Glories of Yog

Chapter 1 - Hath - Chakra - Penetration and Yog?

Chapter 1 - Hath - Chakra - Penetration and Yog?

(This is a discourse on Yog delivered by Maharaj Shree on 22-11-2000 in Nepal at Kathmandu)  

 You have placed two querries before me. The first question is whether Idol worship is desirable or not? Second question is What is real Yog? A lot of confusion exists regarding various forms of Yog like Hatha Yog, Raj Yog, Laya Yog and Kundlini Yog, Shatchakra Yog and Yog - Asanas? What is the truth? Where does it lie?

 So far as the question of Idol worship is concerned, it is not out of place to mention here at the very outset that I have discussed this question in detail in the ‘Yatharth Geeta’, ‘Jeevanadarsh’, ‘Shanka Samadhan’ and ‘Unchuye Prashna’ etc. published from the ashram. Temples, Mosques, Gurudwaras, Churches, Tombs are nothing but the primary schools of spirituality. We can follow the foot-steps of our ancestors and get religious directions through them. They are useful up to a limit. Primary schools are important for learning alphabets but if someone wishes to stay life long in such schools, he would simply waste his time and learn nothing material. Similarly, if some one goes on visiting temples life - long, it should be taken as nothing but his sheer sentimentalism. Temples and Idols are our revered monuments, which enshrine the glorious memories of the spiritual investigations made by the ancestors. If valuable information regarding the Sadhna of the majestic personality who chose the place for it, are given there, if the modes and methods adopted by him for attaining God are trans-communicated there, if his divine messages are relayed there, only then the temples and idols are meaningful. Temples which distribute only Charnamrit (ambrosial offerings) are not perfect, they exploit the devotion of devotees.  

 The second question which is connected with Yog definitely needs discussion at large. Now a days a number of training centres in the name of Yog are being run in the country as well as abroad where the house-holders as well as saints are imparting the knowledge. All such institutes are prospering. Even small children have mastered Yog. Some young boys used to come to our Ashram. All of them learnt Yog and won gold medals. Actually they were all gymnasts. Geeta does not refer gymnastics and acrobatics as Yog. The Geeta speaks as follows–

 Tam vidyad dukh sanyog viyogam yog sangyitam Sa nishchyayen yoktavyo yogo anirvinchetasa |6|23||  

 Yog is the attainment of inner bliss which is free from the worldly attraction and repulsion and which is known as the quintessence of all existence, God. Yog means ultimate union with supreme being. Only those who patiently and regularly practice it, attain it. The ripples of mind do exist in between us and God and they may be called the modifications of the mind. How to modulate them, How to restrain them? is the only problem of Sadhna. Sadhna (Spiritual Endeavour) is nothing but the modulation of mind. The sages of the past express the methods of worship in their own different words and styles under the impact of different time, place and characters.

 The same informations regarding the investigations of God who is the only source of mundane as well as supra – mundane joys, are stored in the Vedas, which goes in the Upnishads by the name of Udgeeth Vidya, Madhu Vidya, Atma Vidya, Dahar Vidya, Bhuma Vidya, Mantha Vidya, Nyas Vidya. This has been called in the philosophy of Patanjali, Yog.  

 What is Yog? Maharishi Patanjali replies Ath Yoganushasanam- which means Yog is a discipline. If it is so who is to be disciplined? Family? or the country? or the neighbouring locality? Maharishi, the exponent explains No - Yogashchitvashati - AModulation of the operations of mind is Yog. If some one after making frantic efforts succeeds in restraining the mind, what does he actually get? Tada Drashtuah Swaroopeawashtanam- His soul which stands as witness, gets established in its prestine form. The question arises - was it not established so earlier? According to the Maharishi – Vashtati Saroopyamitratra - the witnessing soul ordinarily assumes the Satvik, Rajas and Tamas, complicated or uncomplicated form in accordance with the modifications of mind. How to restrain the  impulses, the ripples of the mind? The answer is Abhyasvairagyabhyam The efforts which are made to control the mind is known as practice or Abhyas. Renunciation of attachments with objects around is known as Vairagya. But if we have to make practice, we should know practice of what? Kalesh Karm Vipaka Shayerparakashtahpurush Vishesh Ishwarah – A  God is that unique being who remains uninvolved and above sufferings actions, accumulation of actions and the experiences of their results. He is beyond Time, He is the Master of all masters. Such a Being may be addressed as OM. Tajjpastdarthbhavnam - chant this name of God, which is Pranav, meditate on the form of God. Only this much practice is to be done. By the impact of this practice the obstacles would disappear, anguish and afflictions would end for ever and the distance lying between the self and the realization of the self would be eliminated.