The Yoga Institute Mumbai: Parisamvad

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Bhagwad Gita Slokas 2.64 & 2.65 (Parisamvad)

Bhagwad Gita Transcribed from Parisamvad at The Yoga Institute.

Chapter 2, Sloka 64 & 65

But the self-controoled man, moving among objects, with his sense under restraint and free from both attraction and repulsion, attains peace.

In that peace all pains are destroyed; for the intellect of the tranquil-minded soon becomes steady.

Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra:

"Maintaining a stable state of mind is an important thing in ancient literature. Same thing is in the Gita, Upanishads and in Yoga also. We don’t follow this and indulge in all kinds of feelings and cause disturbances. In that disturbed condition, real thinking doesn’t happen and that leads to problems. Getting angry, getting confused – these are dangerous things, but we don’t see any harm in them.

If one is sincerely interested in leading a better life then anger will be an important point. We don’t get free from anger because we have lot of intelligence; we believe certain things to be right and react. This is a simple statement, but very hard to believe or follow. Just reading will not help; we have to integrate it into our mind and have full faith in it – it may take a number of years.

There are a few people who have this attitude from childhood and in the end they can do things peacefully and with understanding. These things are rare and to find such persons is also difficult. We get angry on petty things and feel sad. If we want to overcome all this then right from the beginning, we should observe the small small things, face them and not react.

We have a lot of reasons not to follow all this - "If I don’t get angry, people will exploit me." To have control on the mind, and to keep the mind at peace in any circumstance is not our goal. We have to make small beginnings. If anything happens at home, don’t react immediately. Observe, understand and peacefully express. We have to train ourselves. When we burst out a lot and people tell us about it, then we start thinking. This habit doesn’t stop, because we don’t consider it to be wrong. We listen, but we don’t decide not to get angry and in small small things. We have to maintain our peace of mind. No sooner we go out of Institute, something will happen and we will get angry and this will continue. It’s not for a little while, it continues for the whole day. Unless we decide that we have to stop these habits and cultivate the positive habits, there will not be a change."

Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra:

"We have all the reasons to get attached to someone, to hate someone. The more we are with someone, we get attached. It is a natural phenomenon, but we are supposed to have full control. How to control the senses? Awareness that these things are harmful and not required. When you have a dog in the house, you have to have full control on him. Same with our emotions. Express your love, show your disagreement and gradually a stage should come when nothing disturbs you. Whenever we are suffering we should know we are suffering because of attachment, because of hatred and don’t blame others for our suffering. We have to work on ourself."

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 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.

(Picture credit http://www.ishwar.com/hinduism/holy_bhagavad_gita).

Patanjali Yoga Sutra Ch 1 Sutra 14 (Parisamvad)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra
Transcribed from Parisamvad at The Yoga Institute.

Chapter 1, Sutra 14

Sa-Tu-Dirghakala-Nairantarya-Satkara-Asevitah-Drdhbhumih

It becomes firmly rooted when it has been habituated for a long time, without interruption and with sincere belief.

Sa : that (practice)

Tu : however

Dirghakala : for a long time

Nairantarya : without interruption
Satkara : with devotion, sincerity, respect, positive attitude

Asevitah : Pursued, cultivated
Drdhabhumih : Solid foundation

Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra:

“The sutra gives an importance to Abhyasa (perseverance) of the highest kind. Our efforts are absolutely meager and we don’t succeed or even care. Here, the person is very very clear about gaining that kind of mental attitude and result.

So it is that kind of determination, clarity and certainty. There is no other thought except to achieve the goal. We sometimes come across such examples in different areas. During the Kargil war, a commander asked a team of soldiers to capture a certain very strategic area. They struggled and probably lost half of their men but the orders were to continue. Ultimately there was only 10% of the original team left, but they succeeded. So that spirit is needed. Abhyasa is full-hearted, continuous, non-stop effort.

So to make Abhyasa your cornerstone, you have to practice yoga. It requires extreme faith, respect and totality. One single order and we are just after it. But we just have these things to read, none of it is in practice. Not even the simplest thing like Asana. Tradition says that if you sit in the same place at the same time every day for a year, you will gain what you want. But these are just stories…We, in the deep of our hearts, do not have the determination."

