The Yoga Institute Mumbai: September 2012

'Vrittis' -Fluctuations in the Personality Complex (Satsang)

The topic for the Satsang on Sunday, 15th September, 2012 was Swadhyaya (Self Study).

Following is the transcript of the speech made by Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra and Smt. Hansaji Yogendra on the topic.

Smt. Hansaji and Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra

"Following someone’s style of life does not interest us. You have to be original and do what you want. Already we have these strong reactions which come, we dislike and we show our dislike. But in the end, we become a very tested personality and people can point to us and say that here is a person who is irritable, etc.

Instead, cultivate contrary kind of qualities, one of pleasure, joy…Just in the beginning we can consciously try to start with one in the place of showing off or anger, etc. Yoga is basically of that kind – a peaceful appearance, experience of joy and larger understanding. These also can be consciously cultivated.

There are people who are forming particular organizations where the whole group maintains the particular outcome and they are able to face society. They should take up yoga and try if this approach can be integrated…one of a balanced mind, not reacting too much, watching, showing a certain appreciation of whatever goes on and carrying on their duties.

I think this is a point which is worth considering, that we should follow exhibitional kind of ideas or should we cultivate a more balanced state of mind? We have to decide."

- Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra

"Vrittis is a Yogic technical term which means that the Citta (mind/ personality complex) is continuously busy, it keeps thinking. Now we have to change this thinking nature of the Citta because we live life based on this. If someone shouts at us or hurts us, we feel bad. If things don’t go our way, we don’t like it and if they do, we get excited. This goes on. So yoga says – “Citta Vritti Nirodha.’ Stop the Vrittis. And this is the main definition of yoga and then it is analysed – what kinds of Vrittis are there?

There are 5 types of Vrittis.

1. Pramana / Logical – the scientific way of looking at life. this should be there in every person. Don’t go on what someone says. Work to find out the truth. Perception and reality can be different. We should know that our sensory organs are limited. For example, there was a young man at the beach who heard a lady scream in a bungalow nearby. He went to check if everything was alright and found she had committed suicide by cutting her stomach. The maid walked in just then and thought he had committed the murder. I was studying law at the time and remember that the case went on for a very long time. The man kept saying he was innocent and had no reason to kill the lady, while the maid, the eye witness, insisted that she saw him commit the murder. This is what perception does to us. We see something and the opinion is formed without knowing the whole truth.

2. Viparyaya / Wrong Knowledge – It is illogical thinking. There is nothing there and yet we make something out of it. This happens very often. When I was small, I used to do Asanas on a mat and keep it in the hall. One day someone shifted the mat to my bedroom and in the night I woke up and thought someone was standing there. But later we found it was just the mat. So wrong knowledge affects us, especially things like superstitions.

3. Vikalpa / Imagination – We imagine, although we don’t know the future. As you saw in the skit today, it is raining and one person thinks there will be floods and gets anxious while the other thinks, why worry, what will happen will happen. If you want to think, think positive, otherwise, don’t think.

4. Nidra / Sleep – Even in sleep we dream and imagine things. Many times we dream things that seem like or may even be premonitions. But we should know that the incident is going to happen and we cannot do anything about it. Sixth sense works when the normal senses are in control. True peaceful sleep, like the state of Samadhi is very rare. Our thoughts in sleep are dependant on how we live through our life the previous day.

5. Smriti / Memory – Our past experiences and memories control our reaction in the present. Again, like we saw in the skit, the person was worrying about the floods because of past memories. So stop even the memory. Use it only if something good can be done from it, like reducing the ego.

So yoga has gone into details of how and why the human mind thinks and how it should be functioning. Our mind is our servant, it should be in your control. It is the mind which creates the hell out of heaven and the heaven out of hell. It is the cause of all our limitations and it is also the cause of our Moksha. The mind can take us to the highest state.

Stop worry, anxiety and thinking of the past and future. It is a matter of decision and reminding ourselves. Get involved in your work and the mind will be controlled."

- Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra

Satsang is an open meeting held every Sunday from 9:30 to 10:30 am at The Yoga Institute, Santacruz East, Mumbai. It involves an interesting presentation to the public, made by the students of the Teacher Training Course. Each week, a new presentation of a Yogic concept is made in a simple way through skits and decoration for the general public, followed by a short speech from our Gurus, Dr. Jayadeva and Smt. Hansaji Yogendra.

Yoga Sutra Ch 1 Sutra 9 (Parisamvad)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra
Transcribed from Parisamvad at The Yoga Institute.

Chapter 1, Sutra 9

Sabda-Jnan-Anupati-Vastu-sunyo-Vikalpa

The modification called ‘Vikalpa’ is based on verbal cognition in regard to a thing which does not exist. (It is a kind of useful knowledge arising out of the meaning of a word but having no corresponding reality)

Sabda : word , sound

Jnana : by knowledge , knowing

Anupati : following , depending upon

Vastu : a reality or real object

Sunyo : devoid , without

Vikalpa : imagination

Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra:

The object is absent – Vastu Sunya. That is called imagination and yet words are used, ideas are put forward. When we are using words, using ideas, imagining – the thing as such doesn’t exist. It’s on the strength of our own words, ideas that we influence others and that goes on in life. We talk a lot, arguments are there, plans – it grows. We are never idle but what we produce is just Kachra (garbage). There is nothing in it. We can go on talking for hours, we can write. So this is the point – using words, behind that there is nothing – Vastu Sunya. They are dangerous. They are unreal. We can go into day dreaming. If the thinking is done and the actual things are there then the thinking is a reality, if the actual things are not there and we go on imagining, we can get into trouble. Many people get into trouble. We get lost into imagination. It doesn’t match the reality, it just satisfies our ego. They tell us to beware of imagination. Be firmly fixed on reality and then you can think. But if the thing is not there and you go on imagining on that basis, you predict things , then it’s going to hurt.

Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra:

Imagination is fertile, you can imagine anything looking at the clouds, children imagine it to be lion, elephant, etc. There was this girl , the moment she would see a cloud, she would get an Asthma attack. So Vikalpa could be Klista or Aklista. There was another small girl who was once returning home from school with her mother. It was rainy season and there was a lot of thunder. The mother was scared, but this little girl was very amused. Whenever lightning struck, the girl would look up towards the sky and smile. The mother asked her, ‘What are you doing?' The girl replied. ‘God is taking my picture and so I am smiling.’ The girl didn’t feel any fear or tension. We have to be child like. We grown-ups imagine all wrong things. There was this lawyer who married late in life. After 3 days of marriage, we went to see him. The lawyer was very upset. On inquiring, he said. I have made a mistake by marrying. Soon my wife will get pregnant and pregnancy at this late age will be very expensive. When the child comes, admissions into a good school will again require a lot of money, then his education, etc. The expenses are running into lakhs of Rupees. I don’t have all that money.’ Now it so happened that this lawyer died early without any child. When a parent sees the child not studying, they start imagining that he will not even get the job of a peon. The best is to stop this mind. Your spouse is talking smilingly with someone. Now you can imagine that there is some affair going on or you can imagine, they may be sharing something good – let’s find out what. The mind needs to be disciplined.

About Parisamvad

On every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, The Yoga Institute, Santacruz holds Parisamvad sessions - Free interactive sessions that are open to all. These session begin at 7:20 am and end around 7:45 am.

The Friday Parisamvad is dedicated to explanation of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by our esteemed Gurus, Dr. Jayadeva and Smt. Hansaji.

All are welcome to attend.

Want to learn more about The Yoga Institute? Click Here

Bhagwad Gita 2.54 & 2.55 (Parisamvad)

Bhagwad Gita
Transcribed from Parisamvad at The Yoga Institute.

