What do you think about fate?

A question posed by my wife to me. I gave her an answer that she seemed to like. Sharing it here :)

There is a famous sanskrit phrase - 'Tamasoma Jyotirgamya'. For most people, the meaning of this phrase is the standard translation 'lead me from darkness to light'. But this is just the translation from sanskrit to english. To know the meaning means to have experienced the process being referred to.

Take for example any characteristic we have, or any attitude towards important life dimensions - ones attitude towards money or ones outlook towards class/caste/religion etc or ones feelings with respect to career / social status / marriage / love / politics etc. Most often than not, our views / outlook is not something that has been arrived at by carefully observing all the relevant factors. Even for those who claim to do so (like many modern day liberals), there could be many subconscious biases that guide the decision making process. In most scenarios, the individuals outlook is there due to the flow of (seemingly) arbitrary events in nature - our birth in the family and society (macro and micro) where we were born, the time in human civilisation, our experiences since birth etc. This flow of prakruthi (nature) has produced certain characteristics / tendencies in the world as a whole and also in us. The right word for this tendency to maintain status quo is 'inertia'. The sanskrit word 'tamas' alludes to this.

For example, for some of the students I teach Yoga to, I tell them that Ill not quote a fees. They are free to pay or not to pay and if they pay, they are free to choose an amount. This puts them in some amount of difficulty - much like the one they experience when I ask them to stay for a while in prasarita pada uttanasana! They are similar in the sense that initially both are quite uncomfortable but slowly they both help to throw light on things (stiff back / hamstrings in one case and relationship with money in the other) that exist but one does not know. in addition, both these explorations can be beneficial (at least in my opinion) :)

This disturbs the students and usually makes them sit up and take notice about the unusual situation they find themselves in. That they are disturbed is natural as they will (correctly) be worried if there are other strings attached. But, I do not do this to trouble them but to set up the space such that they come in touch with their relationship with money. We will happily blow 300 rupees on some stupid movie but will fight for a single rupee with a share auto driver. This is not necessarily wrong but I am pointing at our relationship with money (which not many of us are aware of) from which this behaviour stems. 

The various reactions I encounter are worth looking at. Some keep on negotiating and throw the ball back at me, some just choose an amount and settle down with it, some pay in excess to play it safe, some choose an amount but are constantly worried if it is appropriate and finally some sternly ask me to be professional and quote a price. None of these is wrong and I am NOT trying here to make any judgements here. This is just an attempt at exploring the various reactions which in turn stem from various characteristics of the individuals in question and in particular their relationship with money. The interesting question here is that how many of them are aware of their characteristics and their relationship with money that bring about this behaviour. In my opinion, not many. A few of them for whom this rankling is there, talk to me about this at some point. Then, there is a chance for further exploration. That would then be an attempt at experientially exploring the above wise saying from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.

But, one need not let this tamas completely dominate ones life. One can actually be free from this tamas at least in some dimensions of ones life. To do so, one has to carefully observe all relevant factors (external and internal). Then one is not programmed into exhibiting the default behaviour. This default behaviour (interaction of our tendencies with that of the worlds') is what is usually referred to as fate. Observing it and getting in touch with it is metaphorically referred to as throwing light on it (as one becomes conscious of their existence which one was not earlier). This throwing light on many of our default characteristics leads to lot of self discovery. If one experiments with this in ones life and ensures that one is free of all default behaviour in at least one dimension of ones life, then, in my opinion, that individual can be said to have had a taste of the above mentioned sanskrit aphorism.

But, to do this takes a bit of effort. One must be willing to let go of old patterns of behaviour and change one selves. Any such attempt is equivalent to breaking ones built up sense of self and this inevitably leads to some amount of pain. Young kids experience this often but since they are quite flexible they learn fast. As we grow old, we cannot ape the kids as we also need to be strong and not let the worlds thinking capture us all the time. So, the need is to simultaneously be strong and flexible. This is also one of the aims of asana practice - to make the spine strong and flexible. I remember once playing with a discarded bee hive in a farm. It was extremely strong and flexible. If we build up enough desire to develop such an ability in us, then we will be able to develop the right kind of discrimination that will help us identify appropriate pains and endure them in order to develop desirable qualities and overcome the relentless flow of tamas. This then takes us away (at least to some extent) from the default behaviour or fate! If not, one shall surely be consumed by the incredible flow of prakruthi!

உன்னிலும் மேலே

உன்னிலும் மேலே உள்ளவர் கோடி
நினைத்து பார்த்து யோகம் தேடு!

ஓங்கி உலகளந்த உத்தம்மன்

ஓங்கி உலகளந்த உத்தம்மன் பேர் பாடி
நாங்கள் நாம் மனதில் அவனை பாவித்தால்
தீங்கின்றி நம்மில் முக்குணம் சமநிலை அடைய
நீங்காத பிராணன் நிறைந்தேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்!

