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YOGA
Om saha naavavatu sahanau bhunaktu
Saha veeryam karavaavahai
Tejasvi naavadheetamastu maa vidvishaavahai
Om shantih shantih shantih
Meaning:
May He protect us both (teacher and the taught)! May He cause us both to enjoy the bliss of Mukti (liberation)! May we both exert to discover the true meaning of the sacred scriptures! May our studies be fruitful! May we never quarrel with each other! Let there be threefold peace.
Yoga comes from the root word, "Yuj", meaning "to join" or "union" - when one unites the lower self with th Higher Self. Yoga is simply a way of life. It is an ancient Indian science of over 5,000 years which teaches us discipline to balance the mind, emotions, body and inner spirit. The practice allows the whole being and health to be in harmony with the true nature of Self. There are four paths of yoga: Raja, Bhakti, Jnana and Karma.
Raj, meaning King or Royal, Raj Yoga - the yoga of meditation - is not only based on meditation, it can include practices of Hatha yoga exercises, asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing exercises) and relaxation.
Bhakti yoga - the yoga of worship, devotion and love. Bhakti can aid other yogas such as jnana, karma, hatha, raj, etc. In one sense, hatha yoga practice can be viewed as a devotional practice -an act of dedication, communion, and love.
Jnana yoga - the yoga of knowledge or self study - this knowledge is better described as inner wisdom, not an external "book knowledge". Jnana yoga
uses the mind to defeat the tendencies of the mind and go deeper to the Source -- beyond mere human mental limitations all the way to the truth beyond language, the authenticity beyond words, and into pure consciousness and absolute bliss.
Karma yoga - the yoga of action - Karma yoga is a way to let go of attachments, selfishness, expectations, bias, anger, and hatred and to allow for grace to descend on the situation i.e., "Let Thy will be done". Karma yogis are naturally motivated by love and selfless transpersonal wisdom and express that spontaneously in All Relations.
As my sadguru, Dr. V.S. Rao, and other well-known gurus stated, "Do your yoga and all will come".
What does this mean? It means, do YOUR yoga, the yoga that brings you
closest to YOUR experience of Truth, Love, Happiness, Grace - UNION - and all will come.
This yoga could be as simple as sweeping a street corner for the rest of your life, dancing, writing, hatha yoga practices, singing, working at a corporate office...it's all yoga if you allow it to be an experience of union. In the end, all is perfect!
Babaji, my Raj yoga teacher and guru, Dr. Rao also expressed the importance
of the yoga practices - do at least 20 minutes each of yoga exercises/postures, pranayama/breathing exercises and meditation. We must learn to sit quietly and be still in mind and body - this way we will be the controller of the mind instead of the mind controlling us. Namaste.
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