Chapter 2, Shlokas 54

2.54 - Arjuna said: O Krishna, what are the symptoms of one whose consciousness is thus merged in transcendence? How does he speak, and what is his language? How does he sit, and how does he walk?

2.55 - The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O Partha, when a man gives up all varieties of desire for sense gratification, which arise from mental concoction, and when his mind, thus purified, finds satisfaction in the self alone, then he is said to be in pure transcendental consciousness.

Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra:

"The discussion is about Sthitaprajna – one whose wisdom and understanding has stabilized. It is not for a little while that one thinks of God and the next moment of the devil and continues like that. Here is one who is continuously, completely dedicated to God. The wisdom, the Prajna is established. In our case, it doesn’t happen because the mind is very unsteady. It keeps jumping from one thing to another – listening to some person, reading something, seeing someone. Momentarily you feel it’s very good but it passes off. Here, people can maintain that stable state all the time.

In the case of Paramhamsa Madhavdasji, he was highly evolved. Just a day before he passed away, he informed the people that it would happen. Total control. It is a different kind of mind - the mind that has seen everything, known everything, understood. There is no further interest, no curiosity. Conversations of such people are not petty conversations, they are of the divine - God. They can get totally lost into it. Madhavdasji was such a person and Shri Yogendraji saw him and would report about it. Madhavadasji would be sitting in a discussion and suddenly he would be off, quiet and all the disciples would tell each other to walk out and they would all go away. He would continuously sit for hours in a different world.

So the Sthithprajna, whose Prajna / wisdom is established, does not function like the ordinary individual - running around, showing all kinds of emotions. He can remain stable and in these kinds of deep thoughts for long, long periods. For us it is just like a fairy tale. Our mind is all the time running here and there and we can’t remain established. When great people have met other people who are also great – that momentary meeting influences – they see the other person, the poise and that influences them.

Shri Yogendraji was an atheist, a non believer. Physically he was a strong person, a wrestler. His friend in the college pushed him to come with him to the place where Madhavdasji was giving a talk. Very very reluctantly he joined him. When he saw this man, he was stunned - he changed. Madhavdasji, who was lecturing, immediately got up, took him by his hand into a room, made him sit down and put his hand on the boy’s head. The young boy, hardly eighteen years old, a villager, lost his earlier nature. He remained seated for hours till the teacher finished the lecture and came down. He patted him on his shoulders, the boy opened his eyes and the teacher asked, ‘What have you decided?’ The boy who used to hate Sadhus, did not believe in materialism – his answer and gesture – he prostrated – he had never done such a thing in his life before or after. He prostrated and said, ‘I follow you.’ It was an unusual statement and he followed Madhavdasji. He left St. Xavier’s College. His father was shocked. The community people said he has gone off his mind. This is the change that occurred, in one who has understood and is committed. There is no looking back.

These are statements based on actual life. Such individuals are lost in their own world and are not generally interested in the ordinary people and their statements. Occasionally when they are pursued, they speak. They speak something very worthwhile and don’t elaborate. Madhavdasji was brought to Santacruz, Juhu to meet the father of our oldest pathologist, who was given to opium. Madhavdasji came reluctantly. He looked at this man, the man also looked at him and the only thing he said, ‘Stop taking opium.’ That was all. The man stopped taking opium. The work need not be sitting and thinking – company of right persons, one can quickly judge and understand and that little moment is the only work that needs to be done. You are in the company of the right person, grasp the deeper meaning and leave it there. We had a person like that, not talking too much. Actually the person was a tailor. All that I remember is that a new building was built. He personally took care of that building, sweeping it, cleaning it. He set up a hostel for outsiders to stay. He attended to the people who came, helped in the seven day residential camps. Nobody knew him, he made no big announcements. He did it all quietly.

Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra:

Sthithprajna is a person who has no desires. Desires mean imbalance. Such a person is happy within himself. For his happiness he doesn’t need external agencies. Somebody behaves nicely so you are happy; the work is good so you are happy. He doesn’t require any external agencies to make him happy. The character of your true self, Atma is happy, peaceful. The faces of all our saints are always blissful, happy. They were never angry, disturbed, anxious. When you see a wise person, the lesser individuals see how he sits, talks and externally try and imitate him. This is wrong – Kaua chale hans ki chaal. That mind has to be developed. We have to be true to ourself.

About Parisamvad

The Tuesday Parisamvad is dedicated to explanation of the the Bhagwad Gita by our esteemed Gurus, Dr. Jayadeva and Smt. Hansaji.

All are welcome to attend.

Click Here to learn more about The Yoga Institute, Santacruz, Mumbai.

(Shloka and its English translation taken from http://www.ishwar.com/hinduism/holy_bhagavad_gita).

Yoga Sutra Ch 1, Sutra 8 (Parisamvad)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra
Transcribed from Parisamvad at The Yoga Institute.

Chapter 1, Sutra 8

Viparayaya-Mithya-Jnanam-Atad- Rupa-Pratistham

Viparyaya or illusion is false knowledge formed of a thing as other than what it is.

Viparyaya : wrong knowledge ; not seeing things clearly

Mithya : unreal , false

Jnanam : knowledge

Atad : not its own

Rupa : form , nature

Pratistham : based on , established

Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra:

This is a technical word, Viparyaya – more like imagination. It’s wrong but sometimes it can be right also. What is considered as definitely wrong – wrong knowledge; remains wrong. Illusions, misapprehensions happen in our life because we are not quite exact. We get some words, imagination and build up a story, this happens a lot. Sometimes it is for the good also. Here they distinguish, Viparyaya i.e. misapprehension from ignorance which is something that stays on. It doesn’t get corrected. Misapprehension means while passing, not seeing something clearly, which gets corrected. It is also one of those mental activities which are not healthy. We are discussing about those tendencies. Mithya Gyan is wrong knowledge, Atad Rupa Pratistham – not exactly tallying with the object.

So we are understanding how the mind works. Mind works in various ways. We don’t try and analyze and understand. A lot of mistaken things get into our mind and we believe they are right; and all our life we hold on to them. This is the problem. In yoga we are trying to become very exact, very clear, very sharp; see things as they are and build up on that basis. That needs time, energy, thinking, belief but we are in a hurry. Hence, most of our calculations are not very correct, but still we carry on. These kind of mistakes are part of our life. In yoga, we are interested in exact understanding. In exact understanding at the highest level, even thinking is wrong.

Today, we have become so very lazy; mistakes are accepted. We used the word, Chalao, carry on. We know something is not correct but we say carry on. This has got into our system and we are functioning even though knowing there are certain wrong people, wrong thinking, wrong belief, but we have no time. We are in a hurry and we want to carry on. We don’t want to go into the details. Some broad ideas we catch, but this is not correct. Things done like that go wrong. So Viparyaya is Mithya Gyan.

Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra:

The common example given is that, there is a rope and you believe it is snake. In life, so many such things happen. We don’t even put in effort to get right knowledge, to get a little more detail about the thing, but we believe in that. That same Viparyaya can be Klista or Aklista. Here is a man who is reading philosophy and feels that the body is useless, nonsense. It is not right knowledge. Only through the body we can do everything in life. If with this knowledge, Vairagya (detachment) is increasing, understanding comes, then only is it an Aklista tendency.

Whatever we hear and see, first ascertain the fact. In law they say ascertain the fact before you believe it. A friend comes to Socrates and asks him, ‘Have you heard something about so and so’? Socrates stops him and tells him, ‘Have you ascertained that what you are going to speak is the truth?’ The friend says, ‘No, nothing like that.’ Socrates again asks, ‘By knowing what you are going to say, will it help in understanding life in anyway?’ The friend says, ‘No.’ Again Socrates asks, ‘Is it something good about him?’ The friend says, ‘No.’ Finally Socrates says ‘Then, I don’t want to listen.’ Do we have that clarity? We do thing anything, believe anything, listen to any gossip.

