What is the source of Yoga?

 The debate on the source of Yoga is intense with many people strongly making the point that it is Hinduism's gift to the world. Though controversial I would as a practicing Yogi, like to make a different point.

The more one goes into Yoga, the more one realizes the oneness in infinite diversity, the critical role that "Prana" or life force plays on the state of mind (whether the calm, not so calm, or the ultimate ZERO state), and, the essential realization that the external manifestation of human behavior is 100% a function of the internal state of the mind. There is a need to implement this knowledge for the wellbeing of humanity in a skillful way taking into consideration the various types of people we encounter. From the religious believers to the non-believing atheists and agnostics. 

When we look at the way any religion has been designed, it essentially has aimed to calm the restless mind through prayer, meditation, etc. In Hinduism the restless mind is compared to a monkey that is drunk, bitten by a scorpion, and then occupied by a ghost! What takes the mind outside are the 5 senses of touch taste smell sight and hearing. Making use of these very 5 faculties to bring the mind within and calm it even for a few moments is the reason why the great yogis thought through and designed the many temples of India. The sense of belief in an almighty parent called God with an image sculpted in the form of an idol is very essential for this aim to be accomplished. 

1. The sight or "Darshana" of the main "vigraha" or idol, which has undergone the regular process of "Prana Pratishtha" or imbued with life force using a lot of technical sophistry like the use of precious gems buried deep under the main idol as well as the use of water subjected to the recitation of certain mantras (watch this amazing video to understand how water is effected by human emotions and the vibrations of certain words https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Moz82i89JAw) flowing onto the idol from atop, brings the mind to calmness

2. The smells of ingredients like "Tulasi" or Holy Basil, Sandalwood, Camphor or "Karpooram" all bring the mind to calmness

3. The taste of the "Teertha" or holy water which has Holy Basil, Sandalwood, Camphor etc heightens the Prana and brings the mind to calmness

4. The sounds of the bells and mantras chanted bring the mind to calmness. The ragas in classical Indian music each have a very different effect on the mind

5. The touch of cool floors and walls of the temple brings the mind to calmness

One of the core aspects of Yoga is meditation or Dhyana. When we look at all religions, they are meditative revelations. Whether it was the Vedas that were revealed to the sages of yore, the Quran that was revealed to the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) when he meditated in a cave, or the fact that Jesus fasted and meditated for 40 days in a desert. 

So coming back to the main question. Did Yoga come from Hinduism or was it the other way around?! The answer to this question is the same as whether space came from matter or the other way around? :) 

AUM AUM AUM

Why Asanas? Some thoughts (post the practice :D)

 Firstly hope everyone got what that title meant!

The very goal of Yoga is to stop all modulations of the mind, so that, we reside in the state of the observer. This is what meditation is truly all about

There are 8 ways to achieve this and one of the ways is Asana or physical poses. How would contorting into different stretches, twists, bends, and squeezes help in quietening the restless mind?

The state of mental quiet is less about preachings and instructions and more about enabling certain states in the body that have a definitive effect on the mind. 

One of the important reasons which disables individuals from reaching a calm and meditative state is the inability of the body to get rid of waste or Aama (Sanskrit). Ordinarily, we would think that this refers to digestive waste. This is 100% true, What is also equally true is the ability of the body to get rid of wastes at the cellular levels as well. Our cells too eat, drink, breathe, egest and involve in dozens of other activities before finally dying. The cellular waste as well as dead cells collect in the Lymphatic system. 

The Lymphatic system unlike the circulatory system which has a heart to pump the fluid, has only our physical activities to enable its optimum functioning. The optimal functioning of the Lymphatic system ensures that the body is free of cellular waste. 

Asana is a fantastic approach to enable this optimum Lymphatic functioning. The various stretches, bends, twists, and squeezes performed with deep diaphragmic breathing over a period of time (some Asanas can be held for a few minutes as well depending on the experience of the Yogi), have a salutary effect on the Lymphatic System. 

The continuous buildup of waste in the Lymphatic system has a corresponding ill effect on the organs and glands that surround them. 

The Prana (https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2598734235874609373/5022012620229752242?hl=en-GB) flows freely when the body is free of Aama and is enabled to flow unimpeded. The role of Asana in cleansing the body at the cellular levels and thereby ensuring the free flow of Prana, as well as the increased flow of Prana in the body, is primal and pivotal. 

