Yoga Task Of The Day

- Kirti Tarang

A couple of Hath Yogis are of the opinion that Surya Kriya (not Surya Namaskar), can be one simple way to liberate from Karmic cycle. I didn’t mention it in my post on the topic because:

a. It doesn’t make sense to me

b. I haven’t read any original yogic texts mentioning it.

However, I don’t want you to take my opinion as a fact. I want you to research on Surya Kriya & make an informed decision. That’s your Yoga Task Of The Day.

Suggested Readings:

1. Is Karma Really A Bitch
2. PanchKosa & Karmic Cycle
3. The Forgotten Limb Of Ashtanga Yoga

Meet The Forgotten Limb Of Ashtanga Yoga

- Kirti Tarang


Let’s start with the basics. What is Ashtanga Yoga? It’s a summation of eight yogic limbs. One of these limbs is Pratyahar. 

Swami Vivekananda calls it ‘the most important limb in Yog Sadhana’ & David Frawley refers to it as ‘the forgotten limb’. The sad reality is that both of these wise men are right.

Pratyahar is the bridge between outer & inner aspects of Ashtanga Yoga. This is the best thing that you’ve read today! Because, it means you don’t need a supple spine & ability to do painful backbends for this.

You just need to practice Pratyahar i.e. gain a mastery over unruly senses.

Shaivik poet Lal Ded, speaks in her vakh:

You've got six & I've got six.Now tell me, Blue-Throated One, what's the difference?Or don't. I know. You keep your six on a leashand my six have strung me along

 Note:
1. Blue- Throated One: Lord Shiva, the creator of Yoga
2. Your six/ My six: The six senses

In yogic philosophy the six senses can be controlled by controlling the Ahar (food) at three levels:

1. The physical food that we eat to nourish our physical body.

2. The cognitive impressions that we take in through our five senses to nourish our mind.

3. The associations that we make with people around us to nourish our soul.

So, in theory Pratyahar means staying away from wrong food, impressions & associations while gyrating towards right food, impressions & associations.

Sounds simple, isn't it? In practice this could be tricky. So, I have devised a seven fold method to practice Pratyahar. Click here to know the 7 easy steps :)

Panchkosa & Karmic Cycle

- Kirti Tarang

Panchkosa is an important concept in the Philosophy of Yoga. It's the basic grammar of the language of Yoga. So, here's the story behind this concept (and its simplest explanation):

This story is from the third valli (chapter) of Taittiriya Upnishad:

Once shishya (student) Bhrgu went to his father & Guru Varun & said,

“Teach me what’s Brahman- the most fundamental fabric of the Universe”

The father said, 

“sa tapo tapyata, sa tapas taptva” (Go meditate, observe austerity of thoughts).

So Bhrgu went into tapasya and came back with the answer:

Annam brahmeti vyajanat(Matter is Brahman)

For everything in this universe is made out of matter, we live by matter & this body dissolves into matter.

The father’s reply was the same, “sa tapo tapyata, sa tapas taptva”

So Bhrgu meditated & this time he came up with;

Prano brahmeti vyajanat(Pran, the life-force is Brahman)

The father’s response remained unchanged.

Bhrgu meditated again & then said,

Mano brahmeti vyajanat(Mind is Brahman)

Once again the father wasn’t much impressed.

So, Bhrgu meditated again & came up with;

Vijnanam Brahmeti Vyajanat(Intelligence is Brahman)

Father said that you’re close but not there yet.

So Bhrgu gave it another try. He meditated & observed the austerity of thoughts. This time he didn’t return to his father, for he found the answer:

Anando brahmeti vyajnat(Brahman is bliss)

Brahman is made of five sheaths (kosas) of existence:

1.  Annamaya Kosa- the gross body

2.   Pranamaya Kosa- the pranic energy

3.  Mamonaya Kosa- Mind, a conglomeration of perception, memory, emotions & thoughts.

4.  Vijnanamaya Kosa- Seat of our Intellect

5.  Anadamaya Kosa- The Ultimate Reality

Amongst these, the first Kosa, Annamaya is the grossest while the fifth Kosa, Anandmaya is the subtlest.

That's the theory of Panchkosa. It not only forms the basis of Yogic spirituality but of Ayurveda (holistic Indian method of healing) too.

I feel Panchkosa is important, because the journey to Anandmaya Kosa is the easiest way to break free from the cycle of Karma (especially the negative ones)

HOW?

The answer is simple: The positive & negative Karmas accumulated through the actions of past live in the first four sheaths of our existence. The Anandmaya Kosa is free from effect of Karma.

In the words of an ancient Indian sage (whose name I can’t recollect at this point), Anandmaya Kosa is 

neti neti neti- nothing, nothing, and nothing. 

It’s a state of pure bliss & vacuum- a state of total silence.

