by Tirtha Acharya | Mar 24, 2018 | Yoga
The law of Karma says that each action that we are performing continuously does not get disappeared without a mark or an effect. It creates an appropriate result for the performer. He has to face the consequences of is Karma at any cost. It is impossible to ignore the result. The result of the Karma appears quicker or delay as per the nature and intensity of the Karma. For the fruits of Karma, there will be the interplay of a variety of different factors such as intention, desire, will, feelings, efforts and its repentance, self- change, hidden power of nature etc. Aurobindo defines Karmic Law as –“According to the energy put forth; shall be its return, subject to the complicated working of many world forces.” Forces, here, means mental and sensual activities like intention, desire, will, want etc.
Karma is the Sanskrit word which literally means an ‘action’. The root of the word is ‘Kri’ which means “to do” or “to perform”. Thus, to do all action is Karma. The actions or Karma is performed in four ways:
Physical Level
They are outer actions done by the physical body. Providing help to the needy, working in an office, robbery, killing etc are the physical karma. Besides, activities of the body where conscious mind is not involved such as sleeping, moving body, sneezing, yawning, blinking of eyes, breathing etc are also a part of physical Karma.
Vocal Level
The words that you speak are a part of the vocal action. Speaking honest words or dishonest words, kind words or unkind words, backbiting, slander, words that propagate lies and hate etc all are the karma at vocal level.
Mental Level
The activities of different types of thoughts and feelings are called the karma at Mental Level. When the mind is filled with positive thoughts and good feelings such as- love, empathy, kindness, etc. then it is a positive Karma. Negative thoughts, bad feelings like- fallacy, deceit, untruth, hatred, anger, jealousy etc are the part of negative Karma.
Sensual Level
Actions of 5 sense organs (eye, ear, skin, tongue, nose) are said to be actions at sensual level. We can use the eyes differently to watch both positive and negative. Reading a book and collecting knowledge is an action of eyes. Watching pornography is another action of eyes. Again question may arise- is watching pornography is a sin or a bad karma, and reading a book is good karma! Later on, we will come to know what is right and what is wrong. Anyway, the activities of eyes to see different things are karma. Hearing different things, sense of smell, touch, and taste etc all constitute Karma.
Karma encompasses each and every type of action. There is no any choosing and rejecting any types of action. Each and every action that we perform consciously or unconsciously is the Karma. It may involve body, speech, mind, and sense or some combination among these four. Thus Bhagawat Geeta states,-“None can remain to do nothing even for a moment, everyone is driven to action by the modes of nature born qualities.” So, for every moment living beings keep performing actions knowingly or unknowingly.
For each action, there is a reaction. Thus, the law of Karma is also referred as “the law of action and reaction” or “the law of cause and effect”. When the reaction is good, people call it reward, and the bad reaction is said as a punishment. Whatever the seed of Karma is sowed, the fruits will be ripened as per the seed. Many people are unaware of Karmic Law. Had all people know about it there will be no crime and no anti-social activities. The Law of Karma has perfect eyes. Law of Action can be compared Newton’s Law of Motion that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Whatever we think, speak, intent or act; our life rolls accordingly. There is one event in Buddha’s life related to law of karma:
Buddha was preaching his disciple. He told that for every suffering, meditation is the solution. One of the audience said,-“There is your disciple who is by birth blind. What can be more troublesome misery than to be blind? How is his misery cured?” Buddha and his disciple including the blind disciple listened to it and got curious about the audience’s question. Buddha closed his eyes for a while. Buddha had the power to see past and future. He tried to see the past of the blind disciple’s life. In one of the past lives, Buddha found an important Karmic issue. In that very life, the blind disciple was an ayurvedic doctor. One day a lady with eyes problem came to him and said,-“Dear doctor, I finished my entire property for treatment of my eyes but got unsucceeded. Now, I have no money. If you can cure my eyes, I including two children will be your servant throughout the life.” The doctor started her treatment. After the treatment of a week, her eyes got improved. The eyes were on the way to complete cure. But, the lady got feared for her promise to the doctor. She thought that to be servant including her two children throughout the life will be difficult. So, she tried to deceive the doctor. She told the doctor that the condition of her eyes was degrading. The doctor became angry because he knew the real condition of her eyes. In fact, the intention of the doctor was not to keep them servant throughout their life. The doctor would treat the lady for free or on credit whatever the lady wants. However, due to lying of the lady, an evil thought aroused in doctor’s mind. The treatment was continuing. The following day of the lady’s deceives, the doctor kept poisonous substance into the lady’s eyes in the place of medicine. After that, the lady became completely blind. Buddha revealed this secret to the audience including all of his disciples. He also taught that all people must have to face the fruit of their Karma in the very life or in coming life. According to law of karma, One can never escape from his Karma. However, now the blind disciple is walking on the right path with the right intention. This will slowly minimize the effects of the bad Karma.
