Dear Students, Teachers and Friends,
Yoga doesn't mean all these fancy poses and breathing exercises; these are just preparatory techniques that will settle the mind into silence.
It is my highest desire to help all aspirants make spiritual progress in this lifetime. Yoga teachings are so necessary in this period of time, when un-truths can be spread quickly to the public through all mass media forums. I continue to teach daily as I always have, helping practitioners from all walks of life: householders, office workers, dancers and gymnasts achieve physical prowess in asana practice. But my heart felt life mission is to give all the tools and understanding to know that Yoga is a divinely efficient set of techniques devoted to Self-Realization that requires nothing, no mats, no props, no expensive clothes or costumes, just the body itself. Realized by Celestial Beings (enlightened ones), Yoga is a short-cut to Immortality. It is not a religion, but a science that if practiced correctly, will bring to the Sadhaka (practitioner) radiant health, and mental and psychic powers within a short-time. These may then be used to achieve Self-realization, the goal of all life.
To succeed in all aspects of life, much concentration is required. Increased ability to concentrate is a direct consequence of regular Sadhana (spiritual practice), in the Eight Limbs of Yoga, which then may be applied to discover answers to essential questions such as, Who am I?, What is beyond the mind?, What is the cause of all pain and suffering?, What is the greatest of all impurities? and How can I be free from pain and suffering?
The Classical Limbs of Yoga System know as Astanga Yoga is divided into eight steps or stages through which the body and mind are prepared, purified, and then surmounted. They are as follows:
Yama (The Ethical Rules)
Niyama (The Observances)
Asana (Postures; the Exercises)
Pranayama (Control of the Vital Life-Force)
Pratyahara (Control of the Senses)
Dharana (Concentration)
Dhyana (Concentration without Interruption; Meditation)
Samadhi (Absorption with the Object or Subject of Contemplation; Bliss-Absolute)
Yama and Niyama are the foundation, and without them, there can be no success in meditation. Constant application of Yama and Niyama develops in the Sadhaka a strong desire for liberation. Asana (posture) practice, combined with Bandhas (locks), Mudras (seals) and Kriyas (cleansing-techniques), brings radiant health and long life. A healthy body leads to a healthy mind, and only a mind which is calm and steady can achieve unbroken concentration (meditation). Pranayama (breath control practices) will purify the nerves, calm the mind and, consequently, allow the Sadhaka to take control of Prana (vital life-force) and the mind. With passion and emotions under control, success in meditation is surely in sight. Pratyahara is the ability to control the senses. Dharana is one of the results of Pranayama practice as concentration is heightened when the senses are controlled. With the practice of the previous steps, Dhyana (meditation) is easy to attain. Last is Samadhi, when the practitioner becomes completely absorbed in the object or subject of contemplation as the self rests and is completely absorbed in divine perception.
One of the purposes of meditation is to “realize” the things that we believe. But belief alone is simply not enough, as we must then experience “it”; or see “it”, only so we (the mind or personal self) may become content and happy. Many believe that we are immortal souls, but still, everyone is full of doubts and miserable. The mind must enter into silence in order to realize the “Self” or what many call “God” and enter a state of constant bliss. This is when absolute truth is realized; when belief becomes accepted fact.
The final stage of permanent absorption, Nirvana-Samadhi, is known as “enlightenment”. Scholars and spiritual teachers may tie themselves up in knots trying to explain this state. It is Turya (the fourth state) beyond waking consciousness, sleep with dreams, and deep dreamless sleep, when one recognizes the Self in every shining atom of existence. Then one moves like a dry leaf, the winds of life carrying them where they will. This highest state of Samadhi is beyond pain, suffering, happiness or joy. One is supremely established in that which is beyond this. Of this my friends, I call Yoga.
Please make sure to begin, or continue in the above mentioned understandings as we all open the book to a new decade of 2010. Let me remind you of the importance of become vegetarians this year! Make sure to LOVE your inferior brothers, and the world will become a saner and better place. Follow Paul McCartney’s plea for a Meat Free Monday, go beyond to every day. You will feel better, become healthier and live longer.
Much love to all,
As they say: Live long and prosper.
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shantih
Dharma Mittra
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Photo of Dharma taken on Christmas Day. Thank you, Eva!
Some sentences were put into boldface by the blogger (me).
Oh he is SUCH a sweetie / cutie pie.
ReplyDeleteI was tempted to chuck the vegetarian thing in one toss, having gone to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day gatherings that were both distinctly NON vegetarian. I ordered a Thai tilapia the following weekend. But then... I got back on the wagon
I hope be at Dharma's Wed night. See you there (at psychic development)?
ReplyDeleteReally?? I'd love to meet you. If I think I can possibly make it I will come. I haven't been back since that one time - which you know about.
ReplyDeleteYes, staying in Grammercy Mon-Thurs. I'd love to meet you, too.
ReplyDeleteOK I'm going to write this down...
ReplyDeleteKrishna tells Arjuna that the self can never be slain. "Wherefore you should not mourn for any creature."
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying we should all run out and eat steak! I'm just wondering if when we talk about ahimsa we're buying into the illusion that something can be harmed, when in fact that which is true and real is immutable.
Also, I understand that Arjuna had to fulfill his "duty" and my duty probably does not include eating animals.
I'm trying to figure out the fault in my logic since I think the higher path is that of not killing animals for food. (Though now this brings me to the question of cutting off a plant's life so I can eat. I can see the argument at both extremes of the spectrum!)
Interesting argument. I think you know in your heart what is right. The intellectual gymnastics can often serve as a distraction.
ReplyDeleteTLo-
ReplyDeleteAlso.....Yogis believe that the the Atman is the same in all living beings (living = with a beating heart), so when you harm one of them them you are harming yourself.
I think the duty argument kicks in when, say, you are in charge of a kingdom and have exhausted every other possibility outside of war and have constituents whom you have promised to protect. Then, the war is just.
You know what I do sometimes... When I walk into a deli to pick up lunch at a salad bar, if that's what I'm eating that day, I look at all the bins of various animal parts and imagine how I would feel if they were full of human hands and feet (with various sauces, breading and so forth). It'd be pretty grotesque right?
ReplyDeleteI'm so NOT perfect though. I ate carnivorous over the holidays because I was a guest and just grateful to be invited.