WHY YOGA?

 

 If someone asked you "what is the goal of Yoga"? what would you say?  It might be a brain-stopper of a question, right? Read on..............

Why YOGA?

The deeper tradition of Yoga in the lineage of tantra says that to practice yoga is to gradually but inevitably gain a greater Recognition of the Light within, the Light in all things and all beings. Or - in different words, to learn to see God in all things, as all things. 

For yoga / spiritual practice to be effective, three things have to come into alignment

1. VIEW. Our Vision of Reality; The View we are cultivating.
2. AIM. Motivation for Practice (Pure Aim)
3. MEANS. The Practices Themselves

VIEW

View: The vision of Reality we are aligning with

“The light is One and cannot be divided.” Sri Abhinavagupta

“There is a light that shines beyond all things on earth, beyond us all, beyond the heavens, beyond the highest, the very highest heavens. This is the light that shines in our heart.” -Chandogya Upanishad

There is ONE LIGHT. You are It. It is you.

 MOTIVATION FOR PRACTICE

Align with Pure Motive (Pure Aim) by asking for it, with a Prayer:

Almost everyone begins yoga with a motivation that is unclear or  that does not align with the View. These are referred to as "wrong" motivations" or "impure motives" not in a moralistic ways but simply because they do not line up with the chosen View. 

The 3 main "wrong aims" are: 

1. practicing to fix something wrong with your self; 
2. practicing to feel a certain way - like "great" or blissful
3. practicing to get "power over" for example to be stronger and more powerful than the average "ordinary" person; or to look really good, sexy, which gives one sexual power. 

To cultivate a motivation for practice that aligns with the View that there is "One Light" and you are not separate, begin your practice (whether it is asana, pranayama, meditation, etc.) with a prayer for Pure Aim. Here are 2 examples – but best to make your own prayer. Make sure your prayer lines up with the view and to do so it should have all 3 parts: self, god and others.

May I practice out of love for myself, to help me to see, more and more often, god in all things, in all beings; and to be in service to all beings (or to extend kindness, genrost8y and compassion to others). .

Beloved Who I do not yet know (do not yet recognize) I welcome That which you would have me serve; I welcome that which you would have serve me…. all obstacles removed – no resistance remains.

Gradually but inevitably, Pure Aim will become your default motive, which deeply increases the impact of your practice.

 

MEANS – THE PRACTICES - SADHANA

"Means" are the practices themselves and the ways of practicing that make one more prone to Recognition or One Light, God in All Things. .

Whether your practice is asana, pranayama, meditation, etc. do it in a way that aligns with your view. Practice with love for yourself as an expression of One Light. Practice in devotion to that One Light, in you7rself and all beings. 

The Anusara alignment principles are exceptionally reliable in the way they help align Practice with Aim and View:

1. Open to grace.  Beginner’s Mind is necessary. Sukumara: fresh, open, ready, and childlike; This is first principle.

2. Draw in (be here now; fully present; intimate). Muscular Energy.

3. Having drawn in, you connect with your very essence, the light at the center of you and all beings. It will shine out. “You” will shine it out in full participation with the light you have connected with. Organic Energy.   

Repeat.