Is Yoga For Vain People?

[Gauracandra 1]

Is it me, or is yoga, as exercise, really a form of vanity. I don't question that it has health benefits. I'm sure stretching, and breathing exercises are good. But as it is currently practiced it seems very much part of a yuppy vanity activity. It just seems really self-absorbed and body conscious. The purpose it actually to focus on God, but since it is mass marketed, the religion is removed, and all you have is focus on yourself as the center.

[theist 1]

Yes in the west anyway that's all I've seen. Get fit to attract the opposite sex. Do pranayama to attain a nice glow in your aura which will help you attract the opposite sex.

 

"hatha-yoga-pradipika? What's that"?

[theist 1]

 

 

HATHA YOGA PRADIPIKA

 

The entire text can be read9minus sankrit type) at:

 

http://davidrjones.tripod.com/hatha.htm

 

 

INTRODUCTION.

 

 

There exists at present a good deal of misconception with regard to the practices of Hatha Yoga. People easily believe in the stories told by those who themselves heard them second hand, and no attempt is made to find out the truth by a direct reference to any good treatise.

 

It is generally believed that the six practices in Hatha Yoga are compulsory on the student and that besides being dirty, they are fraught with danger to the practiser. This is not true, for these practices are necessary only in the existence of impurities in the Nadis, and not otherwise.

 

There is the same amount of misunderstanding with regard to the Pranayama. People put their fait implicitly in the stories told them about the dangers attending the practice, without ever taking the trouble of ascertaining the facts themselves. We have been inspiring and expiring air from our birth, and will continue to do so till death;

and this is done without help from any teacher. Pranayama is nothing but a properly regulated form of the otherwise irregular and hurried flow of air, without using much force or undue restraint; and if this is accomplished by patiently keeping the flow slow and steady, there can be

no danger. It is the impatience for the Siddhis which cause undue pressure on the organs and thereby causes pains in the ears, the eyes, the chest, etc. If the three bandhas be carefully performed while practicing the Pranayama, there is no possibility of any danger.

 

There are two classes of students of Yoga: (1) those who study it theoretically; (2) those who combine the theory with practice.Yoga is of very little use, if studied theoretically. It was never meant for such a study. In its practical form, however, the path of the student is beset with difficulties. The books on Yoga give instructions so far as it is possible to express the methods in words, but all persons not being careful enough to follow these instructions to the very letter, fail in their object. Such persons require a teacher versed in the practice of Yoga.

 

It is easy to find a teacher who will explain the language of the books, but this is far from satisfactory. For instance, a Pundit without any knowledge of Materia Medica will explain [sanskrit text MPM] as [sanskrit text MPM] or an enemy of thorns, <i.e.>, shoes, while it is in reality the name of a medicinal plant.

 

The importance of a practical Yogi as a guide to a student of Yoga cannot be overestimated; and without such a teacher it is next to impossible for him to achieve anything. The methods followed by the founders of the system and followed ever afterwards by their followers, have been wisely and

advisedly kept secret; and this is not without a deep meaning. Looking to the gravity of the subject and the practices which have a very close relation with the vital organs of the human body, it is of paramount importance that the instructions should be received by students of ordinary capacity, through a practical teacher only, in order to avoid any possibility of mistake in practice.

 

Speaking broadly, all men are not equally fitted to receive the instructions on equal terms. Man inherits on birth his mental and physical capitals, according to his actions in past births, and has to increase them by manipulation, but there are, even among such, different grades. Hence, one cannot become a Yogi in one incarnation.

 