The quietening of the mind happens only when the levels of Prana in the body are increased. It won't happen with preaching and reading books! Yes, it also happens in the presence of a Guru who operates at elevated levels of Prana :)

What is Sri Sri Yoga?

 What makes Sri Sri Yoga, Sri Sri Yoga!

The differences in the various Yoga systems and schools are mostly based on which are the core books of Yoga that are looked up to and the interpretation of the Sanskrit verses that are contained in them

The Art of Living has its Yogic roots firmly rooted mainly in the Patanjali Yogasutras. A book whose aphorisms were explained in selected details by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankar over 25 years ago

Apart from His interpretation of the Yogasutras, His own understanding of various aspects of life and especially the mind, have brought about over the years, a distinctive and immensely beautiful perspective to what has now emerged as Sri Sri Yoga

Some of the core focus areas have been

1. The concept of Prana. Gurudev has often said that doubts creep in the mind only when the Prana levels are low. This is a very deep understanding. If we stretch this, we understand and realize that it's not just doubts that come when Prana levels are low, but the higher realizations that come in, when prana levels are high!

2. Stretching in the asana is done by breathing out

3. Smile when you do the Asana. Sthiram Sukham Asanam is a sutra that we at AOL have always adhered to. The only way we can express the Sukha in the Asana is when we can smile when doing the Asana!

4. Payathna Shaittilya Anantha Samapattibhyam - to let go of all efforts after having done the asana. To let go of efforts, first, the efforts must have been put! We all run only till we get onto the train. Running thereafter does not help us reach our destination faster. Similarly we ut in our efforts only till we attain the Yogasana the way it has to be. Once attained, we rest in the Asana and let the Infinity flow through!

5. Doing the Asana with all awareness and attention - Satu Dheerga Kaala Nairantarya Satkara Sevita Dridha Bhumi. Satkara Sevita is, doing Yoga respectfully. Respect means what? Giving your 100% attention to something is respect. This definition of respect was given by Gurudev. Respecting the body is Asana. Respecting the breath is Pranayama!

6. Sadhana is Sah Dhana, your "own" wealth that you carry on from one life to another.

7. 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 one 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

8. Jnana Yoga Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga are all interwoven. Just like, to prepare Gulab Jamun one needs to know how to do it (Jnana Yoga), once knowing how to do it, one needs to execute the job (Karma Yoga) and both Jnana and Karma have to be executed with lots of love and devotion in order for the end result to stupendous success. This is Bhakti Yoga. Those who feel that Bhakti Yoga is something that needs an individual (either God or Guru) need to relook. It can be even in preparing a Gulab Jamun. Probably it is the complete Yoga of Jnana Karma and Bhakti that makes mother's food simply so delicious! Similarly Knowing how to do the asana, doing it regularly and with love and devotion, enables the culmination of all three aspects of Yoga are enabled.

AUM AUM AUM😊🙏

Sahasrara Anubhava Kriya and the story of Ganga

 In the beautiful book by Gorakhnath, Die O Yogi Die, he speaks of the inner star-spangled sky of the crown chakra

The inner sky of the Crown chakra is spangled with thousands of stars. The Sahasrara is represented as a thousand-petalled lotus for the same reason. Both these are poetic ways of explaining in words what can only be experienced. One of the most beautiful experiences of the Yogic practice is the experience of this star-spangled inner sky. Many are the ways to achieve this through the practice of asana

One of the practices to achieve this could be following the below 3 steps which I will name as the Sahasrara Anubhava Kriya or the Actions to experience the Sahasrara

1. The practice of many Surya Namaskars. This ensures that the spinal cavity is well rinsed by the spinal fluid, the way a pipe is rinsed with the water it contains. This helps in the free flow of Prana all along the spine and also cleanses the various nadis very well.

2. The practice of Shirashasana for around 5 minutes

3. Finally doing a 108 or more Kapala Bhatis (Active breathing out and Passive breathing in) in Siddhasana (Sitting with the left heel pressing the perineum and the right heel pressing against the pubic bone) and in the last round, retaining the out-breath (refraining from taking the in-breath) and simultaneously engaging the bandhas of pressing the heels into the perineum and the pubis (This is what Siddhasana is, and can also be seen as employing the Moola Bandha), pulling in the navel (Uddiyana Bandha) and if possible employing the Jalandhara Bandha by pressing the chin into the chest (Though this is not needed to be done consciously as the head automatically bends forward once you reach the level explained so far). Doing this results in the experience of the Prana shooting up hard and fast into the cranium where it encounters the star-spangled inner sky. This is an experience that is amazingly beautiful.

