Tao Of The Yoga

Yoga is one of the greatest gifts to the world by the Graced lands of India. Yoga is known for the boon it is for mental and physical well being and longevity as well the way of indian Yogis for their spiritual enlightenment.

Let see what else is Yoga besides 'Aasanas' ( postures) and 'Pranayam'(breathing practices).

The original treatise of Yoga is 'Yog Sutra' by Patanjali, written in ancient times. The verses in this book are great treasures by themselves, containing deep knowledge and revelations in few words.

The very first verse of this book says, 'YogasChittavrittiNirodha!' 

This means Yoga is the 'Nirodha'(prohibition/control) of the 'Vritti's(natures) of 'Chitta'(mind).

Or The objective or culmination of Yoga is in Complete control of mind.

Why the need to control the mind.

As already said, 'Mind is a mad monkey, that too stung  by a bee' or a wild stallion, high on drugs.

How far can that mad monkey or the wild stallion go in the right direction.

The focus of mind is diverted in thousands of directions at the same time. Directions of past, present, future of self and others, of far and away, of everything under the Sun, and sometimes above the Sun too.

Like a magnifying glass, mind needs to be focused before it can be made used of.

Surprising?

There fore the minds needs to be elevated from its wild meanderings and to be brought to stillness. It has to be tamed, overpowered, controlled.

How the great science of Yoga accomplishes that?

Through the 'Ashtanga marg'( Eight step way) of

Yama [moral codes]
Niyama [self-purification and study]
Asana [posture]
Pranayama [breath control]
Pratyahara [sense control]
Dharana [concentration]
Dhyana [meditation]
Samadhi [contemplation]

Yama:   Precepts of Social Discipline

Ahimsa -- Non-violence.   Not harming other people or other sentient beings.   Not harming ones self.   Not harming the environment.   Tolerance even for that which we dislike.   Not speaking that which, even though truthful, would injure others.

Satya -- Truthfulness.   Note that sometimes we may know our words are literally true, but do not convey what we know to be truthful.   This is a child's game.   Satya means not intending to deceive others in our thoughts, as well as our words and actions.

Asteya -- Non-stealing.

Brahmacarya-- Sexual responsibility. 

Aparigraha -- Abstention from greed.     Not coveting that which is not ours.   Avoidance of unnecessary acquisition of objects not essential to maintaining life or spiritual study.

Niyama:   Precepts of Invididual Discipline

Sauca -- Cleanliness. External as well internal cleanliness such as avoiding the impurities of anger and egoism.   Moderation in diet.

Santosa -- Contentment.   Not complacency, but acceptance of the external situation we encounter.

Tapas -- Austerity.   Deep commitment to yoga practice. 

Svadhyaya-- Self-study.   Spiritual self-education.  

Isvara pranidhana -- Surrender of the self to God.  Modesty.   Humility.

 The Yama and Niyama are like mending the leaking bowl of the mind to collect the nectar.

Asana and Pranayama are to make the body healthy and fit enough for this sojourn as weak limbs would not take you the fountain.
Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana ,Samadhi are the final evolution of mind by meditation practices.

Whatever be your school of Yoga, carry on with the entire understanding of the objective of Yoga, which is final freedom of mind from its primitive indulgences and guiding it to its spiritual elevation, its final aim, which also is the aim of Tao. Tao also aims final elevation by gradual freedom from these chains. The practices of 'Tai-Chi' are the counterparts of postures of Yoga.

The major difference between Tao and Yoga is in the principle of 'Wu wei', the effortless effort. While yoga embodies forced subduing and extreme austerity, at times, for a yogi, 'Tao' starts with first of all accepting yourself as you are with your shortcomings and thereafter overcoming them, not by forced abstinence, but by awareness of the same and subliminal detachment as a result of the Awareness.

Recognize what you are, accept who you are, and then the journey begins.

The first conflict to be encountered and reconciled is between what is finally the conduct of the Awakened, and what the mindset and conduct of the initiate is.

         Now the key is that abstinence from eating Non-Vegetarian food, drinking, smoking, having sexual thoughts is not the crucial question, the aim is to stay on the path, with eyes on the goal, and awareness of thought and emotions, and awareness of the awareness. Soon abstinence from the above will cease to be an issue any more. This abstinence will grow inside  naturally.

Tao is the way of the nature. Tao is the natural way of evolution. Seed the lands when the time is right, water it just as much and wait it with patience. It will grow, blossom and then fruits will grow and ripen and fall. No use rushing. One can not make the trees go any faster by stressing oneself. When the abstinence grows inside naturally, it will come without any stress. Forces abstinence is suppression of the natural bodily and mental desires, and it results in stress and other psychological complications. Like a balloon, mind when pressed from one side, inflates on the other. No use suppressing, it is counter productive.Stay in the path and by gradual awareness of Self, gradual deflation of this balloon will result.

