WHAT IS THE MEANING OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE?

 

              * SHLOKA (MUNDAKA UPANISHAD, SECTION 1)

                       SAUNAKO HA VAI MAHASALO ANGIRASAM VIDHIVAD

                       UPASANNAH PAPRACCHA, KASMIN NU BHAGAVO VIJNATE

                       SARVAM IDAM VIJNATAM BHAVATI ITI

                   SAUNAKA, THE GREAT HOUSEHOLDER DULY APPROACHED SAGE ANGIRAS AND ASKED, THROUGH WHAT BEING KNOWN, VENERABLE SIR, DOES ALL THIS BECOME KNOWN? ANGIRAS SAYS:

                  SHLOKA 4

                  TASAMI SA HO VACA, DVE VIDYE VEDITANYE ITI HA SMA YAD

                   BRAHMAVIDO VADANTI,

                   PARA CAIVAPARA CA

                   TWO KINDS OF KNOWLEDGE ARE TO BE KNOWN AS INDEED THE KNOWERS OF BRAHMAN DECLARE - THE HIGHER AS WELL AS THE LOWER.

                SHLOKA 5

               TATRAPARA RIG-VEDO YAJUR-VEDAH SAMA-VEDA ATHARVA-

               VEDAH SIKSA KALPO VYAKARANAM NIRUKTAIN CHANDO

                JYOTISAM - ITI

               ATHA PARA YAYA TAD AKSARAM ADHIGAMYATE

                     OF THESE, THE LOWER IS THE RIG VEDA, THE YAJUR VEDA AND THE SAMA VEDA, THE ATHARVA VEDA, PHONETICS, RITUAL, GRAMMER, AND ETYMOLOGY, METRICS AND ASTROLOGY. AND THE HIGHER IS THAT BY WHICH THE UNECAYING IS APPREHENDED.

                       THIS IS NOT A CALL TO ABANDON THE VEDAS. SAGE ANGIRAS DECLARES THAT THE KNOWLEDGE OF VEDA, EVEN IF IT DOES NOT LEAD TO THE HIGHER TRUTH, IS STILL CONSIDERED LOWER KNOWLEDGE. BY UNDERSTANDING THE VEDAS WITH CLARITY - UPANISHAD BEING PART OF THE VEDAS- ONE UNDERSTANDS THAT THE ACCUMULATION OF MERE THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE IS OF NO USE, BUT MAY ACTUALLY ACT AS A BARRIER TO UNDERSTANDING THE TRUTH. IT THIS IS NOT GRASPED, EVEN THE VEDAS BECOME LOWER KNOWLEDGE.

                   NOW, KNOWLEDGE AND MEMORY, WHICH PATANJALI SAYS ARE THE LAST OBSTRUCTIONS OR COVERINGS THAT VEIL THE EXPERIENCE OF SAVIKALPA SAMADHI, WHERE THE PURUSHA SHINES FORTH IN BLISSFUL SOLITUDE, ARE DISCUSSED IN ANOTHER UPANISHAD. IT WOULD BE WORTHWHILE LOOKING INTO IT BEFORE MOVING INTO THE NEXT SECTION OF THE YOGA SUTRAS CALLED THE SADHANA PADA OR SECTION ON PRACTICE. IN THE ISHWASYA UPANISHAD, SHLOKA 9 MAKES A RATHER  CONFUSING STATEMENT WHICH HAS OFTEN LEFT THE SCHOLARLY CONFOUNDED.

                    

                    ANDHAM TAMAH PRAVISANTI YE VIDYAMUPASATE

                   TATO BHUYA IVA TE TAMYO YA U VIDYAYAM RATAH

                       INTO BLINDIN DARKNESS ENTER WHO WORSHIP IGNORANCE AND THOSE WHO DELIGHT IN KNOWLEDGE ENTER INTO STILL GREATER KNEES AS IT WERE.

                        THE FIRST PART : "INTO BLINDING DARKNESS ENTER THOSE WHO WORSHIP IGNORANCE WOULD BE WELCOME BY ALL THOSE WHO LIKE TO THINK THEY ARE NOT IGNORANT BUT ARE FULL OF KNOWLEDGE. BUT THE SECOND PART, AND THOSE WHO DELIGHT IN KNOWLEDGE ENTER INTO STILL GREATER "DARKNESS", WOULD SHOCK THE VOTARIES OF KNOWLEDGE AND SCHOLARSHIP, WHO ARE ACCORDING TO THE MUNDAKA UPANISHAD, STILL PURSUING LOWER KNOWLEDGE.

                   THE FIRST PART OF THE SHLOKA  ALSO MEANS THAT THE IGNORANT GO ABOUT UNDER THE ILLUSION THAT THEY ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE AS FAR AS THE ULTIMATE TRUTH IS CONCERNED. THIS IS AGAIN REFERED TO IN THE PART OF THE SHLOKA WHICH DISCUSSES HIGHER AND LOWER KNOWLEDGE.

                  AMONG THE OTHER REASON IS THE FACT THAT THOSE WHO MERELY POSSESS BOOKISH KNOWLEDGE OFTEN SWELL WITH PRIDE, WHICH MAKES THEM BLIND TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ULTIMATE TRUTH.

                  ONE OF THE LAST IMPURITIES THAT STICK TO THE  MIND AND WHICH NEES TO BE SCRUPULOUSLY WASHED AWAY BEFORE THE MIND ATTAINS SAMADHI AND RESTS  IN THE PURUSHA, AS THE YOGA DARSHANA NAMES THE TRUTH, IS PRIDE IN NAME AND FAME. THOSE WHO WORSHIP KNOWLEDGE AND ARE PUFFED UP IN PRIDE END UP WORSHIPPING THEMSELVES.

                   THE SECOND PART OF THE SHLOKA WAS EXPLAINED TO ME BY SRI MAHESHWARNATH BABAJI, MY GURU.

