Your 'Gratitude Thinking' May Not Be Good For Your Karma

-Kirti Tarang Pande

Official website, Instagram, Twitter

Originally Published in Daily Bhaskar

Incidence 1

Recollect- The Rangbhoomi scene of Mahabharata, unchallenged, unparalleled Arjuna had stolen the show, he was about to be declared warrior of the day & that’s when it happens- arrival of Karna.

He wants to take on Arjuna, but due to his low-birth it was forbidden to him.

Duryodhana saves the day for Karna, by crowning him the King of Anga. What does Karna do?

Veda Vyasa in Mahabharata writes-

“Karna sets his emotions free to flow, through his eyes, in the form of tears. He asks Duryodhana, “How may I be of service to you?””

Now think- What you would have done in similar situation- a man saves you from a national humiliation, makes you the king! What would you say?

I would say, “Thank you”, as a reflex. Karna didn’t. Note the choice of his words,”How may I be of service to you”, and not, “How can I repay you?”

Does it mean Karna was ungrateful?

Let’s look at it from the prism of another incidence-

Incidence 2

Recollect- When Hanuman meets Sita in Ashok Vatika, as a messenger of Rama. He shows her Rama’s ring & tells her that her husband will be here to rescue her. How did Sita respond?

Rishi Valmiki writes,

“Upon knowing that he is a messenger of Rama, she blesses him. With a heart overwhelmed with joy & grief, she says; “Give your master my Pranam (salutation)”

Now think- If you were trapped by the most feared person of our times & suddenly someone comes and says, “Rescue team is on its way.”  Wouldn’t you thank that person or at least send your gratitude to the rescue team?

Sita didn’t

.

Does it mean Sita was ungrateful?

Before judging further, let’s understand what gratitude means?

In today’s society it’s the ‘trending’ thing. Saying ‘thank you’ not only reflects our politeness & manners but practicing gratitude gives one the most ‘in’ label of being a ‘spiritual person’ these days.

However, for true yogis & advanced practitioners of ancient Vedic wisdom (like Karna & Sita), this is a sign of ignorance- this gratitude towards another human being because s/he was of service to us.

Why?

Answer is given by Krishna in Gita. While talking about Vedic concept of Janana Yoga (The path of wisdom), 

Krishna says;

Gatsangasya Muktasya Gyanavstitchetasah|

Yagyayachratah Karma Samagram Praviliyate||

-Gita 4.23

Beyond attachment, free & with a mind established in knowledge, when he performs action for a yajna alone, everything is destroyed.

It means that when we perform an action, with the attitude of performing a yajna (a Hindu purification ritual of making offerings to scared fire), surrendering our every action as a service of society, one gets freedom from the bondage of Karma. There’s no negative or positive Karma attached to such an act. This is the easiest path of ultimate liberation (knowledge, happiness & bliss). Since, our Atman takes a body to pay dues for negative Karma & reap benefits of positive Karma.

Conversely, when we say ‘thank you’ we form a Karmic alliance with that person. The alliance is formed out of our ignorance of cosmic law; which in Gita, Krishna describes as:

“Na Mam Karmani Limpanti Na Me Karmaphale Spraha|

Iti Mam Yobhijanati Karmabhi Nars Badhyate||

- Gita 4.1

In Bhavatakmak way, it means that Atman, our inner & true self, isn’t interested in the fruits of actions that we perform. Since our inner & true self has the awareness that by performing actions in this way, it can’t be tied in the chain of Karma.

Our conscious mind may not be aware of this process though, because over the years we have become aloof to our inner & true self. In this equation, when we add ‘Thank You’, we hurt the person in two ways:

1. We take the person further away from the inner-true self.

2. We tie the person in Karmic cycle of birth & rebirth.

Then what to do?

There are ways:

1. Follow Karna’s model: Gift the person the pleasure to witness the joy the action has brought to you, by expressing our emotions. Then connect with your heart in the wisdom- That the person in didn’t do a ‘favor’, but merely performed his dharma. You, in turn, perform yours.

2. Follow Sita’s model: Bless or offer salutations to that person, whatever comes naturally to you. Please note- the blessing/salutations should be seated in love & not in gratitude.