பிரகிருதியின் பயணம்

பிரகிருதியின் பயணம் பற்றறற்றது பார்வையும்
பாதிப்பும் பிறவிவேர் பொருத்து

முப்பதாண்டு பிரமசரியம்

துக்கம் உணர்த்தும் கல்விக்கு ஈடாகாது
முப்ப தாண்டு பிரமசரியம்

சரண துக்கம்

புத்தம் சரணம் துக்கம்
தர்மம் சரணம் துக்கம்
சங்கம் சரணம் துக்கம்

சரணம் தேடா மனம்
இருக்கும் நிலை மௌனம்
புத்தம் தர்மம் சங்கம்
பிறக்கும் இடம் மௌனம்

அனாதி மிருகம்

தரி கெட்டு திரியும் அனாதி மிருகமொன்று
நெறி மறந்து நடக்கும் அநாதை இன்று
ஹரி பாதம் சேர்ந்தால் மோட்சமென கூறுவோருண்டு
சரிதான் என நகைத்ததாம் அவரையும் உண்டு

உன் சுயம்

சாரதியின் சொல் கேட்டது போதும்
பார்த்தா இனி உன் சுயத்திலேயே நில்
கிடைத்ததா யோகத்தின் பலன் முழுவதும்
உன்னொளி உன்னை வழி நடத்தவில்லைஎனில்

முதுமை-இளமை

முதுமைக்கழகு வைராக்கியம் இளமைக்கு அடக்கம்
அஹம்பாவம் இருவர்க்கும் அவலட்சணம்

மனையாளிட்ட தீ

மனையாளிட்ட தீ ஔபாசனத்தினிலே அதன்
உரையாடலோ ஆழ்மனத் தழலுடன்

மோனத்திருந்த ஒருநாள்

மோனத்திருந்ததோ ஒருநாள் மனம் அலர்வதோ
திங்களை பாம்பு கொண்டற்று

Auto and bus

Same destination
But on opposing routes
Auto and bus not taken

Divinity through order and rhythm

In space through architecture,
In form through sculpture,
In body through dance,
In word through poetry,
In sound through music,
In thought through mathematics,
When man (human) discovers order and rhythm,
He touches the Divine within himself.

-- Traditional Aphorism

Both fingers point to the moon

प्रक्र्तेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः
अहंकारविमूदात्मा कर्ताहमिति मन्यते 
The interplay of guna's produce all the form one experiences. But, the ignorant person thinks (s)he is the doer. - Gita (3.27)


நெல்லுக்கு இறைத்த நீர் வாய்கால் வழியோடி புல்லுக்கும் ஆங்கே பொசியுமாம்
Water sent on the canal while intended for the crops, also nourishes the grass along the way - Auvaiyar in Moodurai

வைராக்கியம்

ஈசலுக்கு மெழுகு ஆவதுபோல் வைராக்கியம்
உணரா மனிதருக்கு அழுக்காறு

யோகமிருக்க பொறியியல்

யோகமிருக்க பொறியியல் பயில்வது சாத்விக
பழமிருக்க விரைவுணா கவர்ந்தற்று

அஞான முடிச்சு

அறிந்தோரின் அறிவுரையை அனுபவத்தால் ஆராய்ந்தால்
அவிழாதோ அஞான முடிச்சு

வீடு தேடல்

அறம் பொருள் இன்பம் தேடாதார்
வீட்டை தேடுகிறார் அந்தோ

SP Road

A note of stuff I saw on Sardar Patel road in Chennai over the last one week!

Pleasant SP road
With death around the corner
Angry chicken stares 


Clogged SP road
Corpses now humans once
Road safety please 


Clogged SP road
Merry butterflies kissing
Dog dribbling past

ஒளியின் திருநாள்

ஒளியின் திருநாளன்று
துளியாவது முயன்று
வெளியொலி குறைத்து
உள்ளொளி கூட்டுவோமாக

Conflict

Touch gizmo shines
Young left out India looks, longs
Guilt, misery abounds

Broken Pail

Thus broke the pail
Causing a lot of wail
No more water in the pail
No more moon in the water

வைராக்கியம்

வைராக்கியம் அமைதி தரும் அதின்மை
வாழ்வை மெகாசீரியல் ஆக்கிவிடும்

உபுண்டு

கொடிது கொடிது உபுண்டு இல்லா கணினி
அதனினும் கொடிது உபுண்டு உணரா மனிதா நீ!

செவி - நாவு

செவிக்கு அறவே வேலை இல்லையெனில்
அளவாய் நாவு உழலட்டுமே

Orange butterfly

Blissfully unaware
Midst of an intense debate
Orange butterfly

நடந்தது என்ன?

நடக்காத ஒருவரைக் கண்டு
நடக்கும் பலர் இன்று
நடந்து நடந்து அழுவது
நடந்ததை கண்டு அதிர்ந்தா
நடக்க இருப்பதை எண்ணி பயந்தா?

Yoga practice and crows!

Crows near my house are not happy with me practising yoga late morning. This means pooja is delayed and that implies that food for them (provided after pooja) is also delayed. They poke their nose through the kitchen window and crow loud to complain to my mom about the delay. Little things matter a lot. So it seems!

அவனில் மூழ்க வழி

அவனில் மூழ்க முயற்சியும் அருளும்
செர்வதின்றி வழியேதும் இல்!

உண்டி கொடுப்பவர்

அறமும் யோகமும் வேண்டி வாழ்பவர்
இனத்திற்கே உண்டி கொடுப்பவர்!