Now what does this have to do with the story of Ganga?

The reason why Ganga is said to be a cleanser of sins is because of the massive amount of Prana that she contains. Gurudev always says that Pranayama is the greatest of Prayashchittas because it enables the Chitta to go back to its state of innocence. Free from the deep impressions of guilt and pain that conducting a bad deed would have caused on the mind. Prana is that energy whose movements result in thoughts being generated. Different Pranic flow patterns result in commensurate thought patterns being generated. The reason why pranic stability is essential for a zero mind state to be achieved.

The Pranic energy that is raised to the level of the Sahasrara by engaging in the Sahasrara Anubhava Kriya explained above, results also in the subsequent fall of that prana back into the body. As she moves back, the mind starts getting flooded with thoughts. This may sound very perplexing and confusing. Should not the Pranic presence in the Sahasrara be the cause for the experience of Great Bliss? Yes it does, for the few moments of its existence in that region, but once the Bandhas explained in point 3 above, are released, the Prana flows back into the body in a flood. This flood of prana generates a consequent flood of thoughts. 

When Ganga fell from the heavens. it is said she caused great destruction. She flooded the ashram of Sage Jahnu and in his anger, it is said he swallowed her up. With Bhagiratha's persistence and prayers, she was released through his ears and hence one of her names being Jahnavi. 

The initial force of Ganga was controlled by Lord Shiva Himself, and here the initial force of the downward flowing Prana needs to be controlled using the Shiva of Awareness that lies in each of us. Once the initial downpouring is controlled, it is very essential that the PranaGanga is channeled well to be the life-giving force that we see her today as, rather than the destructive force that she initially proved to be. So once the awareness controls the initial force of the Prana from the Sahasrara, upon the performance of the Sahasrara Anubhava Kriya, the same should be further employed to shine upon good and helpful sankalpas. Sankalpas made in this torrential downpour of Prana come to fruition. 

Do create the Ganga of Pranashakti in you everyday and use her potential energy to irrigate the fields of good Sankapla and reap the rich crop

AUM AUM AUM 

The Power of Asana

In the Trisikhibrahmana upanishad it is said that :
Asanam vijitam yena Jitam tena jagatrayam (verse 52)
One who has mastered asana has conquered the three worlds earth, space and heaven.
AUM

Be a scientist unto oneself!

When the Buddha was passing away, his closest disciple is said to have asked the Master for his last message. To which the Buddha replied "Be a light unto yourself". On reading the beautiful sutras of Rishi Patanjali, the message (not the last one but an eternal one) that reverberates loud and clear is to "be a scientist unto ONESELF". AUM

Get the hint!

The beauty of the Patanjali Yogasutras is that though he speaks of asanas, he does NOT explain even one. Though he speaks of Pranayama, he does NOT explain even one. Yet this book is the foundation for all of the manifested bounty of Yoga we see globally. The root for ALL "practices" lies in the twin teachings of
1. Tada Drishtuh Swaroope Avasthanam - Reside in the form of an observer/witness
2. Tatra Stithau Yatnobhyasah - Doing that which takes you to the above "STATE" (of residing in the form of the observer/witness) is the "PRACTICE"!
The great Yogis of lore like Yagyavalkya (wrote the Yoga Yagyavalkya) and the ones from the middle ages like Rishi Gheranda (who wrote the Gheranda Samhita) and Rishi Swatmarama (who wrote Hatha Yoga Pradipika) and a whole galaxy of lesser known but equally if not more amazing Yogis like Matsyendranatha, Gorakhnatha, contributed to Yogic PRACTICES that contain details on the Asanas, Pranayamas, Bandhas and Kriyas that form the manifest Yoga we witness today. The modern saints of Yoga like Sri Kuvalayananda, Swami Sivananada and Sri Krishnamacharya and his wonderful disciples like BKS Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois have brought in their own light and understanding to this Agnostic body of knowledge. ALL these works and writings are elucidations of the understandings of these great Yogis on what brought them to "THE STATE" . AUM 🙏