For example- When we get a glass of water to our grand-parents, they don’t say ‘thank you’, they say ‘Bhagwan bhala kare’ (May God Bless you), ‘jug jug jiyo’ (May you live long) etc

3. Use ‘Namaste’ instead- Namaste means I bow to the divine in you. This means that you’re acknowledging that the performed action was yagna & you are bowing to that.

For example- Remember our good old Kirane wale bhaiya( grocery man), he never thanked us for shopping with him, like billing guys in supermarket nor did our parents thanked him for assisting in shopping, like we say to the sales girls in stores. They would simple say ‘namaste’ to each other & would (knowingly/ unknowingly) transcend their materialistic transaction to spiritual level.

4. Path of least resistance- You may say ‘thank you’ with your mouth, but keep your heart & emotions firmly seated in any of the above mentioned options.

Namaste!

Do you know Yoga is a byproduct of Shiva-Parvati's lovestory?

- Kirti Tarang Pande

 Instagram, website, Twitter

Originally published on Daily Bhaskar

In his Sanskrit epic poem ‘Kumar Sambhav’, dramatist Kalidas writes;

“Tatha Vitham Prempatishtadarsh”

Love like Parvati & husband like Shiva, these are both beyond our reach.

Kalidas wasn’t being verbose here, in Hindu mythology it is believed that in Kailash Parvat, Shiva & Parvati began the ecstatic dance of mystic love, ‘I’, ‘you’, ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘we’, all these distinctions stop existing.

This mystic dance is Yoga that creates the divine union. After all the classic definition of Yoga says:

“Yujyate anena iti yogah”

One that joins is yoga.

That’s what I am sharing with you today, the mythological story of the cosmic union of Shiva & Parvati?

However, like every story of Hindu mythology, this one has a back story.

Let’s ruffle the pages of another Indian epic, Gita, for this-

To elucidate the concept of ‘detached action’ to Arjuna, Krishna gives example of Shiva as the Param Yogi- he has reached a state that’s beyond Karmic cycle. He has the ability to destroy entire shristi (the universe) without taking any negative karma upon him.

That’s where Krishna opens a love-window through which we can peep into Shiva’s love story; which can be summed up in two sentences:

It was Shiva’s love for Sati that made him a Yogi. It was Shiva’s love for Parvati that made him the Adi-Guru of Yoga.

That’s why in yogic tradition it is believed that if one worships only Shiva & ignores Shakti, the person remains confined in the trappings of maya- the illusion of subject-object duality.

To overcome this hurdle, ancient sages recommend Bhakti Yoga Marg- a path of complete surrender to Shiva & Shakti.

In the incarnation of Sati, Shakti was married to Shiva.

Shiva has emerged from cosmic sound. He took the form of an ascetic. And then, one day he falls in love with Sati. This love, however we try to describe, the description sounds lacking. How can we describe something that’s beyond our experiential field? So, let’s call this love an ocean, whose depth we know not of & move on.

In an unforeseen way, Sati dies (that’s another story, let’s touch it another day). This death tore off Shiva. He became a madman, choosing annihilation. But how does one slay something that was never born? So, the universe bore the brunt of Shiva’s grief, in the form of destruction.

Even that couldn’t liberate him from his grief. So Shiva embraced silence and turned within. It led to a miraculous expansion in Shiva from which Yoga was born.

Thus, Yoga was Shiva’s internal journey of transforming grief into a permanent state of ecstasy.

This closes Chapter one of Shiva’s love story.

Let’s jump to the page where Parvati, another incarnation of Shakti, touched Shiva through her tapas.

On the night of their union Shiva taught Parvati 84 yogic asanas before taking her as his consort into Tantra.

That night out of his love of Parvati, Shiva became the Adi-Guru of Yoga & Parvati became his first student.

This is the reason why, when we take Deeksha of Yoga in Vedic Parampara, the first teaching that we receive from our Guru is this Mangal Sholka:

“Shri Adinath Namastu Tasmay Yenopdishta Hathyogvidya|

Vibhrajate Prannatrajyogmarodumichoradhirohireev||”

Meaning: Salutations to Shiva who’s instructor of Hathayoga vidya to Parvati which shines bright like a ladder for one desirous to climb to the heights of the most excellent Rajayoga.

Shiva’s teachings to Parvati bear such intimacy & indulgence that if you read the sholkas, it will create innumerable bubbles of love in your heart. Each sholka starts with ‘O the Resplendent one’, ‘O the Beautiful one’, ‘O the Graceful one’.