What is Ekagrata?

Translating words from Sanskrit into English is a tricky business. The depth (in terms of inner evolution) of the translator affects the translation. For example, consider the word love. How do we provide meaning to this word?

When we see one of our favourite songs being played on radio, we exclaim 'Oh I love that song'. This has a certain meaning. Then, there are other meanings to the same word. When in a deeply intimate moment with a loved one, we exclaim 'I love you'. The meaning of the word love in this usage is completely different. It obviously has a much deeper connotation.

Sanskrit words, especially the ones used in the context of Yoga and inner evolution, have varied meanings with different depths. If one enquires into it relentlessly, the meanings will be revealed.

Ekagrata is usually translated as 'concentration'. This is not wrong but in my opinion it is one of the grosser meaning and not the deepest meaning possible. Usually, the example of Arjuna (the historical / mythical archer), who was able to effortlessly focus on the eye of the bird which he was to shoot at, as a sparkling example of Ekagrata. This is a wonderful ability to have. It helps one frequently get into the state of flow. This will help one stay ahead of the curve and succeed in most of the mundane aspects of life.

But, in my opinion, there are deeper meanings. The example of Bhagiratha is a case in point. He wanted to accomplish something deeply socially meaningful. Tremendous amount of effort had to be put in towards his chosen goal over many decades. In today's context, imagine trying to convince all of India (farmers / consumers / leaders) to accept organic farming. There will be many difficulties (some genuine / some born out of greed / some born out of ignorance etc). Besides that there would be many difficulties that one invites due to one's own yet to be cleared sub-conscious. Imagine the kind of effort that will one have to put in to accomplish this. This will require one to sublimate all of ones available energies into this single chosen goal. That, to me, is a much deeper meaning for ekagrata than concentration. Concentration is not to be denigrated. It becomes a necessity for the manifestation of this deeper quality. 

This deep quality called ekagrata is a life vision for oneself. This should not be confused with ambition. Ambition is motivated by the ego. This indicates a sub-conscious that is yet to be cleared (not suppressed) of lower desires like need for fame / social status etc. The vision is one that is manifested after clearing of all the sub conscious. One has to go beyond petty desires like career and seeking of various pleasures. The great thing is that to cultivate ekagrata one does not need a clear sub-conscious straight away. If one wants ekagrata seriously, one will slowly work on cleaning oneself up. This process is Yoga and will lead to the flowering of the higher qualities in the individual.

Such a vision will clearly be the biggest and greatest contribution that the individual in question can offer to the world. When one is channelling all of ones life energies towards that vision one can be said to be in a state of Ekagrata.

நெருஞ்சி முள்

அறமும் வீடும் காமம் கடக்கா
கயவர்க்கு நெருஞ்சி முள்!

குறையொன்றுமில்லை

வயிற்றிற்கு உணவாய் சுண்டல் தாயிடமிருந்து வந்த சமயம்
செவிக்கு உணவாய் அற்புத கானம் மனையாள் அளித்தாள்
பசி அனைத்தும் தீர்ந்து மெய்மறந்து இருக்கும் எனக்கு
குறையொன்றுமில்லை குறையொன்றுமில்லை நிறைமூர்த்தி கண்ணா!

Yuddham thyajatha , Spardhaam thyajatha

Maithreem Bhajata - A beautiful song written by the great saint Sri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati. There are many wonderful renditions of this song - this one by T.M.Krishna is a lovely one

The lyrics clearly indicate this great saints advice to humanity. The title of this note (Yuddham thyajatha , Spardhaam thyajatha) is from the song. It literally translates as

Please forsake war for ever,
Please forsake competition for ever!

The great man requests humanity to forsake competition in the same breath where he asks us to forsake war. I feel, he clearly makes a connection between the two. While the exact nature of the connection may not be obvious, I feel, he may have considered competition to be the seed of war.

When such is the case, should we not pause to look at all the places where competition is cultivated in our lives and then consider deeply if its presence is needed? What do our schools and other educational institutions inculcate in the impressionable minds of our young ones? What spirit do the companies we work for embody? What spirit do they cultivate in their employees? One single truth that permeates all these institutions is competition. What does a country whose economy is based on GDP cultivate in its citizens?

Either we ourselves must be able to see this and act. If not, we must pay serious heed to great saints like him. If not, disaster awaits!

பழம் உண்டின்

இரவில் விரும்பி பழம் உண்டின்
கபம் நீங்கிய சுவாசம் ஓடும்
மலம் நீங்கிய அபானா வளையும்
அகம் காட்டும் மதி கிட்டுமாமே!

அவரிடம் கேட்டேன் வைராகியம்

அவரிடம் கேட்டேன் அவரின் வைராகியம்
அவரிடம் கிடைத்தது அழகிய புன்னகை
அவரிடம் விழித்தேன் விடை புரியாமல்
பெற்றுக்கொள் முடிந்தால் என்றவரே நகைத்தார்!

