Om is its indication

First try, then trust

Maharishi Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras has taken a very scintific appraoch to yoga. Normally matters of religion and spirituality are based on faith. Faith in God is the starting point of many religious and spiritual practices. But Patanjali seems to be saying in line with a popular ad-line of an Indian product – pehle istemal karo, phir viswas karo. (First try, then trust)

I have discussed the salient features of Patanjali Yoga Sutras in many of the articles in this series. Patanjali’s philosophies appeal to the common sense. The techniques he suggests are fairly practicable. However, Patanjali too at some point brings in the concept of God. Tapah swadhyaya Iswara pranidhanani kriya yogah. (Kriya yoga consists of austerities, self study and surrendering to God.) – says Patanjali.

Then Patanjali goes on to define Ishwara. The standard practice of Patanjali has been that first he states a concept and then he goes on to define it. He does the same with the concept of Ishwara.

Before we go on to understand how Patanjali defines Ishwara, it is worth noting that in Bhakti yoga and in many religious practices God is the goal. But, for Patanjali Samadhi is the goal and God is a technique. Tapah, Swadhyaya, and Ishwara Pranidhana constitute Kriya Yoga and each of these is a method to help one in the path towards Samadhi. In the first section of the Yoga Sutras also there is a sutra that means – Samadhi can also be reached by surrendering to God. (Isharapranidhanat va – yoga sutras 1:23)

Ishwara according to Patanjali

क्लेशकर्मविपाकाशयैरपरामृष्ट: पुरुषविशेष ईश्वरः
klesha-karma-vipakashayair-aparamrusht: purusha-vishesh ishvarah (Patanjali Yoga Sutras 1:24)

According to Patanjali Ishwara is the supreme being and is devoid of any karma and its consequences. According to the basic tenets of Indian philosophy every living being is subject to the consequences of Karma. Some consequences of Karma bear fruit in the current life and some get accumulated and are carried forward to a next life. But Ishwara is beyond the laws of karma. In Bhagavad Gita also Lord Krishna says, “I do everything. Still I am not tinged by Karma.”

 तत्र निरतिशयं सर्वज्ञबीजम्
tatra niratishaya sarvajna veejam (Patanjali Yoga Sutras 1:25) 
The highest seed of knowledge is contained in that Ishwara. 

पूर्वेषाम् अपि गुरुः कालेनानवच्छेदात्
Purveshm api guruh kalenaanavachhedat. (Patanjali Yoga Sutras 1:26)
This Ishwara is first of the gurus and is not bound by the constraints of time. 

तस्य वाचकः प्रणवः 
Tasya vachaka pranavah (1:27)
Om is its indication

तज्जपस्तदर्थभावनम्
Tad-japa tad-artha bhavanam (1:28)
Such an Ishwara is worth doing japa and contemplation
Alternate interpretation is : This Om is worth doing japa and contemplation. 

Notice carefully. Patanjali says – Iswarapranidhanad va, which means- also by surrendering to God. Thus, ‘surrender to God’ is one of the techniques. It is not the only technique. That is the beauty of our ancient seers. They never said, “this is the only way“. In case it is comfortable for you, you can use the techniques of ‘Surrendering to God’ as a technique on the path of yoga.

Return to the Source

We have so many concepts of God across religions and withing the same religion. Patanjali goes on to describe the God, surrendering to which will be helpful in the path of yoga. This is linked to human psychology. We imbibe the values of those we idolise. If we idolise someone for a long time, we catch on some of his external and internal qualities.

So if at all you decide to use God as a method, remember the definition of Ishwara as given by Patanjali. Such an Ishwara is the seed of all knowledge. It is the guru of the gurus. It is untouched by the vagaries of karma. Om is its indication.

Chanting Om can be a starting point. Contemplation on Om can be a starting point. It has been seen that Om is the repository of all sounds. Chanting Om brings in certain types of integration to the whole consciousness. Yoga is all about establishing harmony among various levels of our existence. Rishis have experienced this.

Om is known as the primordial sound. Om is the source of everything. Yogic journey is all about going back to the source.