Shiva was so smitten by Parvati that he never bothered to share this Yogic knowledge with anyone else. Parvati, however, the symbol of feminine nurturing energy, couldn’t bear the idea of being in a state of permanent ecstasy when there was so much misery in the three worlds.

So she asked Shiva, cajoled Shiva into teaching Yoga to us mortals. He had no interest in doing so.

Parvati, the cosmic mother, was too resilient to give up. One day, she approached this topic as a woman, when Shiva was with her as a man, and said that she understands why Shiva is reluctant to teach. It’s too difficult. He can’t do it.

The reverse psychology worked! Shiva took Sapt rishis as his first batch of disciples. Through Sapt Rishis came a lineage of 18 siddhas. These 18 siddhas imparted the divine knowledge to us earthlings.

Disclaimer: Stories from Hindu mythology are metaphors depicting Cosmic Reality beyond experiential existence. They should not be approached with a mind that’s caged in human limitations.  

References: Kumar Sambhav, Devi Bhagwat, Shiv Mahapuran, Hath Yoga Pradipika, Gita

THIS DIWALI WOO LAXMI THROUGH SOUND YOGA

- Kirti Tarang Pande

Official website, Instagram, Twitter
Originally published in Daily Bhaskar

Good News!!!!

You don’t need to spend thousands in buying lights, crackers, sweets and all the shenanigans to woo Goddess Laxmi.

You just need one thing. You have it with you. For free! This thing is your body.

So, why confine Laxmi to your house, when you can seat her in your heart & carry her along wherever you go? It is possible & can be done in  easy steps of Sound Yoga.

However, it is my belief that you mustn’t do anything just because; “I told you so”. That’s why before I tell you the  steps, it’s important that you understand the science behind it:

What isSound Yoga?

Who is Laxmi?

In Yogic Philosophy, Laxmi is a manifestation of Brahman/ Supreme Reality. This Brahman pervades in all things. In humans, the seat is the heart.

As a manifestation of this Brahman, Laxmi is the Goddess of beauty & divine grace. While love & devotion come under beauty; health, prosperity & fertility are a part of Divine Grace.

The Sound of Laxmi

Srim is the Beej Mantra of Laxmi. It governs the prime forms of energy as magnetic force, electrical force & delight. Of all the four Goddess Beej Mantras, it is one of the softest & safest mantras to use.

Srim allows us to surrender to and take refuge in Laxmi. Once we are immersed in Laxmi, not only good things flow in life but also our heart gets faith & emotional nature gets steadiness.

Woo Laxmi in Easy Steps through Sound Yoga

1. Start your day with Opening the Heart

If Laxmi is to reside in your heart, one must open its door for her. Laxmi’s seat is a blooming lotus. So, sit in Padmasana, form the mudra blooming lotus with your hands & place it near your chest. Now close your eyes & visualize that a lotus is opening in your heart chakra & Laxmi is sitting in it in her full radiance. Bless everyone & anyone who comes to your mind with the gifts of Laxmi. Generosity of soul is the cosmic door through which Laxmi comes in.

       2. Purify your heart through Om

We all know Laxmi resides in cleanliness. With each out breath chant Om. Let the sound ‘O’ come from your heart & ‘M’ from throat. Repeat the chant five times. This purifies our heart of its afflictions.

        3. Illuminate your Heart through Surya Namaskar

It is light of the heart which lures Laxmi, she has no interest in the ones that you hang in your home. So, stand in Namaskar Mudra & pray to Surya to illuminate your heart with truth this verse:

Hiranmayena patrena satyasyapitham mukham|Tat tvam pusannapavrnu satyadharmaya drstaye||

Meaning: O Sun! Like a utensil covering the mouth of a vessel, your golden orb is the lid covering the truth. Un-lid & lead me to the Dharma of Truth.

It’s important that you link every Asana of the Surya Namaskar with inhale & exhale of breath. Each inhalation & exhalation must be in Ujjayi Breath.

Laxmi, was born after churning the ocean. The Ujjayi (sound of ocean) inhalation & exhalation teamed with Surya Namaskar churns our body & Laxmi is born within us.