“The problem is that we take things half-heartedly. When learning yoga, there is only half interest, when practicing, there is quarter interest. It is just ‘touch and go’ so naturally, the good of yoga does not come. But if we have a single thing which is done sincerely, it could bring results. As they say, by sitting in Sukhasana every day even for 15 minutes, at the end of the year, you will be a different person.”

Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra:

“The sutra tells us how we should pursue in yoga.

1. Efforts for a long long time: We should not have anxiety about the result. Many times we complain that I have been practicing for 4 days but did not reduce or see the result. This result oriented mind is very negative and should be avoided. Just be positive and walk the path.

2. Without interruption: It should become part of your personality. Yoga is not like other subjects that we can say I studied for 4 hours today.

3. Have full respect and faith: Do not have a doubting mind. With full dedication, get established in the work you have taken in hand.

The human mind gets bored very easily. However, yoga is not boring, in fact, it deals with life, it is interesting. Efforts have to be applied in these three directions.”

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.

Click Here to learn more about The Yoga Institute

Bhagwad Gita Slokas 2.62 & 2.63

Bhagwad Gita Transcribed from Parisamvad at The Yoga Institute.

Chapter 2, Slokas 62 & 63

While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises.

From anger, complete delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost one falls down again into the material pool.

Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra:

"These human weakness are discussed. We look at things, we just can’t help it. We can’t stop. We create feelings, we remember them, wish for them, want to have them. These things happen in life. When we have them, in the beginning we are attached, we hold on to them. Later on, some kind of disgust also occurs. Anger and all kinds of actions and it goes on. These are no doubt very ordinary statements but they apply to us. We just can’t help it. We can’t look at a thing in a very neutral way and respond correctly. If there is something good, we show our happiness, if it's something bad, we turn away from that. This is not the way we should function. We immediately form opinions, express opinions; we want to form a group of people having similar opinions. It goes on snowballing.

A Yogi can look at things without showing any feeling. In case there is something good, he may show a happy feeling but not go further and further. If there is something bad, he doesn’t look at it again, he turns away. This kind of a self control we don’t have and reactions come and reactions don’t stop. One reaction brings another and this is our life. We can’t sit happily, quietly. We have some feelings for others and that is troubling us all the time. So that peace of mind doesn’t come.

In yoga we are interested in getting into that peaceful state, where understanding can happen. Unfortunately we can’t create that peace. Disturbances get in and sometimes we don’t like that peace also. We want action, occasionally happy, occasionally unhappy. Sometimes terribly unhappy. That will continue. All this sounds pessimistic? All this is logical but it is a fact that we don’t follow. Are we afraid of becoming too sincere? Can it be dangerous? If we put efforts under such fear then on the last day of our life, our condition will be the same. What we call real hard work, real decision making that should happen immediately and we should implement also immediately. Eg. of Mr. Sharad Chauhan. He has been coming for 30 years and doesn’t miss a single day. He keeps coming, keeps learning and there is tremendous change in him. One needs this sort of sincerity. Just to sign the muster, such things will not help. We say, but we are not firm and life just passes away. In no area we are determined, firm. We say and start doing it – this does not happen. We just say for the sake of saying, we make a show; we don’t do any internal homework. We say we will do it, there’s plenty of time and one day we just have to say Good Bye to life.

Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra:

"If we don’t control our sensory organs, if we are terribly interested in the world, we start getting attached, we expect something from the world, we start taking joy and sorrow from the world, then we are stuck with the world. Then we have desires and when desires are not fulfilled then we get angry. Whatever you do in life, don’t get stuck with any situation. See, understand, and leave it. Situations will occur. After all, we are in the world. We have to deal with it. Right from the body, everything is matter. We don’t take pain and suffering because of it. We should not expect anything, we don’t desire anything. The expectations that I should always remain happy, always remain healthy, is wrong. People come to me and say that I want to die happily. I don’t want to suffer, be hospitalized and die. Now who has control over what? Why think about it? Why desire for it? Just live properly. One needs to have proper understanding of the world and not have expectations. Expectations lead to anger, frustration, negativity. We have to work on our self. It is very easy to get entangled in situations."

Q : To reach God, does one have to leave ‘Bhajiya’ (a fried food item)?

