Dear Friends,
Namaste!
We have been discussing how the interconnectedness, interdependency and symbiosis among various characters in this world keeps the show going.
We have also discussed how human beings become indebted to ancestors, teachers and society and need to pay back their debts during their lifetime.
During the last discussion, we also went through a real-life story of how an unfavourable situation can be turned around by planning and staying focused on doing the right thing in a given moment.
Now, we will bring all these aspects together to look at the Yogic Lifestyle. Lifestyle that is recommended by Yoga-Shastra. Lifestyle that enables us to make the most of our lives in terms of paying back the debts and enjoying ourselves. Lifestyle that describes the generic roles each one of us must undertake so we get propelled in the direction of our destination – to become perfect(ly fit and happy).
In the match against Pakistan, Sehwag knew that he had exactly ten overs (if he bowled properly and to the plan) to turn the match around. So how many ‘overs’ have we got in this ‘match’? In other words, how many years have we got to turn this life around?
As per Yoga-Shastra, human lifespan is one hundred years! Which means that all of us have hundred glorious years (if lived properly and to the plan) to make the most of our respective life.
But what is proper? What, if any, is the ‘plan’? Let’s once again take the help of Yoga-Shastra to get logical and sensible answers to these questions.
Yoga-Shastra lays down a beautiful plan to pay back all debts one by one (or with some overlap so even simultaneously!). It divides the hundred years of human lifespan into four equal quarters of twenty five years each. Viz. “Brahmacharya” (Laying the Foundation), “Garhastha” (Raising our Family), “Vaanaprastha” (Working for Society) and “Sanyas” (Achieving Perfect Equilibrium).
We will look at “Brahmacharya” in this article and we will look at the rest in the following articles.
“Brahmacharya” or Laying the Foundation:
We are expected to play the role of a “Brahmachari” for the first twenty five years of our life. These years cover our childhood, adolescence and initial years of youth. For the first few years (eight to twelve) – as a child – nothing much is expected. We just can and do enjoy ourselves! Once we enter adolescence, we are expected to undertake “Vidya-Vrat” (Seeking of Knowledge) with a formal ceremony known as “Upa-Nayan” (literally meaning – Second Eye). It is knowledge, after all, that enables us to see the “absolute truth” so no wonder it is called as another eye (apart from our natural sight). We are expected to start our quest for knowledge and truth around this time. We should get knowledge on two fronts. The first type is known as “Vigyan” (“Vi” – other, “Gyan” – knowledge) which gives us knowledge of everything that is material in this world. We gain the skills and the expertise in this time to be able to choose a profession, earn our bread and butter and contribute to the environment as a professional. Someone becomes a doctor, someone becomes an engineer, someone becomes an accountant and some other person becomes an artist! The other type of knowledge that we should (but in modern times, don’t – at least in most cases) get is known as “Pragyan” (“Pra” – real or divine, “Gyan” – knowledge).
The minimum anticipated period over which we become fit to “pay back” or “lay the foundation” is twelve years and is called a “Tapa”. The important point to note is – this is just the beginning, just laying the foundation and is by no means the end of learning phase. We are expected to learn throughout our lives!
Body, mind and intellect are the three faculties we as individuals own. We are not body or mind or intellect. We just own them. Like we own a car or a house for example. During these twenty-five years, we are also expected to build our body through rigorous exercise. The knowledge we gain makes our intellect “fit” and the perspective it gives makes our mind extremely stable and full of empathy. (Remember, we have to spend seventy-five healthy years after this period! For the structure to be built on the foundation of twenty five years to be spectacular, the foundation has to be exceptionally strong!).
While playing the role of a “Brahmachari”, we should really be focused on maximizing our physical, mental and intellectual capability. This is not to say that we must not enjoy or do nothing else but priority-wise, developing our own personality comes first! Yoga really believes that “Charity begins at home”. For, if we are weak, how will we give strength to others, if we are paupers, how can we donate money?
Cheers...
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