Evolution

One of the greatest intellectual discoveries of mankind is the discovery of evolution by natural selection by Darwin. I have enjoyed countless stories connected to Evolution provided by Richard Dawkins in books such as 'The Blind Watchmaker', 'Ancestors Tale' etc. This is one angle in which evolution can be studied. This is the perspective of the evolution of form where fishes evolved into land creatures which over a period of time evolved into small mammals to primates and currently into humans.

Ancient India, in particular, the philosophical system of Samkhya too studied evolution. It studied evolution from a different perspective. It is the perspective of the evolution of the function living beings perform at an abstract level. Unfortunately, unlike evolution at the level of form, this cannot be understood just by the intellect. One has to consciously identify the various levels of oneself, develop all of them and then look at ones function in life after that. Any attempt before that will be biased by improperly developed parts of the individual. For example, if one is faced with lot of failures in life, lot of cynicism will be present in that individual. Such people will usually reject the idea of any possible function for life forms.

But, it is not impossible. When does identify all such parts of oneself and cleanses them, the following functions are commonly seen:

1. Gnanam - Understanding the nature of oneself / various components of oneself and the nature of the society at large.
2. Dharmam - Understanding the intricate complexities of life and figuring out a way of life were there is tremendous alignment of the various components of the individual and through that one produces compassionate and meaningful response to the world.
3. Aiswaryam - Control (lordship) over various parts of life and connected property.
4. Vairagyam - Dispassion from events that happen to the individual and in the world

Different people evolve to different extent on all of these four lines. For example, someone like Ramana Maharishi had achieved unimaginable levels in Vairagyam and Gnanam at the individual level but may not have accomplished so much on Dharmam or Gnanam at the level of the world. But, someone like Gandhi may have gone further on the dimension of Dharmam but not so much on Vairagyam.

Conscious cultivation of these characteristics is Yoga. Rarest of rare is the individual who has developed so much on all these lines that all actions of them are spontaneous and without conflict and achieve the highest in all these four dimensions. The mythical / historical example of Ram (Maryada Purushottam) seems to be the individual who accomplished all four!

The following is a rough map for evolving in this direction

To understand all or this, first of all life's relentless existential pressures need to give way. Without this, the mind will not develop any interest in these things for it is caught up purely with survival / procreation etc. Being free of these pressures is easy for sannyasis who with great fervour hold on to tremendous vairagyam (genuine dispassion towards one's and one's families well being) and hence directly bypass all such pressures. But, sannyasa is possible for only rare individuals. For the rest, dealing with life's existential pressures skilfully becomes most important. This is the first step - 'staying ahead of the curve' to ensure ones health, close relationships and finances are in place to give one the necessary freedom from life's existential pressures. It is very difficult to find out exactly what is enough on any of these dimensions without a clear reference point. Normally most individuals do not even cross this level. Even those who claim to be trying to, do not have clear reference points.

This reference point is usually obtained by those who have the courage to enter the second step. In this, one is motivated by a deep global vision for oneself in the context of the world that one finds oneself in. Today, there are serious problems in the world in many dimensions (poverty / violence / biosphere degradation / corrupted leaders / severe cruelty towards other beings etc). If one is motivated from within to position ones life as a response to all of this, then that provides all the necessary energy for Yoga. This also assists tremendously in identifying the various thresholds in the previous step. Now, this vision is not a borrowed vision. It is ones own personal vision but in the context of producing a dharmic response to the world. Working to produce a dharmic response to the world provides a lot of energy to the individual. Working on a personal program also provides a different quality of energy to that individual. But, when these two combine, a tremendous unceasing wellspring of energy is discovered within and this will be the booster that will help the individual get over all the challenges along the way.

To accomplish that vision, one has to develop various components of oneself. This is the conquest of the characteristics of the five elements on us. The ability to take up a task and relentlessly go after this is a great asset to have and this comes from developing tremendous discipline (conquest of earth). All of this will work only when one is utterly sincere to the task (conquest of water). The vision that provides the energy for all of this is conquest of fire. Life is not always a straight easy path. There are lots of random challenges from life. One has to find creative solutions to these things. Developing this is conquest of air. Finally all things do not happen as per plan and hence maintenance of equanimity is a tremendous challenge. Developing this is conquest of space.

Very few individuals come up to this second level. Most are stuck in the first level purely due to ignorance. They are caught up with ideas such as wealth / fame / career etc. If one does not understand the subtler aspects of evolution and flow with it, then one is necessarily flowing against it. This will cause resistance and will lead to suffering. That suffering is the indicator that things are not moving in the right direction. But, those who can see this, will try to skilfully deal with local concerns (health / finances etc) and try to quickly move on to the following steps.

Individuals who accomplish step 2, start experiencing life in subtler terms. Subtler realities combine to produce grosser manifestations. These subtler realities are referred to as the three gunas - the three basic characteristics of all of matter which combine in various ratios to produce the various forms. These gunas are rajas (action), tamas (stability) and sattva (clarity). As one develops on the path of Yoga, one starts to see all of form in terms of these three characteristics. For example, one does not experience anger but experiences rajas. This is not just a change in terminology. Since this is a subtler reality, the individual now gains tremendous control on grosser realities as there are subtler intervention points. Normally, when there is anger, the flight or fight syndrome is the only method to deal with it. But, when this has resolved into rajas for the individual, pranayama can be used to deal with it.