A : Don’t leave it. If it is the time to eat, eat. Don’t overeat. Always keep the duty idea as the uppermost .

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.

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

Bhagwad Gita Slokas 2.60 & 2.61 (Parisamvad)

Bhagwad Gita Transcribed from Parisamvad at The Yoga Institute.

Chapter 2, Sloka 60 & 61

The turbulent senses, O son of Kunti, do violently carry away the mind of a wise man though he be striving to control them.

Having restrained them all, he should sit steadfast, intent on Me; his wisdom is steady whose senses are under control.

Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra:

"The attempt in the Gita is to control the mind and set it on God. The mind gets distracted, mainly the senses. To control the mind, one has to set it on something higher. Ultimately according to these Slokas, it is the Prana that is the disturbing factor. We see it also in our life, the mind is continuously distracted, even though we are thinking about God, praying.

That is where this concept of Prana comes – just very ordinary things, like watching the breath makes the mind quieter. If one can hold on that mind for a very long time, the mind becomes absolutely quiet. In that condition, thinking of God is possible. These are steps that have to be followed. Just merely saying I pray to God or remember him is not enough. The deeper machinery has to be understood. Beginning with the senses, then coming to the mind, then going further to a concept like God and ultimately, that discriminative wisdom – all these are necessary.

Our efforts are very incomplete. Just wanting the mind to be stable would not be enough. We have to control the senses, the mind. These are the central things. Then we come to the concept of God, faith, remembrance and ultimately a decision, understanding, Pragna – that is to be continuously strengthened. If I have arrived at this kind of clarity that ultimately it is God, who is responsible for everything, if I am able to hold on to the God concept, the mind will get controlled. If we work at it that way then there are chances of success.

Just picking up one idea is not enough. Understanding is the central thing. When the mind is clear then it is easy. Generally the mind is not clear. This is true in all our activities in life. We do many things but all half-heartedly and don’t succeed much. We just carry on. Creating that sort of a determination is the beginning of any good work. We have allowed the mind to remain free and the nature is to run from one thing to another. Even when we are thinking about God, God is not totally into our mind. This state of discrimination, Pragna is necessary and that we can gain through reading, thinking, discussing, sharing. All that builds up this discrimination. But we are investing all our energies after money, sex, pleasure, property, position in life etc. etc. That is 99% in control. So the question of keeping the mind steady on God or on discriminative understanding is not there. We may use these words but internally we are not ready. So efforts are made and we fail and this goes on all our life. We are talking about gaining spiritual understanding, gaining the highest, how can that happen? That’s the problem."

Q : Does intense belief of God come to some special persons who are born that way?

A : If you have been thinking about God right from the start, most of your time then it can come. If you are in love with some person, its not just once, it has to be constant, all the time. Then it becomes a real friendship and love.

Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra:

"One point is strongly emphasized in the Gita and that is control over your senses. It says that the wisest people also lose their control. We say, "I don’t get angry," "I don’t get upset", "I don’t worry". We very comfortably talk like that. We have to be continuously vigilant of our own mind. If we are getting irritated, immediately stop. Once it overpowers you then you can’t do anything. Just control doesn’t mean anything. The next Sloka says control, meditate, divert towards God. Otherwise just control has no meaning. Just control will create more agitation and anger. Mirabai didn’t have to control; she didn’t react to the people who spoke against her, or Tukaram or any other sages. Their minds were totally focused on God. When that occurs, control on the senses takes place naturally."

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 taken from http://www.ishwar.com/hinduism/holy_bhagavad_gita).

Bhagwad Gita Sloka 2.59 (Parisamvad)

Bhagwad Gita Transcribed from Parisamvad at The Yoga Institute.

Chapter 2, Sloka 59

The objects of the senses turn away from the abstinent man leaving the longing (behind); but his longing also turns away on seeing the Supreme..

Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra:

"The Slokas talk about a person whom we call as 'passed', one who has succeeded. The other efforts are there, one might repeat the name of God or pray, visit temples and what not. When the mind is clear, one doesn’t get attracted to anything except God. When that happens it is the final stage. There are stories of old Indian saints – blind at birth, thrown out of the house. As a child wandering about on the streets for food – such a pathetic state. He is told by a good person to sit in the temple and repeat the name of God all the time and everything will come. He sincerely follows – all the time, eyes closed – he had no eyes – repeated the name and became India’s great saint. No other thought except one.