There is a perfect law of Karma. It looks whether a mistake is done knowingly or unknowingly; intentionally or unintentionally. The reaction of the action will appear accordingly. For example, a cricketer hit a person with a cricket ball while balling. Now, his intention was not to hit. Had he hit intentionally the reaction would be different. Killing a person by a murderer by a knife and death of a patient with a knife of a doctor’s hand while doing operation will create different reactions. The murderer kills intentionally but the doctor has the different case. Thus, fruit is also different. If a person does any mistake, but, later on, he realizes and moves in the right path; then the effect of bad karma will be reduced.
by Tirtha Acharya | Mar 23, 2018 | Yoga
Precaution for doing Asanas and Pranayama for best practice and positive change
Yoga asanas and pranayama are considered to be effective to improve physical, mental and spiritual well-being. The regular practice of yoga helps in making body flexible, cultivating character, proper breathing, sound relation and proper sex. It awakens the real potentialities of a human. However, practicing the asana in a wrong way (without caring the precaution for doing asanas and pranayama) can have negative effects rather than building positive changes in the body and mind. Thus, it is advised to practice asana only under the proper guidance of an experienced teacher or you need to have correct knowledge. Some of the precaution for doing asanas and pranayama are listed below:
Time to do Yoga: considered as an important precaution for doing asanas
- Practicing asana and pranayama early in the morning before breakfast is considered to be the best. The second better time is early evening, around sunset.
- Asana can also be practiced at day or night time when the body feels tired, tensed, or stiffed.
- Asana and pranayama can also be practiced in other time as well but there should be the gap of about 4 hours after a heavy meal and 2 hours after a light meal. It is also suggested that there should gap of about half an hour.
- It is not good to do too many over stimulating asanas before bedtime.
- Sitting, walking and sleeping in a correct posture is also an asana. So, if you become conscious there is yoga every moment.
- Pranayama is best to practice just after the asana, and meditation is highly effective if done after pranayama. However, it is no compulsion to follow the order. Meditation may be done at any time whenever you are free.
The place to do Yoga
Among several precautions for doing asanas and pranayama place of doing the yoga play vital role in the effectiveness.
- Yoga can give the best result if practiced in airy, quiet and peace which suits for better concentration and awareness.
- Better not to practice asana or pranayama in direct sunlight for a long duration. If it is before 10 am and body is getting comfort then it is ok. Indoor or outdoor does not matter but avoid cold wind, unfavorable temperature, insects etc.
- The ground should be well labeled.
Consciousness
- Practicing yoga without awareness is useless. Keep awareness throughout the yoga practice what you are doing. If you are practicing asana, concentrate on your own body. Try to feel the sensation and observe the breath. Be conscious of self, not outside. Be conscious so that you can perform asana with correct alignment.
- Practice comfortably and mindfully.
- When you are doing pranayama, be watchful in your posture so that your torso and neck will be always straight.
- Never force or strain hard. Don’t twist or bend the body in a jerky manner. If it is uncomfortable then don’t do.
- Take short relax between each asana or pranayama.
- Whenever you get free time practice observation on respiration for better practice of consciousness.
Respiration
- The nose is for breathing and the mouth is for eating. So, always breathe through the nose, unless instructed otherwise.
- In case problem to breathe through the nose, practice Jala neti or sutra neti. You can also take help from the expert.
Restriction
In fact, there is no restriction in yoga for any age. However, techniques, asanas, and pranayama may vary according to age and gender.
- All practitioners should not do khumbhaka (holding the breath).
- Most of the people are forbidden to do Sirshasana.
- There are different asana and pranayama that should be avoided by different patients.
- Avoid practicing yoga under the influence drugs or alcohol.
- Sometimes, people with heart diseases, high or low blood pressure or other serious organic problem have to avoid the asanas.
- Those who have disabilities or with the chronic medical condition should consult both medical doctor and yoga teacher.
