Working out more, getting organized, losing those last ten pounds ... these are amongst the top ten promises that millions around the world, including me, have made this weekend and likely break before the end of the month. Hoping to arrive on something less short-lived, something not so self-centered, something greater than me, I'm hoping this year to better illumine my path with age-old Hindu wisdom. They were inculcated in me long ago, but those echoes of the past suddenly seem more relevant. May the spiritual guidance of sages, swamis and gurus inspire my interactions with all those whose paths cross mine, not only to the end of this year, but through lifetimes. For all you yogis out there -- my list of resolutions may just be the same as yours -- they are, of course, the five eternal yamas:
Ahimsa -- Non-harming. I'm a peace-loving vegetarian. I eat local, at least in the summers, and I recycle. It's a start, though I could probably lighten my footprint on Mother Earth even more. But what about being non-harming in my thoughts and words? Can I recognize and respect the Divine in the road-raged driver who cuts me off to get to his destination a whopping fifteen seconds early? Or how about the rude cashier who's taking out her angst against her boss on my carefully selected, perfectly ripe tomatoes? And, most challenging, how about the irate community member who thrives on the path of hostility rather than humility, and then insults me and my husband, in one fell swoop, over a difference of opinion? On these occasions a knuckle-sandwich or a certain privileged finger seem almost instinctual, but the concept of ahimsa wants us to tolerate not only that which we dislike, but even those who are mean or hateful. Ahimsa asks us to be non-harmful in all that floats through our minds and that comes out of our mouths (or out of our keyboards). To this end, I welcome the path of all-around non-hurting -- it's going to be hard, but my internal GPS has officially been reset.
Satya -- Truthfulness. As a stand-alone value, the truth can hurt -- really hurt. Case in point: "Do these pants make me look fat?" While "yes" may be the honest answer, Hindu gurus have advised that truth must always be served on a platter of kindness. So how can one communicate truthfully but also with courtesy and compassion? Perhaps being present and open in all of our conversations is one way. As one of my favorite swamis from Chinmaya Mission Trinidad shared during a talk, "God gave you two ears and one mouth, so listen more and speak less." I confess that I've suffered from foot-in-mouth syndrome and have given inappropriate advice as a result of simply talking too much. So following Swamiji's advice will hopefully enable me to foster more genuine and loving relationships, be it as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend or advocate.
Asteya -- Asteya literally is non-stealing, but that's rather simplistic and perhaps too easy for most of us who are law-abiding members of civil society. So in my quest to dig deeper, I need to apply more expansively, what it means to not take that which is not given. To this end, the first thing that comes to my mind is letting go of expectations. As much as I remind myself that, all that I do for family, for the community, or for others, should be embarked upon as a selfless offering to the Divine. But the reality is that I still innately find myself having expectations for praise, acceptance or appreciation. These expectations unknowingly, and quickly, transform to a sense of my right to that compliment. And when the acknowledgment doesn't come, I'm upset, angry and hurt over not getting something that wasn't mine to begin with? Here on, my motto has to be, "Do more. Expect less."
Brahmacharya -- Brahmacharya as one of the traditional Hindu stages of life is a phase in which a youth (~ages 14-20) dedicates his or her full efforts to gaining both secular and spiritual knowledge. While traditionally this age is a prescription for study, discipline and strict celibacy, brahmacharya in a broader context, and well beyond youth, means self-control or self-restraint in our dealings with the many distractions of our daily lives, be they physical, emotional or mental. My biggest area for improvement in this regard is control in thoughts, especially when trying to navigate the swinging pendulum of life's highs and lows. In these times of stress, my thoughts, as if laced up with a pair of running shoes, sprint back and forth between woulda-coulda-shoulda and what-if. Learning the art of not letting thoughts control my ability to be present through mindfulness and meditation has to be a top priority.
Aparigraha -- In an age where Jimmy Choo's are just a mouse-click away and even available to those who don't live in New York City, abstention from greed, or in more modern terms, letting go of the need for "stuff" is so relevant. I have to admit that I actually have my credit card number memorized because of online shopping. I also have to sadly admit that I have not been able to memorize, thanks to caller ID and a cell phone, my own sister's phone number -- and that too, despite talking to her almost every day. How many can relate? I feel a sea of hands joining mine out there in cyberspace. I choose to follow the wise words of Mahatma Gandhi, a fellow Hindu and Gujarati who said, "I live simply so that others may simply live."
Wishing you an inspired New Year.
BJ Gallagher: Sri Daya Mata: A Remembrance
Most Popular New Year's Resolutions of 2011 on 43 Things
The 10 Yamas & Niyamas of Hinduism - Restraints & Practices of the ...
Acknowledging mistakes has two effects. Some readers will look up to the author with additional or new found respect; while others will look down up on. While others might just be neutral. The human tendency is to reduce the number of people who look down upon us, because I guess it is how we have evolved on this planet. We all mistakes, but we seldom publicly acknowledge them for unknown fears plague us. Maybe it is Ego. I suspect there could be multiple reasons based on the circumstances that prevent us humans from going the "satya" route and we take the easier "asatya" route.
This is just one example of how tough it is to practice "Satya". As Suhag correctly states "truth can hurt".
