My loving Guru Sri Sri Ravishankar says something so deep and beautiful that only a Great yogi could ever. Speaking about Ashtanga Yoga that the sage Patanjali explains in the Yogasutras, He explained that these are NOT 8 steps or Ashtha Pada but 8 parts of the same body or Ashtanga. A table may have four legs but if you want to pull the table getting a grip on just on of its legs is good enough. The other 3 legs come along with it. Similarly going deep into just one part of Yoga will ensure that you attain the other 7 as well. There are many who have said probably getting your hands on more than one, could make the process faster. Maybe!
My many years of experience with my Asana and Pranayama practice coupled with the eternal and loving Grace of my Guru have brought me to realize the depth of His words.
I will at this point, revisit the eight limbs of Yoga which is very essential in the context of what I am trying to explain. The eight limbs of Yoga as elucidated by Patanjali are
1. Yama (What we owe to the world). There are 5 Yamas. They are
a. Ahimsa or non violence (Not just in deed but also in thought)
b. Sathya or truth (Not to be understood as purely verbal truth but the deeper understanding of what we experience as existence)
c. Aparigraha or non covetousness. A deep satisfaction within oneself that comes through a deep acceptance of what is. Once we realize that all there is in the world we perceive, is nothing but the manifestation of the the wonderful consciousness that alone is, Aparigraha is a natural happening
d. Brahmacharya. Probably the most misunderstood. Most understand it as sexual abstinence when the word itself when deconstructed would mean "Walking in Brahman". What would this mean? It simply means seeing the One in All and All in One.
e. Astheya or non stealing. Something that again is a direct result of understanding the greater consciousness that ALL is.
2. Niyama (What we owe to ourselves)
a. Shaucha or cleanliness. This is not just external but is deeply internal at the level of the body and the mind as well. Internal physical cleanliness can be achieved through deep asana practice that rids the body of Aama (undigested matter) at the macro visceral level as well as the micro cellular level. At the level of the cells, the same is achieved through the optimum working of the Lymphatic system which is known as the body's sewerage system. The Lymphatic system unlike its luckier cousin, the circulatory system, does not have a pump (aka the heart) to ensure good movement of its contents (the waste from the cells). Good Asana practice coupled with deep and slow breathing (that works the diaphragm) helps in pumping of the Lymphatic system. Deep meditative practice of Asana (Sthiram Sukham Asanam combined with Prayatna Shaittilya Anantha Samapattibhyam) purifies the mind (which is not just what we think of as the manifestation of the nervous system but as the bio electric field that envelopes every cell of our bodies) by calming it down beautifully and making it impervious to the duality of life. Patanjali says in yogasutra 2.48 tatah dwandwa anabhigata. That one moves beyond the dualities. This experience has a deep cleansing effect on the subtle body represented mostly by the mind.
b. Santosha or happiness, cheerfulness that is not hostage to events. When the deeper realization of truth sets in, Santosha is the manifestation. Bliss which is not hostage to events.
c. Tapasya or going through the difficulties with a smile. Do 108 Surya Namaskars daily to understand what this means :D
d. Swadhyaya or Self Study through patient observation of all our koshas over years of continuous and respectful practice (Satu Dheerga Kaala Nairantarya Satkara Sevita Dridha Bhoomi)
e. Ishwarapranidhana or the deep inquisitiveness to know more about the One Consciousness that is. This is something that is understood in the depths of meditative Asana practice.
The explanation of how Asana brings about the fulfillment of Yama and Niyama are explained in a diagram below
3. Asana - Gurudev explains Asana as respecting your body. And what is respect? Being with the practice 100% in full awareness. The tension that Asana brings in different parts of the body helps the awareness to manifest deep in those parts which normally would be very difficult to attain.
4. Pranayama - Gurudev explains Pranayama as respecting your breath. Giving it 100% attention and awareness to the way our breath behaves and moves in the body, when being in various Asanas and at various levels of progression in those Asanas. For example, the way we breathe when we do Paschimottanasana is very different from any other Asana, and even here, the patterns of breath vary depending on the level of progression made by the Sadhaka.