                 BABAJI : WHEN YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING,

                WHAT DO YOU DO?

                 DISCIPLE : I LOOK AT IT, FEEL IT AND READ ABOUT  IT AND SAY, " I NOW HAVE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT IT".

                  BABAJI : SO, YOU STORE YOUR KNOWLEDGE IN YOUR MEMORY AND WHEN YOU SAY YOU HAVE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT IT, IT SIMPLY MEANS THAT YOU CA AT ANY TIME RECOVER THE MEMORY OF IT AND SAY, "YES, I KNOW IT",

                DISCIPLE : YES, BABAJI.

                BABAJI : SO YOUR KNOWLEDGE IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING STORED 

                 IN YOUR MEMORY.

               DISCIPLE : YES.

               BABAJI : SO ALL KNOWLEDGE IS MEMORY. ALL MEMORY IS IN THE PAST. THE VERY WORD, 'MEMORY' MEANS REMEMBRANCE AND REMEMBERANCE IS FROM THE PAST. SO IF ALL KNOWLEDGE IS MEMORY, ALL KNOWLEDGE IN THE PAST.

                 DISICIPLE : COME TO THINK OF IT, YES.

                   BABAJI : BUT, TRUTH, MY DEAR BOY, CANNOT BE IN THE PAST. IT IS ALWAYS THE PRESENT, RIGHT NOW, NOT SOMETHING STORED IN THE MEMORY AND RECALLED. THE ISHVARYA UPANISHAD DECLARES, 'ISHAVASYAM IDAM SARVA'. NOTE THE WORD 'IDAM, HERE AND NOW'.

                   IF YOU WORSHIP KNOWLEDGE, MY BOY, YOU ARE EXPERIENCING THE PAST AND ENTERING BLINDING DARKNESS. THE TRUTH IS NOW. SEE IT?

                   DISCIPLE : I SEE IT . CLEARLY. MAY I TOUCH YOUR FEET?

                     BABAJI : YOU MAY.

   

HOW TO GET THE SPIRITUAL TRUTH (SUTRAS)

 

                 SUTRA 35

                         VISAYAVATI VA PRAVRITTIR UTPANNA MANASAH STHITI-

                         NIBANDHANI

                            OR A STEADY BRINGING TOGETHER OF THE ORGAN CALLED THE MIND HAPPENS IN COMPLETE INVOLVEMENT WITH A STATE.

                        OR A STEADY BRINGING TOGETHER OF THE ORGAN CALLED THE MIND HAPPEN IN COMPLETE INVOLVEMENT WITH A STATE.

                         IN OTHER WORDS, BY GIVING COMPLETE ATTENTION TO AN ACTIVITY, WHICH COULD EVEN BE A SENSE ACTIVITY, FOR EXAMPLE, A DANCE, MUSIC, OR DRAMA, ESPECIALLY OF THE CLASSICAL VARIETY, WHERE EMOTIONS AND RHYTHM ALSO COME INTO PLAY, THE MIND IS IN AN UNDISTRACTED STATE AND IMMERSED IN BLISS.

                      IN FACT, INDIAN AND WESTERN CLASSICAL MUSIC IS DESIGNED TO IMMERSE THE MIND IN RHYTHMIC SOUNDS AND PATTERNS, WHICH TAKE ONE TO HEIGHTS OF SPIRITUAL AWARENSS. GREAT SINGERS, DANCERS, ACTORS, PAINTERS AND OTHER CREATIVE INDIVIDUALS WILL VOUCH FOR THIS FACT.

SUTRA 36

                  VISOKA VA JYOTISMATI

                    OR BY MEDITATION ON PURE LIGHT, SORROWLESSNESS IS ATTAINED.

                      WHEN ONE MEDITATES ON A LIGHT, WHICH IS INTERNAL, THE MIND CEASES TO BE AGITATED AND ATTINS TRANQUILLITY. IN PRACTICAL MEDITATION, IF ONE KNOCKS THE CENTRE BETWEEN THE EYEBROW A FEW TIMES AND FIXES ATTENTION ON THE CENTRE CALLED AJNA WITH THE EYES CLOSED, BY AND BY, A BLUE LIGHT APPEARS.

                     MEDITIATING ON THAT LIGHT, ONE ATTAINS TRANQUILLITY AND ENJOYS THE BLISS OF TOTAL CALMNESS THAT SETS IN LIKE A GENTLE BREEZE.

                      IN FACT, THERE ARE SCHOOLS OF MEDITATION THAT DO JUST THAT AND NOTHING MORE.

                   SUTRA 37

                   VITARAGA VISAYAM VA CITTAM

                  OR THE CONDITION OF THE MIND WHICH IS FREE FROM ATTACHMENT.

                THE YOGI WHO SEES THE FUTILITY OF BEING OBSESSED WITH SOMETHING WHICH IS NOT PERMANENT RIDS HIMSELF OR HERSELF FROM MENTAL SLAVERY AND BECOMES FREE AND LIGHT-MINDED.

                 IT IS POSSIBLE TO WORK, LOVE AND SERVE OTHERS IN THIS WORLD, WITHOUT BEING OBSESSED, SAYS THE KARMA YOGI. AS ONE ADVANCES IN THIS WAY OF LIFE, THE UN-OBSESSED FREE MIND ACQUIRES THE CAPACITY TO THINK CLEARLY WITHOUT PREJUDICE AND CONSERVE ENERGY, WHICH IS USUALLY LOST IN OBSESSIVE THOUGHT AND ACTION. ONE IS THEN ABLE TO ACCESS A TREMENDOUS SOURCE OF ENERGY WITHIN THE SELF THAT WORKS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF BOTH ONESELF AND THE WORLD, IN A SPIRIT OF SELFLESS LOVE AND COMPASSION. TO PUT IT SIMPLY, THE YOGI LIVES A BEAUTIFUL FREE LIFE WITHOUT BEING BOGGED DOWN BY OBSESSSIONS.

