Yoga Is . . .
by Grace Brockington
Yoga is often referred to as the Royal Path to health and happiness. It is no longer a mystique, but rather a part of life, making each day more enjoyable and fulfilled. It is considered that one who walks this path has no desire to fill their life with material goods or with unhealthy additions. They sense the inner will, peace and security at the centre of their being, to free them mentally and physically. Yoga links us back to nature, to natural living, making us self reliant within our own true centre.
The West has ancient India to thank for this most precious of gifts. The word Yoga is from the Sanskrit and is found in the oldest manuscripts in the world. It contains the idea of union meaning to tie, to harness, to yoke together. Its root yuj is found in the words join or yoke. The pathway of yoga is found in many forms in the East, as well as the West, yet its origin cannot be localised in time or space. It is not a religion but rather a discipline, followed by humans when they try to separate the body from the mind. Humans in Ancient India were symbolised as a chariot drawn by horses. The Chariot corresponds to the flesh, the horses are the senses and means of action, the driver is the mind, beside the driver is a passenger - the self. Yoga is the mastery of this team. Yoga dates back into the mists of time, perhaps 5,000 to 6,000 years.
The West has drawn its techniques of this complex system and simplified them under the name of yoga. Starting with this knowledge, it is up to everyone to make their own yoga, at a time such as today, when we sense that humans have lost touch with something very essential within themselves. Recognising that obsession with materialism does not bring about contentment nor peace of mind. Yoga can be thought of as quiet water, the ability to withdraw from this hurried, over busy life, to rebuild energies and peace of mind. It helps one realise oneself. It suits all ages from children to the senior years. We often see in Eastern mysticism a demand for an obedient within complete contrast to the Celtic belief in the free spirit of humans; which is why in my own classes, and my own practice, I have attempted to blend these thoughts, to help bring the student t a sense of freedom of choice, free spirit and independent, ones own sense of the Divine.
For many, Yoga suggests physical exercises or meditations or perhaps some exotic philosophy. It is thought of as a specific practise which is performed with regularity. Yes, Yoga is that and far more. It is not one but a series of practises, three methods very depending on the teacher yet the goal, no matter which School of Yoga studies remain the same: to unite the individual self with the cosmic self—the Divine. Yoga is not limited to leading a proper and correct, or meditative existence for short intervals of time;—rather it is your way of approaching daily life those you come into contract with. Awareness cannot be expanded for some period in the morning and rekindled again for some time in the evening; it must be expanded into all activities, in all relationships in all capacities, in all pursuits. That is Yoga - it is nothing more than each act of the day and nothing less than life itself.
We find the writings of Yoga philosophy in the VEDAS; the oldest literature in Sanskrit (approximately 1500 - 1,200 B.C.) The word VEDA means wisdom or truth. In the Vedas we find the word Tapas, which refers to a strong experience of the life force. The concept of Tapas is the link which joins the Vedas with Yoga as known in this day and age. The best known Veda is the Rigged, which describes the search for the supreme reality beyond multiplicity.
The UPANISHADS is a collection of writings approx 900-600 B.C. which came after the Vedas. They are well known ancient texts of Yoga meditation tradition. The word Upanishad means to sit close and near. The masters are the ancient forest academies in India, invited come sit close and near, hence the word. The word has yet a deeper significance which is understood only in the Tantric tradition called SAMAYACHARA. In this tradition a disciple sitting many thousands of miles away is considered sitting very close and near because of the transfusion of knowledge, which ours in special meditations, when the master directs his rays to the disciple. Knowledge obtained through listening. The search for the supreme inner reality is an integral part of the Upanishads which include direct references to Yoga.
The BHAGAVAD GITA in the six century B.C. came the best known of Yoga writings the epic poem of the Bhagavad-Gita. In the Gita, the Divine known as Brahman is incarnated as the Lord Krishna and throughout the poem teaches the warrior Arjuna how to follow his duties in life and therefore achieve liberation. ‘He who with supreme devotion to me will propagate this immensely profound philosophy among my devotees, shall doubtless come to time alone.’
According to the Gita, real Yoga is in the activity of life. Balance succeeds the realization of the opposites, this applies both to the practices of Yoga and to life itself. Through achievement of the cosmic rhythm of nature; through submission to it, humans can find equilibrium in their lives between activity and rest. The Bhagavad-Gita emphasises the importance of temperance in its philosophy of middle road.
Yoga comes into those who eat and fast moderately, who work moderately, who sleep and stay awake moderately. Yoga comes to them and ends all suffering.
