“Principles and Practice of Yoga”
by
Mohanakrishnan Annavangote
~~~~~~~
“THE DIRECT PATH” of BHAGAVAN SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI
to the goal of Life in the
science of Yoga.
~~~~~~~~
Like every human attempt to acquire more and
more knowledge to attain meaning and goal of life gets updated and redesigned
in the passage of time in the realms of science and philosophy of life, the
most important chapter “Yoga” has also to its credit the most researched and
latest method naturally perfected for practice to suit and fit into the living
styles of the contemporary human society by a sage, visionary, seer, an avatar
of god himself known as Bhagavan sri Ramana Maharshi of Thiruvannamai of south
India. The Enquiry methods lead one into the inner layers of human
consciousness fearlessly and joyfully at every stage of the practice thus
lifting him into higher and still higher planes of experience and knowledge as to
the constitution of one’s own real identity during the transition of the false
identity towards the Heart and releases one into freedom from all bondages when
the term death ceases to exist foerever.
The practice of Self Enquiry does not insist
on endless practice of vigorous physical exercises etc and will go on inwardly
24x7 in wake sleep dream states once instituted, in any comfortable posture in
work or in leisure. In the wake of Self
Enquiry the Prana also gets streamlined in the body naturally making the body
mind combine a perfect instrument without much fuss on some of the old and
traditional cumbersome postures. Ofcourse practice of Pranayama also helps the
respiratory tracts and in the stopping of the mind but temporarily. To quote
sri Bhagavan here “Prana and Mind are two branches of the same Force, when
Prana is controlled the Mind becomes quesicant
and when the Mind is controlled the Prana becomes controlled.”But once
pranayama is stopped the mind resurfaces. Hence he suggested pranayama only as
an aid to control mind. The essence is to control the mind mainly by knowing
it’s nature.
Self Enquiry has been declared by the Govt.
of India also as an HRD concept and as most desirable and easily practicable
scientific method of Yoga for the members of any human society of the world
irrespective of color, cast, creed, religion and income standards. It has a
world wide following of sincere seekers because of it’s universal appeal.
A visit to the Blog http://www.blackandwhiteholes.blogspot.com from its first
posting onwards will give any one a fair idea and layout of the subject.
However, be
that as it may, the following paragraphs will give one an insight into the
birth of YOGA and it’s subsequent transition in the passage of time until the
updated version given above on the essence of Yoga known as “SELF ENQUIRY - A
DIRECT PATH” as advocated by Bhagavan sri Ramana Maharashi.
An invocatory verse from the Prasnopanishad
(an ancient scripture) runs as follows:
“All this (in this world), as also all that
in heaven are under the control of Prana. Protect us just as a mother does her
sons, and ordain for us splendour and intelligence”.
Prana, is known as the life force, the vital
energy, that propels all creations to their destinations as ordained by the
supreme. Without prana life cannot
sustain. Therefore it is absolutely essential to make sure that this pranic
energy balance in human body is maintained throughout at its maximum efficiency
level for taking the individual to his or her goal of life. What is the Goal of
life? The answer to this question is not known clearly to a large number of
living human beings due to the existence of a hurdle at the mental level called
the ‘veil of ignorance’. This is due to the wrong conviction that one is the
gross body made up of flesh, an identity crisis; every individual has to face
and sort out. Because it is his or her passport to the heaven or goal of life.
The science of yoga leads one step by step
into unfolding of this mystery with absolute clarity as can be seen from the instructions
for practice of yoga. This science is born out of research by men of wisdom and
as per their experience way back 8000 years in India
Normally the practice of a Yoga session
starts with salutations to this renowned sage among sages for invoking his
grace to the student. Yoga streamlines the body and prepares it for higher
purposes. A healthy body maintains the pranic levels at its optimum as prana is
the controlling force for the body. An analysis here will show that the prana
exists in a human body at six positions and controls the motor force in their
respective allotted areas. These pranic outposts in the body are called
‘chakras’ that is, wheels. One can imagine an ever circling wheel of this vital
force at its respective post in the body. These six points are known in Sanskrit
language as Mooladhara, Swadhishtana, Manipooraka, Anahatha, Vishudhi and Ajna.
Ajna chakra exists at the point between the two eyebrows. Of course there is a
seventh point also and this is the final resting place for prana in a body
which is called the Sahasrara or the thousand petals where the prana emerges as
its highest potent form and merges with the universal prana or the heart and
makes it possible for the individual or the mind or the soul, as it may be
called, to unite with the source of the universal identity, the reality, the
god or the truth.
A Yoga practice session has five levels of
practice normally to be very strictly followed, to achieve the desired results.
They are in the order of practice, Loosening exercises, kriyas, yogasanas,
pranayama and bandhas and mudras. The loosening and stretching exercises are
meant to prepare the body muscles for the yogic postures which in turn tune the
body and mind perfectly to tap the potent energy lying dormant in the heart
cavity of an individual. The cleansing techniques “kriyas” clean the body from
the intestines onwards and help in purifying the subtle nerves that run through
the body. Pranayama is controlling of breath systematically so as to bring in
deep concentration and awareness of the mind and along with the “Mudras” and
“Bandhas” The mind dives deep inward towards the self and merges there and thus
get united with the creator. The lost identity of the individual is redeemed
thus and one becomes part of the universal existence, conscience, bliss which
is devoid of misery of the day today mundane ways of human life. Here the
“Bandhas” and “Mudras” are neuro-muscular locks and gestures used while doing
postures and pranayama.The breathing undergoes a controlled and regulated
process which in turn accelerates the upward journey of the prana through the
subtle centres for merger at the final centre with the divine will, or the
creator or the heart as it can be termed.
There are various methods adopted in the way
meditation is performed by individuals. In a nutshell it can be described as a
means for the inward journey the mind has to necessarily do for an individual.
The journey is in search of the source or birth place of the individual who
exists in the form of awareness. Meditation in the beginning helps in sorting
out one’s original identity that has got entangled with the body idea. Once the
body idea is disposed of as a product of ignorance one’s real identity becomes
‘awareness’ devoid of the body. But it is difficult to get used to this truth
in the beginning having been identifying with the body all the time in the
absence of experience. Therefore it becomes necessary for the individual to
place his identity properly, and then enquire into the source of this identity
or rather as to where from the identity originates as it is in the form of
awareness. Naturally the trail leads to its source like a stream to its source
in a mountain. Since the knowledge acquired normally with the five senses is
very limited one has to know to make use of his subtle senses which only can
provide in-depth information as to the purpose and goal of life.
Meditation is a three fold process known as
hearing, reflection and contemplation. Of course there are very crude methods
also adopted in olden days based on superstitions and lack of proper guidance
which are irrelevant here. In short hearing is listening to the wise,
reflection and contemplation is grasping the subject in its proper meaning and
reality. This leads to experience on the subject. It may be mentioned here that
a healthy mind in a healthy body can accelerate the inward journey. For
example, can you meditate with a stuffy and running nose without feeling
uncomfortable to the core? Yoga gives the answer naturally here.
*****
