acrobatics, or general exercise, since it has a higher dimension to it. Its aim is not to display ‘circus feats’ but to make the body-mind complex fit for inner transformation.
Yoga recognises the principle of the unity of the cosmos and disdains violence in all forms. It perceives harmony between the macrocosm and the microcosm, between matter, mind and consciousness, between man and nature, and so on. Sri Krishna tells Arjuna in the Bhagavadgita (II.48): samatvam yoga uchyate – “Equilibrium is verily yoga.”
Yoga teaches that one should acquire ‘skill in action’ by concentrated efforts, control the vagaries of the mind by viveka-khyati, or wisdom born of discernment, master the senses by self-discipline, spiritualise feelings and emotions by love and devotion to Ishvara, God, and align with the rhythm of the cosmos by spiritual practice. It shows the path to higher life by goading one to annihilate pancha-vikaras, namely, lust, anger, greed, infatuation, and the ego.
By following the outer (bahya) and inner (antaranga) yogic practices, as prescribed by the sage Patanjali, even an ordinary person can maintain health, reduce stress and remain happy.
From an understanding of unitary consciousness flows the idea that peace in the family, community, or the world is possible if each one believes in universal selfhood, as alluded to in ancient texts on Yoga and Vedanta. Yoga is not escapism but a science of holistic health and an art of divine transformation.
Jalandhar