5. Pratyahara - Going completely within oneself like how a tortoise pulls back all its 5 limbs (including head), pulling back from the world of 5 senses and residing in the form of the observer. Tada Drishtuh Swaroope Avasthanam. Doing Bhramari Pranayama in Shanmukhi Mudra is a wonderful way to experience Pratyahara.
6. Dharana - single pointed focus. Understanding the various instructions of how to do the Asanas and continuously observing and improving on them brings about the single pointed focus that we call as Dharana.
7. Dhyana - Complete but conscious relaxation. Prayatna Shaittilyam Anantha Samapattibhyam. Dropping all efforts and experiencing the Infinity. Something that is done not by dropping the Asana but by being in the Asana and dropping the efforts at the level of the mind. The whole Asana experience becomes meditative when this is done.
8. Samadhi - Only when it happens, One knows what it is. All efforts to explain what it is, would stop here!
The deep practice of Asana, accompanied with a deep awareness of one's body, the fine levels of alignment that one needs to be aware of, and understanding the patterns of breath involved at various levels of advancement and progression (wont use the word difficulty though initially I was tempted to do the same), and the effect the same has on the movements of the diaphragm and the consequent effect on the various organs and parts of the body, brings a realization of all the above.
The deep realization of the One Consciousess in the depths of meditative Asana practice helps in triggering off the Yamas. The beautiful effects of the Asana on the body helps understand how the Niyamas are being brought into effect by cleansing not just externally at the level of the skin through the sweat glands, but every cell of the body through the beautiful massaging that is experienced, resulting in Shaucha at a very deep physical level. the meditative effects of Asana cleanses the entire Pranic body and subsequently the mind which is so deeply dependent on the Prana levels for its state of manifestation. A low Prana level results in a very different state of mind compared to a high Prana level. These are all understood effortlessly by those who practice (continuously with love and respect). Asana practice done respectfully of not just the details of the Asana (which results in Dharana), but also the diligent practice of relaxing at the level of the mind (resulting in effortless execution of the Asana) leads one to Dhyana. Samadhi is the ultimate result. Hence going deep into just one of the limbs of Yoga, namely Asana, helps one to achieve Yoga in its entirety.
AUM.
My many years of experience with my Asana and Pranayama practice coupled with the eternal and loving Grace of my Guru have brought me to realize the depth of His words.
I will at this point, revisit the eight limbs of Yoga which is very essential in the context of what I am trying to explain. The eight limbs of Yoga as elucidated by Patanjali are
1. Yama (What we owe to the world). There are 5 Yamas. They are
a. Ahimsa or non violence (Not just in deed but also in thought)
b. Sathya or truth (Not to be understood as purely verbal truth but the deeper understanding of what we experience as existence)
c. Aparigraha or non covetousness. A deep satisfaction within oneself that comes through a deep acceptance of what is. Once we realize that all there is in the world we perceive, is nothing but the manifestation of the the wonderful consciousness that alone is, Aparigraha is a natural happening
d. Brahmacharya. Probably the most misunderstood. Most understand it as sexual abstinence when the word itself when deconstructed would mean "Walking in Brahman". What would this mean? It simply means seeing the One in All and All in One.
e. Astheya or non stealing. Something that again is a direct result of understanding the greater consciousness that ALL is.
2. Niyama (What we owe to ourselves)
a. Shaucha or cleanliness. This is not just external but is deeply internal at the level of the body and the mind as well. Internal physical cleanliness can be achieved through deep asana practice that rids the body of Aama (undigested matter) at the macro visceral level as well as the micro cellular level. At the level of the cells, the same is achieved through the optimum working of the Lymphatic system which is known as the body's sewerage system. The Lymphatic system unlike its luckier cousin, the circulatory system, does not have a pump (aka the heart) to ensure good movement of its contents (the waste from the cells). Good Asana practice coupled with deep and slow breathing (that works the diaphragm) helps in pumping of the Lymphatic system. Deep meditative practice of Asana (Sthiram Sukham Asanam combined with Prayatna Shaittilya Anantha Samapattibhyam) purifies the mind (which is not just what we think of as the manifestation of the nervous system but as the bio electric field that envelopes every cell of our bodies) by calming it down beautifully and making it impervious to the duality of life. Patanjali says in yogasutra 2.48 tatah dwandwa anabhigata. That one moves beyond the dualities. This experience has a deep cleansing effect on the subtle body represented mostly by the mind.