- Do not practice pranayama unless you master sitting posture.
- Do not make a loud sound during pranayama. However, some pranayamas such as Bhastrika has a different rule.
- In case of tiredness, take rest in savasana and be fresh. After that, you can practice pranayama.
- Pranayama should be done peacefully and calmly, not in a hurry.
- If lungs are congested, don’t practice pranayama.
- Suryabhedi pranayama can be done only in winter and chandrabhedi in summer.
- People with high blood pressure, heart diseases or a hernia need to prohibit Kapalabhati and Bhastrika
- Shitakari pranayama should be avoided by people with low blood pressure. It also should be avoided in winter as well.
Clothes
- Clothes should not be tight and uneasy. It should be enough loose or elastic to perform asanas.
- A practitioner should use such dress which will not disturb for the practice of yoga.
Religion
- Yoga is universal and for all because health and wellness is for all. So, no religion needs to avoid yoga.
Food
- There is no hard and fast rule for food. However, taking unhealthy food is not ideal.
- No matter, whether you are vegetarian, non-vegetarian or vegan; you can practice yoga.
by Tirtha Acharya | Mar 13, 2018 | Yoga
Yoga Asanas with Animals name | Realization of Various Creatures and Forms
If you practice yoga regularly, you will notice that many of the yoga asanas with animals name and are given with the positions of creatures found in nature. Yoga-Asana (Yogic Posture), third limb of Astanga Yoga, provides not merely health and fitness but it is a gateway to realize of becoming different creatures and forms. The old spiritual literature states that an organism has to pass different 84, 00,000 lives. It includes varieties of herbs, shrubs, trees, aquatic animals, land animals, birds, insects, microscopic organisms etc.
The principle of asana states- each asana resembles a form of a creature among the eighty-four lakhs creatures. A yoga practitioner remains in the particular asana for a certain duration which helps to gain the experience of becoming the particular creature that the asana has resembled. During the performance, the yogi realizes that the spirit remains unchanged while changing the forms of the body. As the practice deepens he realizes that the same spirit travels to different forms of creatures. The understanding reveals that life and all its activities are part of the divine natural action manifesting and mobilizing in the form of human beings.
The names of asanas signify the principle of evolution of yoga asanas with animals name. There are some yoga asanas with animals name (which resemble land animals)- Ustrasana (camel), Marjaryasana-Bitilasana (Cat-cow), Simhasana (lion), Vyaghrasana (tiger), Bhujangasana (Snake), Vatayasana (Horse), Svasana (dog) etc. Some yoga asanas with animals name (resemble aquatic animals)- Matsyasana (fish), Locust Pose (Shark) etc. Some asana resemble amphibian- Bhekasana or Mandukasana (frog), Kurmasana (tortoise), Narkasana (crocodile). Some asanas are named after birds- Kukkutasana (cock), Garudasana (eagle), Bakasana (heron), Mayurasana (peacock), Hamsasana (swan), Kakasana (crow) etc. Some asanas signify different vegetation- Tadasana (Palm tree), Vrikshasana (tree pose), and Padmasana (lotus) etc.
Some asanas represent insects- Salabhasana (locust), Vrischikasana (scorpion), Butterfly-pose etc. Garbha-pindasana denotes human embryonic stage. Virabhadrasana, Hanumanasana, Anjaneyasana etc are named after legendary heroes. Dhurvasana, Bharadvajasana, Matsyendrasana, Kapilasana, Vasisthasana, Visvamitrasana, etc are named to pay respect to the sages Dhruva, Bharadvaja, Matsyendra, Kapil, Vasistha, Visvsmitra respectively. Besides, there are some asanas which resemble non-living things – Utkatasana (chair-pose), Dandasana (stick), Setu-bandhasana (bridge), Parvatasana (mountain), Halasana (Plough), Dhanurasana (Bow) etc. The names of all eighty-four lakhs creatures are unknown. All creatures have not been seen.
Thus, those asanas are named after the name of non-living things; yet, those asanas can also reflect each living creature. It is also said that human beings while practicing asanas realize not only becoming a living creature but also try to realize of becoming non-living things. Besides, he realizes of becoming some legendary heroes and sages. The asanas that resemble legendary heroes give the courage and brevity; while the asanas that resemble the sages offer the wisdom and knowledge. Some asanas are also named after Hindu God; some rename it the Avataras or incarnation.