All we have to do is reach this stage & we are free from the trappings of Karma.

If you want to know how to get there,

Read here to know more :)

Karma

Once upon a time, there was a genius called Albert Einstein. No! He didn’t give the doctrine of Karma, he gave us a question- Why is that when I put the mass of all the matter in this universe together & then compare it with the total mass of the universe, it is always less? So, he used a constant to balance the equation & called it Cosmological Constant. Later, he called it his biggest mistake. But today, scientists at CERN, have proven that Einstein wasn’t mistaken. They’re actively trying to know more about this Cosmological Constant through the experiment of Large Hydron Collider (they calling it Dark Matter though).

That’s Karma. No! It’s not Dark Matter, but Karma is that missing constant that balances the equation of life. Whenever you feel stuck in life & wonder- ’why is this happening to me’; try adding Karma to that equation & watch how it balances out. We may not have built a Large Hydron Collider that can scientifically prove its existence but that doesn’t mean Law of Karma doesn’t exist.

It’s a law that was written down in 900 BCE, by an Indian sage Yajnavalkya in Brhad-aranyak Upnishad:

"And here they say that a person consists of desires, and as is his desire, so is his will; and as is his will, so is his deed; and whatever deed he does, that he will reap."

(Brhad-aranyak Upnishad, Sholka 4.4.6, translated by James Black)

When I was a kid, my grandfather explained it to me through a story from Upnishads:

Once Yajnavalkya was teaching;

"After death the eye of a man goes to the sun, the breath to the wind, speech to fire, the mind to the moon, the ear to the quarters of heaven, the body to the earth, the soul to the ether, the hair to the plants & trees, the blood & seed to the water?"

“Then what carries on? Since you talk about rebirth all the time, what’s it that remains of the individual?” asked a student.

Yajnavalkya took him aside & told him the secret- 

Your actions, they carry on with you. ‘In truth, a man becomes good by good works & evil by evil works. Our lives incarnate our characters.’

 That's it!
:)

How Yoga Can Break The Cage Of Negative Karma

- Kirti Tarang

I found the most credible (if not the easiest) solution in Patanjali Yogsutra:

Let go of Ignorance (Avidya)  

You’re not ignorant if can’t quote Bernoulli’s Theorem or name the current President of Tanzania. Sage Patanjali says that you’re ignorant if you form a connection with the seen world. (Remember, it’s okay to experience & celebrate the seen world as long as we aren’t forming an alliance with it). 

He says that the essence of existence of the seen world is only to serve as the objective field for pure consciousness. So these knowable objects cease to exist in relation to one who has experienced their fundamental, formless true nature. (However, the appearance of the knowable objects is not destroyed, for their existence continues to be shared by others who are still observing them in their grosser forms)

How does it sound to you?

Honestly, when I first read it, it sounded like a mathematical theorem, which leaves me all confused when the teacher is explaining it to the class, but I nod along (since I don’t want to come across as daft). Hence, when in exam, I have to apply it to solve a problem, I fail.

Do you feel this way too? 

Then let's look at the picture from a different angle, this time through the lenses of:
1. Pratyahar Click Here To Read About Pratyahar
2. PanchKosa Click Here To Read About PanchKosa

If this doesn't interest you then skip the logic & directly follow the SEVEN-FOLD PROGRAMM

Your daily Yoga practice to break from the cage of Karma in 7 (easy?) steps:

1. Pranayams:

Technically, Pranayam isn’t a method of practicing Pratyahar. And yet, I mention it as the first step because, Pranayam is preparatory stage of Pratyahar. The pran that is gathered in pranayam is withdrawn in Pratyahar. Confused much? You will get a clearer picture in next step.

2. Yoni Mudra:

It is a method of sensory withdrawal, by using the fingers to block the sensory openings in face- the eyes, ears, nostrils, & mouth. Yes, both nose & mouth! This allows the attention & energy to flow within. But do it for a brief interval (you don’t want to starve your body of oxygen). Therefore, it is done immediately after practicing Pranayams because the Pran is already energized & our body can relax despite being deprived of oxygen (Ah! Now Step 1 makes sense, doesn’t it)

3. Shambhavi Mudra:

It is another method of sensory withdrawal. In Shambhavi Mudra, our eyes are open while the attention is directed within, by redirecting the sense of sight & hearing inwards. This methods prepares us to maintain our focus inwards even as we carry on with our daily life.

4. Visualization:

It is a method of creating positive inner impressions. Simplest way is Yogic meditation, involving ‘seeing’ a deity, a guru, or any beautiful creation of divine. This helps in clearing the mental field of external impressions & creating positive inner impressions. It’s like both Spring Cleaning & redecorating of your mind in one go!

5. Laya Yoga:

It is the yoga of inner sound & light current.