Actually the word "God" is a joke in Yoga: G.O.D. Generator, Operator & Destroyer (ie, changer) of the universe. Google 'gunapie' to see more.
The much touted Patanjali of Yoga Sutras fame, did not "discover" or "create" the sutras, he compiled and/or codified the existing practices & knowledge of his times.
The West, which is very used to monotheism and the rise of Christianity and Islam, attempts to treat the Indic traditions similar to Christianity and Islam.
In the Indic traditions, like in all there is philosophy and there is practice. In practice, the people in the Indian-subcontinent prayed to multitude of gods and godesses, without any concern to theory or philosophy - because sometimes none existed. In the theoretical or philosophical arena was not all simple and clam, it was chaotic in the sense many ideas rose and rubbed shoulders with others.
Hindus are happy to be idol worshiper worshiping thousands of gods and goddesses.
To claim one knows the origins of Hinduism, one of the Indic traditions, is laughable at best. Because it means one has defined "What is Hinduism" in the first place. And let me remind again, both the practitioners and the scholars are still bickering about it; and Hindus are fine with this sort of confusion. After all such conditions gave birth to tolerance and pluralism.
BTW, the book you recommended arrived at my doorstep yesterday, and I quite like what I see in it; the organization is excellent. Thanks again. :-)
One of the sacred phrases of "Hinduism" is "Ekam sat vipra bahudha vadanti" (The truth is but one, the wise call it by different names). Pluralism is at the heart of Hinduism.
http://www.tm.org/blog/meditation/the-yoga-sutra-and-deep-meditation/
if someone at mum.edu has time thye might comment on this from Wikipedia: {{{{New Age author George D. Chryssides, believes that the Transcendental Meditation technique taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is derived from Patañjali's Yoga.The TM-Sidhi Program is claimed to be based directly on the theory and practice of the Yoga sutras using a technique of Sanyama.
Actual lineal traditions of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali bear no similarity to the neo-Hindu Transcendental Meditation "sidhi" program,[13] which cultivates yogic siddhis. Traditionally, cultivation of yogic siddhis is considered a primary impediment to Enlightenment or Cosmic Consciousness (Skt.: turiyatita) and are disallowed in the Shankaracharya tradition for this reason.[14]}}}}
all i can say is that Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath Swami Vasudevananda supports the Maharishi
patanjali was not teaching impediments Siddhis are not the goal of Yogic practice true they are stepping stones if one wants to us ethem; that is the siddhis are not the goal of the siddhis ; thye are a means [like pranayama or asanas] to unity consciousness as the maharishi teaches
experience of siddhis [practice of TM siddhi program] is culturing of the human nervous system to be able to adchieve world peace; siddhis elevate the individual into deep innerpeace and that being unbounded [that transcendental consciousness][unbounded means not bound by time an dspace] creates peace [stressfreestate] in the collective consciousness....
www.aobm.org
well stated.
all is god, all is oneness, all is infinite, all is all and all,
now who are we??????????
we are expressions of this all and all; the Infinite source of all and all, how could we be otherwise?
now as expressions we manifest the devine qualities of this Infinite Source of vitality and substance most call God.
why so much suffering? why so many imperfections? why so much ignorance? why the sin/evil?
our "imperfections" define us as unique souls. actually our imperfections and perfections define us as unique souls as we evolve/unfold towards infinite perfection.
"without variety there is no world". swami prabhavananda.
"take away variety and the world would end" swami prabhavananda; again a profound statement.
variety demands imperfections (differences from perfection); no exceptions.
the very act of creation creates ignorance or better stated as unawareness.
are we an illusion. no.
we are of the real therefore we are not illusions but our experiences are temporal and transient.
Sri Aurobindo: “The world is manifestation of the Real and therefore is itself real.”
enlightened hinduism has much to offer. no I am not a hindu as I belong to no religion but my view is that enlightened hinduism has much to offer any sincere seeker into these mysteries of life.
if you are a true believer of any religion or materialism your seeking might be in vain. or not.
ie you already know. ie glass is already full thing.
Dana - charity/genorousity
Sila - morality
Nekkhamma - renunciation
Viriya - energy to do good
Karuna - compassion
khanti - patience
sacca(as in satya) - truth/sincerity
adihtthanana - determination to do good
upekkha - equanimity with clarity
panna - wisdom
Just reading the reviews , a taste of the cracking of the code with one word "cow" as meaning eternal light , or somehting like that , makes me very interested in it.
Indeed, yoga is independent of religion, period. For a good overview concerning this, please see the following article:
Mysticism, Yoga and Religion
http://www.swamij.com/mysticism-yoga-religion.htm
Simply put: Yoga is equally useful for people of all religions, or no religion.
The foundational sutra of the Yoga Sutras is:
Yogash Citta Vrtti Nirodhah
Yoga (unity) is the cessation of mind disturbances.
(Yoga Sutra 1.2)
Yoga, therefore, is simply the unity and peace which results from resting in, and acting from, our natural, undistorted, fulfilled consciousness.
Yoga is not about beliefs or dogma, but solely about the practices which facilitate the resulting clarity and peace; completion - the condition which is the ultimate fulfillment of all religion.