What is intended is concentration, steadiness of mind. When the mind is clear – we give the example of the pond where the water is dirty and you can’t see the bottom. Allow the water to settle and you see clearly the bottom. So the effort is just this – bring the mind to a steady state. We can’t do that. We have so many urgent things to attend to, so many inner compulsions – e.g. food. We are restless and then we want to think of God. Just for a few seconds. Nothing happens. We remain the same all the time.

This is a good Sloka for those who are interested in a serious study. We had a person working at the reception, a very disturbed person. All that he was told was to take a piece of paper and write the name of whatever he considered the highest, God, etc. He followed the instruction. After about 30 years we saw him a few days ago, and he is a changed man. He does other work also but has just that one thought all the time. This can happen. We have a short life and the days are just passing. In between, so many problems come. Sometimes we don’t have time at all. By the time we wake up we are already on the departure lounge. So we keep regretting at that stage and that is too late. We are all wise people so we should direct our wisdom in this direction also and not like children just enjoy when they are playing games, forgetting their studies and future."

Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra:

"As long as our sensory organs are taking us out and making us to enjoy things and creating impressions, as long as we have interest in the external world, control of the senses is not possible. You may control but sensations will still remain. When my mother-in-law was young and staying in Bangalore, the Maharaja arranged a feast and invited the entire family. There was a sweet in the feast, called mohan thaal. That taste which she enjoyed that day has remained in her system. Every Diwali when we make mohan thaal in the house, she would say that particular mohan thaal was really very good. I tried to make mohan thaal so that it surpassed that taste but I was not successful. The impression remains and the person cherishes that impressions and enjoys it. Because of that impression, you don’t even live in the present. Everything is fine in the world – unless we come to that level – this also is wonderful – but we stick to the earlier impressions.

One should have Vairagya, at the same time one should be able to enjoy whatever one does. We haven’t to get caught in strong impressions – don’t go overboard. We have to learn to handle emotions. Don’t have too much interest and don’t have no interest. It’s a thin line."

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).

Bhagwad Gita Sloka 2.58 (Parisamvad)

Bhagwad Gita Transcribed from Parisamvad at The Yoga Institute.

Chapter 2, Sloka 58

One who is able to withdraw his senses from sense objects, as the tortoise draws its limbs within the shell, is firmly fixed in perfect consciousness.

Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra:

"What the Gita is saying is something simple – keep your mind on something for long. Unfortunately, we have not trained the mind like that. The mind wants to find out new things around, trying to act on them and is never able to stay on one object continuously for a long time. The same thing happens in spiritual development. The attention should be on a spiritual goal – mind stable, concentrated on spiritual life. We just can’t stay there. It is not interesting, we do not want to waste time, we have many other important things to do. We have lots of arguments. One keeps on jumping from one thing to another all the time. In the process, spiritual life and spiritual understanding is very very poor for us. We use the words but we don’t know the contents.

The example of tortoise is given. It withdraws its limbs in the shell and remains there for long. It catches the vibrations of any inimical object around and doesn’t allow the head or legs to come out. For a very long time tortoise can stay that way. In the case of humans it is not so. The founder Shri Yogendraji used to tell us how he together with one of the famous philosopher of India, Mr. S.N. Dasgupta, were climbing the stairs of the library in Calcutta. They were having some deep conversation. The great philosopher looks around and sees a young girl walking and he forgets the conversation and is looking at the young girl all the time. If that is the story of the great philosopher; with ordinary people it is worse. We can’t keep stable on any object and not at all on a spiritual object. This is what this Sloka tells us, how we are and what we have to do. Unfortunately we do not see this as our target. How much more money I can make, that is uppermost. How much better I can look, is high in priority. How much I can control the senses, just doesn’t occur. We take it as natural, normal and in fact we enjoy this way. We have never made these things important. Our whole life is going that way.

Occasionally some people like Mr. Buch (a Sadhaka present in the Parisamvad) may set something and work but most of us don’t. For us, the other things are important. These things appear very petty. Actually these petty things have to be taken up. If during the day I did not speak something harsh or loud and I keep watching that – that will be a great achievement. But we take it as very ordinary. We are thinking of conquering Mount Everest and these little things are left. Learning yoga and such systems, we should not think of Samadhi and all these high things. We should think of the low things. In Ahimsa there are 81 varieties – did I allow someone to cause Himsa – was it verbally allowed – mentally allowed –did I make a show? Each of this can be taken care of. Putting efforts at very low level could be the answer, instead of aiming at something high."

Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra:

"To gain steadiness, all the senses have to be controlled. The sensory organs create sensations. They are with the sensory objects where you are interested. Then the interest starts, there are likes. If you don’t get what you like, then you get angry, perturbed. So all that starts. The solution is all the sensory organs have to be withdrawn. The example is given of the tortoise. A little danger and it withdraws all the limbs inside. This is symbolic. The Yogis say do not get too much into sensation, pleasures. If you feel that you are going to get lost, withdraw. Otherwise the mind will become unsteady. Unsteady mind means ruin, life is finished. This is a very important Sloka. All of us have to become very cautious in life. Prevention is the suggestion.

There is a story - A man went to Kabir, to keep his valuables as he was going for a long pilgrimage. Kabir refused, he said I don’t want to touch money. The man was sad, so he went to Kabir’s son Kamaal. Kamaal also was a great philosopher and he had a separate house. The man pleaded to him to keep his valuables. Kamaal said, I don’t touch money, but you can dig a hole anywhere in the house, keep the valuables, cover it and go. This is the difference. One side there is total caution; the other side (one is not having personal interest at all) has a helping nature. Kabir was also helpful, but he was cautious. Unfortunately we are very gullible, impressionable. Something will always bother us. Sometimes we think, what will happen if I smoke once, or drink once? There are chances that if there is some problem later then one may start drinking regularly. But if one has never had drinks, then no matter how grave the problem might be, one will not even think of drinking. Let us be away from all wrong things. We have to be very very cautious."

About Parisamvad

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

Bhagwad Gita Sloka 2.57 (Parisamvad)

Bhagwad Gita Transcribed from Parisamvad at The Yoga Institute.

Chapter 2, Sloka 57

In the material world, one who is unaffected by whatever good or evil he may obtain, neither praising it nor despising it, is firmly fixed in perfect knowledge.

Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra:

"In all these ancient writings, the emphasis is on a balanced mind. This was given more importance than anything else. The highest in yoga is such a mind that is steady. Getting excited, angry is not a good state. It disturbs the mind - then decisions are not correct, thinking is not correct. Momentarily we enjoy that state but in reality it is hurting us. A true Yogi just watches, observes, doesn’t go out to stop anyone. These things are seen in the life of great Yogis. The teacher of the Founder (Shri Yogendraji) would just watch and not even comment. Some people make mistakes, his other Chelas would say all this is wrong, but he would say nothing. Let them act, let them suffer and then they themselves will learn. They have that kind of mind, that kind of Karmas when they are acting. When a person is in an excited state, what he says has no meaning. So the ultimate in yoga is to become a good observer, watch this world, which is not going after your wishes, many wrong things are happening, but you can’t do anything. You can’t go to each one and say, ‘This is wrong, don’t do this.’ Get into the condition where you observe and understand and leave it there."

Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra:

"We are talking about a person who maintains Sthitprajna – absolute steady state of mind – no thoughts – one-pointed. The question is how would he behave? In this Sloka they say that he is not attached to anything – total Vairagya. For him, good and evil are the same. With both, good behaviour and bad behaviour, he will not react. This is a very very important point. The moment bad comes in front of us we are protective, because we are attached to our body, our peace, our happiness, our health. So we are very protective towards our body, our self. A Sthitprajna is not even attached to his body. His behavior is very different, there are so many stories.

Shivaji’s Guru, Ramdas was once travelling in the sun and felt thirsty. There was a sugarcane field nearby and he plucked one sugarcane and started chewing it and quenched his thirst. At the same time, the owner of the field came and when he saw Ramdas, who appeared like the beggar, eating the sugarcane, he got very angry. "How dare you eat my sugarcane?" He got so angry that he took a stick and gave him a good thrashing. Ramdas didn’t say anything and came home. The news spread and when the news reached Shivaji, he was very angry. He ran to his Guru and when he saw his condition he was very very sad. He asked, who did this to you? Ramdas had not even seen the face of that man. He was not concerned. Ultimately, that man was found and brought to Shivaji. Ramdas was asked what punishment should this man be given. Ramdas very politely said, please give him 2 more fields so that he can cultivate more sugarcane. Shivaji was shocked. Ramdas explained that the loss of 1 sugarcane made him so angry, naturally he must be very poor and needy. Don’t punish him, remove his poverty. Only a balanced person can think like that. We always have a tit for tat for that attitude.

