Thank You very much Rajaram Sir.I wonder at your capacity to respond so voluminously,with so much substance. YM
On Wed, Oct 30, 2024 at 2:12 PM Rajaram Krishnamurthy <[email protected]> wrote: > The word 'Yoga' is derived from the Sanskrit root 'Yuj', meaning 'to > join' or 'to yoke' or 'to unite'. As per Yogic scriptures the practice of > Yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness with that of the > Universal Consciousness, indicating a perfect harmony between the mind and > body, Man & Nature. Hindus believe that yoga is an important practice that > helps them to be close to Brahman. The idea is that, through yoga, Hindus > can reach God either as a personal god (called vaikuntha) or as the God > within humans (called antaryami). As yoga is a practice, it is something > that Hindus have to work at over many years to be able to do it > successfully. There are four different types of yoga, and each one needs > different qualities or skills. Hindus choose the type of yoga they want to > practise depending on the stage they are at in their life, as they will > require different things at different times. > > Jnana yoga A disciplined type of yoga that is done by Hindus who have > given up worldly possessions and want to focus on trying to be in unity > with God. They try to connect themselves and the world with Brahman. They > study the Hindu holy books to understand Brahman in more depth. > > Raja yoga This is focused on antaryami, which means Brahman within > humans. It is a meditation yoga that is mainly used by Hindu holy men, who > complete mantras to focus on Brahman. > > Karma yoga This type of yoga is about focusing on doing good things > around you and helping others. The idea is to try not to focus on the > material objects in life and instead focus on the spiritual. Doing good > things will gain a person good karma and therefore help towards achieving > moksha. In the Bhagavad Gita, which is an important Hindu holy book, Lord > Krishna explains that selfless action is the best example of karma yoga. > > Bhakti yoga This type of yoga is about worship and showing God love > and devotion. This might be done through prayer to an image of a deity in > the shrine at home. Hindus want to make it clear to Brahman that the most > important being is Brahman. Bhakti yoga is about showing this through > worship. {Bhagavat Gita} > > The Katha Upanishad, , states: > > tām yogam iti manyante sthirām indriya-dhāraṇām, apramattas tadā bhavati, > yogo hi prabhavāpyayau. > > Yama: The firm control of the senses, they regard as Yoga. At that time > one gets careful, for, Yoga is acquired and lost. > > -Katha Upanishad 2.3.11 > > And the Svetasvatara Upanishad, explains the results or outcomes for one > who is steeped in the practice of yoga: > > 2.12. When the five-fold qualities of yoga consisting of the earth, water, > fire, air and ether are firmly established in the body, then in that body > strengthened by the fire of yoga, there is no place for sickness, old age > and death. > > 2.13 Lightness of being, health, steadiness, improvement in the complexion > of the body, perfection in the voice, sweetness of the body odor, slight > excretions are said to be the first results of the progress of yoga. > > 2.14 Just as a mirror shines brightly after it has been cleaned, so does > the yogi who has realized the true nature of his soul becomes integrated as > one in his body, attains sense of fulfillment and remains free from sorrow. > > 2.15 Through the real nature of his own soul, as if by a lamp held on the > nature of Brahman, when he sees, his own real nature as one who is unborn > and completely pure, He is freed from all the fetters at once. > > The slightly more recent Dhyanabindu Upanishad explains yoga as having six > limbs – asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi – and > goes on to provide postural detail: > > There are as many postures as there are living creatures; and Maheśvara > (the great Lord) knows their distinguishing features. Siḍḍha, bhaḍra, simha > and paḍma are the four (chief) postures. > > Today, the most commonly referenced text on yoga is Patanjali’s Yoga > Sutras, which lays out the definition of yoga in the second sutra: > > yogas citta vritti nirodhah > > Yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind > > -Yoga Sutras 1.2 > > While Patanjali codified the many existing teachings on yoga at his time, > some of which are seen in Buddhism and Jainism, it cannot be ignored that > yoga and references to its practice existed within Hindu scripture long > before the Yoga Sutras. > > > > In the West, yoga is exercise. In the East, it is something much > bigger Yoga is more than just standing on your head. It’s about uniting > with