There are men who, impelled by the force of their actions of previous births, go headlong and accomplish their liberation in a single attempt; but others have to earn it in their successive births. If the student belongs to one of such souls and being earnest, desires from his heart to get rid of the pains of birth and death, he will find the means too. It is well-known that a true Yogi is above temptations and so to think that he keeps his knowledge secret for selling it to the highest bidder is simply absurd. Yoga is meant for the good of all creatures, and a true Yogi is always desirous of benefiting as many men as possible. But he is not to throw this precious treasure indiscriminately. He carefully chooses its recipients, and when he finds a true and earnest student, who will not trifle with this knowledge, he never hesitates in placing his valuable treasure at the disposal of the man. What is essential in him is that he should have a real thirst for such knowledge--a thirst which will make him restless till satisfied; the thirst that will make him blind to the world and its enjoyments. He should be, in short fired with [sanskrit text MPM] desire for emancipation. To such a one, there is nothing dearer than the accomplishment of this object. A true lover will see everywhere, in every direction, in every tree and leaf, in every blade of grass his own beloved. The whole of the world, with all its beauties, is a dreary waste in his eyes, without his beloved. And he will court death, fall into the mouth of a gaping grave, for the sake of his beloved. The student whose heart burns with such intense desire for union with Paramatma, is sure to find a teacher, and through him he will surely find Him. It is a tried experience that Paramatma will try to meet you half way, with the degree of intensity with which you will go to meet Him. Even He Himself will become your guide, direct you on to the road to success, or put you on the track to find a teacher, or lead him to you.

 

It is the half-hearted who fail. They hold their worldly pleasures dearer to their hearts than their God, and therefore He in His turn does not consider them worthy

of His favors. [sanskrit text MPM]

 

The atma will choose you its abode only if it considers you worthy of such a favor, and not otherwise. It is therefore necessary that one should first make oneself worthy of

 

His acceptance. Having prepared the temple (your heart) well fitted for His installation there, having cleared it of all the impurities which stink and make the place unsuitable for the highest personage to live in, and having decorated it beautifully with objects as befit that Lord of the creation, you need not wait long for Him to adorn this temple of yours which you have taken pains to make worthy of Him. If you have done all this, He will shine in you with all His glory. In your difficult moments, when you are embarrassed, sit in a contemplative mood, and approach your Prama Guru submissively and refer your difficulties to Him, you are sure to get the proper advice from Him. He is the Guru of the ancients, for He is not limited by Time. He instructed the ancients in bygone times, like a Guru, and if you have been unable to find a teacher in the human form, enter your inner temple and consult this Great Guru who accompanies you everywhere, and ask Him to show you the way. He knows best what is best for you. Unlike mortal beings, He is beyond the past and the future, will either send one of His agents to guide you or lead you to one and put you on the right track. He is always anxious to teach the earnest seekers, and waits for you to offer Him an opportunity to do so. But if you have not done your duty and prepared yourself worthy of entering His door, and try to gain access to his presence, laden with your unclean burden, stinking with Kama, Krodha, Lobha, and Moha, be sure He will keep you off from Him.

 

The Asanas are a means of gaining steadiness of position and help to gain success in contemplation, without any distraction of the mind. If the position be not comfortable, the slightest inconvenience will draw the mind away from the laksya (aim), and so no peace will be possible till the posture has ceased to cause pain by regular exercise.

 

Of all the various methods for concentrating the mind, repetition of Pranava or Ajapa Japa and contemplation on its meaning is the best. It is impossible for the mind to sit idleeven for a single moment, and, therefore, in order to keep it well occupied and to keep other antagonistic thoughts from entering it, repetition of Pranava should be practiced.

 

It should be repeated till Nidra is induced which, when experienced, should be encouraged by slackening all the muscles of the body. This will fill the mind with sacred and divine thoughts and will bring about its one-pointedness, without much effort.

 

Anahata Nada is awakened by the exercise of Pranayama. A couple of weeks practice with 80 pranayamas in the morning and the same number in the evening will cause distinct sounds to be heard; and, as the practice will go on increasingly, varied sounds become audible to the practiser. By hearing these sound attentively one gets concentration of the mind, and should give himself up to it and make no efforts to check it. By and by, these sounds become subtle and they become less and less intense, so the mind loses its waywardness and becomes calm and docile; and, on this practice becoming well-established, Samadhi becomes a voluntary act. This is, however, the highest stage and is the lot of the favored and fortunate few only.

 

During contemplation one sees, not with his eyes, as he does the objects of the world, various colors, which the writers on Yoga call the colors of the five elements. Sometimes stars are seen glittering, and lightning flashes in the sky. But these are all fleeting in their nature.

 

At first these colors are seen in greatly agitated waves which show the unsteady condition of the mind, and as the practice increases and the mind becomes calm, these color-waves become steady and motionless and appear as one deep ocean of light. This is the ocean in which one should dive and forget the world and become one with his Lord -- which is the condition of the highest bliss.