You see, it is a very different state. We have to learn something out of all this. Becoming totally detached is difficult. We are all humans – it is the act that is bad, not the person. So don’t develop opinions, don’t hate people. Try and remain neutral. Don’t judge people. Even the worst person can change and become a good human and a good person can also change into a bad human. The suggestion is be objective. A balanced person is not attached to anything – total Vairagya – he alone is Sthitprajna. In our life, someone behaves rudely, we remember forever, someone speaks lies we remember forever. We don’t leave those thoughts from our mind. We can’t forgive and forget. We need to develop a deep understanding of life. There is a larger process and the world is moving according to that larger process. We have a limited job and we have to just attend to that. Good has to exert. We should not tolerate nonsense. Good has to do its role. We need to develop compassion for all."

About Parisamvad

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

Patanjali Yoga Sutra Ch 1 Sutra 13 (Parisamvad)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra
Transcribed from Parisamvad at The Yoga Institute.

Chapter 1, Sutra 13

Tatra-Sthitau-Yatno-Abhyasa

Exertion to acquire Sthiti or a tranquil state of mind devoid of fluctuations is called practice.

Tatra : of these two (Abhyasa & Vairagya )

Sthitau : stability , undisturbed calmness

Yatno : sustained or persistent

Abhyasa : by or with repeated practice

Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra:

“Abhyasa is stopping the current, being stable on one particular state, objective and not having too many interests. Efforts have to be made continuously, not just once. This is a very distinguishing point. We get excited, decide and do, but it doesn’t last. This idea has been taken up in several Sutras subsequently.

Keeping the mind fixed on 1 Tattva – friendship, compassion and such kind of virtue – they all imply that the mind should be full of certain ideas, thoughts, images – that also can hold the mind. Making the mind free of all kinds negativity and full of positivity – that can also help. A mind that is free of desires, aversions – that can help. Taking help of deep sleep, sleep and dreams, that also can help. Deciding on something and keeping up to that – like that, various techniques are mentioned.

The idea is to see that the mind remains one-pointed for a long time and continuous effort is in that direction. It is considered as one of the two virtues in yoga – Abhayasa and Vairagya. Through them, one can gain the highest. There is a story in the Mahabharata. The teacher is teaching archery. The instruction is to aim at a particular spot. After the trial, the teacher asks and students to speak out various things that they can see. Somebody’s attention is on the tree, somebody’s attention is on leaves and it goes on. Finally when Arjuna’s turn comes, he says I am able to see just the eyes of the bird. The teacher says, here is the person who will succeed. So that kind of a determination, not getting frustrated, impatient – that is the essence.

These are two important words - Abhyasa and Vairagya. They are stepping stones for stopping the Citta. Stopping the Citta is the proposition and continuous, non-stop effort and total disinterest in anything else, is the answer. To start with this continuity, the motivation has to be very clear. If there is a variety of interests, we will not succeed. If the interest is just one, we may succeed. We have to examine ourselves – have we created that sort of strong motivation? Generally we have not. Learning yoga is a side business. There are other main businesses and we are interested in them. Any spare time, thinking is used in that manner. This is true in any art. Great musicians don’t keep one hour for rehearsal. Right from the time they get up in the morning, they begin and it goes on the whole day. That is how they become great musicians. The objective has to be such that it totally grips us. We don’t allow that to happen. We get bored. Sometimes we get frightened. Are we born to be just musicians? These are the arguments. That continuous effort is not there."

Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra:

“Abhyasa is very very necessary. The human mind is so restless, anything can effect us. We have to make our mind steady and one-pointed. The whole attention has to be diverted to God. We have to put in a good amount of effort for years.”

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

Patanjali Yoga Sutra Ch 1 Sutra 12 (Parisamvad)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra
Transcribed from Parisamvad at The Yoga Institute.