It could be said that yoga, unity and fulfillment of consciousness, is what all religion is for, ultimately.
And, for anyone who may not know, yoga is far more than simply asanas (body-postures), which, like the Niyamas, are just one of yoga's eight limbs, which are:
1. Yama: codes of restraint, abstinences
2. Niyama: observances, self-training
3. Asana: meditation posture
4. Pranayama: expansion of breath and prana
5. Pratyahara: withdrawal of the senses
6. Dharana: concentration
7. Dhyana: meditation
8. Samadhi: deep absorption
For more on the eight limbs of yoga:
http://www.swamij.com/yoga-sutras-22629.htm
http://www.aypsite.org/149.html
So, its one thing to say that the process described is universal, but one must not forget the map, which has a historicity, and is very, very, very important. Thanks to the mapmakers, for not all maps are like this, some are confused... a big thanks.
Also, sankhya by itself doesn't cover it totally, there must also be other, balancing complementary views (eg. Nyaya, Vedanta), which are due to other map makers. This all has historicity. One should acknowledge the historicity as well as the universality.
Each yogic or mystical system around the world (such as those I named in my comment) have their philosophical underpinnings - but as you pointed out, they are, and have always been known to be, maps.
Indian systems aren't free from teachings, nor should they be. These teachings, as you point out, help to prevent people from getting caught up in the experiences of deeper consciousness, which can be quite dramatic, by day-to-day life standards.
And so, the yogic approach is to use the maps and the steps one is taking to mutual benefit - a logical and proven approach -- and very different than the dogmatic approaches we often see from Western faiths, and to a much lesser degree, Eastern faiths.
Thanks for your comments; good points!
Click on the following link, only if you have the time and patience to read good and lengthy academic discussion. Else do not even bother, with that teaser I present the following fascinating discussion :-)))))
http://www.svabhinava.org/HinduCivilization/Dialogues/HinduismReligion-frame.php
And I've read many such overviews, over the years, and have studied yogic, tantric and advaitic texts for years -- that's why I can say "good point".
knowledge in a book is from that persons brain; the person who reads the book has a brain
for the words in the book to be of value the reader's brain must be able to use the words in the field of action
it may be that thebrain that wrote the book is able to use its own advice but the reader's brian remains the reader's brain rather than thewriters or authors brain
ultimately the author is God
the core of Hinduism is meditation [ADI Shankara] practice
religion cannot do without meditation and meditation [even when not religious] ultimately leads to god-realization
religion does not lead to god realization [except for some few by grace or good luck] it is beleif and remains beleif; god's brain remains god's brain and the beleivers brain remains the beleivers brain
the Maharishi somehow was motivated to leave the valley of the saints in Uttar Kashi and go to Rameshvaram there he was asked to speak after speaking some wanted to learn to meditate so he taught them what he knew to be meditation. he had 2 years of success [experience of inner Bliss] to the point of declaring "we can spiritually regenerate the world"at a meeting of 10 000 people;then he met the attitude we are hindus we allready know all this so he came to america and germany
I think where you are correct technically and linguistically, but I think Suhag may have missed it innocently. But yes it is a gross mistake. Element of overenthusiasm is better avoided especially with issues as sensitive as she has vowed to undertake. It should be more as an educative intention than a mere piece of an erudite counteractive journalism.
We owe a duty to try to educate both followers as well as non followers. Unfortunately sometimes the followers are noted less informed than their counterparts. Hence a word of caution is well advised. Of course Shag will answer for herself.
Another thing that I notice in her deliberation is a vacuum on the real theme of "Yoga" itself by mere narrating "Yamas" (Niyamas by mistake) and then finishing it with "Wishing you an inspired New Year.", is another gross misdirection to the Sage Patanjali and the entire Human race for which the whole system was designed. I would certainly expect that Suhag will be a bit more diligent, careful, purposive, not mixing it with a journalist mind. By doing so, she is defeating the whole purpose of her own sacred work and service.
God bless
Dr. O. P. Sudrania
Here's a good overview of the Yamas and Niyamas.
http://www.swamij.com/yoga-sutras-23034.htm
The old books(vedas,puranas,upanishads) and their mythological stories which underline this philosophy of Hindu civilization talks about an omnipresent god which lives in everyone and everything. Where did George lucas's idea of midichlorian presence in every life form came from ? It also talks about different ages in which the civilization reclaims itself from its failings in every age with the resurgence of the almighty Creator in whatever form it chooses. It is mostly presented in the form of a struggle between good and evil and shows that there is always a opposing force to every evil action.
Hindus themselves refer to their religion as Sanatana Dharma, the Endless Truth that springs up from the minds of human beings as naturally as thought itself. There are actually a multitude of religions within Hinduism -- everything from a-theism to monotheism to monism and every subtle variation in between. Even religions based on denying religion.
But Hindus see no conflict in this at all. It is often said that every religion in the world could fit into one or another rooms of the mansion that is Hinduism, the religion that avows that there are as many paths to Divinity as there are people to find and follow them.
The Truth is one; however sages express it in different ways.
Rig Veda 1.164.46