Finally, the characteristics developed in stage 2 are applied on the three gunas in stage 3. As one applies discipline and sincerity to tamas, one develops tremendous control on the various facets of life one is involved in. This leads to lordship or Aiswaryam. When vision and creativity are applied to the rajas component in us, all of aggression is converted to action. Energy that is scattered all over the place is directed into specific direction and with the specific purpose of producing a compassionate response to the world. Naturally this cleansed energy will lead to the development of Dharmam.

When this develops, tremendous understanding of oneself and the world develops leading to Gnanam. Increased equanimity now leads to dispassion from all events around leading to development of Vairagyam. This is not a linear development but all four characteristics develop simultaneously.

At the highest level, one develops all these characteristics to such tremendous levels that all these appear perfectly spontaneous to the rest of humanity. This ultimate state is called Kaivalyam.

This is the evolution of the function of form. Developing in this way appears to be the ultimate goal of human life as this is the subtlest process behind all other processes. Since these functions are seen in all life forms and only humans appear to be able to manifest all four to very high levels, the human form evolved via Yoga seems to be the highest manifestation (so far) of all of form.

When a society encourages such an evolution in most of its citizens, the society is destined for tremendous health and greatness!!

Butterflies

The number and variety of butterflies in an ecology is an indicator of its health. Likewise, the freedom feminine characteristics enjoy in a society (individual / family / community / state) is an indicator of its health.

பழக்க படுத்தி கொல்லாதே பார்த்தா

காலை எழுந்தவுடன் யோகசாலை
பின்பு பகல் முழுவதும் நெருக்கடி வேலை
இரவு வீடு திரும்பியதும் அன்பு தொல்லை
என்று பழக்க படுத்தி கொல்லாதே பார்த்தா!

யோக சுருக்கம்

மூன்றே சொற்களில் யோக சுருக்கம்: "முயற்சி திருவினை ஆக்கும்"!

Krishna ni begane baro

'All this is trivial', averred the master. He was referring to asana and pranayama. He continued, 'All this is for beginners. At the highest level one is in direct communion with the divine and completely lets that to operate.

This is a valid view held by many who are focussed on personal enlightenment. Personal enlightenment is of course one of the revered goals of Yoga. The underlying statement is that when that is accomplished, everything that happens through that being is the most perfect thing that can happen through them and absolutely nothing more can be done.

But, there are other views. As long as one is obsessed with ones views, either one will be obsessed with this view or its opposite. But, when one is more focussed on what is ones own dharma, views can be discarded. This dharma arises so deep within that it refuses to bend to lower desires of the being like wanting to be correct / be justified etc. At this point, the opposing view is considered deeply and is integrated with ones view.

One such (supposedly) opposing view is that every single effort done after deeply considering the state of the world and ones own place in it, is of tremendous value. Such efforts, little by little, raise the consciousness of humanity as a whole. Organic farming, afforestation, asana and pranayama are just a few in that list. One need not necessarily worry about personal enlightenment only. For, it is too far away for most and things that are far cannot be seen clearly. For most, it is just an idea in the head.

Evolution being such a complex process, needs effort from many countless little organisms to push it towards a desired direction. Only because countless organisms tried to fly, despite failing repeatedly and that too fatally for some, do we have birds today. Likewise, if we were to direct human evolution towards producing a society that is less caught up in conflict and violent self-destruction like the one we live in, countless humans have to push it towards the right direction. For this one has to look deeply within and extensively at the world to come up with an optimal response from oneself. When such forces work in synch, I am sure it is the real life equivalent of a chorus rendition of 'Krishna nee begane baro'. For only such a cumulative effort will result in the birth of humans that imbibe the high nature of krishna consciousness.

A sculpture of the mythical / historical Krishna at the Ramaswamy temple (Kumbakonam)

The masters themselves, I feel, did not magically appear. It is quite possible that the masters own ancestors (at least a significant in the immediate vicinity of the family tree) have practised yoga (in its deep sense) and / or implemented many of its applications (like asana / ayurveda / chanting / social responsibility etc). For without this, the master hirself, would not have acquired such a mastery over the lower self so as to take it and surrender the same at the feet of the higher.

Thus, may we all work towards contributing ones might in bringing Krishna consciousness here. There have been many on this path and their lives have produced varied results such as social change / art etc. But, one needs to be careful of falling into the trap of imitating the external actions of personal involved in this. That is why we have many superficially singing this song and imagining many things about bhakthi. One needs to be careful about this and has to come up with ones own unique response. When many such original responses synch up, that in my opinion, is the chorus rendition of 'Krishna nee begane baaro' or 'Krishna, may you descend into this world fast.'

Permanence

A night at a hospital each month, just as an attender, suffices to keep all illusions of permanence away.

Pride

There aren't too many other deceptions as subtle and powerful as pride for the accomplished mind.

When Dharma arises

When Dharma arises, where is my view? Where is your view?

Ram to Krishna

Yoga punch dialogue of the day: 'When Ram develops an ego, Krishna is born.'

Nest yoga session at IIT

Heard lines from the book 'Siddhartha' being read out under a huge banyan tree under dark thundering skies. My yoga demo that followed it though had to be shifted into a room as the skies started pouring! Next batch of yoga classes starting at IIT Madras from Sep 25.

