Series -AYT-3 Evolution of Knolwedge in Yoga
“There are four Vedas, I answered to a question from Gurudev (my Mentor) in Himalayas”. Mentor said, “Veda means wisdom that awakens one to a Reality (highest consciousness within) that all are essentially one and only one. How can you bind the Absolute knowledge to books alone”? Later he elaborated that book names were given is a matter of convenience but every name conveys the progress of knowledge of Yoga since Vedic period until today. What is unique that fundamentals (aims at self-discovery) remained the same over a period of 7000 years but expression, practices (sadhana) have under gone changes in different ages. The ancient masters were known as Rishis who wrote most of the books -contemplated, experimented and experienced with different practices before they are made public and given only to right prospects, receptive and have burning aspiration to lead a spiritual life
Knowledge and practices of Yoga
The knowledge and practices of Yoga had evolved since its origin and still evolving in Modern age. This evolution represents the eternal nature of wisdom of Yoga .The science of Yoga started the oral tradition in the absence of written documentation, known as Master-Disciple Tradition that is continuing even today. These masters also evolved the best method of teaching and education where the knowledge was transmitted to disciplines intellectually, intuitively and spiritually. As there are many beaches around the world merging into one ocean on the earth, there are many paths and practices experimented and scribed in different texts to reach to same goal of self realization. All literatures had dealt the very purpose of human existence, means and ways of self discovery and steps to self realization
In between 1000 BC and 300 AD that all texts were classified and organized, modern world knows as Indian Philosophy as Vedic and Non Vedic. The Vedic has six organs namely Purva Mimamsa, Mimamsa, Nyaya, Vasisika, Samkhya and Yoga and Non Vedic has three organs namely Buddhsim, Jainism, and Charvaka. The name of every Vedic classification conveys the path they follow for self discovery. The knowledge was classified as Mantra, Brahman, Aranyaka and Upanishad.
The word “Mantra” means the seed word that saves one from all sufferings and problems, who contemplates over it. Brahman texts teach how to use different mantra for removing sufferings from life and awakening to highest reality. Aryankas literally means texts written in forests by Yoga masters after deep contemplation. However, it deals with rites and rituals to attain realization. Upanishad means who sits near the master for experiential learning. There are about 108 Upanishad texts, mostly written in dialogue between master and disciple, deals with sufferings, causes and means to dissolve them. Mimamsa means investigation or inquiry into the nature of existence and truth. The Purva Mimamsa employ rites and rituals a mean while Uttar Mimamsa employs reasoning and reflection as means to reach to ultimate truth. Nyaya means “recursion”, used in the sense of “syllogism, inference”. The system of logic used here is unique and unparallel aims at self realization. Vaisesika postulates atomism i.e. all objects is reducible into finite number of atoms and reality transcends all.
It is Yoga system of Patanjali which is highly popular and considered as the authentic texts of Yoga but it takes its basis from another Samkhya system. Samkhya means enumeration that deals with three foundations of Yoga i.e. Prakriti or universal consciousness, Purusha or Transcendental consciousness and Jiva or Individual consciousness. Even Ramayana and Mahabharata deals deeply about different practices of Yoga. There are over 8- Gita (texts written in poetic forms) deals with different schools of Yoga of which Astavakra Gita is the highest and Bhagvad Gita is the most famous.
Patanjali – the great yoga master who codified the Yoga System into 195 Sutra or formula. These are like formula of chemistry that deals with every aspect of life of Human existence , nature, structure of mind, process of evolution of mind, states of physical, mental, emotional , social and spiritual well being. The text is a secular text in which even God was taken as means to reach to highest state of consciousness (Self Realization. It is interesting to note that yoga was so much popular during this period that it has been written in prose, poetry, scientific disciplines and socio-cultural-psychological disciplines.
Ask any question related to sufferings, their causes, and management, mind and nature of mind, stress management, awakening to spiritual consciousness, you will discover in Patanjali Yoga Sutra. This has further inspired and encouraged even scientists to study and conduct the research studies into many practices of Yoga.
Modern age witnessed an era of literatures that offered rational interpretation of many esoteric principles, integration with Modern science specially physiology, psychology, physics and chemistry. The very nature of Yoga is related to states of human consciousness, therefore, it is not difficult of philosophers, scientists, researchers to relate with their expertise and discover novel meanings that are beneficial to society as well as people at large.
You can be free from all sufferings HERE AND NOW
Lord Wanaka asked his master, Astavakra,” How to remove all sufferings from life?”
The master answered,” contemplate over life and awaken wisdom that “You” or Real Self and “Body” are separate entities and allow mind to rest in that Real Self, you will become Happy and Peaceful and free from all sufferings here and now.”
A little time for Contemplation, Reflection and Awareness (CRA) is required daily either in the morning or evening to change the direction of life that moves towards Peace, Harmony and Happiness. This is the message of one the greatest text – Astavakra Gita- written over 3000 years ago, is still relevant today for Modern Man.
The next blog we will cover “what yoga is not? ’ (Series –Authentic Yoga Tradition-4)
Contact Acharya Girish Jha at guruji220@gmail.com
Acharya Girish Jha, a master teacher, mentor, guide, and blogger and life coach holds MS, BS, Dip. Yoga, nature cure, Cert. in Research methodology, and Board Certified Professional Counselor (APA). A deep urge for self-discovery inspired to spend yrs. in Himalayas and with many yoga and spiritual traditions. He learnt from more than 100 Himalayan masters, teachers and saints. He has the credit of teaching over 100000 people during the last over 33 years, conducting over 1000 workshops, seminars, and talks, actively conducting res. projects in Asthma, Diabetes, Stress Management, High Altitude Sickness research, meditation and stress management, offered life coaching (integral wisdom with customized practices) to more than 500 couples, conducted over 300 Radio talk shows, anchored over 30 TV serials on Yoga. He has experience of over 28000 hours of teaching (6000 hrs. of life coaching and spiritual counseling), contributed over 200 articles/papers on yoga and yoga research, and developed specialized practices based on conscious evolution and transformation.
He came to USA in 2007 on a high priority visa, now permanent resident has already trained more than 5000 people, life coached & spiritual counseled more than 200 people; Conducted specialized programs for medical doctors of Columbia University, NYC; stress mgmt. program for doctors & prof. in PA; intensive customized program for inmates in Trenton, NJ; Healthy Aging Program for seniors in senior center, new Brunswick, NJ.
His designed and developed programs like Turiya Rest Relaxation Prog., Shanti meditation, Personal Transformation Prog., Stress Mgmt. Prog. ( customized as Personal Stress , Youth Stress , Healthy Aging for seniors, and Corporate Stress mgmt. programs) and Life Coaching ( integral wisdom of east and west delivered includes simple, easy and effective tools and practices for conscious evolution and transformation)