Another strong example is of a place called Shani Shignapur in Nasik. The people believe Lord Shani protects each one and so no homes have locks; the houses are open. They are simple people. If such belief can free us from tension, it’s fine. The solution of Viparyaya is Pramana.

About Parisamvad

The Friday Parisamvad is dedicated to explanation of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by our esteemed Gurus, Dr. Jayadeva and Smt. Hansaji.

All are welcome to attend.

Want to learn more about The Yoga Institute? Click Here

CORONARY CONDITION AND ATTITUDE CHANGE

S. J. Basu

Image Courtesy - www.ehow.com

In 1979, it happened again. I had my second attack. My anginal attack in 1975 had left me a bit shaken up. Having time to think during this period of forced rest, I had suddenly realized that the rat race in which I found myself was not worth the risks involved. After all, what was I working for? Why was I so involved, that I spent sleepless nights and days away from my family? And for what was I allowing my health and spiritual development to take second place to my work and ambition?

On leaving the hospital, I joined The Yoga Institute in Santacruz, though only for the physical benefits. However, under the supervision of Dr. Jayadeva, I discovered that Yoga was really a philosophy in itself. Dr. Jaydeva, through subtle suggestions and simple discussions gradually aroused my interest in the scriptures. And so I started reading the interpretation of the Bhagwad Gita.

Though for a year or so, I attended the ashram regularly, as my health improved and I grew more confident in my ability to deal with life, I became irregular in my attendance and without realizing it, I was back in the rat race.

In September 1979, the attack was more serious and my heart received a minor but permanent damage. It was followed by another attack in march 1980 and I was advised coronary bypass surgery. After my operation, for almost a year I had minor problems with chest pains due to an infection in my lungs. At this stage, I went back to The Yoga Institute, but this time with more faith and dedication.

For the last one-and-half year, I have been regularly attending The Yoga institute every morning, trying to make it part of my day. By following this, I have been keeping healthy and there have been no recurrences of my lung problem.

Though this is important, the major benefit, I think, has been in changing my perspective of life. I have reverted to reading books on the Vedanta. In the beginning, we used to have a group discussion with Dr. Jayadeva. These discussions have helped considerably in reinforcing ideas and strengthening my faith.

I find that my attitude towards life has moved away from the purely materialistic one. Peace of mind can be gained only by reducing our desires and controlling our minds. This conviction has come through my having more detached approach towards life.

Published in the November 2010 edition of Yoga & Total Health Magazine

www.theyogainstitute.org

Swadhyaya (Self Study)

The topic for the Satsang on Sunday, 15th September, 2012 was Swadhyaya (Self Study).

Following is the transcript of the speech made by Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra and Smt. Hansaji Yogendra on the topic.

Smt. Hansaji and Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra

"This kind of sentence – ‘Who am I?’ is quite popular. We immediately give our name and qualifications and believe that we have mentioned everything. We hardly have gone deeper to understand our awareness, our own sense of ‘I.’ External things we know – I know my surname, I know my place of sty and all that. But the deeper understanding of life, the purpose and meaning, the direction and the ultimate satisfaction, this we hardly know and we never try to know the end because we are very busy with other things. This is a very sad thing.

This reminds me of a story that came in a New York paper. A small man wanted to open an account in a bank. He went to the best bank in New York city. He got in. Instead of the gateman saluting him, he saluted the gateman. He asked to see the manager. They thought he was putting in millions in the bank so they took him there. In the presence of the manager, he was very nervous. The manager was kind enough and asked, ‘What do you want?’ The man said, ‘I have opened an account and want to withdraw money.’ The manager was surprised. He said, ‘If you have opened an account, you can withdraw it.’ The man went out quite dazed and confused and finally walked out of the bank. He did not know why he got in, why he got out. It is just a rough story of why we come into life, we grow up, become old enough, meddle with things, compete with some people. Till then, we are confused. We have not got any grip over life and its meaning, about ourself, our purpose and we carry on. It is a very sad thing.