சீரிய சிங்கம்

"மாரி மலை முழைஞ்சில் மன்னிக் கிடந்து உறங்கும்
சீரிய சிங்கம் அறிவுற்றுத் தீ விழித்தது!
வேரி மயிர் பொங்க எப்பாடும் பேர்ந்து உதறி
மூரி நிமிர்ந்து முழங்கிப் புறப்பட்டது!"
 
அதை கண்டு கேட்ட இவன் உள்ளத்தில்
பயம் கலந்த கிளர்சசி பொங்கி எழுந்தது!

தர்மம் ஞானம் ஐஷ்வர்யம் வைராகியம்

முயன்று சிறுகாலை நாம் விழித்து
கால் தூக்கி தலை கீழே நிறுத்தினால்
தமஸ நீங்கி மனதில் சத்வம் நிறைய
தெளிந்த பார்வை உலகில் செயல்படுமே!
மேற்கொண்டு யோகம் விடாமல் செய்திருந்தால்
ஆழ்ந்த மனம் ஒருநிலை பட்டிருக்க
பூதங்களை கடந்து த்ரிகுணம் உறவாட
தர்மம் ஞானம் ஐஷ்வர்யம் வைராகியம்
நீங்காத பிரக்ருதி அங்கே உருவாகுமே!

Stay ahead of the curve

In chapter 2 of Yoga sutras it is said,

हेयं दुःखमनागतम् ॥१६॥
heyaṁ duḥkham-anāgatam ||16||

Most translate it as 'Future sufferring can be avoided.'

A translation more apt for action would be

Stay ahead of the curve.

தர்ம வாழ்வும் ஆன்ம ஞானமும்

தர்ம வாழ்வும் ஆன்ம ஞானமும் பிறர் தர வாரா!

மீண்டும் யோகம்

கற்றது யோகம், தொலைவில் சொர்க்கம்
செய்வது போகம், வாழ்வில் மயக்கம்
பாதையில் மடக்கம், வளர்வது கலக்கம்
ஆதலால் துக்கம், விளைவு ரோகம்

சென்றேன் ரங்கம், கிடைத்தது இரக்கம்
தென்பட்டது அகம், நின்றது தர்க்கம்
குறைந்தது மோகம், கைவசம் ஊக்கம்
உருவானது சங்கம், உருவாகாது வஞ்சகம்

கருநிற மேகம், இனிமையான ஏகாங்கம்
அழகிய இலிங்கம், பார்வை உண்முகம்
வளர்ந்தது ஆக்கம், சாதனம் அத்தியான்மிகம்
செழிக்கும் புங்கம், மீண்டும் யோகம்!

Retirement at 40-45?

I have met people, who though financially successful in their jobs, want to retire by 40-45. In most cases I sensed some sort of burn out and frustration in the background leading to the conscious mind seeking, what it feels as, the best possible exit from the situation. In other words, retirement by 40-45.

Of course it is the individuals choice. But, I felt it was not, at least in most cases, a free choice - meaning not a choice born out of a clear understanding of oneself. In most of the cases, I was reminded of the following fabulously deep insight from the yoga sutra (chapter 2)

ब्रह्मचर्यप्रतिष्ठायां वीर्यलाभः
Brahmacaryapratiṣṭhāyāṁ vīryalābhaḥ

The above sutra basically means, if one is established in brahmacarya, one gains potency. Normally this is understood as, if one is careful about ones sexual behaviour, one gains energy to pursue other activities in life. This interpretation is of course true. Olympic level athletes are indeed regularly advised to stay away from sex for a certain time period before their performance. Nevertheless, this interpretation is at a very gross level. There are deeper meanings (as always, with the yoga sutra).

Brahmcaryam literally translates as 'moving towards the Brahman'. This is no simple task. This means different things for different people. Even for the same person, this will mean different at different stages of life / in different situations in life.

To understand what it could mean for one, one needs to look at ones life and ones vision for ones life. This is just the first step and most people do not even cross this. There is no concept of vision in most peoples life. The subtext in most persons lives is avoidance of pain and pursuit of pleasure. Of course, neither is this wrong nor are they against brahmacarya when done in appropriate quantities. To figure out what is appropriate, the vision becomes all important. Without a vision, these two activities becomes the sole motto of life. But, when there is a vision, all of life's challenges (pressure exerted by pain and pleasure on ones life) are dealt with in order to progress towards the vision. 

So, at some stage of life for some people, it might be important to choose a job purely for monetary considerations. But, that may not be appropriate all along. If it outlives its longevity, it will start causing trouble. This will become evident by the loss of enthusiasm for work and life. This indicates that one is going against brahmacarya.

I would wager that most of the people who have spoken to me about retirement at 40-45 belong to this category. One has chosen a profession purely for monetary purposes (though superficially one may claim one is interested in the technical aspects of the job). It may even be for other purposes. But those purposes have outlived their normal life span. But, the individual is still stuck with it and the prana has become stale leading to dullness and lethargy.