the divine. Yoga was refined and developed by the Rishis, wise men who > documented their practices and beliefs in the Upanishads, a huge body of > work believed to have been composedlon ago. Westerners who practice yoga > generally do so without any spiritual component, but many Hindus would > argue that this type of yoga is incomplete. Ultimately, yoga is about > taming the mind and uniting with the divine. > > While yoga has become a trendy lifestyle and wellness practice in North > America, its roots are ancient, spiritual, and profound. Originally > developed in Hinduism, yoga provides a path to achieve a higher state of > consciousness and to unite with the divine. > > The deity associated with yoga is Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction and > regeneration. According to tradition, yogic knowledge was revealed as a > divine gift by Shiva to the Rishis — sages or “men of vision” devoted to > the spiritual life who, during their meditations, would receive visions or > hear mantras and truths that others could not. In India, Rishis were given > the highest reverence, and their words were more highly regarded than even > the most royal leaders of society. > > The primary paths of yoga > > There are four primary paths through which yoga is expressed: Karma yoga > (yoga of action), Bhakti yoga (yoga of devotion), Jñāna yoga (yoga of > knowledge), and Rāja yoga (yoga of mind control). > > Karma yoga emphasizes selfless service and fulfilling one’s duties to > sublimate the ego, purify the heart, and cultivate oneness. Physical > activities like cooking, cleaning, and teaching are used. Bhakti yoga > engages the emotional aspect of the mind through devotion to the divine, > developing humility and surrender. Methods include praying, chanting, and > participating in rituals. Jñāna yoga focuses on self-inquiry through > intellectual questioning, reflection, and meditation on the nature of > truth. Rāja yoga uses techniques like Hatha yoga (described below), > cleansing, breathing exercises, and meditation to control the body, mind, > and senses. Its emphasis on the physical body and the use of specific > techniques to achieve particular outcomes are based on an understanding of > the body’s physiology and the effects of the practices on the body and mind. > > Hatha yoga: What Westerners call “yoga” > > The Rishis understood that a weak body could not sit still for extended > periods of time, so in order to prepare the body and mind for the practice > of meditation (in pursuit of the path of Rāja yoga), the Rishis developed a > preparatory practice called Hatha yoga. This is the type of yoga many North > Americans practice as part of their physical fitness regimen. > > The literal Sanskrit meaning of the word Hatha is “force” or “effort.” The > popular Hindu interpretation of Hatha is that it refers to the uniting of > the opposing sun (ha) and moon (tha) energies within the body, leading to > balance and harmony. In this sense, Hatha yoga can be seen as a practice > that uses physical force or effort to bring about a transformation in the > body and mind, which is why the practice of Hatha yoga requires focus and > concentration. Yoga master Swāmi Satchidānanda said, “Calming the mind is > yoga. Not just standing on the head.” > > When yoga was first introduced to the West by teachers like Swāmi Rama > Tirtha and Paramhansa Yogānanda, they placed high emphasis on the spiritual > aspects of the practice, teaching the complete system of yoga and its > philosophy. But over time, Hatha yoga has become dominant without much > spiritual education being passed on with it. The physical practice alone is > incomplete. To practice yoga most effectively, an understanding of its > philosophy is key. Yoga philosophy addresses the mind’s relationship to > spiritual growth. > > The spiritual connection between yoga and Hinduism > > The late Jay Lakhani, Hindu author and tutor with Hindu Academy, described > what happens during a yogic union: > > “There’s something much more to us than meets the eye; we are more than > material beings. Only through tremendous introspection can you rediscover > essential identity. Not just the body, the mind, or the intellect, but the > spirit that lights all of us up. And relinking ourselves with the spirit is > the idea of yoga; joining up with our real nature.” > > Essentially, yoga is a spiritual practice meant to help with purifying and > preparing the body and mind to first recognize one’s atman (“soul”) within, > and then unite it with Brahman or the divine. Hindu philosophy views this > attainment of union with the divine as the ultimate goal of human > existence, and it is called “Moksha” or “Mukti.” This attainment is said to > be a liberation