Yoga: The Path to Enlightenment

Yog or Yoga as it is known in the West means the state of perfection, which is attained through the mind. The state of yog is realized when the sense of identification with the mind’s waves of perception, the false self consisting of the ego, the intellect and our complete record of meaning, is dissolved. Yog is a state of enlightenment of the Oneness of Life, Self or what many call God, and are achieved as the ripples of the sea of consciousness, termed vritti, have become motionless and the spirit or aatmaa, the perceiver, knows who he is.

Yoga is a disciplined path for purification of our attachments to the temporal world of form (bodies and objects) and the ever changing world of energy and mind, to experience the bliss and unity of consciousness as the unchanging, ever permanent, immortal and infinite Being.

Until the state of yog is achieved, an experience known as Samaadhi (that state of thinking and being immersed in the experience of oneness) is sought Our conceptual personality of body and mind formed by experiences, impressions and training gained through our physical senses and the mind-sense have become dominant. Until our minds have been established in the state of motionless-ness termed Nirodh, the movement of our thoughts and percepts will obscure the true light of Self causing us to accept the illusion that we are the ever changing movement of mind.

As you can see, the path to enlightenment is a path within to know the In-Dweller, the knower of the mind. Through the eight limbs of yog, aspirants purify and fortify their intellect to a higher knowledge beyond the field of mind into the experience of Oneness.

Hatha yoga, the practice of various postures is only one part of what is known as the eight limbs of yog. The purpose of yoga as we call it is really quite simple. To establish – aasan – or seat. By training the body to be able to sit peacefully without pain, the yogi (person seeking oneness) is then able to develop, through meditation, a concentration of the mind (Dhaarnaa) to remain in one place inside or outside the body. Then through this practice Dhyaan develops when no other thought occurs and the yogi is dissolved into the pure space of Self with no separate idea of mind at all…called Samaadhi (a loss of individual awareness). Through the practice of the other limbs of yog; yam, a universal social practice for improvement of the mind: Niyam, individual practice for purification of the mind, Pranayam, regulation of energies through breath and Pratyahaar, stability of the mind in itself, Enlightenment is achieved.

The path for enlightenment one must incorporate all limbs to achieve this desired goal. The path of yoga is not an hour commitment twice a week in class, it is a conviction of self-discipline to purify the mind and develop awareness of Self. Reading one of the many interpretations of Patanjali Yog Sutras is a great start, ( I love Swami Shyams interpretations best ) attending satsang (a group joining together to discuss and meditate on this high knowledge) is essential. And, of course hatha yoga followed by meditation is indispensable. Regardless of how much or how little you do, one thing is sure, you will be rewarded for your efforts proportionately and every step provides greater awareness, well being and joy.

Yoga seeks to achieve the state of perfection, unity consciousness or oneness, through the purification of the mind. Only doing the sequence of postures done in a hatha yoga class is not a spiritual pursuit worthy of enlightenment. Sadly, this is no more the case then eating the salad of a seven course dinner and thinking you have savored the delight of the meal and the expertise of the cook.