When one recognises this, then one starts to question the lack of vision in ones life. The easiest way to figure this out to ponder about the value ones life is adding to the world. A deep vision emerges both gradually and as quantum leaps. Slowly one becomes dissatisfied with every aspect of ones life that is not in line with the vision. This fire of dissatisfaction engulfs one and eventually all of ones life is aligned with some higher goal. This process itself gives the energy needed to take the next step in the process. This is brahmacaryam. Continuous refinement of oneself and moving towards higher and nobler aspects of life.

A person on this path clearly sees that there are a zillion tasks of high importance to be done in this world and the world needs highly motivated people with deep vision. The individual on the path of brahmacaryam naturally and willingly take up those tasks that are appropriate for the individual to deal with. There will be no slacking of energy as one can get all the energy needed in the wellspring of energy within. One may switch professions etc but there would be no retirement motivated by lack of enthusiasm. Thus, any time one feels lethargic and dull about of life, it might be useful to see which parts of ones life are not in alignment with brahmacaryam. That's were work is needed to fix the dullness!

Quotes from the book 'Energize your Heart'

Some really lovely quotes on the dimensions of the heart.

Extend the heart forward
---------------------------------
There is a thread that runs through all the events of your life, like the cord that strings the beads in a necklace. Looking back over your life, can you see a consistent interest in some subject, kind of activity, type of person, or aspiration? This is a clue to the purpose of your life. Your purposewas engraved into your heart before conception, that you might eventually discover it there and make it your conscious wish.

Your heart’s wish begins like a delicate plant -- it needs care and frequent watering. As it matures, it gets hardier, but it still needs a little fence around it for protection. Later it becomes like a tree that can stand up even to powerful winds. It sends out branches that create a micro ecosystem on which other plants, animals, birds and insects depend. Eventually it becomes a forest. The heart’s wish has become your whole life. 


Height of the heart
-------------------------
The development of the conscience is not a rational process; it’s a result of the development of height in the heart. Everyone has a conscience: there is sportsmanship among hunters; there are things that soldiers in battle won’t do; there is some honor even among thieves. Yet there are those who, because of conscience, would not hunt, do battle, or steal. The degree to which the conscience is developed is an indication of the height of the heart. A highly developed conscience places more restraints on a person, as appropriate for an idealistic person. If the heart is not elevated, then one’s conscience is easier to live with. 


Depth of the heart
------------------------
The depth of your heart is its most precious and vulnerable place. It is here, at the Solar Plexus, just below the ribcage, that the heart feels the greatest and most transpersonal emotions: unconditional love, inconsolable sorrow, unspeakable bliss, unending communion with all life. In short, the symphony of cosmic emotions that J.S. Bach expressed in the Mass in B Minor is here in the depth of your heart all the time. Occasionally something happens to create an access point to one of these great emotions and it rises toward the surface of the heart where it becomes more conscious.

When your heart is energized, the world becomes a much more beautiful place, and the tragedies of life become even more tragic. It’s like watching a full-color movie when you’re used to black and white -- everything seems more real than it did before. Without an energized heart, you couldn’t stand it -- you’d have to turn down reality by fleeing into your mind, which filters out anything it can’t understand. With your heart open and strong, you see beauty and tragedy, both, right in front of you and at distances previously inconceivable. 


Width of the heart
------------------------
The path of the heart is not the path of freedom; it is the path of responsibility. There are many who depend upon you: some for a smile, a greeting, an insight. Some need you to pull your weight, others need you to pull them. You provide energy, leadership, security, and love to some, and receive the same from others. Your heart is part of a network of hearts that circulates the energy of love through humanity, and you are a vital link in that network. Whatever you can contribute to others will circulate and return to you augmented. 


Inner dimension
---------------------
The inner dimension of your heart is your treasure of heart energy, ready to be drawn upon to respond to change or to be drawn out into one of the other dimensions. This inner wealth can be built up and spent down, like a bank account. However, unlike a bank account, you have to pay interest on that heart energy that you’ve saved up and haven’t used. The heart is not a perfect container -- every heart has been wounded in life and its wounds have caused holes, like ulcers, that leak its stored energy. As long as the heart is being recharged, these leaks are not noticeable, but if the inspiration into the heart is stopped or slowed significantly, then the level of energy in the heart drops. If it drops enough, one slips from optimism into pessimism.

Optimism is the natural condition of a full heart but if the heart is emptied, optimism cannot be sustained. Everyone would like to be optimistic, but it can’t be done by will; it requires energy. Your emotional heart may also have developed deadened parts, like scar tissue in a physical heart, where the feeling is lost. These areas are hard.

அதனைக் கண்டேன்

அதனைக் கண்டேன் அதனின் அருளால்
அதனைக் கண்டேன் யோகத்தின் விளைவாய்
அதனைக் கண்டேன் இருளின் முடிவாய்
அதனைக் கண்டேன் என்னை இழந்தேனே

ஒளி

ஒளி வழி சேர்வதந்றி யோகமும் இல்லை
உள்ளொளி கூட்டுவதே யோகப்பயிற்ச்சியின் வேலை
ஒளியாய் மாறிய பண்டு பல யோகிகளுண்டு
ஒளியை கண்டேன் அதனில் கரைவேனே 

There is no other Yoga but to find the path of light
Increasing inner light is the purpose of all practice
There have been yogis who became light itself
I have seen that and I shall dissolve in it! 

