Foundation
of Yoga
Develop virtues like generosity, forgiveness and love. Mere Yogic Kriyas
alone will not help you much. Do self-analysis daily and eradicate your faults
and evil, slavish habits. Rectify your defects such as selfishness, pride,
jealousy and hatred. You must cultivate a compassionate and loving heart first.
At all times you must share what you have with others and practice selfless
service. Then only will you get purity of heart.
Yoga is unity, identity, homogeneity, oneness and sameness with God.
Many aspirants neglect these preliminaries and jump, out of curiosity,
to Yogic Kriyas for getting psychic powers. It is really a serious blunder.
They will have a hopeless downfall. Therefore, be careful. Mere Yogic Kriyas
cannot bring about the desired results. The purification of the heart is of
paramount importance. The aspirant must free himself from lust, anger, greed,
jealousy, hatred, egoism, vanity, attachment, pride and delusion. This is more
difficult than control of breath or the practice of Yoga Asanas.
Virtuous qualities such as mercy, tolerance, adaptability, courage,
patience, balance state of mind and cosmic love should be assiduously
cultivated. Sages have always laid great stress on selfless service, generous
charity, purity and simple living.
With firm faith, application, perseverance, careful attention to even
small details, and fortitude in trials, you must set foot and proceed on the
path of Sadhana.
Yoga is not hidden in caves, not sequestered in thick Himalayan
forests. It is not in taking mountain herbs. God is not a coward to run away
from towns, cities and villages. Practice Yoga in your own home. When the
desire to practice Yoga comes, it means that liberation is near at hand. Now,
take the plunge.
It is a blessing to be a Yogi. Practice Yoga and preach. Hatha Yoga
ensures good physical and mental health. You must utilize this to the best
advantage by deep meditation on the Atman or
inner Self. Self-realization should be your goal. This should be achieved by
the constant remembrance of God, by righteousness, by a life of virtue and by
the practice of Yoga.
Becoming a Yogi does not involve the abandonment of anyone or neglect
of any duties. It means switching over from a life of purpose-lessness to the
path of God. It entails a change of your attitude towards life and in the
methods pursued for liberating yourself. True and lasting renunciation is,
after all, a matter of the attitude of the mind.
There is only one institution for you which can train you to evolve
into a full-bloom Yogi, and that is where Providence has placed you-your own
home. Mind is indeed the cause of bondage and liberation; a restless mind will
find rest nowhere except in its own annihilation. The mind should be attacked
on all sides with every possible type of weapon-with the repetition of God’s
Name, study of religious scriptures, devotion, practice of silence, service. Pranayama, Japa,
prayer, Kirtan and meditation. All these should be combined.
Do not look upon Yoga as something beyond you or as calling for any
extraordinary efforts. You can remain in your station of life, carry on your
work and at the same time embark on the Yogic path. Do Japa, prayer, Kirtan,
meditation and Asanas regularly.
Any effort in the direction of Yoga never goes in vain. You will
realize thereby the fruits of even a little Yogic practice.
Yes, there is a popular notion that Yoga is only for the
intelligentsia. It is not so. Yoga is for all. Everyone can and should practice
Yoga from his own station in life.
I can impart to your noble self training in one of the most ancient
Hindu medicine - the great miracle panacea for all ills-Yoga. Become a Yogi
from this moment.
The aim and end of Yoga is Self-realization. Yogic methods should not
be applied for mere material gains.
Yoga does not consist in just reading books and discussion at a club
table. It consists in practicing what you already know.
Every activity - from the rearing of children to the management of the
home - can be readily converted into Yoga. Kindly study the first six chapters
of the Gita again and again. Merely running away from crowds
is not a sign of Yoga. The performance of all actions as an instrument in His
hands, and with the consciousness that this world is pervaded by Him, the
Supreme Spirit, is called Yoga.
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