While performing asanas, the human body enters upon many forms corresponding manifold of creatures. His mind will be trained not to disdain any creature. The Yoga asana also teaches to keep a friendly and harmonious relationship with all creatures. He knows that throughout the entire expansion of creation from the lowliest micro-organism and insects to accomplished sapient there is the presence of same universal spirit and breath the same which possess countless forms. He also understands that the highest form is Formless. The Unity in universality will be revealed. Thus, a yogi can experience the different forms of this universe.
The Yogi experiences different changes and sensation on the body during the practice of asana. In his heartbeat and rhythm of his respiration, he recognizes the flow of the season. The body is itself a divine temple. The human body includes the entire system of creation. Whatever he feels within the framework of the body, they are the manifestation of the Universal truth of nature. Through this, he understands the law of nature. He starts understanding the meaning of each form and change. Through different forms of asanas, a yogi will perceive the world from various angles.
This helps to extend the perception. It develops the sight to view the universe from the angle of all creatures. Continuous practice will compass this stage. Finally, the yogi will view the universe with the eternal spiritual eyes. Now there are no more blockages in truth. The illusion starts disappearing. The yogi starts finding everything within the body. If he needs pleasure, he finds within the self. If he wants peace, that is also within the self. If yoga seeks God, He is also within the self. So, yoga is a complete wisdom.
The universe composes eighty-four lakhs creatures. The yoga asanas are the practice of realizing of becoming those creatures. It seems impossible to practice those all asanas. However, getting the mastery of single asana, the yogi can get the benefits of all other asanas. To get the mastery on an asana, the yogi has to stay on an asana for 3 hours 36 minutes. However, Sadaguru has retold that one can get mastery over an asana by remaining on the asana for the duration of 2 hours 30 minutes.
Thus staying on the particular asana till that duration without movement in a pleasant manner, one can attain perfection. At this time dualities like gain and loss, victory and defeat, fame and shame, pain and pleasure etc. disappear. However, it is not easier to practice till that duration. So, it is better to practice different asanas for one minute, two minutes and more. Gradually, he needs to increase the duration of asana.
During the practice of asana, the practitioner must try to develop equanimity observing the respiration and body sensation. This will deepen the experiences. Practicing different asanas in this way, the capacity of performing the asana for a longer duration increases. One day the stage arises, that the practitioner achieves accomplishment on asana.
The asana can also be understood in another dimension. Asana is a pose or posture or gesture. If you sit in one way, that is an asana; if you sit in another way that is another asana. So, asanas are innumerable. Among them, eighty-four asanas are considered as fundamental asanas. The poses and gestures change according to the mood of a person. If you are happy, you will make the pose of the body in a certain form.
If you are sad, the pose will get change. For every mental situation, the body will change the posture. Asanas are the conscious converse to get the body into the different posture. This consciousness along with asana will lead the human to the experience of becoming each creature as per the asana and elevate towards the higher level of consciousness. If you like the post on yoga asanas with animals name you can share the post or you can subscribe our other regular post on yoga and meditation.
by Tirtha Acharya | Mar 9, 2018 | Yoga
Nine Hindrances in Yoga which Interrupt Our Practice & Block yogic Progress
The path of yoga is very long and difficult. There are many hindrances in yoga filled hazard and diversion. However, the yogis who have already traveled on the path of yoga stated all the possible impediments on its path. These obstacles are explained in Yoga-sutra 1.30 of Patanjali. It states, “Vyadhi styana sanshaya pramada alasya avirati bhrantidarshan alabdha-bhumikatva chitta vikshepa te antarayah”. Buddhist literature, Samyutta Nikaya 46.37 and D.2, reveals five major hindrances to meditation. They are as follows: Sensory desire (kamacchanada), Ill-will (vyapada, also spelled vyapada), sloth and lethargy (thina-middha), Restlessness and worry (uddhacca-kukkucca), and suspicion (vicikiccha). Today we are going to discuss the obstacles or hindrances in yoga as per the Patanjali Yoga-sutra.
- Sickness (Vyadhi): Improper or abnormal function among various parts of the body and mind in the form of illness or disease. An unhealthy body cannot perform yoga easily. The mind and body of the sick person require healing. The first important thing for the yoga student is to keep his body healthy.