            SUTRA 38

                    SVAPNA-NIDRA JNANALAMBANAM VA

                  OR RESTS ON THE UNDERSTANDING OF DREAM AND  DEEP SLEEP.

               SEEING THAT DREAMS WHEN ACTUALLY DREAMT, ARE AS REAL AS THE WAKING STATE, THE YOGI LEANRS TO LIVE IN PEACE AND ENJOY THE DREAM EXPERIENCE, KNOWING FULLY WELL THAT IN THE WAKING STATE, THE DREAM EXPERIENCE VANISHES.

                ALSO IN DEEP SLEEP, THE YOGI LEARNS TO REST AND REJUVENATE THE MIND AS HE OR SHE IS ALREADY FREE FROM ATTACHMENT AND OBSESSION. SUCH A DEEP SLEEP, WHICH IS BOTH CURATIVE AND BLISSFUL, REJUVENATES ALL THE CELLS OF THE BODY, ESPECIALLY THE BRAIN CELLS.

                  SUTRA 39

 

                  YATHA-ABHIMATA-DHYANAD-VA

            OR BY THE DESIRE TO MEDITATE.

                             EQUIPPED WITH THE DIFFERENT FORMS OF MEDITATION, THE YOGI LONGS TO BE IMMERSED IN MEDITATION AND ENJOY THE BLISS OF AN UNDISTRACTED MIND.

                    SUTRA 40

                      PARAMANU-PARAMA-MAHATTVANTO SYA VASIKARAH

               THE MASTERING OF MEDITATION CAN BE APPLIED FROM THE SMALLEST TO THE GREATEST,

                       THE EXPERT MEDITATOR CAN APPLY HIS SKILLS IN ONE-POINTEDNESS TO UNDERSTAND ANYTHING FROM THE SMALLES TO THE GREATEST, FROM ORDINARY THINGS TO THE UNIVERSAL TRUTH.

                  SUTRA 41

                    KSINA-VRTTER-ABHIJATASY-EVA MANER-GRAHITR-GRAHANA-

                    GRAHYESU TATSTHA-TADANJANATA SAMAPATTIH

                SUCH A MIND WITH MINIMUM FLUCTUATIONS IS LIKE A CLEAR, TRANSPARENT JEWEL AND ASSUMES THE COLOURS OF THE OBJECTS NEAR IT, AND THUS UNITES THE (ONE WHO) GRASPS (THE THING) GRASPED AND THE ACT OF GRASPING.

HOW TO REMOVE OBSTACLES AND FINDING TRUTH (SAMADHI PADA)

 

                

                          HOW TO FINDING THE TRUTH 

                                    OF OUR LIFE

                   THE PRACTICE OF TECHNIQUE LIKE CHANTING OF AUM REMOVES OBSTACLES, ONE BY ONE, AND THE MIND ATTAINS  TRANQUILLITY. AS A RESULT, THE INNER SOURCE OF UNIVERSAL POWER AND ALMOST INFINITE ENERGY IS MANIFESTED.

                  SUTRA 30

                       VYADHI-STYANA-SAM'SAYA-ALASYA-AVIRATI-BHRANTI-

                       DHARSANA-ALABDHA-BHUMIKA-ANAVASTHIRATVAM CITTA-

                      VIKSEPAS TE'NTTERAYAH

                  THESE OBSTACLES AND DISTRACTIONS ARE SICKNESS, DULLNESS, DOUBT, CARELESSNESS, LAZINESS, SOME ADDICTIONS, FALSE VIEWS, NON-ATTAINMENT OF A SPIRITUAL STAGE AND INSTABILITY.

                 SUTRA 31

                       DUHKHA-DAURMANASYANGAM-EJAYATVA-SVASA-PRAVASA

                       VIKSEPA-SAHABHUVAH

                   A DISSATISFIED, DESPAIRING BODY AND UNSTEADY INHALATION AND EXHALATION ACCOMPANY AND DISTRACTIONS.

                      WHAT IS TO BE SPEACIALLY NOTED IS THAT ACCORDING TO PATANJALI, A DESPAIRING AND DISSATISFIED PERSON'S INHALATION AND EXHALATION ARE UNSTEADY. IN ORDER TO COUNTERACT THE DISSATISFACTION AND DESPAIR, THE PRACTICE ARE LISTED ONE AFTER ANOTHER.

                      SUTRA 32

                     TAT-PRATISEDHARTHAM EKA-TATTVABHYASAI

                   

         FOR THE PURPOSE OF  COUNTERACTING THEM, THERE IS THE PRACTICE OF SINGLE-POINTEDNESS.

                      SUTRA 33

                   MAITRI-KARUNA-MUDITOPESANAM SUKHA-DUHKHA-

                   PUNIYAPUNYA-VISAYANAM BHAVANATAS CITTA 

                   PRASADANAM

                      PURIFICATION OF THE M IND CAN BE BROUGHT ABOUT BY CULTIVATION OF FRIENDLINESS, COMPASSION, HAPPINESS AND EQUANIMITY (NOT ONLY IN CONDITIONS OF PLEASURE BUT EVEN IN CONDITIONS OF DISSATISFACTION) RECOGNITION AND NON-RECOGNITION OF MERIT.

                     THE KEY TENETS OF THE SCIENCE 

                            OF PATANJALI'S YOGA ARE

               ❤   1. THAT THE BODY AND  MIND INFLUENCE EACH OTHER MUTUALLY. THE DIFFERENT POSTURES CALLED ASANAS (EXPLAINED IN THE NEXT CHAPTER) INFLUENCE THE MIND BY ENSURING A HEALTHY BODY. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY REGULATE THE FUNCTIONING OF THE ENDOCRINE GLANDS THAT SECRETE SEROTONIN, DOPAMINE AND OTHER NEUTRANSMITTERS THAT GREATLY INFLUENCE OUR MOODS AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE FEEL-GOOD FACTOR.