-- Photo from the course material of the 'Self Awareness' course at IIT Madras

Bhuma Vidya

The sanskrit word Bhumi means ground. Bhuma Vidya refers to the art / science of discovering the ground on which our life stands on. Once one has found that, one digs further and further and so on until one reaches the foundation of all of existence. One has to actually experiment with ones life in this regard to actually know this. Understanding it intellectually is at best only the first step.

The outermost layer of the individual is usually the ego and that is perfectly fine. The ego is basically the set of all viewpoints, desires, fears biases etc. Normally, most people are lost in this. In trying to make this ego successful, most lives are spent. To be successful in this, there is a lot of hard work that is needed. One has to lay the ground work. The discipline and sincerity with which one lays the ground word has a big role to play in deciding the extent to which one fulfils the potentials of the outer ego. Obviously, this would require one to do a lot of studying and interfacing with the world. Only when this has been done for a long time, does the individual stand a chance of creating the internal and external environments that can facilitate full development. So, preparations is clearly the ground on which a successful individual usually stands.

Ego on Preparation

But it is difficult to prepare for a long time. There are two kinds of feedback mechanisms that operate within us that give us the joy needed to do things. One is the immediate feedback (remember the joy of having tasty food) and the other is the long term feedback (joy of accomplishing things of value). To keep getting both kinds of feedback is a challenge. To accomplish that one has to have some kind of deeper motivation within. Preparation and training for long periods of time (usually measured in years if not decades) is difficult to persist without such a motivation. The stronger and nobler the motivation, the more the individual finds the energy to prepare and thereby better the chances of success.

Ego and preparation on Motivation

Finally, motivations also do not stand by themselves. Those who have tried to sustain noble motivations for long periods of time will know this all too well. There needs to be divine grace for ones will to manifest itself. So, this motivation or deeper will should rest squarely on Bhakthi. Without this one will burn out all too soon. For, the world will provide incredible and seemingly insurmountable challenges. With Bhakthi, one develops the necessary equanimity of mind and patience to endure the obstacles and deal with failures (of which there would be lots to deal with). This is not the mere superficial chanting or temple visits that goes around for Bhakthis. This is the deep ability to see divine will at play everywhere at all times. This is indeed the pinnacle of development and normally takes many years of adherence to Yoga to be at this level.

All resting on Bhakthi

Clearly this development can be seen as a going from gross to the subtle (Earth (Discipline etc) -> Space (equanimity etc)), which to me seems the most worthy of all of human development. A couple of points are worthy of being made here. This is not a linear process wherein one level is completed before one goes to the next. Instead it is a cyclical process of going in and coming out. Slowly one acquires the depth and extends the base of ones presence at each level. For some people, one or two intermediate levels may be skipped for a while. For even more small subset of people, the outermost level may not even be the ego. But, for most, that may not be possible. One has to develop every single level step by step. A thorough training in the various disciplines of yoga will help one develop in such a fashion.

Bhakthi not developed through such a process is very superficial and not worth its name. 

So, what is the ground on which you are standing? Have you touched the Bhakthi herein described?

Bhagirathasana

King Bhagiratha's legend tells us about the severe penance he did in order to bring Ganges down to planet earth. It involved penance to varying gods including ganga and to get them all to work in synch in order to accomplish the desired noble goal. His tapas has been immortalised in stone in the monolithic carvings in Mamallapuram.

Bhagiratha's penance

If one were to be a little creative, one can probably imagine what would the objective of his penance would be in today's context. Lets not be frivolous and think of some quick fix solutions for there is an immense impending crisis for humanity (for starters, imagine what would happen when we run out of oil?). But, instead if we can be very sincere in our desire to find this then one will look at all the varying dimensions of our society and understand their present state and be able to think of ways in which it can be better. Education, health, commerce, relationships, social structure, defence and every other external aspect of it may be considered. All these are issues external to the humans that make up the society. Then comes all the internal complexities of human beings - ambition, security, sensual needs, power needs etc. It will take time but if at all one is sincere then one will definitely consider all of that. If one were to consider all of this and then come up with a deep response from within, then, I am sure, it would be commensurate to Bhagiratha's effort.

Such a development of the individual is the fourth layer of the individual in the panca maya model (that which is food, that which needs food, that which analyses and manipulates the world, that which comes out of complete self analysis, that which is beyond the individual). Normally, an individual is just merely the set of all experiences, desires, ego etc. When the individual goes beyond all of this and discovers the deepest inner part and lets it flower in the world, that would be the vijnana maya.

Such a flowering of vijnana maya implies a certain posture that the individual is taking in his or her life. This posture can indeed be called Bhagirathasana.

But, sadly, in todays world rarely Bhagirathasana is practiced in this way. This is the function. Instead, it is only taught in its form.

 Form of bhagirathasana

This may help get some physical benefits. But the true idea behind the symbolism is mostly lost. When that happens, it becomes a caricature. But, if one practices this pose with the bhavana of bhagiratha in mind, then it will help develop the function.

Can we thus differentiate between form and function in every asana we do?