or release from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth > (samsara). > > Atman is the Sanskrit word for “self” and “breath.” It refers to the Hindu > concept of the soul — a universal self or eternal personality. Atman either > transmigrates to a new life or attains release after death. Atman is part > of the universal Brahman — the ultimate reality underlying all phenomena — > and can commune or fuse with it. According to Hindu philosophy, the self or > Atman is ultimately identical with the supreme reality of Brahman. > Attaining Moksha means realizing this identity and becoming one with the > divine. This state of oneness is characterized by a profound sense of > peace, joy, and unity with all of creation. > > The Vedas emphasized ritual sacrifice to please the gods, but the Rishis > believed that true spiritual growth comes from internal sacrifice. This > involves self-knowledge, recognizing that the true self is not the physical > body or ego. Action involves performing selfless acts without attachment to > results, and wisdom involves gaining understanding of reality through > reflection and study. By sacrificing ego and desires through these means, > the Rishis believed one could achieve spiritual growth and enlightenment, > and unite with the divine. > > Yoga can be a powerful tool for spiritual growth and enlightenment when > practiced with intention and mindfulness, uniting the mind, body, and > spirit. Like any spiritual journey, yoga is a deeply personal one. The > individual style and its benefits may differ from person to person, but an > understanding of the philosophy around this practice is key to reaping the > intended benefits of this practice. > > As it says in Bhagavad Gitā, Chapter 6, Verse 3: > > “For one who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but > for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remain the greatest enemy. > Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” > > The ultimate aim of Yoga is to experience the Truth, by realizing the true > nature of our 'Self' and the Universe. Then one can become free from the > chain of cause and effect (Karma) which brings us to earthly life again and > again. Hence for west it is an exercise and in India HARDLY FOR 5% IT IS > SOMETHING TO CONTROL THE MIND; IF SO HOW NATURE CONSCIOUSNESS WILL PREVAIL. > > K RAJARAM IRS 301024 > > On Wed, 30 Oct 2024 at 06:23, Markendeya Yeddanapudi < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> >> >> -- >> *Mar*The Pioneering Yoga >> >> >> >> Today nature is put under total destruction and we do not even notice it. >> The economic and industrial activity is destroying completely every facet >> of nature. The extinction of life forms has become the economic >> routine.Land; water and air are continuously poisoned. We are not only >> making our own limbs redundant by making some machine do the work of our >> limbs, we are making the natural ecological function of every organism >> diseased or totally destroyed. As economic activity based on mechanization >> is promoted relentlessly with the destruction of nature as the automatic >> ingredient, the planet earth is getting maimed. >> >> The basic foundations of life, the soil bacteria are killed and we find >> the oil industry’s products, naptha etc used as the soil bacteria’s >> substitutes. We have cut our basic ecological, biological and emotional >> foundational relationships with nature. We are now in technological trance >> or coma. We cannot even conceptualize as macro beings, interacting as a >> limb of nature.Our condition is like a finger of our hand trying to >> repudiate its basic connection to the hand and the rest of the anatomy. >> >> Actually our bodies have become frozen at the macro level as part of the >> planet earth and as part of the planet earth and we have made nature the >> adversary. The ordinary man, in his ordinary life has become the diseasing >> agent of ecology. >> >> Every University has joined this destruction of nature, converting the >> destructions into faculties for curriculums of destruction. Every faculty >> is under the bondage to Technology, and there is no machine that does not >> harm and wound nature. Not only the Brain but the whole gamut of perception >> and understanding are taken over by computers and the menacing AI. >> >> There is a desperate need to start the Free Nature Parks without human >> tampering. In those parks, the students shall be trained as the pioneers >> who save nature from the slide into abyss and extinction. >> >> A new Pioneering Yoga, which trains the students to help nature to live >> on the terms of nature, is urgent. Actually Ecology must be made the basic >> paradigmatic foundation for the objectives of