               ❤  2.  THAT THE MIND WHEN FREE OF DISTRACTIONS AND IMPURITIES EXPERIENCES PURE, UNMODIFIED CONSCIOUSNESS CALLED THE PURUSHA, WHICH IS SUPRA-BLISSFUL AND BEYON ALL CONDITIONING.

              ❤   3.  THAT BY CONSCIOUSLY CULTIVATING FRIENDLINESS, COMPASSION AND EQUANIMITY, THE MIND BECOMES TRANQUIL IN THE MIDST OF ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. HERE, FRIENDLINESS AND COMPASSION ARE NOT MORAL PRECEPTS, BUT ACTIVE PRACTICAL  METHODS BY WHICH THE MIND TURNS TRANQUIL.

                  ONE'S BEHAVIOUR IN DAY-TO-DAY LIFE IS, THEREFORE, SELF-MONITORED AND ADAPTED TO BRING ABOUT INNER CHANGE. THIS CAN BE DEFINED AS OUTER AND INNER MINDFULNESS. YOGA RESTS ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT AS BOTH ARE INTER-RELATED, THEY ARE EFFECTIVE PRACTICAL TECHNIQUES TO BRING ABOUT A STEP-BY-STEP TRANSFORMATION.

                     HERE IS A PRACTICAL EXAMPLE. STAND BEFORE A MIRROR. OBSERVE THE EXPRESSION ON YOUR FACE. DOES IT LOOK DULL, GAUNT, SAD, ANGRY? WELL, FORCE YOURSELF TO SMILE. THINK OF A FUNNY JOKE OR JUST BRING ABOUT AN ARTIFICIAL EXPRESSION OF SMILING WIDELY OR LAUGHING AT SOMETHING, PERHAPS JUST AT YOUR OWN COMIC FACE. WHEN YOU ARE ACTUALLY HAPPY, THE BRAIN ACTIVATES THE FACIAL MUSCLES TO BRING ABOUT A SMILING OR LAUGHING EXPRESSION.

                IT WORKS BOTH WAYS. WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR EXPRESSION DELIBERATELY, THE MESSAGE GOES TO THE BRAIN THAT THE FACIAL MUSCLES ARE IN SMILE MODE AND THE BRAIN LINKS IT TO THE PLEASURE OR HAPPINESS CENTRE AND LO! HAPPINESS IS GENERATED AND IS AGAIN TRANSMITTED TO THE FACIAL MUSCLE, AND YOU SMILE GENUINELY.

                THERE ARE OTHER METHODS TO PULL ONE OUT OF MISERABLE, SAD STATES. NOTE SUTRA 31, WHICH EXPLAINS THAT A DESPAIRING AND DISSATISFIED PERSON'S INHALATION AND EXHALATION ARE UNSTEADY.

                SUTRA 34

                      PRACHCHARDANA-VIDHARANABHYAM VA PRANASYA

                   ONE OF THE METHODS TO RESTORE BALANCE AND TRANQUILITY IS BY EXPLULSION AND RETENTION OF BREATH. PRANAYAMA OR THE COORDINATION OF BREATH WILL BE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL IN THE CHAPTER ON THE EIGHT PARTS OF YOGA. ASHTANGA.

                    A SIMPLE METHOD WHICH CAN BE DISCUSSED HERE IS WHAT IS CALLED THE HAMSA TECHNIQUE.

                  SIT IN A COMFORTABLE POSTURE, ERECT IF POSSIBLE, AND CLOSING YOUR EYES, PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR INHALATION AND EXHALATION WITHOUT ATTEMTPTING TO CONTROL THE RHYTHM IN ANY MANNER. WHEN YOU INHALE, MENTALLY CHANT THE SOUND "HAM" (HUM) AND WHEN YOU EXHALE, CHANT 'SA' . AFTER A WHILE, YOU FEEL LIKE GIVING A DEEP SIGH. THIS IS A SIGN THAT THE MEDITATION IS DEPENTING AND THE MIND IS SLOWLY BUT STEADILY FREEING ITSELF OF DISTRACTIONS AND SETTLING DOWN IN PEACE AND TRANQUILLITY.

                    THE TECHNIQUE IS SIMILAR TO VIPASSANA BREATHING WHERE HAMSA IS NOT CHANTED, BUT IMPORTANCE IS PLACED ON BEING AWARE OF THE BREATHING.

THE VEDIC SHLOKAS

 

                   SHLOKAS 5

                    ESA SARVESVARAH ESA SARVAJNAH, ESO'NTARYAMI, 

                    ESA YONIH SARVASYA PRABHAVAPYAYAU HI BHUTANAM

                   WHERE ONE, BEING FAST ASLEEP,  DOES NOT DESIRE ANY DESIRE 

                   WHATSOEVER AND DOES NOT SEE ANY DREAM, THAT IS DEEP'

                   SLEEP. THE THIRD QUARTER IS PRAGNA, WHOSE SPHERE IS THE

                   STATE OF DEEP SLEEP, WHO HAS BECOME ONE, VARILY A MASS

                   OF COGNITION, WHO IS FULL OF BLISS, WHO ENJOYS BLISS, WHOSE  

                    FACE IS THOUGHT.
                    

           SO, IN THE STATE OF DEEP SLEEP, WHERE THE DIVERSITY OF COGNITION OF OUTSIDE OBJECTS AND INSIDE DREAMS HAVE CEASED AND CONSCIOUSNESS REVERTS TO ITS UNITY, THE SELF, THEN IS IN A STATE OF BLISS, EXPERIENCING BLISS NOT THROUGH INDULGENCE, WHICH DEPENDS ON SENSE OBJECTS, BUT ABSORBED IN ITS OWN INTRINSIC BLISSFULNESS, ALONE AND INDEPENDENT.