Chapter 1, Sutra 12

Abhyasa-Vairagyabhyam-Tannirodha

By practice and detachment these can be stopped.

Abhyasa : with repeated practice , effort , perseverance

Vairagyabham : non attachement , desirelessness, without attraction or aversion

Tannirodha : control , regulation

Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra:

“This author Patanjali, we don’t know who he was, he says things very cryptically, very shortly and it has lot of meaning. The entire yoga system is in 195 Sutras. He tells us about the basic steps in yoga and they are two, Abhyasa and Vairagya – effort and disinterest. These are very very difficult things. Continuous effort till the result is obtained can bring success in anything. We begin and then half way we leave it and then complain – we followed and did not get the result. Our interests get varied. In the beginning there is particular zest. We have no control, desires keep coming. What is required is constancy. Are we clear why we have taken to yoga? What do we want to gain? There should be a disinterest to everything else. One should have a single minded devotion to one’s self development. When we are after a certain thing we achieve it.

The difficult question is how to control the mind. Practically it is impossible. Every moment thoughts come, actions are carried out. So long as we are living, we are active, thinking. The proposition in yoga is that these thoughts are the cause of our pain. Either we suffer all our lives or we stop the suffering. Apparently we all like to stop the suffering, but the cost is heavy. The cost is to stop the mind which we can’t imagine. The mind not thinking, not worrying, not imagining – this can’t happen. A little while it is all right but immediately it gets busy. No sooner it is busy, pain is immediately there.

The solution is there in yoga – the entire techniques in yoga are to create that condition – Abhyasa and Vairagya. Abhyasa is perseverance and Vairagya is disinterestness. If a person can cultivate a disinterested attitude to life, if he can function in life but not terribly attached, not terribly desiring, carrying on what is required to be done, and stopping it there. Not continuously pursuing, not dreaming, which unfortunately we are doing. We have things but we can’t get apart from those things. We have a good fountain pen and we are thinking about it, talking about it, taking it out to see, write. This is our normal tendency. That is true of everything we have. If it is ours, we want to establish our right, we want to put it to use. That’s our mind. The unfortunate thing is that as soon as the mind starts, the whole phenomenon starts, senses are busy, perception, action and life in its multiplicity.

We have responsibilities, work to do – these are our arguments. The solution is suggested – Abhyasa and Vairagya. Vairagya doesn’t say throw the things away, run away – the attitude is the thing. We are dealing with everything but we are not so attached that we can’t be without it. We just can’t do that. We have stories of great Rsis. Janaka was one such person – totally unattached. He once goes for a bath, keeps aside his royal dress. An ordinary fakir is also in the water. Then there is a fire that starts. Seeing the fire the fakir runs out of the water, gathers his langot etc. Janaka doesn’t do anything. The fakir shouts, "The fire is coming this way, why don’t you come out?" But Janaka is unmoved. He has removed his clothes and forgotten. He is a king, if the clothes are burnt, he will be supplied others. The problem with us is we can’t let go, we can’t give up. Once we are attached to something, we are permanently attached."

Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra:

“We have to be disinterested in the material world. Slowly the realization should come that we have seen enough of the world. Then the disinterest comes. Then put in effort to control the Vrittis. New Samskaras should be created. A good amount of effort is required.

The second Sutra says, yoga is Citta Vritti Nirodha. The subsequent Sutras tell us how the mind works – Pramana, Viparyaya, Vikalpa, Nidra, Smrti. This mind has to be brought to a good state - full control on the mind. The negative tendencies have to be stopped. If you have to think, think positive otherwise don’t. This firm decision has to come. All this requires training and so, Abhayasa and Vairagya. Slowly, steadily the mind has to be controlled. If we are too immersed in the world we will not be able to control the mind, so Vairagya is necessary. How many times have you eaten Gulab Jamun (an Indian sweet)? Do you get a feeling, that's enough? Would you travel 20 kms to buy Gulab Jamun from a known shop?

Abhyasa and Vairagya are two sides of the same coin. Without Vairagya, Abhyasa is not possible. Vairagya is not something negative, it is understanding. If you keep your finger close to the eyes, you can’t see it, but if you take it away and keep it at a distance, you can see it clearly. When there is Vairagya, we can do our duties well.”

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