Actually in this world, the things that happen are meant for us to understand and enjoy. But we hardly come to that stage. We are all the time pushed about and are frightened and running here and there and we never understand and enjoy life as it is.

You see, in yoga, we try to quieten our mind, clear our heads and see life as it is and accordingly plan to live. There are already people who follow such procedures and they lead a life suiting their situations and accustom themselves to that and enjoy it and there are people who have millions and are wanting to make more millions and are talking about taxation, etc. and are running around confused and frightened. That also happens.

The lesson is, let us understand ourselves. Let us understand our purpose. Let us decide to enjoy and not just make more money and run here and there ad never understand why we are here. That would be a very sad thing."

- Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra

"The word Swadhyaya is very important because our self development is dependant on it. We read and hear good things but that is only passive learning. We don’t even remember 10% of what we come across. We should remember good things but should apply it to our life. Sit for some time and analyse how you can apply what you have learnt to your life. Go into the details like ‘when’ and ‘how’. Self effort is required.

Swadhyaya comes in Niyamas – it is something that is done regularly. After applying it, when you experience, that is when learning takes place. Otherwise life is meaningless.

There is a famous traditional story - The Devas and Demons were thinking about what is that important thing by which everything in the universe is working so much in tandem? They try to know the truth. They go to God. God said, ‘Look at yourself in the mirror.’

The Demons looked and were happy with what they saw. They thought the Truth is ‘me’, ‘myself.’ Whereas the Devas looked at the body and thought, ‘Is that everything? The body is changeful. The body cannot be the Truth. So they went back to God. He said, go deeper. They did and found that, ‘I am not the body, mind or possessions.’ They reached the level of consciousness and then of universal consciousness. They did Swadhyaya.

Intelligence is also a limitation. After reaching a certain level, you should stop using even your intellect. Be quiet and peaceful – Citta Vritti Nirodha.

So the first step is to think of the purpose behind all the things we do. Watch yourself, look within, analyse yourself. We have to form a habit of looking within ourselves again and again as opposed to looking at others or outside us. Thinking is needed, but not about others – Why did he do this or say that? It should be about ourselves. Swa means Self and Adhyaya means Study. Build a relationship with your self. We don’t know ourselves. We react to others, we don’t even live to the fullest. So think about it.

Just listening to a lecture or reading a book is not Swadhyaya. We have to work. Too much reading or television is a waste of our valuable life. Sit quietly and spend time with your Self."

- Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra

Q & A

Q. What should be the purpose of our life?

A. Dr. Jayadeva - You think of yours, I’ll think of mine.

Smt. Hansaji - It is our habit to ask and simply find the answer. That is not how learning works. Find out for yourself. Every one has to work on themselves.

Q. I am not able to concentrate. What to do?

A. Dr. Jayadeva - If from the beginning you are not able to direct the mind, start again. Whatever work you do, put your mind to it. If you can tell what you ate today, it will be beneficial. We eat but don’t think about it. That’s the mistake.

Smt. Hansaji - This is a matter of habit. There is a practice in yoga called ‘Reflection’ where you recall the whole day’s activities. If you can’t remember something, it means you are not doing it with concentration. We only remember things when we take interest in something and analyse it and think of it again and again. Put in effort.

Q. Why do different people have different views and difference of opinion?

A. Dr. Jayadeva - Because they are different people. Each one will have different thinking. How can you expect that the person’s opinion will be understood by you? You can’t understand. It will be unique.

Smt. Hansaji - And because of this, it becomes your responsibility to know yourself more. Everyone’s level, thinking and methods are different.

Q. I do not get good sleep. What to do?

A. Dr. Jayadeva - If this is since a long time, get it treated. A psychologist can provide the treatment. But if it is since few days, then we can do some work ourselves. Do not speak before sleep or talk of things which will increase thoughts. Do few Asanas, remember good things. With this, sleep can come.

