WORDS OF WISDOM (QUOTABLE QUOTES) ON YOGA

YOGA

MANY THINGS FOR MANY PEOPLE

(words of wisdom)

Yoga existed in India from the most ancient times. Yogic path is always considered the best, for achieving the pinnacle of happiness on earth and beyond. This Post contains some great words of wisdom on Yoga, from several masters, below the description that follows now.

Lord Krishna enunciated ALL THE AVAILABLE PATHS OF YOGA for the first time, in a most scientific manner, intelligible to the general masses, in his Bhagavad Gita.The greatness of GITA is that it is shorn of most of the Scientific Jargon of YOGA processes and is in layman's language. It was in fact taught by Krishna to a layman for yoga,like Arjuna.

The next most important work on Yoga – is Sage Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, or the Ashtanga Yoga Path, which prescribes 8 steps – Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi. Many Great Gurus have taught Yoga in the past and present - on the lines of Ashtanga Yoga Path given by Patanjali.

Yama and Niyama are prescriptions for cleanliness and purity of the body and mind. Yoga Asana is the next step of importance. Though Patanjali does not elaborate on Asana, this has always been a great science in itself - for ensuring the good health, physical and mental, of the aspirant.

Next to it, the aspirant is taught Pranayma or control of breath. Hatha yoga has developed from Yoga Asana and Pranayama primarily.

Pratyahara (withdrawal of senses) and Dharana ( concentration on single objects ) are the next steps.

Meditation or Dhyana is a very important next step.

Today there is a great emphasis all over the world, on the immense physical and mental health benefits that Asana, pranayama and Dhyana give us. This method of teaching also (perhaps) takes into account Lord Krishna’s and Patanjali's comforting words that whatever little you do in Yoga, its benefits will reach you.

There are great Yoga masters today who are spreading Yoga across the whole world. They are giving to each what he can take. The hope is that, the interest will deepen further and they will achieve great heights of Samadhi also some day.

Some schools are meticulous. They follow the GURUKUL system, in which, the aspirant has to be under the guidance of the GURU, for many years, in his Ashram (a sort of residential school). 

Even though this is not practicable for many, It must be emphasized that all steps of Yoga must be learnt under a competent Guru first and then practiced throughout life. No one must attempt to learn through other media. This is especially important.

I am giving below a few words of wisdom on Yoga from Great masters. It will be followed up further with more such Posts on the science of Yoga.

WORDS OF WISDOM ON YOGA

·        Yoga is the suspension of all the functions of the mind.(Patanjali)

·       Yoga is that state of Absolute Peace wherein there is neither imagination nor thought. Yoga is control of mind and its modifications (Swami Sivananda)

·        Equanimity is Yoga. Serenity is Yoga. Skill in actions is Yoga. Control of the senses and the mind is Yoga. Anything by which the best and the highest in life can be attained is also Yoga. Yoga is thus all-embracing, all-inclusive and universal in its application leading to all-round development of body, mind and soul. (Swami Sivananda)

·        The four paths of Yoga are : the path of work (Karma-Yoga), the path of devotion or love (Bhakti-Yoga), the path of psychic control (Raja-Yoga) and the path of self-analysis and knowledge (Jnana-Yoga). (Bhagavad Gita).

·        Karma-Yoga is suitable for a man of active temperament; Bhakti-Yoga for a man of emotional temperament; Raja-Yoga for a man of mystic temperament; and the path of Jnana-Yoga or Vedanta for a man of will or reason. (Swami Sivananda)

·        A person is said to achieve Yoga or union with the self within, when the subdued mind becomes free of desires and is resident in the self totally. (Bhagavad Gita).

·        Yoga destroys sorrow, in that aspirant, who is moderate in his diet, his recreation, his working habits, sleep, waking up and all other walks of life. Moderation is the key of the life of a yoga. Yoga is thus not possible for one who eats too much, or too little, who sleeps too much, or who sleeps too less. (Bhagavad Gita)

·        Yoga is not possible unless mind is disciplined and controlled (Bhagavad Gita).

·        In yoga, whatever little or more effort the aspirant puts in, is never lost to him. Practice of yoga protects the aspirant from all fears.(Bhagavad Gita)

·        Work done with selfish motives is not karma Yoga. Selfless work is, indeed Karma Yoga.(Bhagavad Gita)

·         Undisturbed calmness of mind is attained by cultivating friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and indifference toward the wicked. ( Patanjali)

·        Anyone who practices can obtain success in yoga but not one who is lazy.  Constant practice alone is the secret of success. (Hatha Yoga Pradipika)

·        When the breath wanders the mind also is unsteady.  But when the breath is calmed the mind too will be still, and the yogi achieves long life. Therefore, one should learn to control the breath. (Hatha Yoga Pradipika).

·        The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in it. (B.K.S.IYENGAR) 

•     Yoga and Dhyana are scientific tools which help you to transcend the limitations of your body and mind and experience the true quality of who you are (Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev) 

•    Question : I Cannot find enough time to Meditate;Sri Sri Ravishankar : Meditation will give you more time. 

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