        Also any practice, causing any physical pain or mental stress should be understood to be premature and should be avoided. Take yoga on its natural way. The difference is for the initiate, not for the knowing. Further on, all paths converge.

        Whatever be the case, never, ever, ever condemn yourself, be in conflict in yourself. This conflict will be like crabs pulling each other's legs and will never let you out of the bucket. 

         You are good. You are hungry, thirsty, angry, vengeful, it is ok. Accept yourself. Accept these as the reactions of your body and the primitive mind, not of yourself.

It is not your 'Self', which is angry etc, it is your body and your primitive mind. Think it that way. Be aware of your body (including the primitive mind) of these weaknesses. This awareness will itself reduce the intensity of the drives and ravings immensely. This awareness will also provide you the option of 'Responding'( a thoughtful action) other than the Knee-Jerk reaction.

This is the Tao of spontaneity, of naturalness! Also on the path of Yoga, take small determined, steps full of awareness of self and the process. Later on all will converge. This is the Tao of the Yoga.

Yin and Yang: Cycles of Life and the Universe!

           Depiction of Yin and Yang cycles is one of the most recognized photograph worldwide. IIn case it is only a sign to you, then lets see what it actually depicts.

          The yin and yang, a taoist depiction, represent the duality present in all aspects of life, whether it be personal health, physical and mental, emotional ups and downs, social undercurrents and changes, circadian/seasonal cycles of nature.

           First of all, it is believed that all of the above happen in cycles.

           Then these cycles are waxing and waning of the two forces of Yin and yang.

While Yang represents, the principles of maleness, the sun, creation, heat, light, Heaven, dominance, and so on, Yin represents feminity, the moon, completion, cold, darkness, material forms, submission, and so on. 

      The picture represents how one wanes while other waxes and vice versa. Also when one reaches its peak, it reveals the seed of the other, which grows to its peak at the cost of the former. This also depicts co-existence and correlation of the two. Both oppose each other, but can not exist without each other. Also it is not the duality of the good vs the bad. It is the interplay of two cosmic forces, changing the universe, but in a cycle.

       This production of yin from yang and yang from yin occurs cyclically and constantly, so that no one principle continually dominates the other or determines the other. All opposites that one experiences—health and sickness, wealth and poverty, power and submission—can be explained in reference to the temporary dominance of one principle over the other. Since no one principle dominates eternally, that means that all conditions are subject to change into their opposites.
        This is the underlying flow of universe, the Tao of universe. To find the same, dissociate self from the waves and crests of the changes and observe the same from the shores.

Wu Wei: Soul of the Tao!

Wu Wei: Non Doing, The Effortless effort!

Wu means Without, Wei means Effort.

The soul of Tao is finding equilibrium both inside as well as with the environment, the world, the universe.

            Also finding Tao is Feeling the flow of the universe, expanding the awareness beyond oneself and cause and action as well as the removing the concept of the 'Doer' and the 'Done', the concept of the Subject and the Object. Any event that happens, happens due to the thousands of factors coming together at one place and time, brought together by the destiny, the providence. This makes the person taking himself to be the one causing it, making it happen shrouded by ignorance, ignorance of self as well as the universe.
        I neither succeeded, nor failed. I neither triumphed, nor was defeated. I am neither the victor, nor the loser. This Sang-Froid is the Tao of equillibirium, finding tao inside as well as the concept of  'Sthirpragya' (Whose mind/awareness is still) as revealed by Lord Krishna himself in SrimadBhagvatGeeta.
          One has to let go, the fear, insecurity as well as the illusion of being in control and flow with the flow of events, applying as little as force as possible, once in a while, for the little steering. This is Wu Wei, the effortless effort. Not resisting the flow, but utilizing the force of the flow for reaching the shore.
           Application of  Wu wei  makes life easier and reduces the stress immensely.
             As long as one has the illusion of being the doer of actions as well as the insecurity associated with the Fixation of being in control of things, steering his world and his own life, one is fighting against forces tangible and intangible, the flow of events. When one lets go, develops the feeling of the universe, the flow of events, he also learns to make the slightest move that metamorphoses the environment.
             Aikido A martial art, is based on older styles of ju-jitsu, created by Ueshiba Morihei in the 20th century. Aikido means "the way of harmony." It actually involves movement of the practitioner himself in harmony with the opponent, using opponent's own movement, momentum and force to floor him. Aikido is in a way absorbing Tao in Martial arts. Aikido, as well as Judo (meaning the gentle way) is rooted in ancient techniques of Ju-Jitsu.
           Jujutsu , literally meaning the "art of softness", or "way of yielding", is a collective name for Japanese martial art styles including unarmed and armed techniques developed around the principle of using an attacker's energy against him, rather than directly opposing it^.