b. Santosha or happiness, cheerfulness that is not hostage to events. When the deeper realization of truth sets in, Santosha is the manifestation. Bliss which is not hostage to events.
c. Tapasya or going through the difficulties with a smile. Do 108 Surya Namaskars daily to understand what this means :D
d. Swadhyaya or Self Study through patient observation of all our koshas over years of continuous and respectful practice (Satu Dheerga Kaala Nairantarya Satkara Sevita Dridha Bhoomi)
e. Ishwarapranidhana or the deep inquisitiveness to know more about the One Consciousness that is. This is something that is understood in the depths of meditative Asana practice.
The explanation of how Asana brings about the fulfillment of Yama and Niyama are explained in a diagram below
3. Asana - Gurudev explains Asana as respecting your body. And what is respect? Being with the practice 100% in full awareness. The tension that Asana brings in different parts of the body helps the awareness to manifest deep in those parts which normally would be very difficult to attain.
4. Pranayama - Gurudev explains Pranayama as respecting your breath. Giving it 100% attention and awareness to the way our breath behaves and moves in the body, when being in various Asanas and at various levels of progression in those Asanas. For example, the way we breathe when we do Paschimottanasana is very different from any other Asana, and even here, the patterns of breath vary depending on the level of progression made by the Sadhaka.
5. Pratyahara - Going completely within oneself like how a tortoise pulls back all its 5 limbs (including head), pulling back from the world of 5 senses and residing in the form of the observer. Tada Drishtuh Swaroope Avasthanam. Doing Bhramari Pranayama in Shanmukhi Mudra is a wonderful way to experience Pratyahara.
6. Dharana - single pointed focus. Understanding the various instructions of how to do the Asanas and continuously observing and improving on them brings about the single pointed focus that we call as Dharana.
7. Dhyana - Complete but conscious relaxation. Prayatna Shaittilyam Anantha Samapattibhyam. Dropping all efforts and experiencing the Infinity. Something that is done not by dropping the Asana but by being in the Asana and dropping the efforts at the level of the mind. The whole Asana experience becomes meditative when this is done.
8. Samadhi - Only when it happens, One knows what it is. All efforts to explain what it is, would stop here!
The deep practice of Asana, accompanied with a deep awareness of one's body, the fine levels of alignment that one needs to be aware of, and understanding the patterns of breath involved at various levels of advancement and progression (wont use the word difficulty though initially I was tempted to do the same), and the effect the same has on the movements of the diaphragm and the consequent effect on the various organs and parts of the body, brings a realization of all the above.
The deep realization of the One Consciousess in the depths of meditative Asana practice helps in triggering off the Yamas. The beautiful effects of the Asana on the body helps understand how the Niyamas are being brought into effect by cleansing not just externally at the level of the skin through the sweat glands, but every cell of the body through the beautiful massaging that is experienced, resulting in Shaucha at a very deep physical level. the meditative effects of Asana cleanses the entire Pranic body and subsequently the mind which is so deeply dependent on the Prana levels for its state of manifestation. A low Prana level results in a very different state of mind compared to a high Prana level. These are all understood effortlessly by those who practice (continuously with love and respect). Asana practice done respectfully of not just the details of the Asana (which results in Dharana), but also the diligent practice of relaxing at the level of the mind (resulting in effortless execution of the Asana) leads one to Dhyana. Samadhi is the ultimate result. Hence going deep into just one of the limbs of Yoga, namely Asana, helps one to achieve Yoga in its entirety.
AUM.
