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...
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...
No comments:
Post a Comment