- Disinclination (Styana): When there is lack of motivation minds distracts from the duty. Many people have the habit of procrastination, even giving up the duty due to mental restlessness, lack of enthusiasm for practice and so on. Apathy, dullness or inefficiency towards the path is an effective blockage for the progress in the spiritual path.
- Doubt (Sanshaya): If we have any types of indecision or doubt about our path, then we lose our mental energy towards that path. Mind swings from the trust. Sometimes, blind trust also hampers on the path. However, lack of conviction and lack of faith in the virtues of practice, sometimes in the teacher or in their methods are the examples of Sanshaya.
- Carelessness (Pramada): Negligence, inattention, heedlessness, carelessness, lack of continuity and focus on practice etc omits or errors the practice. It sabotages the efficacy of our work.
- Sloth (Alasya): Laziness, languor, idleness, the habit of abstaining the practice or duty is another enemy on the path of progress which aborts in attaining our highest potentials. Feeling sleepy and tired during meditation creates a problem in the practice. We have the tendency of loving luxury, easiness while yoga requires disciplined and high effort. It needs tireless devotion, tapas (will-power) to be successful.
- Non-abstinence (Avirati): Over-attachment or overindulgence towards luxuriance, pleasing things, and comfortable life distract from the duty. The clinging towards the worldly matter should be given up for the true progress in the spiritual path.
- Delusion (Bhrantidarshan): Fantasy on image, immature sense of certainty, false vision, wrong understanding about meditation, making a fault in understanding and judgment etc. basically pertaining to practice; the mind accepts the truth an untruth and vice-versa. This misleads the person.
- Failure to gain ground (Alabdha-bhumikatva): Unsuccess to achieve next yogic phase or non-attainment of the required accomplishment demotivates in the practice. This slips down the achieved stage as well. The reason behind the unsuccess is faulty or poor practice. This failure discourages the people from the duty.
- Instability (Anawasthitatwa): Last but not least instability is counted as hindrances in yoga. Due to practice, some achievements have been achieved but practice is not continued. When there lack persistence or permanence of practice, the attained stage cannot be maintained. So steadiness of practice is very important to maintain the stage and progress forward. After the encounter of these basic hindrances, four normal hindrances may be seen according to the situation. They are the consequences of previous obstacles. In other words, these four are the symptomatic manifestation of above nine antarayas. In Patanjali Yoga Sutra it is stated as “dukha daurmanasya angamejayatva swasa-praswasa vikshepa sahabhuvah 1.31”:
- Duhkha(Pain or sorrow): It is a suffering which may lead to despair. A few people can overcome this suffering, but maximum people cannot tolerate it and give up without reaching the destination.
- Daurmanasya – It is stated as frustration, depression, despair or sadness caused by non-fulfillment of desires. When one frustrates he will lose the energy for effort. Only hope motivates the further path. If required preaching is given then I can be a great lesson. Arjuna was preached by Lord Krishna at the time of a great despair. If we can understand our depression, it can be open a new gate for success. As light eradicates dark, so understanding eradicates frustration.
- Angamejayatwa – The shaking, tremor or shivering of parts of the body appears due to above nine Antarayas. Sometimes shivering may occur due to Asana practice, mantra or meditation practice. It is the manifestation of imbalance in mind or in the body. When we encounter this obstacle, then we proceed forward.
- Shvâsa–prashvâsa– It means disturbance in inhalation and exhalation. Mental and emotional upset brings the irregularities on breaths. So, one should know the art of controlling the breaths. Regular Pranayama helps to overcome it. Besides, a practice of witnessing the breaths helps to stabilize the breaths.
These four are the indicator of the effects of obstacles in a subtle form. One can identify that how much the person is affected due to above nine hindrances in yoga practice. When one faces any obstacle then there is a natural pain. This creates frustration and depression. Sometimes people may shiver the limbs or other parts of the body. Similarly, they may face the unnatural respiration.
When we can be aware of these changes in our body we can control the impacts and get back to the path. So what we need is awareness, watchfulness towards the obstacles and their impacts on us. We need to be mindful so that we won’t be misled. Normally we have a habit of being shaken due to the obstacles. However, if we could develop a habit of witnessing the problems remaining in an equanimous state, the habit patterns slowly transforms.
One should be dedicated towards the goal. More dedication we have more focus we generate. Due to more and more focus, the nine obstacles in yoga and their four effects keep decreasing thoroughly. The mind should also be crystal clear on the path and goal of practice. It makes the mind single-pointedness which leads to higher experience.