                       SHLOKAS 6

                  ANTAH-PRAJNAM, NA BAHIS PRAJNAM, NOBHAYATAH-

                  PRAJNAM

                  NA PRAJNANA-GHANAM, NA PRAJNAM, NAPRAJNAM,

                 ADRSTAM, AVYAVAHARAYAM, AGRAHYAM, ALAKSANAM,

                 ACINTYAM, AVYAPADESYAM, EKATMA-PRATYAYA-

                 SARAM, PRAPANCOPASAMAM, SANTAM, SIVAM, ADVAITAM,

                CATURTHAM MANYANTE, SA ATMA, SA VIJNEYAH

                   THIS IS THE LORD OF ALL, THIS IS THE KNOWER OF ALL, THIS IS THE INNER CONTROLLER, THIS IS THE SOURCE OF ALL, THIS IS THE BEGINNING AND END OF ALL BEINGS.

                      GAUDAPADA IS HIS KARIKA SAYS, "EKA EVA TRIDHA SMRTHA" . IT IS THE ONE ALONE WHO IS KNOWN IN THE THREE STATES.

                   THEREFORE, NOW THE QUESTIONS ARISE:

                  1. SO IF THE SELF IS IN THE BLISSFUL STATE OF DEEP SLEEP, IN THAT STATE ARE WE NOT AWARE OF BLISS, AS WE ARE IN A STATE OF UNCONSCIOUSNESS?

                 2. AND , IS THIS THE END? IN WHICH CASE, WHICH IS THE FOURTH QUARTER? A,U AND M SEEM TO HAVE BEEN EXPLAINED. IS THERE SOMETHING MORE?

                       BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS, WE SHOULD MOVE TO THE NEXT SHLOKA.

        SHLOKAS 7 

 

                          SO YAM ATMADHYAKSARAM

                       AUMKARO' DHIMATRAM PADA MATRA

                       MATRAS CA PADA AKARA UKARA MAKARA ITI

                     TURIYA IS NOT THAT WHICH COGNISES THE INTERNAL OBJECTS NOR THE EXTERNAL OBJECTS, NOR A MASS OF CONGNITION YET NON-COGNITIVE. IT IS UNSEEN, INCAPABLE OF BEING SPOKEN OF, UNPALPABLE, WITHOUT ANY DISTINCTIVE MARKS, UNTHINKABLE, UNNAMABLE, THE ESSENCE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ONE SELF, THAT INTO WHICH THE WORD IS RESOLVED, THE PEACEFUL, BENIGN, NON-DUAL, SUCH THEY THINK, IS THE FOURTH QUARTER. THAT IS THE SELF: THAT IS TO BE KNOWN.

                       NO WONDER BUDDHA CALLED IT SHUNYA, ZERO, NO - THING AND GAUDAPADA, THE GREAT COMMENTATOR WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN A BUDDHIST.

                        NOW TO RETURN TO THE QUESTIONS :

                    1. ONE SEEMS TO BE UNAWARE OF THE BLISS OF THE SELF IN A DEEP SLEEP, BUT SURELY THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOMEONE WHO WAS AWARE OF THIS BLISS WHEN ONE WAKES UP FROM A DEEP SLEEP, FOR THERE IS ALWAYS A REMEMBRANCE OF THE BLISSFULNESS. THE USUAL EXPRESSION WHEN WE WAKE UP FROM A DEEP, DREAMLESS SLEEP IS, "O! WHAT A BLISSFUL SLEEP". THIS BLISS LINGERS ON, AND ONE IS LIKELY TO TURN AROUND AND GO BACK TO SLEEP IN AN ATTEMPT TO RECAPTURE THE BLISS, EVEN WHEN THE WAKE-UP ALARM HAS RUNG MANY TIMES.

                    SO SUSHUPTI OR DEEP SLEEP, THE STATE IN WHICH ONE REVELS IN THE BLISS OF THE SELF, EVEN IF ONLY TEMPORARILY, AND BECAUSE OF WHICH, ONE IS REJUVENATED AND READY FOR THE DAY, IS NATURE'S INDICATOR OF THE PRESENCE OF THE SUPREME SELF. THIS SELF NUDGES ONE ON TO FIGURE OUT IF ONE CAN EXPERIENCE THE BLISSFUL SELF WHILE BEING FULLY CONSCIOUS, AT A TIME WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE CONFORMS TO THE DEEP SLEEP STATE.

                      IF, AND THE YOGIS SAY IT IS POSSIBLE, SUCH A STATE CAN BE REALISED, THAT WILL BE THE SUPREMELY BLISSFUL AND SUPERCONSCIOUS STATE CALLED TURIYA, THE LAST QUARTER OF THE PRANAVA, WHICH THE YOGA DARSHANA CALLS KAIVALYA.

THE VEDIC SHLOKAS

           

                           AUM.. IT BELONGS TO THE 

                                     ATHARVA VEDA

                   THE PROLIFIC SHANKARA HAS COMMENTED ON BOTH THE UPANISHAD AND THE KARIKA OF GAUDAPADA. INTERESTINGLY, EVEN SHANKARA WAS LABELLED A PRACHANNA BOUDHIKA (BUDDHIST IN DISGUISE) BY ONE SECTION OF THE ORTHODOXY OF THE ANCIENT CITY OF VARANASI.

 

                       IT CONSISTS 12 SHLOKAS...

              SHLOKA 1 👇

                      AUM ITY ETAD AKSARAM IDAM SARVAM,

                  TASYOPAVYAKHYANAM BHUTAM BHAVAD

                  BHAVISYAD ITI SARVAM AUMKARA EVA YAC

                  CANYAT TRIKALATITAM TAD APY AUMKARA EVA

            THE AUM WHICH IS THE SYLLABLE OF BRAHMAN, THE ULTIMATE REALITY, STANDS FOR THE MANIFESTED WORLD, THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE, AND ALSO THE UNMANIFESTED ABSOLUTE.