Smt. Hansaji - Sleep is a very natural phenomenon. If you are not getting sleep, there is some basic problem that we have to find out. Anyway, if you sleep for 2-3 hours, don’t worry. Rest of the time, do some yoga techniques. If it does not work, take psychiatric medication first, start getting sleep and then slowly start working on it.

Q. How to take the first step for Swadhyaya on ourselves?

A. Dr. Jayadeva - Keep a diary and write on what you did.

Smt. Hansaji - Yes, write on what you did during the day, when you got angry, etc. But don’t write of others.

Q. Rising inflation is becoming a big threat to a person’s satisfactory life. What is your opinion?

A. Dr. Jayadeva - Well, you have spoken this, everyone has heard. If they have heard you, they will give you some money.

Smt. Hansaji - Stop this kind of thinking that there is inflation and things are getting expensive. Keep some faith that in this big world even an ant and even an elephant finds some food from somewhere. If there is a problem, the solution will also come. Thinking will not help.

Bhagwad Gita 2.53 (Parisamvad)

Bhagwad Gita
Transcribed from Parisamvad at The Yoga Institute.

Chapter 2, Shlokas 53

2.53 - When your mind is no longer disturbed by the flowery language of the Vedas, and when it remains fixed in the trance of self-realization, then you will have attained the divine consciousness.

Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra:

We read a lot, many ideas are there and in a way we are confused. Somebody talks of one technique, another talks of another technique. Someone talks of one Guru, another talks of another Guru. The layman has so many options, and possibly he doesn’t take up any. The answer here is a total faith. If the instructions have been received from a source in which you have full faith, just follow them. Don’t go on reading, listening to others. Every mind is different – Matir Bhinna.

If you take to a spiritual path and want to sincerely follow yoga, then don’t go on fishing about various scriptures and various authorities. Each one will have a different outlook and you will try to find out some common link that may not come. There are 10 to 15 commentaries on the Yoga Sutras. Every commentator has something to say. This is true in other areas also. Shall we spend time in studying these commentaries and arguing? Which we do.

If you look at Sankaracharya’s Bhasya and the comment on that, it’s a thick volume; you can’t carry it. The statements there are simple. Accept one particular belief and follow. Don’t go on dabbling into various opinions and arguments. They will never satisfy. In our culture we have a tremendous belief in the earliest writing, the Vedas and those that followed Vedas, the Upanishads and some later Shastras. Much of our culture is based on that. We are today, challenging all this and setting up some new ideas. The new ideas also get challenged and we don’t arrive at any certainty. It is better that you prefer one particular option which was common sense and carry it out. That’s the way it has happened in our country.

Many, many years ago, my brother had high fever. He was 10 or 11 years old. We consulted the doctors. We had to spend a lot of money. We consulted a Dr. Bharucha who was considered as the final authority. He examined, nodded his head and we thought he had found some solution. We asked him, what was the problem? He announced that the boy has high fever. That, the thermometer showed. What more did Dr. Bharucha detect? Nothing. That night an American surgeon who was associated with the Institute, came down from Navsari. He looked at the child and immediately pronounced, “He has small pox.” Next morning there were markings on the body. So this is our problem. We are not sure of ourselves. Somewhere after some study, investigations, you have to settle down. You can’t keep searching all your life. Once you settle down, there is a lot of virtue in that settling down. The mind gets quiet, there are experiences and one carries on. If the basic is good, in course of time something good can happen.

Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra:

Today’s Sloka gives another definition of yoga. When you steady your mind, make it peaceful, focused – totally undistracted – that is yoga. There are various definitions – balanced state of mind is yoga, excellence in work is yoga. This is your consciousness with universal consciousness, Atma Ka Parmatma Ke Saath Judna – that is yoga. Yoga is a path of self development. The person has to slowly become steadier, calmer, focused and come to a stage where the object of focus is the universal self. That would be the ultimate. Various thinking goes on in our life about anything. What food to eat, what type of work to do, how to do it? For any action there are various angles of looking at it, various opinions, various experiences. There is always confusion. Do this or that, is this right or wrong, etc. There are too many thoughts. So quieten your mind, stop thinking and focus on something which is superior. That is the answer. It is a simple formula.

