Tapasah - Austerities YS II - 43

Yoga Sutra II- 43- KAYEDRIYA SIDDHIR ASUDDHI KSAYAT TAPASAH - By austerity, impurities of body and senses are destroyed and occult powers are gained.

Tapasya (tápasya) in Sanskrit means "heat". In Vedic religion and Hinduism, it is used figuratively, denoting spiritual suffering, mortification or austerity, and also the spiritual ecstasy of a yogin or tāpasá (a Vrddhi derivative meaning "a practitioner of austerities, an ascetic").

Swami Satchidananda says "The direct meaning of tapas is "to burn," as was discussed in the first Sutra of this portion." Examples of tapas are given :

• physical tapas or fasting - burns away excess fat with toxins that have accumulated in the body.


• mental tapas - burning all old impressions


• verbal tapas - observing silence to control speech

He says when we burn, pain and heat are felt and we undergo suffering. "So, tapas also means to accept suffering. If someone suffers, he or she is blessed, because by that suffering some impurities are purged out." Swami Satchidananda says that we should never run from pain and how our lives are filled with hundreds of opportunities for tapas. Washing a piece of cloth is given as an example of going through tapasya to become pure. "The mind must be washed, squeezed, tossed, dried and ironed" like the cloth. We are informed that people who cause us pain are actually helping to purify us. If we still get upset from insults, our mind is not yet strong.

"Adapt, adjust, accommodate. Bear insult. Bear injury. That is the highest sadhana (spiritual practice)." was what Swami Satchidananda's Master told him. It is easy sadhana to go in a corner and say a mantra, however, to keep a serene mind when insulted is higher than saying a thousand rosaries of japa. "That is tapasya. The power to control the body and senses comes by tapasya."

"The practice of self-discipline refines our sense-perceptions and even our physical substance until we become aware of latent psychic powers, such as the power of clairvoyance, telepathy, levitation, etc. " - "How to Know God - The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali" translated and commented on by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood

See related posts:

• Niyama - The Observances - YS II - 32
• The Eight Limbs of Yoga - YS II - 28, 29
• Mantra

Practice Concentration YS I - 32

In order to meditate one has to first be able to have sustained dharana or concentration. Dharana is the Sanskrit word for concentration. Look at the picture of this post. The man is sitting in a meditative posture with many pictures around his head. This is a great illustration of how it is when we attempt to sit and still the mind. The pictures are representative of the many thoughts, distractions which become obstacles. Thus many of us give up attempting to meditate.

Yoga Sutras I-32 TAT PRATISEDHARTHAM EKA TATTVABHYASAH - The practice of concentration on a single subject [or the use of technique] is the best way to prevent the obstacles and their accompaniments.

This sutra is telling us in order to prevent the obstacles/distractions we need to develop one pointedness . Swami Satchidananda states that we should not keep changing our object of concentration. It's like if one digging for a well, instead of digging many shallow ones, decide to stick to one and dig deep. If you have to use dynamite when encountering a rock, do it and continue to keep going down. So with the goal to make the mind steady, it does not matter what technique or object you use. It is not the symbol we use, like our ideas, objects or mantrams but the holding on to the symbol to take us to the goal. 'There are different strokes for different folks' thus different symbols for different people. Swami Satchidananda concludes with saying we want this one-pointed concentration to make the mind clear so we can transcend it.

Obstacles

Obstacles- can be defined as One that opposes, stands in the way of, or holds up progress;An obstruction, barrier, blockage, hindrance. We are all familiar with the experience of having obstacles in our lives in different situations. If we look at the Yoga Sutra, we can learn and gain more insight on obstacles.

Yoga SutraI-29 - TATAH PRATYAK CETANADHIGAMO-'PYANTARAYABHAVAS CA - From this practice all the obstacles disappear and simultaneously dawns knowledge of the inner Self. Here Swami Satchidananda comments that "You get in tune with the cosmic power." The tuning is in reference to japa , the repetition of the mantra OM that connects us with the infinite within us. See the previous post on sutra I-28 regarding reflection on the meaning.

So if you have read the previous posts on the mantra, on OM you might have gained some insight that this practice can plug you into your inner power. Swami Satchidananda says that the mind and body limit us. However, if we hold something infinite(like the mantra OM) we can raise ourselves from the finite objects (obstacles) that bind us and transcend them. With this method we can get rid of all the obstacles freeing our pathway.

Stayed tuned to the different kinds of obstacles.