 

Faith in the practices of Yoga, and in one's own powers to accomplish what others have done before, is of great importance to insure speedy success. I mean : faith that will move mountains," will accomplish anything, be it howsoever difficult. There is nothing which cannot be accomplished by practice. [sanskrit text quoting Siva Samhita chapter 4, verses 8-11. MPM]

 

Through practice success is obtained; through practice one gains liberation.Perfect consciousness is gained through practice; Yoga is attained through practice;

success in mudras comes by practice. Through practice is gained success in pranayama. Death can be evaded of its prey through practice, and man becomes the conqueror of death by practice. And then let us gird up our loins, and with a firm resolution engage in the practice, having faith in [sanskrit text MPM] and the success must be ours. May the Almighty Father, be pleased to shower His blessings on those who thus engage in the performance of their duties. Om Sam.

 

 

AJMER: } PANCHAM SINH.

 

31st January, 1915. }

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11. A yogi desirous of success should keep the knowledge of Hatha Yoga secret; for it becomes potent by concealing, and impotent by exposing.

 

[Gauracandra 1]

I remember sitting in the doctors office sometime back, and flipping through their magazines. In the letters section, they had one person who complained about the coverage of the prior issue (I think it was Time or U.S. News can't remember which). Essentially the issue was about Yoga in America, featuring a supermodel on the cover doing a yoga pose. The letter said essentially "Why do you have some supermodel on the cover. You couldn't even find a single indian to demonstrate that pose? All you want yoga for is to come up with the perfect yoga butt."

 

I'm paraphrasing, but it was something like that. And that is really all it comes down to - "If I take these classes will I get a perfect Yoga butt."

 

Yoga in and of itself can't be vain, its the people who are vain or not vain. But something about it seems to me to encourage vanity. If you go jogging, its difficult to be vain (while jogging). You are sweating, out of breath. Same goes for stationary bikes. Or swimming. The physicality of these practices seems not to encourage vanity (while performing them).

 

But Yoga, maybe because it is all slow, just seems really self-absorbed. And I guess if practiced truly you are supposed to be connecting with your true self. But it just seems to end up being narcicistic. I'm probably wrong, but thats my impression.

[theist 1]

I took some classes many moons ago. One thing is that it was a full studio with the only requirement being able to pay the monthly fee. Nothing truly esoteric was taught perhaps for fear of alienating the students and losing their monthly fees. The whole art of accepting a teacher and being accepted by that teacher is thrown out. Got the $ you are in. It's the American way so true depth will be rare.

 

Also the room was filled with scantly clad females and concentration was impossible except on them and their"yoga butts".(certain asanas were better than others)

 

In the HYP it says yoga is to be done three times a day, and there are so many other conditions. No one is going to consistently practice by themselves 3 times a day. Why? No other yoga butts in the room to gaze upon.

 

Still there may be some good found there but far from the original intent.

[Gauracandra 1]

It was in Time magazine in the Letters section:

 

 

"You should have included at least one picture of an Indian yogi instead of scantily clad women doing yoga just to get a yoga butt."

 

 

ANIL KUMARBR

Stillwater, Okla

 

 

[theist 1]

a few years back I remember someone was promoting aerobic yoga. Really face paced so you heart muscle would get a good workout.

 

In the West we just can't seem to leave anything alone. Here we get a hold of this tradition thousands of years old and immediately start messing with it, molding it and trying to exploit it for finacial gain.

 

Lord please have mercy on us.

[Mxyzptlk 0]

Next thing you know, they will have a new exercise machine on those late night infomercials designed specifically for yoga. No need for yoga classes, no need for strenuous stretching exercises on the floor. Now use our new machine, which is custom-designed to accomodate all the asanas for all shapes and sizes.

 

And you can even watch TV while you're practicing yoga! And when you're finished, just fold up the machine and slide it neatly underneath your sofa.

 

It's the next big thing. Well, at least the biggest since the hula-hoop.

 

Now we just need a supermodel to promote it. Christie Brinkley is already taken, she's hawking that fitness gym with Chuck Norris.

[livingentity 0]

get Patrick Swayze to sell it!! He has a yoga butt!!

[theist 1]

How do you know? /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[livingentity 0]

umm...just a guess. Yeh, that't it ... just a guess. I mean, he is a dancer...