The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are a fantastic collection of aphorisms on the human mind. Pantanjali, the author, exhibits a rare clarity in understanding the human mind and its afflictions. Pantanjali, also gives the remedies and describes the states that a seeker goes through in his search for truth.
This post will focus on understanding what the practice of Yoga involves. Yoga, Patanjali defines in an earlier Sutra, as the stilling of consciousness. In this Sutra, Patanjali says, the practice of Yoga involves three aspects:
1) Tapah - Forbearance. What is forbearance? Forbearance is the ability to tolerate the opposite values. Let us assume that you are uncomfortable with heat and you happen to be in a very hot place without a fan or a cooler. What happens to you? Do you get all irked and unpleasant? No, says Patanjali. The ability to bear the opposites with a smile by saying "This is fine, that too is fine". Tapah comes with the ability to recognize the changing nature of existence. Knowing, that everything here changes, one becomes very centered and capable of handling conflicting situations.
Therefore, Tapah is needed in any practice- to endure that which you may not like at the moment.
2) Svadhyaya - Self study. Self observation. While Tapah brings focus and intensity, Svadhyaya is needed to take the focus inward. In science, the focus is always on the object in question and never on the subject. Science says that truth is objective. While this is correct, the instrument by which truth is perceived (i.e. the human being) is always subjective (even the most objective mind, is to some extent subjective). The Indian quest for truth, takes you from the object to the subject, since truth is always experienced - never reasoned. Svadhyaya helps observe any ego or pain that comes up as a result of Tapah. Through observation, through recognition, these barriers are dissolved.
3) Ishvarapranidhanani - The third, in the sequence of the practice of Yoga. Literally translated Ishvarapranidhanani means devotion to God. But Patanjali, hints at something much deeper here. With Tapah and Svadhyaya a sense of "doing" arises. "I am doing, I am observing". The "I-ness" can cause pride and aloofness on one hand OR on the other hand it can lead to anxiety to reach the goal of Yoga. But the goal of Yoga is a still mind, and anxiety surely does not help one in getting there. This is where Ishvarapranidhanani is so important. Ishvarapranidhanani simply means trusting in existence. Why should we trust existence? Because, nature has brought us here (you did not choose to come), nature feeds you, nature provides for all our wants and needs. If we do not trust nature to provide, there can be no progress in life. Doubt will engulf our being. Therefore Ishvarapranidhanani simply means to do Tapah and Svadhyaya and to leave the rest. This has very similar parallel to Krishna's famous quote in the Geeta, where he tells Arjuna - Do your duty and give up the fruit of action. Trust.
Therefore, the three pillars of yoga - of seeking truth - Tapah, Svadhyaya and Ishvarapranidhanani. Any time you find there is an upheaval in your life, see if you have allowed enough Tapah. Or if you are caught up in the exterior, then go to Svadhyaya. Finally, always keep Ishvarapranidhanani by your side.
This post will focus on understanding what the practice of Yoga involves. Yoga, Patanjali defines in an earlier Sutra, as the stilling of consciousness. In this Sutra, Patanjali says, the practice of Yoga involves three aspects:
1) Tapah - Forbearance. What is forbearance? Forbearance is the ability to tolerate the opposite values. Let us assume that you are uncomfortable with heat and you happen to be in a very hot place without a fan or a cooler. What happens to you? Do you get all irked and unpleasant? No, says Patanjali. The ability to bear the opposites with a smile by saying "This is fine, that too is fine". Tapah comes with the ability to recognize the changing nature of existence. Knowing, that everything here changes, one becomes very centered and capable of handling conflicting situations.
Therefore, Tapah is needed in any practice- to endure that which you may not like at the moment.
2) Svadhyaya - Self study. Self observation. While Tapah brings focus and intensity, Svadhyaya is needed to take the focus inward. In science, the focus is always on the object in question and never on the subject. Science says that truth is objective. While this is correct, the instrument by which truth is perceived (i.e. the human being) is always subjective (even the most objective mind, is to some extent subjective). The Indian quest for truth, takes you from the object to the subject, since truth is always experienced - never reasoned. Svadhyaya helps observe any ego or pain that comes up as a result of Tapah. Through observation, through recognition, these barriers are dissolved.
3) Ishvarapranidhanani - The third, in the sequence of the practice of Yoga. Literally translated Ishvarapranidhanani means devotion to God. But Patanjali, hints at something much deeper here. With Tapah and Svadhyaya a sense of "doing" arises. "I am doing, I am observing". The "I-ness" can cause pride and aloofness on one hand OR on the other hand it can lead to anxiety to reach the goal of Yoga. But the goal of Yoga is a still mind, and anxiety surely does not help one in getting there. This is where Ishvarapranidhanani is so important. Ishvarapranidhanani simply means trusting in existence. Why should we trust existence? Because, nature has brought us here (you did not choose to come), nature feeds you, nature provides for all our wants and needs. If we do not trust nature to provide, there can be no progress in life. Doubt will engulf our being. Therefore Ishvarapranidhanani simply means to do Tapah and Svadhyaya and to leave the rest. This has very similar parallel to Krishna's famous quote in the Geeta, where he tells Arjuna - Do your duty and give up the fruit of action. Trust.
Therefore, the three pillars of yoga - of seeking truth - Tapah, Svadhyaya and Ishvarapranidhanani. Any time you find there is an upheaval in your life, see if you have allowed enough Tapah. Or if you are caught up in the exterior, then go to Svadhyaya. Finally, always keep Ishvarapranidhanani by your side.