         4. Energize your Lunar Side

The Beej Mantra of Laxmi has a pleasing lunar property. To prepare the body for the Chanting of the Beej Mantra, first one need to activate the lunar side through Chandra Anulom: Upon nightfall sit in Vajrasana, close the right nostril with ring finger, deep inhale & exhale through left nostril. Repeat 10 times. Once, the lunar side is activated, it is time to energize it with Chandra Bhedan: Sit in Vajrasana, close the right nostril with ring finger inhale through left nostril. Close left nostril with the thumb & exhale through right. This is one cycle of Chandra Bhedan. Perform 10 such cycles.

Now that the body is prepared, it is time to chant the Beej Mantra & evoke the Laxmi that whose sthapana we did in our hearts this morning.

         5 Srim Japa

Srim (pronounced as: shreem) is the sound relating to beauty & divine grace. It floods the senses with divine beauty & delight, promoting health, prosperity, fertility & rejuvenation.

Sit in Padmasana, close your eyes, and bring your awareness to the Laxmi seated in your heart & chant Srim. You can chant from 5, 7, 9 to 108 any odd number of times. Please note it doesn’t matter how many counts you do, what really matters is how well you link the sound of Shrim to the energy of Laxmi in your heart.

• Originally published in Daily Bhaskar

LET'S TALK ABOUT SOUND YOGA

- Kirti Tarang Pande
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The Hidden Cosmic Secret


May I tell you a secret?

It's a secret that was kept hidden from 'commoners' in Vedic Prampara. Brahmins knew the power of this wisdom pearl that they had. So they kept quiet, because in the hands of unworthy, the power could be dangerous. In silence they quivered with the vibrations of Sound Yoga and attained a state of pure bliss.

No, I am not starting a new niche in Yoga. Yoga is the science of Shiva & art of Siddhas, you & I are not qualified to make changes in it. We can only share, what we have learnt:

What Is Sound: The Western & Vedic School Of It

Modern Physics tells us that Sound is an energy.
Ancient texts of Rig Veda agree with this & add that Sound is the original form all energy. This cosmic energy of sound, always have a referent object. It is the name of that object. The name connects us to the Being that it designates.
Therefore, whenever we make a sound, we are directing awareness to the object that it corresponds to.

How Sound Yoga Harnesses & Channelizes The Energy Of Sound?

When through sound our awareness goes to an object, along with awareness goes our Pranic Energy. So, ancient Siddhas through the blessings and guidance of Shiva created Beej Mantras, which can link our Pranic Energy to the object of our desires.

What Is The Object Of A Yogis' Desire?

Yogis weren't greedy they just wanted three basic things:
1. Healthy Body, you can't meditate if you're struggling with a physical ailment
2. A mind that's free from all afflictions, again, one can either fret or meditate
3. Liberation

What Did The Yogis Do With This Knowledge?

Since, the yogis understood that Sound is the mental aspect of Pran. They used the mantric vibrations of soul to awaken the powers within.
With this power they discovered the Beej Mantras corresponding to the three wishes of a Yogi:

a. For Healthy Body:

Yogis looked at human body as a sound body & called it Mantra Purush, representing it through Sanskrit Alphabets.
For the sounds in the head & our senses, they harnessed solar energy & created 16 Beej Mantras for it.
For our tissues, they harnessed lunar energy & created 9 Beej Mantras for them
And then, there are 25 Beej Mantras for our trunk & limbs

b. For Peaceful Mind:

They created Beej Mantras for six basic Chakras & weaved them in a meditation technique, in which we travel down from our Throat Chakra towards the Root Chakra & then we come up & dissolve it all in the Third Eye Chakra.

c. For Liberation

This approach came from the Shakti School of Yoga. The yogis discovered the four Beej Mantras corresponding to four forms of Shakti, leading to liberation.

How You & I Can Incorporate Sound Yoga In Our Daily Practice?

Remember, Sound Yoga is very powerful and should only be performed in the guidance of a trusted teacher. 

a. For Energizing

Every Asana has a corresponding Beej Mantra. Once you have mastered the asana on the physical level, then check if you can relax in that asana, connect it with your breathe, now you can ask your teacher to give you the Beej Mantra.

b. For Relaxation

You can recite Mantra Purusha prayer before meditation, it withdraws the pran from all the parts of body & leave

it in the Third Eye.

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 :)