              SHLOKA 2 👇

                     SARVAN HY ETAD BRAHMA, AYAM ATMA

                     BRAHMA SO'YAM ATMA CHATUS-PAT

           ALL THIS IS, VERILY BRAHMAN. MY INNER SELF IS BRAHMAN. THIS SELF APPEARS TO HAVE FOUR QUARTERS.

                    ONE NEEDS TO ONLY REPLACE THE WORD BRAHMAN WITH PURUSHA TO SEE THAT WHEN PATANJALI TALKS OF THE PURUSHA BEING THE TRUE ESSENCE OF THE SELF, FREE FROM ALL CONDITIONINGS AN DISTRACTIONS OF THE CHITTA THAT OBSCURE IT, THE DIFFERENCE IS ONLY IN TERMINOLOGY.

  SHLOKA 3👇

                              JAGARITA STHANO BAHIS-PRAJNAH SAPTANGA

                              EKONAVIMSATI-MUKHA STHULA-BHUG

                              VAISVANARAH PRATHAMAH PADAH

             THE FIRST QUARTER IS VAISHVANARA, WHOSE SPHERE IS THE WALKING STATE, WHO COGNISES EXTERNAL OBJECTS, WHO HAS SEVEN LIMBS AND NINETEEN MOUTHS AND ENJOYS THE GROSS, MATERIAL OBJECTS.

               THE NINETEEN MOUTHS ARE THE FIVE SENSE ORGANS (SIGHT, HEARING, TOUCH, TASTE AND SMELL) , THE FIVE ORGANS OF ACTION (SPEECH, THE USE OF LIMPS, MOVEMENT, GENERATION, EXCRETION) THE FIVE VITAL BREATHS - PRANAS, MANAS (THE MIND, ) BUDDHI (THE INTELLECT), AHAMKARA (THE SENSE OF RECONISING ONESELF) AND CHITTA, THE ENTIRE SPHERE OF THOUGHT THAT ENCOMPASSESS EVERYTHING.

                  THE WALKING STATE, THEREFORE, REPRESENTED BY A (AUM, IS THE NORMAL CONDITION EXPERIENCED BY ALL HUMANS.

  SHLOKA 4👇

                                    SVAPNA-STHANO'NTAH-PRAJNAH SAPTANGA

                                EKONAVIMSATI-MUKHAH

                                PRAVIVIKTA-BHUK TAIJASO DVITIYAH PADAH

         

                      THE SECOND QUARTER IS TAIJASA, REPRESENTED, BY U (AUM), WHOSE SPHERE OF ACITIVITY IS THE DREAM STATE, WHICH COGNISES INTERNAL OBJECTS AND ENJOYS THE SUBTLE OBJECTS.

                       THIS IS ALSO COMMON TO ALL LIVING BEINGS, THE DREAM STATE WHERE ONE EXPERIENCES WITH CLOSED EYES, A WORD OF IMAGINATION THAT ORIGINATES FROM THE SUB-CONSCIOUS AND YET IS SO REAL THAT WHILE DREAMING, NO ONE BELIEVES IT IS A DREAM. IT IS ONLY WHEN ONE WAKES UP THAT ONE SAYS, O! WHAT A DREAM. SOME SAGES DECLARE THAT IN THE WAKING STATE, WHEN ONE IS NOT IN DEEP SLEEP, LIFE APPEARS TO BE A LIVING-DRAWN DREAM. A PERSON WHOSE MIND IS STILL LIMITED WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS. BUT WHEN THE MIND EXPANDS, ALL DISTRACTIONS AND CONDITIONS ARE REMOVED ARE REMOVED AND ONE EXPERIENCES. ABSOLUTE CONSICOUSNESS AT THE CORE OF ONE'S BEING, IT MAY BE SEEN AS SUCH.

                  THE SAGE WAKES UP TO REALITY AND SAYS, "O! WHAT A DREAM' DELIGHTFUL OR TERRIBLE AS THE CASE MAY BE.

WHAT IS YOGA (SHANTI MANTRA)

 

                                    THE BRIEF ABOUT YOGA

                                                                          👀

                    THE EARLIEST EXAMPLE FROM THE NASADIYA SUKRA OF THE RIG VEDA, THE FIRST OF THE FOUR VEDAS CONSIDERED SHRUTI OR THE ORIGINAL FOUNTAINHEAD OF WISDOM, AS THE HYMN OF CREATION. PARTS OF IT READ LIKE A DESCRIPTION OF THE ORIGIN OF THE COSMOS IN SCIENTIFIC WORKS. THE FOREMOST POINT IS THE HEALTHY SPIRIT OF SCEPTICISM THROUGHOUT. HERE IS AN EXCELLENT TRANSLATION OF THE HYMN OF CREATION , RIG  VEDA BY RALPH T.H. GRIFFITH. HAVING READ THE ORIGINAL IN SANSKRIT, I CAN VOUCH FOR ITS ACCURACY.

                             THE HYMN OF CREATION

                                               👀

                  1. THEN WAS NOT NON-EXISTENT NOR EXISTENT, THERE WAS NO REALM OF AIR, NO SKY BEYOND IT.

 

                                                              ❤

                      * WHAT COVERED IN, AND WHAT? AND WHAT GAVE SHELTER? WAS WATER THERE, UNFATHOMED DEPTH OF WATER?

            2. DEATH WAS NOT THEN, NOR WAS THERE AUGHT IMMORTAL, NO SIGN WAS THERE, THE DAY'S AND NIGHT'S DIVIDER. THAT ONE THING, BREATHELESS, BREATHED BY ITS OWN NATURE, APART FROM IT WAS NOTHING WHATSOEVER.

