YARD [0080] : Better Late Than Never

Dear Friends,

Namaste!

Having discuss the do’s and don’ts as far as our daily activities are concerned, let’s now focus on the ‘when’ part, i.e., when should we practise Yoga?


Actually there are two sub-questions hidden in this ‘when’ part:


1.    At what stage during our life should we practise Yoga

2.    At what time of the day should Yoga be practised


We will explore answer to the first sub-question in this discussion and to the second sub-question during the next.


While answering the first sub-question, let’s understand various stages of human life as described by Yoga-Shastra. Therein we shall see how conducive each stage is to starting or continuing Yoga-practice.


As per the science of Yoga, our life is divided into the following six stages:


1.    “Asti” (existence without gross body)


In this state, we exist as our subtle/causal bodies consisting of our mind, intellect, ego, “Sanchita” (our ‘bank balance’ of good and bad deeds from previous births) etc. In this state, we are continuously seeking an appropriate environment to take birth in so that we can continue our journey towards “Nirvana” or perfection.


Obviously, since we do not possess gross body in this stage, there is no question of performing Yoga-practice.


2.    “Jaayate” (taking birth)


When we find a conducive environment (depending upon our ‘bank balance’), our subtle/causal bodies connect with gross body. We take birth in that environment and immediately resume our journey towards eternal and infinite bliss. Our ‘bank balance’ is treated as the ‘opening balance’ for the day (read birth) and credit and debit transactions immediately start increasing or reducing the balance.


“Jaayate” stage begins when a sperm unites with a female ovum in the uterus and a baby is conceived. It ends when baby is born and separated from the umbilical cord of its mother.


Of course, the question of doing Yoga practice does not arise as in the previous stage.


3.    “Vardhate” (growth)


The new-born starts growing. This growth continues up to about 25 years. Therefore this “Vardhate” stage of human life can be roughly mapped to “Brahmacharya-Ashram” discussed earlier.


As we have seen in “Brahmacharya-Ashram”, we are expected to make merry till adolescence (roughly first twelve years of our life). Once we get sufficient maturity, we are expected to undertake “Vidya-Vrat” by undergoing a formal ceremony called “Upa-Nayan”. This begins our quest for knowledge and truth.


It is exactly at this stage, i.e., at the age of around twelve, that we are expected to start the Yoga practice and continue it till our last breath. When begun at this right time in right earnest, the study and practice of Yoga propels us forward and brings about a glorious revolution in our evolutionary journey towards perfection.


Thus, in order to maximize benefits of Yoga, we must start at the age of twelve.


4.    “Viparinamate” (steady state)


This is the stage where growth of our gross (physical) body is complete and we enjoy a fully grown body for a number of years. This stage can be roughly equated to the “Grihastha-Ashram” as discussed earlier and is approximately up to the age of fifty.


If we have missed out on starting Yoga earlier, it is recommended that we start Yoga as early as possible in this stage. Although the benefits for the rest of our lives would not be as much as if we started Yoga practice at the age of twelve, half a loaf is better than no bread!!


5.    “Apaksheeyate” (decline)


This stage is post our middle age when our body actually starts declining in weight, strength, stamina, speed, flexibility and height (we lose a quarter inch every ten years!). This stage can be roughly equated to the “Vanaprastha-Ashram” which is up to the age of seventy-five years.


If we have missed out starting on Yoga earlier, it is still recommended that we start as early as possible even in this stage. Of course, the ensuing benefits will be moderate at best but the practice will still play a stellar role in slowing down the decline of our body and enabling us to spend the rest of our life with a much fitter body, mind and intellect!


6.    “Vinashyati” (death)


This stage ends with death ideally ‘embraced’ at the age of hundred years. Therefore this stage also matches with “Sanyasa-Ashram”. At death, our /causal bodies separate from our gross (when the bridge called breath connecting our subtle/causal and gross bodies collapses). Our gross body is cremated and our subtle/causal bodies again start hunting for a new gross body unless we have reached “Nirvana” (perfection) which is elimination of ego from our causal body.