Reflection upon Meaning YS I - 28

In the previous post I mentioned mantra and japa. I will now link that with the Yoga Sutras (YS) I-28 -TAJJAPAS TADARTHA BHAVANAM- To repeat it with reflection upon its meaning is an aid.

Swami Satchidananda's comment is that in this sutra the practice of Japa is addressed. He states that it is a very powerful technique which is also the easiest, simplest and the best. He also says that most religion has some repetition of God's name. In the Hindu system a mantram or mystic word is given to the student to repeat. "The meaning of mantram is 'that which keeps the mind steady and produces the proper effect'. Its repetition is called japa."

It is easiest because it is portable. One does not have to go some place or do it at a particular time. The constant repetition or japa links the mind to God through the mantram while doing worldly pursuits. The meaning is not necessary in the beginning of the practice. When it becomes a firm habit, then you can wonder what you are repeating. Just like as you think, so you become, knowingly or unknowingly the qualities will come to you from the thing named. Swami Satchinanda mentions the mantra OM, which is the basis for all mantras. Further elaborated is how we can see the power of words in modern day advertisements. So with a pure mind, with japa you repeat the word and later feel the meaning.

Swami Muktananda says it is very important that the mantra is repeated with the goal of the mantra as one's own Self. Abusive words affects us immediately because we identify with the word. With the mantra japa we should identify with the object (God) . The mind will gradually merge into the mantra and become one with the Self.

Mantra

In the previous posts of Pantanjali's Yoga Sutras , practice is mentioned as a way to bring the vrittis (modifications of the mind - thoughts) under control. That practice is with continous effort ( see that post). In "Mystery of the Mind" by Swami Muktananda he states one of the greatest practices, among many, is mantra repetition. The Wikipedia states "A mantra (Devanāgarī मन्त्र) (or mantram) is a religious or mystical syllable or poem, typically from the Sanskrit language. Their use varies according to the school and philosophy associated with the mantra. They are primarily used as spiritual conduits, words or vibrations that instill one-pointed concentration in the devotee."

And Mantra Japa means repetition of mantra. Japa (Sanskrit: जप) is a spiritual discipline involving the meditative repetition of a mantra or name of God. The mantra or name may be spoken softly, enough for the practitioner to hear it, or it may be spoken purely within the reciter's mind. Japa may be performed while sitting in a meditation posture, while performing other activities, or as part of formal worship in group settings. The practice of repetitive prayer is present in varied forms within most religions in the world, although the religions of India generally give more emphasis to it as a specific discipline.

Swami Muktananda states "A mantra is a cosmic word or sound vibration. In fact, mantra is a vibration of the Self." Words are mantras that connects us with objects. In the same way, the mantra, which is the name of God, connects us to God.

Listen to the mantra Om. Does it make you feel one-pointed?

Staying Positive - YS II - 33

The statement 'Staying Positive' is easier said than done. Being aware of the news forecasts everyday telling us that people are losing their jobs and houses, rents are going up, the stock market is going up and down, morality declining. If one studies yogic terms in relation to the times we are living in, it is referred to as Kali Yuga. The energy of all these events affects us.

So this is where I talk about the use and the study of yoga. In book 2 of the Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali, line 33 it is stated'Vitarka Badhane Pratipaksha Bhavanam'. The translation is When disturbed by negative thoughts, opposite(positive) ones should be thought of. In the commentary section by Swami Satchidananda on this text, he states that "Pantanjali gives us a very nice clue on how to control the mind and obstruct thoughts we don't want. The best way , he says, is to invite opposite thoughts." Satchidananda goes on to illustrate situations ie. in a marriage; reading something inspiring, meeting a special person, or simply leaving the environment!
He also talks about thinking about the "after-effect" if one continues to let the negative thought or action continue, such as how the anger or negativity will affect you as well as others. I remember being impressed learning this sutra.

This made me think of when my children were smaller and one day we were walking in the street. I had one child in the stroller and the other walking with me. As we continued down the block, we were approaching a couple in a very loud argument with on-lookers present. I remember feeling very agitated as we got nearer and it was not convenient to cross the street. I then started to silently repeat my mantra (chanting, prayer) as I passed these people. It was after I had gotten further down the street that I realized how that focus, that shift of thought had somehow shielded me from the negativity I had just navigated through to pass them. It was amazing! I never forgot that experience. So of course the practice of pratipaksha bhavana - replacing negative thoughts with positive ones has become one of my tools that I carry.

So just take a deep breath which will help you to start observing quickly which way you can change your situation and stay positive.