             3. DARKNESS THERE WAS, AT FIRST CONCEALED IN DARKNESS THIS ALL WAS INDISCRIMINATE CHAOS.

                                                            ❤

              * ALL THAT EXISTED THEN WAS VOID AND FORMLESS, BY THE GREAT POWER OF WARMTH WAS BORN THAT UNIT.

              4. THEREAFTER ROSE DESIRE AT THE BEGINNING, DESIRE, THE PRIMAL SEED AND GERM OF SPIRIT.

                                                               ❤

             * SAGES WHO SEARCHED WITH THEIR HEART'S THOUGHT DISCOVERED THE EXISTEN'S KINSHIP IN THE NON-EXISTENT.

              5. TRASVERSELY WAS THEIR SEVERING LINE EXTENTED, WHAT WAS ABOVE IT THEN, AND WHAT BELOW IT?

                                                               ❤ 

                * THERE WERE BEGETTERS, THERE WERE MIGHTLY FORCES, FREE ACTION HERE AND ENERGY UP YONDER.

                   6. WHO VERILY KNOWS AND WHO CAN HERE DECLARE IT, WHENCE IT WAS BORN AND WHENCE COMES THIS CREATION? THE GODS ARE LATER THAN THIS WORLD'S PRODUCTION. WHO KNOWS THEN WHENCE IT FIRST CAME INTO BEING.?

                 7. HE, THE FIRST ORIGIN OF THIS CREATION, WHETHER HE FORMED IT ALL OR DID NOT FORM IT.

                                                               ❤

                    * WHOSE EYE CONTROLS THIS WORLD IN HIGHEST HEAVEN, HE VERILY KNOW IT, OR PERHAPS HE KNOWS NOT.

                                                               ❤

                        TO BE SPECIFICALLY NOTED ARE THE NUMBER OF QUESTION MARKS AND THE FOURTH, SIXTH AND SEVENTH SHLOKAS, WHICH CAN BE RELATED TO THE PRACTICE OF YOGA.

                                           SHANTHI MANTRA

                      NOW LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE SHANTI MANTRAS THAT OCCUR IN THE UPANISHADS, THE CORE AND ESSENCE OF THE VEDAS. THEY ARE MOSTLY ASSERTIONS, AFFIRMATIONS AND WISHES TO ASCEND SPIRITUALLY AND DERIVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STRENGTH TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS, RATHER THAN THROUGH PRAYERS TO AN ALMIGHTY CREATOR. MANY OF THEM END WITH THE SINCERE WISH FOR PEACE - SHANTI - AND THE WISH TO IMPROVE THE WORLD AND THE BEINGS THAT LIVE IN IT.

                                                  👉👉👉

                           ASATOMA SADGAMAYA

                                                    👇

            FROM THE UNREAL MAY I ASCEND TO THE REAL,

                    TAMASO MA JYOTIRGAMAYA

                                                   👇

           FROM DARKNESS, MAY I ASCEND TO LIGHT,

                   MRTYOR MA AMRTAM GAMAYA

                                                  👇

         FROM DEATH MAY I ASCEND TO DEATHLESSNESS,

                   OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTIH

                                                 👇

           OM! PEACE, PEACE, PEACE.

THE YOGA SUTRAS

 

                                      

                                                                   THE YOGA

                         YOGA IS AN ANCIENT SCIENCE INCLUDED IN THE SIX DARSHANA'S OF TRADITIONAL INDIAN PHILOSOPHY. WHILE THE THEORETICAL CONCEPTS  ARE MOSTLY DERIVED FROM SANKHYA, THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENCES, PARTICULARLY REGARDING THE CONCEPT OF ISHWARA. ONE IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE IS THAT WHILE SANKHYA OFFERS A PURELY PHILOSOPHICAL FRAMEWORK, YOGA WHILE USING SANKHYA TERMINOLOGY GOES INTO THE PRACTICAL STEPS OF ACHIEVING THE GOAL, WHICH SANKHYA ENVISAGES ONLY THEORETICALLY. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SANKHYA AND YOGA CAN BE COMPARED  TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. SCIENTIFIC THEORIES ARE ABSTRACT, WHILE TECHNOLOGY ACTUALISES SUCH THEORIES INTO TANGIBLE FINDINGS AND USEFUL RESULTS.

                       HOWEVER, TECHNOLOGY SOMETIMES EXPLOITS THE FINDINGS FOR NEFARIOUS AND DESTRUCTIVE  PURPOSES . IT IS TO OFFSET THIS DANGER THAT THE PRACTICE OF MORAL PRINCIPLES IS HARMONISED WITH THAT OF YOGA AT THE VERY BEGINNING. THE MOST IMPORTANT MORAL PRINCIPLE IS AHIMSA, OR NON-INJURY TO LIVING BEINGS, INCLUDING HUMANS. THE YOGI ACQUIRES TREMENDOUS ENERGY AND ALMOST UNLIMITED KNOWLEDGE AS THE PRACTICE FREES THE BRAIN OF BURDENS, DISTURBANCE AND CONFLICTS, RESULTING IN TRANQUILLITY AND ONEPOINTEDNESS. BY ADHERING TO MORAL PRINCIPLES, THE YOGI'S ENERGY AND KNOWLEDGE ARE NOT MISDIRECTED FOR SELFISH PURPOSES.

