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| Yoga: Bend to meet the infinite within | | | Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar | 6/20/2023 10:05:50 PM |
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As the world celebrates the International Day of Yoga, it is time for this ancient art of inner blossoming to take the spotlight. Thanks to the global patronage that yoga has received in recent years, its acceptance and popularity have transcended barriers.
One of the most common misconceptions about yoga is that it is merely a physical exercise. While the physical postures, or asanas, serve as an entry point for many, the science of yoga is vast and profound. The central teaching of yoga is to maintain an equanimous state of mind. Being able to perform any action with mindfulness and awareness of our words and deeds makes us a yogi. Yoga is a spiritual science that delves into the understanding of “What this is” as science and “Who am I” as spirituality. Yoga is about aligning all the rhythms of life. It is the discipline of studying and harmonizing our inner faculties. This comprehensive life skill can elevate the quality of our lives and our connections with the world around us. It enhances inner strength and fosters meaningful connections.
Maharishi Patanjali beautifully captures the essence of yoga in his sutra, “Prayatna-Shaithilya-Ananta-Samaapattibhyaam.” By mastering the art of effortless effort through yoga, one experiences a state of perfect alignment with the infinite. Yoga has the potential to bring complete balance to one’s personality. It holds the promise of solutions that today’s behavioral sciences seek. Yoga is the path for human potential to fully blossom, leading to the ultimate goal of uniting with the infinite. The Yoga Sutras, propounded by Sage Patanjali, provide a concise philosophy of yoga that needs to be unlocked with the guidance of a master. They act as milestones and guideposts as practitioners delve into deeper states of consciousness through practice. Even in its most physical form, yoga promises unimaginable transformation for the mind and body. Even if people start practicing yoga asanas merely as a form of exercise, it is still an encouraging sign.
Patanjali also states that the purpose of yoga is to prevent misery before it arises. Whether it is greed, anger, jealousy, hatred, or frustration, all these negative emotions can be healed or reoriented through yoga. When we are happy, we feel a sense of expansion within us. Conversely, when we face failure or insults, we notice a contraction or shrinking within. Yoga directs our attention to this expanding aspect within us when we are happy and the contracting aspect when we feel unhappy. Does yoga conflict with our belief systems? Does it clash with our religion, philosophy, or political ideology? Not at all. Yoga always promotes and encourages harmony in diversity, as the very word “yoga” means uniting. It is similar to our breath. Can we say that our breath belongs to a particular religion or philosophy? Today, nearly 2 billion people worldwide practice yoga. With the momentum of the International Day of Yoga, we must encourage the rest of the population to experience the positive benefits of yoga. People practicing yoga for any reason is a positive sign. It does not matter where one starts. I firmly believe that yoga can transform the dream of a world filled with compassion and happiness into a reality. |
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