Swami Satchidananda Saraswati said that we are our own bondage and our own liberation. Bondage would seem to imply that something has us unwillingly contained. Liberation would mean we are free. During this age of Kali Yuga, being wise about the difference between the two is difficult. We struggle to see beyond maya (illusion) and are blinded both by being trapped and being free. Our yoga practice though, can help us see where we suffer and how to shift in order to gain freedom from suffering.
Image: Peepal tree, Prayagraj, Kumbh Mela, 2019
Patanjali outlines in the beginning of the "Yoga Sutras" vrittis that disturb our mind. We identify ourselves with these constant thoughts that arise in the mind. In 1.6, he identifies these vrittis as
प्रभािणवऩममय णवकल्पणनद्रास्मतृ म् ॥ ६॥
pramannaviparyayavikalpanidrasmritayah
Swami Vivekananda interprets them as "right knowledge, indiscrimination, verbal
delusion, sleep, and memory."
In 1.30, Patanjali shares further obstacles, ones that are obstacles on the path of yoga.
व्याणधस्त्यानसंशमप्रभादारस्याणवयणतभ्राणन्तदशनय ारब्धबणू भक -
त्वानवणस्थतत्वाणन णचत्तणवऺऩे ास्तऽे न्तयामा् ॥ ३०॥
vyadhistyanasanshayapramadalasyaviratibhrantidar
shanalabdhabhoomikatvanavasthitatvani
chittavikshepastentarayah
Swami Vivekananda says they are "Disease, mental laziness, doubt, calmness, cessation, false perception, non-attaining concentration, and falling away from the state when obtained, are the obstructing distractions."
These seem like reasonable obstacles, ones we can all relate to. How does our yoga practice help us with these obstacles?
Pantanjali gives us the methods for overcoming this obstacles. He presents the Eight Limbs of (Raja) Yoga which support the yoga practitioner. The Eight Limbs are:
Yamas (external practices; i.e. do no harm)
Niyamas (internal practices; i.e. self-study)
Asana (asana - or meditation asana)
Pranayama (to gain control of the vital energy)
Pratyahara (withdrawal of senses)
Dharana (concentration)
Dhyana (meditation)
Samadhi (integration)
Image: Prayagraj, Kumbh Mela, 2019
Lord Krishna in the "Bhagavad Gita" outlines the four paths of yoga and how each door is open to helping with the obstacles we face. They are:
Karma Yoga (action)
Jnana Yoga (knowledge)
Bhakti Yoga (devotion)
Raja Yoga (meditation)
We can even turn to the "Upanishads," the "Vijñāna Bhairava Tantra Sutras," and the "Yoga Yajnavalkya," along with countless other spiritual texts to give us suggestions on how to overcome obstacles that cloud our mind and cause suffering. There are countless yoga techniques from breathing exercises to meditation techniques, from chanting OM to thinking of those you love in each moment of your day and sadhana practice. The reason for this is that during Kali Yuga, we may not easily know what tools are best for ourselves. We use our experience trying techniques until we find the one that unlocks our heart. Swami Vivekananda said "As one practice cannot suit everyone, various methods will be
advanced, and everyone by actual experience will find out that which helps him most."
It is here that a guru (the one who dispels the darkness) is of the utmost importance. They help us to see how we have created our own chains and handcuffed ourselves to our mind. They provide us with practices to nurture and grow our inner light until we see that the only thing that has been separating us from that was our own mind.
Practice:
Journal writing exercise. Explore the following inquiries.
1) What obstacles and vrittis do you relate to? How do you see them manifest in your life?
2) What is your sadhana (daily spiritual practice) to help overcome these obstacles?
References
Vivekananda, S. (n.d.). Patanjali Yoga Sutras. Hindu Online. http://www.hinduonline.co/DigitalLibrary/SmallBooks/PatanjaliYogaSutraSwamiVivekanandaSanEng.pdf.
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