Starting Yoga practice in this stage is NOT recommended. However, if started earlier, we can (and must) continue our Yoga practice even during this stage!


Better late than never...


Cheers...

YARD [0079] : No Shortcuts

Dear Friends,

Namaste!

Let’s briefly discuss what should take precedence between our liking and larger interests. Given the fact “Many men many minds”, there is absolutely no saying what one may like and one may not.

As long as what one likes does not really disturb others and is not against larger interests, one is free to pursue it as a hobby. However, if what one likes doing is against the “Script”, then Yoga-Shastra very strongly dissuades one from doing it.

Let’s illustrate the point with examples. Let’s take “reading” as a hobby. So we do our duty, daily chores, exercise, meditation etc. as an integral part of our routine, and then we spend an hour or so everyday in reading books as a way of relaxing and refreshing ourselves. Nothing wrong! In fact, Yoga-Shastra has urged us to pursue a hobby as a means of recreation and would encourage a benign and benevolent hobby such as “reading” if followed appropriately (in a “Yukta” manner).

However, there are hobbies that one must think twice about before plunging into! Take for example “hunting”. This has for centuries together been a very exciting pastime for “all the kings and their men”. But hunting involves killing a living being. It involves pain. It involves violence. And these things are recommended only under extreme circumstances such as during performance of duty (a soldier killing to save his country), in self-defense (stopping an aggressor who is out to kill) or to satisfy natural hunger (a tiger killing a deer). When violence has to be resorted to as a short term measure in larger interests, it is actually an act of non-violence because it may appear to be violence at a gross (physical) level but at a subtle level (which actually matters more), it is in fact aiding continuation and prosperity of Life and hence is “Dharma”! Although for most gentle souls, more often than not, this becomes an “Apad-Dharma” (evasive action forced under emergencies).

The real meaning of non-violence (“Ahimsa” which is one of the “Yama” which in turn is the first of the eight limbs in Ashtanga Yoga as we will recall) is thus to indulge in thoughts, speech and actions that aid Life as a whole regardless of their gross manifestation! As we shall see later, this Yama along with “Satya” (Truth) are two of the most important values for a Yogi. Lest we digress, we shall reserve further discussion of non-violence for later when we dive deeper into all the Yama.

But unwarranted hunting does not qualify to be a hobby as it contradicts with larger interests. Unfortunately, such hunting is continuing unabated even during the twenty first century and several species of beautiful animals are becoming endangered! Elimination of these species will surely disturb the environmental and ecological balance. It will throw the entire food chain completely out of gear and it will start crumbling, taking “Life” out on its way down.

We will do well to appreciate that human beings are at the top of evolution pyramid. We are not the foundation of Life on Earth. What this means in other words is, Life will pretty much continue uninterrupted and undisturbed if human race were to be eliminated from the surface of the earth. However, eliminating other species of fauna and eliminating flora which is at the bottom of the food chain, will cause destruction of every other link in the chain that is built on top.

It’s common sense actually. In any structure, if we take off the top, the structure becomes stunted but does not disintegrate. However if we destroy the foundation, the entire structure is bound to crumble.

Now we can appreciate why following “Dharma” in all walks of our lives is so crucial. It is directly connected with our own survival. It is directly connected with our own prosperity and happiness. “Dharmic” principles are anything but a bunch of obsolete guidelines.

This is not to belittle the importance of human race because achievement of the ultimate goal of any being (acquiring eternal, infinite and irrevocable happiness) is impossible through any other form. Without the last mile, it’s not possible to reach destination. But that last mile needs to be built on top of the journey undertaken earlier and it would be quite foolish to be oblivious to the importance of that journey and berate, neglect or even try to eliminate it. Just like there is no shortcut to success, there is no shortcut to happiness either. In real fact, success and happiness are synonymous. We cannot be called successful if we are not happy and if we are happy, no other testimony of our success is needed!

Let’s rest the discussion of “Dharma” here and move on now to further milestones in our journey.

Keep smiling...