One of the quintessential requirements in Yoga, irrespective of which of its 8 limbs you are working upon, is that of "Observation". Tada Drishtuh Swaroope Avasthanam. Reside in the state of an observer says Patanjali. A great student always observes, and observes without overlapping the subject of observation with previous judgments or prejudices. Only then something new could be learnt.
Have you seen a National Geographic or Discovery Channel cameraman/woman? She/he spends years and many seasons following their subjects (wildlife like the big cats or dogs, the elephants and what have you in the wild!) and studying them with all the patience at their command. After years of this Tapasya (Penance), we the audience, get to see a 30-60 minute documentary of the same. :)
A Yogi is also like the National Geographic/Discovery Channel Cameraman, just that the camera has been turned onto one’s own self. Whether that understanding of the self is the body, the mind, the prana (bio electricity that runs the various body functions), the breath, the judging intellect or the ultimate silence/space that encompasses all these. Just like the cameraman who comes out with his documentary of 30-60 minutes after having spent years of patient observation of her/his subject, the Yogi come out with a few lines, a small book (the Yogasutras of Patanjali is 196 threads or aphorisms) or a blog! These learnings and teachings help the other students of Yoga, to go deeper into the subject!
The Buddha told his close disciple Ananda on his deathbed, to be a light unto oneself. The defining moments for the Yogi is when the realization dawns that we need to be scientists unto ourselves. Observing in dispassion and eternal patience. Yoga is a great and awesome framework for the Agnostic to know and learn. For the one who can unabashedly say "I Don't Know, but I am deeply interested and am willing to spend an eternity in the process of knowing"
AUM AUM AUM
Have you seen a National Geographic or Discovery Channel cameraman/woman? She/he spends years and many seasons following their subjects (wildlife like the big cats or dogs, the elephants and what have you in the wild!) and studying them with all the patience at their command. After years of this Tapasya (Penance), we the audience, get to see a 30-60 minute documentary of the same. :)
A Yogi is also like the National Geographic/Discovery Channel Cameraman, just that the camera has been turned onto one’s own self. Whether that understanding of the self is the body, the mind, the prana (bio electricity that runs the various body functions), the breath, the judging intellect or the ultimate silence/space that encompasses all these. Just like the cameraman who comes out with his documentary of 30-60 minutes after having spent years of patient observation of her/his subject, the Yogi come out with a few lines, a small book (the Yogasutras of Patanjali is 196 threads or aphorisms) or a blog! These learnings and teachings help the other students of Yoga, to go deeper into the subject!
The Buddha told his close disciple Ananda on his deathbed, to be a light unto oneself. The defining moments for the Yogi is when the realization dawns that we need to be scientists unto ourselves. Observing in dispassion and eternal patience. Yoga is a great and awesome framework for the Agnostic to know and learn. For the one who can unabashedly say "I Don't Know, but I am deeply interested and am willing to spend an eternity in the process of knowing"
AUM AUM AUM