6. Vajrasana/ Padmasana/ Badhkonasana/ Supt Vajrasana/ Supt Badhkonasana

To control our motor organs in order to lay foundation Karma Pratyahar, above mentioned asanas can be used to sit quietly for extended periods of time. One can use any asana for this purpose as long as one is able to hold that pose with stability, relaxation & inner focus for at least 10 minutes. The legend has it that Rishi Matsyendra attained Samadhi by meditating in Matsyendra Asana!

7. Shavasana:

BKS Iyengar once said that it’s most difficult of all asanas; while, Ramana Maharshi achieved Self-realization by practicing Shavasana. He was just 17!

Shavasana is a method of Prana Pratyahar. One lies in corpse pose & visualize the death process, in which the prana, or the life fore, withdraws from body, shutting off all the senses from feet to head.

Pratyahar as a lifestyle:

If you want to accelerate the process of breaking the alliance with Karma (especially the negative ones), then it’s important that you adopt Pratyahar as a lifestyle by:

1. Stop treating your mind as dustbin.

 Watch what sensory inputs you’re taking it & what impressions you’re making. Caution: In this process you’re practicing control & not suppression (Suppression is dangerous, it causes revolt. Remember ‘Me, Myself & Irene’?) I know this is the tight-rope to walk on, but you can do it with proper coordination & right motivation.

2. Focusing on uniform impressions.

Like idly gazing at sky or an ocean or an expansive desert. This process is like a mental fast. It has the same effect on our minds as a physical detox has on body.

3. Karma Yoga

It means making our life a scared ritual by dedicating every thought, desire and action to service of all sentient beings. This means go to Himalayas & become an ascetic. It means, practicing the ancient Indian philosophy of ‘Tein tyaktein bhunjitha’ – rejoice every gift of this life with a sense of detachment & offering.

4. Mano Patryahar

Training our mind in a way that it withdraws from unwholesome experiences.

This last & most difficult stage, it’s okay you’re not there yet. I am not there yet. But we will be- you and I.

And once we are there, we will be in a state of AnandmayKosa. This state grants us the wisdom to break our alliance with the seen world. As this ignorance (avidya) is destroyed, one attains liberation from the Karmic cycle.

Suggested Reading: Is Karma Really A Bitch?

UPNISHADS

I just wrote my first blog post & realized that I am incapable of talking about Yoga, without quoting from Upnishads. Let's blame it on my Grandfather who infused my childhood with stories from these texts. Anyway, so I guess it's important that I talk about what are Upnishads.

What are Upnishads?

Upnishads are the ancient Hindu texts that explain the ultimate theory of reality.

Literally, Upnishads mean: To sit near Guru

So, Upnishads contain knowledge that shishyas of ancient India received at Gurukuls.

Therefore, if you read Upnishads, you'll find that they're in the form of conversation, questions & answers and a commentary on Vedas.

When I was growing up, I didn't understand all this. At that time, for me Upnishads formed an enchanting garden from which my grandfather would daily pluck a story for me. Now, when I revisit those stories, I am amazed at how such intricate concepts were offered in skillfully simple stories. The ancient Indian sages were for sure great story tellers :)

Is Karma Really A Bitch?

Endless Knot symbolizing Karmic Cycle

My best-friend calls Karma an 'enigmatic bitch'.

I don't thing she's the only one. It's quite a trend these days. 

Is Karma really a bitch or is it just a victim of bad PR?

(Before you read further if you want to take a moment to revise what Karma is Click Here for Yogic Definition of Karma

Coming back to the bitchiness of Karma; let me share something from my childhood;

I once read Melanippe of Euripides from Greek Mythology, and it had a fragment that said:

“Dream you that man’s misdeeds fly up to Heaven

And, then some hand inscribes the record of them 

Upon God’s tablet; and God, reading them,

Deals the world justice? Nay, the vault of Heaven

Could not find room to write the crimes of earth,

Nor God himself avail to punish them:

Justice is here on earth, had ye but eyes.”

This verse stuck with me, because it offered the simplest explanation on how law of Karma functions- 

Karma is not external to the individual. The judge isn’t without but within. 

This means that Karma isn't a single entity who can be bitchy & vindictive, but it's a system. A system, which is already hacked in our favor:

Whatever is happening in my life is a product of my Karma/action-> So I am the one who controls my life because-> I can control my Karma & hence its consequences!

Isn’t it absolutely awesome & empowering?

That's why I don't think Karma is a bitch, because:

 Law of Karma gives me hope: For if I am what I have made myself, I may make myself what I will. I am the creator of my experiences, so I have the power to create the experiences that I desire.

If I do something wrong (in this birth or past) it’s not like I am doomed till eternity, there’s a way I can redeem myself.

This Endless Knot of Samsara has an end-point & it's a happy ending :)