         Find balance within, find balance with the universe, feel one the universe, let go completely, go with the flow, do the minimum needed at the most suitable time and get the greatest results.Find happiness, be successful, find awareness.
      Trust god with your destiny. Instead of being scared of changes around, be calm and see how by going with the changes, and acting with a little effort you can reach you goal. This is Wu-wei.
        Against common perception, spiritual inclination and the way of the Tao not only bring the awareness, enlightenment and finally Salvation but also makes life easier, happier and mores successful.

धीरे धीरे रे मना, धीरे धीरे होए
माली सींचे सौ घड़ा, ऋतू आवे फल होए !

This is the Wu-Wei! This is the Tao! Be one with Wu Wei, be one with Tao!

साधो ये मुर्दों का गांव

साधो ये मुर्दों का गांव
साधो ये मुर्दों का गांव,
पीर मरें, पैगम्बर मरिहें,
राजा मरिहें परजा मरिहें,
मरिहें जिन्दा जोगी,
मरिहें बैद और रोगी,
चन्दा मरिहें सूरज मरिहें,
मरिहैं धरती अकासा,
चौदह भुवन के चौधरी मरिहें,
इन्हूं की का आसा,
नौहूं मरिहें, दसहूं मरिहें,
मरिहैं सहज अटासी,
तेंतीस कोटी देवता मरिहें,
बड़ी काल की बाजी,
नाम अनाम अनन्त रेहत है,
दु्जा तत्व न होइ,
कहे कबीर सुनो भई साधो,
भटक मरो मत कोइ।

Tao of living: the sage inside the suit

It is a general perception among most, that a spiritual inclination is followed by Vairagya (dispassion, detachment), a disinterest in family affairs, a shrugging off of worldly responsibilities, a dying of ambitions, an austere lifestyle, simple eating and dressing, maybe an untrimmed beard as well.

Au contraire, a spiritual development is preceded and accompanied by a clarity of thoughts, inclinations and preferences. Most on the right path would find it easier to handle the daily affairs in a better manner, with a calmer mind and yes a certain degree of detachment towards the outcome of their actions due to their strong belief in god.

In short, walking on this path with our small steps, life is easier, happier and most importantly, prima facie indiscernible from the lives of others for an independent observer. The way to life is simple, it is as it was. The differences are inside the mind.
Does that mean abstaining from non vegetarian food or drinking/smoking is not required?
No, it means that when you are ready, you will not need the answer.

Plant the seed, water it, plant will grow, fruits will come. Futile to water the field before the seed is planted, futile to climb the tree before fruits have come.

It is better and more effective to just plant the seed, do the needful and get the fruits. No need to do more, no needs to do less.
"Sitting quietly, doing nothing, the spring comes and the grass grows."-Lao Tse
 Do not necessarily abstain from non vegetarian food, drinking etc before you are told from within. Do not be scared of marriage, its a step in the right direction.
Like good clothes, cars etc, use them.
The monk will not come with robe, he will grow inside.A Monk can grow inside a silk suit as well.
Do not try to wear the monk, be the monk. Be the sage inside that suit.

मोको कहां ढूंढे रे बन्दे।- कबीर दास

मोको कहां ढूंढे रे बन्दे।- कबीर दास 

मोको कहां ढूंढे रे बन्दे, मैं तो तेरे पास में,

ना तीरथ में, न मूरत में

ना एकान्त में, ना मस्जिद में

ना काबे कैलास में

मोको कहां ढूंढे रे बन्दे, मैं तो तेरे पास में,

ना मैं जप में, ना मैं तप में

ना मैं बरत उपास में

ना मैं किरिया कर्म मैं रहता

नाहीं जोग सन्यास में

नाहीं प्राण में नाहीं पिण्ड में

ना ब्रह्माण्ड अकास में

ना मैं प्रक्रिती प्रवर गुफ़ा में

नाहीं श्वसन की श्वास में

खोजी होये तुरत मिल जाउं

इक पल की तलास में

कहत कबीर सुनो भई साधो

मैं तो हूं विshवास में। 

Where is spiritualism and awakening in this Tao?

Tao is awakening and spiritualism.
And the posts are the preparatory steps for the initiate. Before we go to collect the nectar from the fountain of life, fountain of knowledge, fountain of awakening, let us repair our chalice. No use collecting nectar in a bowl that lets it run through.
Similarly, this primitive mind chained by illusions can neither collect nor retain the nectar of knowledge.
Out Tao is to make it free, and put it on the path of Knowledge.
First comes inner freedom, inner peace, then knowledge and then comes Awakening.