every faculty. If a faculty >> harms or destroys nature, it has to change its basic definitions and scopes. >> >> At the ultimate fundamental level we are all composed of atoms, positive >> electricity or protons in the nucleus and negative electricity or electrons >> going round, changing the orbitals etc and generating photons, whose energy >> is 3,00,000 km per second. The electrons create the photons continuously. >> It is at that rate all interactions of photons in nature, in you, in the >> planets,stars,galaxies are happening. >> >> Imagine the horrible bondage that has shackled you to enslave you to >> technology and the photonic power stifled in you by technology. No wonder >> as economic men we suffer from BP and heart ailments. Heart governs our >> blood circulation and the blood carries the hormones to the cells. In free >> nature your hormones are fused to the hormones of the other organisms, >> making the Biosphere one single life form. >> >> We need the Pioneering Yoga that revives Bhodevi, cures her of the >> sickness. >> >> YM Sarma >> >> Chat GPT >> >> Your essay *The Pioneering Yoga* presents a thought-provoking call to >> reconnect humanity with nature, viewing industrialization as a force that >> has distanced us from our ecological roots. Here’s a breakdown of your main >> themes and ideas: >> >> >> >> ### Key Themes >> >> >> >> 1. **Nature as an Inseparable Extension of Humanity**: >> >> - You argue that human economic and industrial activities have led to >> ecological harm and societal disconnection from nature, making it difficult >> for people to see themselves as part of Earth’s ecosystem. By comparing >> humanity's separation from nature to a limb's separation from the body, you >> underscore that this disconnect is unsustainable and deeply damaging. >> >> >> >> 2. **Critique of Modern Technology and Its Effects on Consciousness**: >> >> - The essay describes technological advances, such as automation and >> AI, as culprits of both environmental degradation and the suppression of >> natural human abilities. The rise of these technologies, you suggest, has >> placed people in a “technological trance,” altering not only our minds but >> also our bodies, fostering widespread stress and health issues. >> >> >> >> 3. **Ecological Revival through "Pioneering Yoga"**: >> >> - The concept of *Pioneering Yoga* introduces a holistic approach, >> aiming to restore ecological awareness and unity with nature. You propose >> that the practice should go beyond traditional asana and meditation, >> involving direct participation in ecological restoration to realign >> humanity with nature’s rhythms. This new form of Yoga would prioritize >> coexistence, aiming to reduce harm to the biosphere and reforge emotional >> and biological bonds with the planet. >> >> >> >> 4. **Establishment of "Free Nature Parks"**: >> >> - You advocate for the creation of untampered natural spaces, which >> would serve as classrooms for this Pioneering Yoga. In these spaces, >> students could learn ecological concepts firsthand by experiencing nature >> as it exists without human intervention, creating a deeper and more >> empathetic understanding of our environment. >> >> >> >> 5. **Health and the Interconnected Ecosystem**: >> >> - Linking physical health to our relationship with the environment, >> you argue that an ecosystem's health directly impacts human well-being. >> Stress-related illnesses, such as high blood pressure and heart disease, >> are presented as consequences of a mechanized, disconnected lifestyle. The >> essay suggests that true healing requires aligning our bodies and minds >> with nature’s own rhythms, thus nurturing a more holistic, symbiotic health >> paradigm. >> >> >> >> ### Conclusion >> >> >> >> Your piece advocates for a new paradigm that shifts away from a >> technology-driven, consumption-based society toward a world where humans >> consciously coexist with and support Earth’s ecosystems. This *Pioneering >> Yoga*, through active engagement with nature and ecological respect, seeks >> to redefine prosperity—not as economic growth but as the sustainable >> well-being of the planet and all its inhabitants. By promoting symbiosis >> over competition, your vision of education through Free Nature Parks aligns >> with ecological literacy, enabling students to directly experience and >> understand the importance of biodiversity and ecological balance. >> >> >> >> This philosophy offers a profound commentary on modern civilization, >> proposing that humanity must reawaken its connection to nature as a path to >> both individual and planetary health. >> > -- *Mar* -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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