DHYANA YOGA = BHAGAVAD GITA = POST.4 = CONTROL DESIRES = KEEP CALM = KEEP IN YOGA = GO BEYOND ALL SORROWS = ATTAIN BLISS =

DHYANA YOGA

THE PRECURSOR TO PANTANJALI’S YOGA SUTRAS

(POST.4)

In Post.3, we saw that moderation in all aspects of life is the key for success in Dhyana Yoga, for the Sadhaka.

Yuktaahaara vihaarasya yukta cheshtasya karmasu .

Yukta svapnaavabodhasya yogo bhavati duhkhahaa (6.17)

In matters of food, relaxation, work, sleep and all aspects of life – moderation ensures that yogi is not troubled by them and remains free to practice his Yoga.

We will now proceed further :

Verse.18 :

yadaa viniyatham chittam aatmanyeva avatishhthate

nih,spruhah  sarva kaamebhyo yukta ityuchyathe thadaa .

External desires must not disturb Yoga. Mind must be thoroughly disciplined and under one’s own control. Then, the Sadhaka becomes free from external distractions and is firmly established in Yoga.

Desires toss the mind up and down and will not allow it to remain calm and serene. This is the reason for advocating moderation in every thing. Whether you eat too much or too little – desires will be haunting you. Too much sleep indicates thamasic desires. Too little sleep indicates rajasic desires. Moderation keeps the mind satisfied in all respects.

Verse.19 :

yathaa deepo nivaahtastho nengathe sopamaa smritaa

yogino yahta chitthasya yujnahto yogamaahtmanah.

Thus, one can attain mastery over one’s chitta, or mind, which is the seat of all emotions and thoughts. The Sadhaka can  attain peace with such disciplined and controlled mind, much like the  unflickering flame of a light in a windless place.

This example is often cited to indicate a peaceful mind. Desires are like the wind. Winds toss the flames on all sides and even put off the flame, when their intensity is more. So is the power of desires on the undisciplined mind. When mind is under control, it enjoys a beautiful peace and serenity and becomes fit for Yoga.

Here, ‘Sadhaka’ and ‘Yogi’ words are being used interchangeably. Likewise, Dhyana and Yoga are also used interchangeably.

  

Verse.20 :

yatroparamate chittham niruddham yogasevayaa

yatra chaivaatmanaatmaanam pashyannaatmani tushhyati

When the disciplined mind is centered in itself and immersed in Yoga, it perceives the Self with clarity and becomes very peaceful, contented and joyful.

The real joy is in perceiving the self in Yoga. This is the point when all other desires go up in flames. Nothing more is desired by the mind now. It is entirely satisfied in itself.

Verse.21 :

Sukham aathyanthikam yattadh buddhigraahyam ateendriyam

vetthi yathra na chaivaayam sthitashchalathi tattvatah.

When this self perception occurs in Yoga, the purified intellect of the Sadhaka (Buddhi) perceives a rare bliss which the five senses are incapable of perceiving. He then stays in the reality of the self permanently.

The pleasures perceived by the senses are very limited and fleeting.  You can’t retain them for long by any means. This sukha and Duhkha of the senses come and go alternatingly, as is their nature.

But, the bliss experienced by the purified intellect (Buddhi) in its perception of the Self (Atman), which is beyond the sense perception – is of a permanent nature and is incomparable to any earthly pleasures perceived by the senses.

This is the reason why Yogis go to such lengths in renouncing all earthly desires and sitting in sadhana or Dhyana.

Verse.22 :

yam labdhvaa chaa param laabham manyate naadhikam thathah

yasmin sthitho na duhkhena gurunaapi vichaalyate

When you experience this bliss, you, the Sadhaka (Yogi) perceive that no other desire and no other gain  can give you greater bliss.

Any great calamity now does not bother you, the enjoyer of this bliss.

The non-yogis do worry and do become sorrowful when we encounter negative events in life, like disease, loss of near and dear persons, loss of property etc .

But, for the yogi who has gained the immense joy of knowing and staying in the self, has nothing more to be gained – and any incident does not evoke in him sorrow now.

Verse.23 :

tham vidyaath duhkha samyoga viyogam yoga sangnitam

sa nishchayena yoktavyo yogo nirvinna chethasaa .

Yoga, also called vidya, is that state in which the Sadhaka does not become  one with sorrow, and does not get into and out of it frequently.

Every sorrow is arising from ignorance (avidya) only. If at any time you become sorrowful, know that it is due to ignorance. There is really nothing for you to grieve for.

Leave your sorrows immediately. This is the greatest teaching of Dhyana Yoga. Leave all of your sorrows. They have no real base. They are not things to be grieved for. There is a great bliss awaiting you. That bliss is permanent and yours. All that you need to do is – Get into yoga; know your self and stay in the self.

Get into Yoga Sadhana and get into your own self experience – which instantly relieves you from all sorrows. Whenever you feel any sorrow, get into Dhyana / yoga, remind yourself of all that Krishna has taught. You will instantly come out of your sorrows.

This yoga should be practiced with firmness, and constancy without getting discouraged by any sorrows.

Once the Sadhaka is firmly entrenched in Yoga, he becomes immune to the mightiest of the griefs.

Verse.24:

Sankalpa prabhavaan kaamaan thyakthvaa sarvaa nasheshhatah

Manasaivendriya graamam viniyamya samamtatah.

Renouncing all desires arising from the Sankalpaas or thoughts of the world. Keep them fully under your control. Restrain all the senses from all sides through their controller, namely, the mind itself.

Krishna lays great stress on renunciation of all Sankalpas (thoughts, decisions etc) which are born out of senses, sensory perception and their contact with sense objects.

Who controls the senses? The mind itself. If senses are not controlled, they will control the mind and toss it from one sense object to another and  lead to sorrows.

Right now – ask your self Are you controlling your senses, or, are you under their control?

Most men and women are under control of the senses and sense objects and are therefore subject to pleasures and pains and sorrows.

Control over the senses  and quietening the mind removes of all external and internal disturbances and leads easily to the mastery of the self.

Think of a time when you were immensely happy!

Were there any desires in you when you were really happy? Never. 

A desire-ful mind can never be happy. Happiness arises only in a desire-free mind. We are not talking of renouncing karma totally.

We are talking of desires which imply attachment to the fruits of karma, rather than to karma itself. Karma it self is highly enjoyable, if attachment to fruits is absent.

Gradually, the need for incessant karma also gets reduced, when the mind is fixed on the self, and your joy reaches its peak.

Verse.25 :

Sanaih sanaih uparameth buddhyaa  dhrithi gruheethayaa

aatma samstham  manah  krithvaa na kinchidhapi chinthayeth.

Let us remember that this is an inward journey and hence external stimuli are the main hindrance for discovering the inner world and the self. Progress is steady and certain for the yogi.

A yogi or Sadhaka must not aim to achieve any great victories in yoga very fast. Control over the senses is a gradual process. Removal of all sorrows is a gradual process. Perception of the self is a gradual process. 

But all these will happen. Let there be no doubt. The Sadhaka will watch his victory over his own senses, shedding of all his sorrows, arising of great joy in him and his knowing of the self. All of this will certainly happen.

All that is needed is steadfast adherence to the sadhana of Yoga and keeping the mind in the self. All other things will happen gradually but surely to the Sadhaka (Yogi).

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