                                                                      ❤❤❤

                       * THE NATURAL PROPERTIES, AND PRIVILEGES OF A REASONABLE SOUL ARE, THAT SHE SEETH HERSELF, THAT SHE CAN ORDER, AND COMPOSE HERSELF, THAT SHE MAKES HERSELF AS SHE WILL HERSELF, THAT SHE REAPS HER OWN FRUITS WHATSOEVER, WHEREAS PLANTS, TREES, UNREASONABLE CREATURES, WHAT FRUIT SOEVER (BE IT EITHER FRUIT PROPERLY, OR ANALOGICALLY) THEY BEAR, THEY BEAR THEM UNTO OTHERS, AND NOT TO THEMSELVES. AGAIN, WHENSOEVER, AND WHERESOEVER, SOONER OR LATER, HER LIFE DOTH END, SHE HATH HER OWN END NEVERTHELSS, FOR IT IS NOT WITH HER, AS WITH DANCERS AND PLAYERS, WHO IF THEY BE INTERRUPTED IN ANY PART OF THEIR ACTION, THE WHOLE ACTION MUST NEEDS BE IMPERFECT.

                    * A PLEASANT SONG OR DANCE, THE PANCRATIAS'S EXERCISE, SPORTS THAT THOU ART WONT TO BE MUCH TAKEN WITH, THOU SHALT EASILY CONTEMN, IF THE HARMONIOUS VOICE THOU SHALT DIVIDE INTO SO MANY PARTICULAR SHALL ASK THYSELF, WHETHER THIS OR THAT SOUND IS IT, THAT DOTH SO CONQUER THEE. FOR THOU WILT BE ASHAMED OF IT. AND SO FOR SHAME. IF ACCORDINGLY THOU SHALT CONSIDER IT, EVERY PARTICULAR MOTION AND POSTURE BY ITSELF, AND SO FOR THE WRESTLER'S EXERCISE TOO. GENERALLY THEN, WHATSOEVER IT BE, BESIDES VIRTUE, AND THOSE THINGS THAT PROCEED FROM VIRTUE THAT THOU ART SUBJECT TO BE MUCH AFFECTED WITH, REMEMBER PRESENTLY THUS TO DIVIDE IT, AND BY THIS KIND OF DIVISION, IN EACH PARTICULAR TO ATTAIN UNTO THE CONTEMPT OF THE WHOLE. THIS THOU MUST TRANSFER AMD APPLY TO THY WHOLE LIFE ALSO.

                    * THAT SOUL WHICH IS EVER READY, EVEN NOW PRESENTLY (IF NEED BE) FROM THE BODY, WHETHER BY WAY OF EXTINCTION, OR DISPERSION, OR CONTINUATION IN ANOTHER PLACE AND ESTATE TO BE SEPARATED, HOW BLESSED AND HAPPY IS IT! BUT THIS READINESS OF IT, IT MUST PROCEED, NOT FROM AN OBSTINATE AND PEREMPTORY RESOLUTION OF THE MIND, VIOLENTLY AND PASSIONATELY SET UPON OPPOSITION, AS CHRISTIANS ARE WONT, BUT FROM A PECULIAR JUDGEMENT, WITH DISCRETION AND GRAVITY, SO THAT OTHERS MAY BE PERSUADED ALSO AND DRAWN TO THE LIKE EXAMPLE, BUT WITHOUT ANY NOISE AND PASSIONATE EXCLAMATIONS.

                                                           👀👀👀

                      HAVING COME SO FAR, THE READER WOULD HAVE, PERHAPS, FOUND THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION - CAN YOGA BE PRACTISED BY AN ATHEIST OR AGNOSTIC? ANYONE WHO HAS TAKEN UP THE PRACTICE OF YOGA IS SURE TO BENEFIT IN MANY WAYS, ESPECIALLY IN FINDING TRANQUILLITY AND PEACE IN THIS TRUMULTUOUS WORLD AND IN BEING ABLE TO HARNESS TREMENDOUS ENERGY.

                       TO SUM UP, EXCELLENCE IN YOGA, THE SCIENCE OF EXPANSION OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND ACHIEVING FREEDOM FROM LIMITATIONS, HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ONE'S PERSONAL BELIEFS,  RELIGIOUS OR OTHERWISE. IT DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON THE STEP-BY-STEP PRACTICE OF THE METHODS DESCRIBED IN THE YOGA TEXTS AND GUIDANCE OF A PROPER AND AUTHENTIC EXPERTS. TO TAKE UP THE PRACTICE OF YOGA BASED ON HAVING READ UP AN OBSCURE TEXT, WITHOUT THE GUIDANCE OF AN EXPERT, IS GRAUGHT WITH DANGER, AND THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES CAN BE SERIOUS. IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, ONE IS PATIENT AND GOES AT IT CAREFULLY, TAKING UP ONLY THOSE PRACTICES THAT SUIT ONE'S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CAPACITY, A GREAT NEW WORLD, VAST AND ALMOST UNLIMITED, OPENS UP BEFORE THE YOGI, WHO TURNS INTO ONE OF THE FINEST SPECIMENS OF HOMOSAPIENS, WITH AN INEXHAUSTIBLE FUND OF ENERGY AND A MIND AT PEACE. AN AUTHENTIC YOGA TEACHER, OPEN TO DIALOGUE AND NOT INTENT ON FORMING A CULT, WOULD BE IDEAL IN HELPING CUSTOMISE ONE'S YOGA PRACTICE.

                            NOT GIVING TOO MUCH IMPORTANCE TO A CREATOR GOD AND THE TILT TOWARDS ATHEISM IS NOT A LATER-DAY INVENTION, BUT IS ALREADY EVIDENT IN THE SANKHYA, THE WORKS OF THE SHRAVANAS AND THE BUDHDHISTS AND, TO A GREAT EXTENT, IN THE YOGA SUTRAS, ITSELF. MUCH BEFORE THE EPICS MADE THEIR APPEARANCE AND A BELIEF IN THE INCARNATIONS GOD BECAME ALMOST A CREED IN THE HINDU SYSTEMS OF THOUGHT, THE GREAT VEDIC HYMNS AND THE UPANISHADS LATER, CELEBRATED FREE THOUGHT AND A NON-CONFORMIST RATIONAL ATTITUDE.