Yoga is such a vast topic. It is not possible to explore all aspects in twenty six blog posts. The intention was also not to make in depth study of any aspect. The purpose was to give some idea about the vastness of the topic and break lots of myths associated with yoga. At the … Continue reading Zipping it up
Tag: Bhagavad Gita
Existential issues and yoga
In our very first post in this series we have examined how Arjuna's dilemma as to whether to fight against his own relatives or not became an existential issue. He was so confused, he began questioning his own integrity. He was doubtful about the direction of his belief system. He was not sure whether the … Continue reading Existential issues and yoga
Skill in action is verily yoga
बुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते |तस्माद्योगाय युज्यस्व योग: कर्मसु कौशलम् || 50||buddhi-yukto jahātīha ubhe sukṛita-duṣhkṛitetasmād yogāya yujyasva yogaḥ karmasu kauśhalam || Bhagavad Gita 2:50||With evenness of mind one goes beyond deedsgood and evil in this very life.Hence fight for the sake of yoga,Because, being skilled in your chosen activity is yoga. Even though in Bhagavad Gita … Continue reading Skill in action is verily yoga
Regularly, for a long time, and with a sense of honour
स तु दीर्घकालनैरन्तर्यसत्कारासेवितो दृढभूमिः ॥ १.१४॥Sa tu dīrgha-kāla-nairantarya-satkārā-sevito dṛḍha-bhūmiḥ || Patanjali Yogasutras 1.14 || The sutra given at the top means: One's foundation becomes strong if one practises regularly, for a long time, and with a sense of honour. Of course this requires some context. I must start from the beginning of the yoga sutras. … Continue reading Regularly, for a long time, and with a sense of honour
Questioning one’s way to enlightenment
Some questions have already been answered. Some are being answered. Some have not been answered as of now, but eventually these will be. It is only a matter of time. But there are some questions which will never be answered. So say the enlightened. Some questions can never be answered, maybe because, these are not … Continue reading Questioning one’s way to enlightenment
Om is its indication
A diverse group meditates together in a serene mountain pavilion. 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 … Continue reading Om is its indication
Learning under a Guru
In ancient times learning anything valuable was done by going to a Guru. It was the standard practice. It was such a a standard practice that the word Upanishad means sitting near a Guru and the highest spiritual knowledge is contained in the Upanishads. Yogic practices were handed down to generations though a master- disciple … Continue reading Learning under a Guru
Kriya Yoga vs Karma Yoga
तपः स्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि क्रियायोगः (योगसूत्र 2.1)Tapaḥ svādhyāyeśvara-praṇidhānāni kriyā-yogaḥ (Patanjali Yoga Sutras 2:1)योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय।सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते।।yoga-sthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā dhanañjayasiddhy-asiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṁ yoga uchya (Bhagavad Gita 2:1) After describing Samadhi in the first section of the Patanjali Yoga Sutras, in the second section titled Sadhana Pada Maharishi Patanjali … Continue reading Kriya Yoga vs Karma Yoga
Begin with the end in view
अर्जुन उवाच: स्थितप्रज्ञस्य का भाषा समाधिस्थस्य केशव।स्थितधीः किं प्रभाषेत किमासीत व्रजेत किम्।। Arjuna asked: O Keshava ! How would you define a sthitaprajna who is established in samadhi? How does he talk? How does he sit? How does he walk? The ancient text on yoga which is most talked about is The Yoga-sutras of Maharshi … Continue reading Begin with the end in view
Arjuna’s Despondence
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युतO Achyuta ! Place my chariot at the middle of both the armies. You may wonder - what has Arjuna, or for that matter the Bhagavad Gita to do with yoga? Let us not forget that the first chpter of the Bhagavad Gita is named as Arjuna Vishada Yoga, the second chapter … Continue reading Arjuna’s Despondence
PEBBLES AND WAVES 