What is Yoga?
Shiva (Neil) Edsall
Yoga is a discipline that requires years of dedicated effort and
at the same time is the art of effortlessness. Scholars tell us that the
word yoga comes from the Sanskrit word yug, meaning
to link together. The Sanskrit word Yoga can be defined as the union
between the individual self (jiva-atman) and the
universal self (parama-atman). So when we
discuss what yoga is joining, it takes us to the very heart of Yoga.
The Bhagavad-Gita defines yoga in several ways. Yoga is equanimity, being unruffled by life's
ups and downs, creating harmony and balance, Yoga is separation from union with
pain, and Yoga is perfection in action.
In other words yoga is how we should live our lives.
The Yoga Sutras of Sri Patanjali explain
Yoga as one's ability to direct the mind exclusively toward an object and
sustain that direction without any distraction. Then only when one is
absorbed in the object can the true reflection of the object be seen. To
gaze and merge with the beloved inner teacher and allowing all actions, words
and deeds to be the result of that union is Yoga.
Yoga makes a distinction between our physical body and personality
from a larger Self or Cosmic Self which includes all
of creation, of which we are but a tiny drop in the infinite ocean of
life. Yoga reunites the personal self with the cosmic self by removing
the veil of illusion clouding the reality that we are one with all
creation. This veil of illusion is referred to as Maya, the illusory power
of God. True illumination of the indwelling spirit appears as one merges
with that which has never gone away, just been shadowed by ignorance and
misunderstanding.
The practice of yoga brings us into connection with the
understanding and awareness of this unity, which already exists, in each of
us. The Buddha had stated that there is a Buddha in everyone. Jesus
said, "If those who lead you say to you, 'Look the Kingdom is in the sky',
then the birds will get there first. If they say, 'It is in the sea',
then the fish will get there first. Rather, the Kingdom is inside of you,
and it is outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will
become known, and you will realize that it is you who are the children of the
living father. But if you will not know yourselves, then you dwell in
poverty, and it is you who are that poverty"... "If you bring
forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do
not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy
you" from the gospel of Thomas.
Yoga is not just the effort of living in human existence but the
effortlessness of emptying the mind to dance with the cosmic Self (god self).
It is a dance, welcoming grace and focus, discipline and faith. (Patanjali's Yoga Sutras 1.20) Through faith, which will
give sufficient energy to achieve success against all odds, direction will be
maintained. (PYS 1.30) There are nine types of interruptions to
developing mental clarity: illness, mental stagnation, doubts, lack of
foresight, fatigue, overindulgence, illusions about one's true state of mind,
lack of perseverance and regression. So here we begin our journey
because we have a mind and a human body as a vehicle.
Yoga as the practice is important because it helps us to get where
we are going. Yoga as the experience of unity is our ultimate
destination. Because of its multifaceted nature, the definitions of yoga
are also multifaceted. First there are the paths; Raja Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Japa Yoga, Mantra Yoga, Jnana
Yoga, Karma Yoga... Then there are the traditions and styles;
Classical Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Ashtanga
Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Iyengar
Yoga, Power Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Anusara
Yoga... Then of course there are the literal or philosophical
definitions, such as union and separation. Instead of seeing these as
contradictory, we can relate them to the Indian story of the blind men who were
asked to describe an elephant. Each touched the elephant in a different
place and came up with a different description. All were correct but
failed to describe the elephant entirely. If you look at the many
definitions of yoga as parts of the whole you will come to see the beauty of
this multifaceted gem. "Truth is One, Paths are many", Sri
Swami Satchidananda.
Om Shanti, Shanti,
Shanti
Om Peace, Peace, Peace