About Parisamvad

The Tuesday Parisamvad is dedicated to explanation of the the Bhagwad Gita by our esteemed Gurus, Dr. Jayadeva and Smt. Hansaji.

Yoga Sutra Ch 1 Sutra 7 (Parisamvad)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra
Transcribed from Parisamvad at The Yoga Institute.

Chapter 1, Sutra 7

Ptatyaksa-Anuman-Agamah-Pramanani

Perception, Inference and Testimony Constitute the Pramanas.

Pratyaksa : direct perception

Anuman : inference

Agamah : testimony ;authority

Pramanani : valid means of knowing.

Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra:

This sutra deals with right knowledge – Pramana. This is very necessary in our life. It is a very clear and correct kind of knowledge. The problem is that we don’t have such knowledge. We are full of wrong knowledge and so the mistakes and so the pain. The simple suggestion is that our perception should be such that it shows us the momentariness of things – things that are continuously changing. Still that does not lead to the attitude of disinterest. Knowing things as momentary, we still hang on to them and that happens to anything and everything in life – whether it is money or individuals. We know that they are going to go, that they are momentary, but we don’t deal with it that way. We take that everything will remain permanent. We are so attached and so we are unhappy.

Vairagya is very much required – a kind of a detachment, objectivity, which is lacking. A villager took his son to a surgeon. The son had some obstruction in the nose and breathing problems. The surgeon advised operation in the nose. The father was standing there. The son was put on the operation table. The surgeon got out his knife. When the father saw the knife, he fainted. He could not stand watching the knife being used on his son. This is the kind of problem we have. We are not able to understand things. We get a suggestion to be detached and that terrifies us and our life is full of pain.

These things happen at our Institute also. An executive of a big organization came to learn in the 7 months teachers’ training course. He was a very nice person, strong, tall, well built. He stood watching as Jalneti being taught. He was apprehensive that when his turn will come, the water will enter the nose and he had a fear that the water will enter the brain. It so happened that he actually fell down and fainted. We revived him. We asked him, what happened? He said, “I will never do Jalneti, the water will go in the brain and the brain will get damaged.” He had his own ideas. Our perception and our imagination play havoc. The facts are not understood.

The fact is that here is a qualified surgeon, he knows what has to be done. Many have trusted him. He is well known and he will do good to my son also. But, no, this Pratyaksa, what we see, is misconstrued and the result is Anuman – logic / inference. That also is wrong. All this becomes the Pramana – truth. This is true of life. We have all kinds of relationships, all kinds of people around, but we are not clear. We want that the person who lives with us, remains with us. He is born to me and will remain with me eternally. We don’t say so, otherwise everyone will laugh at us, but deep within us we have that feeling. The statement is that this misconstruction is the cause of all suffering.

Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra:

Pratyaksa is what we have experienced through our senses. Is that taking you to a better state, Aklista state or Klista state? Is your attachment increasing, ego increasing? Then despite Pratyaksa, it should be removed. Consciously increase Aklista tendencies. When Buddha saw a dead body, when he saw a sick person, he didn’t get attached to the world. He wanted to understand life. If we are getting entangled in the world, then don’t believe in the Pratyaksa. Develop Aklista tendencies. Anuman is inference. There are too many clouds so it will rain heavily. You can take it negatively (there will be flood) or positively (the weather will become pleasant). Agama is what the scriptures are telling, what wise people are telling you. These things should to be accepted and we should follow them. We don’t have to doubt them. One shouldn’t have ego of knowing the scriptures.

About Parisamvad

The Friday Parisamvad is dedicated to explanation of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by our esteemed Gurus, Dr. Jayadeva and Smt. Hansaji.

All are welcome to attend.

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