The Comprehensive Meaning of Yoga - Essay Example

The Comprehensive Meaning of Yoga The Hindu philosophy is based on Yoga. Yoga is such a broad and comprehensive term. It is not just the bodily posture as most of the Occident perceive. The word Yoga appeared in Bhagavad Geeta as a solution given to the brave warrior Arjuna by Lord Krishna himself. He uses the term Yoga many times in Bhagavad Geeta. Lord Krishna describes three major paths of Yoga; Karma Yoga (the path of selfless action), Bhakti Yoga (Path of Devotion), and Jnyana Yoga (Path of self transcending knowledge.) These are the three paths of liberation from worldly sufferings and experiencing the ultimate happiness through attaining the *Ishwar. The present paper focuses on the term Yoga in a philosophical and spiritual perspective. Before discussing it from theological point of view; it is essential to know the background of the appearance of Bhagavad Geeta. The background of the theories of Yoga in Bhagavad Geeta: The war of Mahabharata was one of the most dreadful wars in the history of human civilization. It may be compared with the Trojan War or War of Troy in Greek mythology. During war Lord Krishna was the charioteer of Arjuna, who was a great warrior and the most skilled person in archery. It was a time when he had to wage the dreadful war against his own siblings and his close relatives. Among them were his teachers, his cousin brothers, and his great grandfather. Footnote: *Ishwar: Ishwar is a broad term and that is why instead of calling Him God, we should call Him Ishwar i.e. Supreme Lord. When they encountered face to face on the battlefield, Arjuna was so dejected that he put down his weapons on the ground and surrendered himself. He started lamenting and told Lord Krishna that he could not fight against his close people. He does not want victory, nor does he want status, reputation and kingdom by killing his own people. And thus emerged Geeta; to counsel Arjuna, Lord Krishna explains the universal mystery and the mortal appearance of body and infinite existence of soul, which is non perishable. It teaches us to overcome the dejection and sorrow and be stoic even in the most troublesome period of our life. It is one of the truths of human birth explained by Geeta; that the life of human being is very special and differs from other species on the earth. Rosen Steven in his Bhagavad Geeta analysis says, “Man is meant to be thoughtful. Human life is meant for more than merely eating, sleeping, mating, and defending – the basic animalistic propensities.” (Steven Rosen 2007) He further says, “We are truly human only when we use our body and mind to pursue the spiritual elements. (Steven Rosen 2007) It is the foremost thing that the Truth is one, but the paths towards knowing truth are different. Yoga means not just a body posture as mentioned above. It is a sacred union, between human and the Absolute or ultimate reality. Bhagavad Geeta is divided into eighteen chapters. First six chapters talk about Karma Yoga. Next six chapters discuss Bhakti Yoga and last six chapters are on Jnana Yoga. In fact it is a random division, as each chapter has incorporated all these three paths. Nishkam Karmayog: (An action done without any expectations) The term is associated with selfless action, an action, in which you should act without expecting fruit or good results always. Nishkam karma is a central principal of Karma Yoga. Lord Krishna consoles Arjuna by saying, ‘Giving up attachment, perform actions as a practise of Yoga, Arjuna. Be the same whether you are successful or unsuccessful; this equanimity is what called Yoga (2.48)'Nishkam Karmayoga requires that the action be performed with detachment and mindfulness, and its practice leads to calmness and equanimity.' (Dr. Collins Jane. 2009) Lord Krishna constantly propounds the significance of Karma or Action. The ultimate goal of every human being is the union with the divine. It is because this is the ultimate and absolute truth. Every human being has been sent on earth to perform a certain task. It is the wish of the Supreme Lord. He further tells Arjuna that whatever results are there out of the war, you should not worry. Your duty is to fight against those who have done unjust. Lord Krishna warns the people that there is no escape from action. You cannot run away from action (Karma). It is not mere renunciation, which will lead you to the ultimate objective. Everyone, willingly or unwillingly performs some action. Lord Krishna in Chapter 3, Verse48, tells the real meaning of Karma Yoga, “Giving up attachment, perform actions (Karma) as a practice of Yoga. It is not misinterpreted that Krishna was in favour of violence and war. He is telling that it is the duty of a warrior to eradicate unjust, malpractice and bewilderment happening all around the world. To establish the natural law, it is necessary to fight against evils and against those who are involved in evil work and disturbing the innocent people, in a verse of Bhagavad Geeta, being the supreme God (Ishwar) he has promised the mankind: “Whenever there is a decline of righteousness, and the dominance of unrighteousness, I re-incarnate myself to teach Dharma” (Law of Nature)” (chapter IV, verse 7 Bhagavad Geeta) “To protect virtuous people, who are always engaged in discovering truth, and to destroy wicked and evil people from the world, I will repeatedly return in each and every Yuga (age) and re-establish the rules of Dharma* ( duty) for future generation.”And for establishing law of nature on the earth and the destruction of evil things, if war is necessary, then the warriors should do it. This promise has been kept by the ultimate God in every age. Sometimes he arrived in the form of Jesus Christ Sometimes Muhammad sometimes Mahavir (Jainism) and sometimes Lord Buddha. Bhakti Yoga: Bhakti means deep faith in Almighty and completes devotion towards Him; rather an affection and unconditional love towards the divine. Yoga as explained by Michael Beloved, is an eightfold process of progressively harder disciples. Lord Krishna explains that one does not have to do Yoga to be a devotee of Lord Krishna. The devotees’ innocence is dear to Lord. The love of milkmaids (Gopis) for Krishna was unconditional and innocent. They did not know religious performance, or religious activities. For them, their love and reason to live life was just their Krishna. They just knew to love Him. They wanted His love and His companionship. Rest of things, i.e. religious rules, customs were no matter for these innocent damsels. On the contrary, Arjuna, the warrior, was very brave intellectual and so he was a Yogi in real sense. The types of affection of the intellectual Arjuna was Yogic – a disciplined affection; while the affection of the innocent damsels towards Krishna was non Yogic – undisciplined affection. But, for Krishna, it is not important. Love and affection is important for Supreme Lord. It is the Yoga where the mind of a devotee is constantly towards the Ultimate power. Footnote: *Dharma: Dharma is always misinterpreted as a translation of religion. But Dharma is not a religion, it is a way of life. It is a duty which we are supposed to perform in our life. In that case Hindu is not a religion but a way of life and duties of human beings. . The person in Bhakti Yoga, dedicates each and every action to the Supreme Lord, prostrate themselves before Him and completely surrender to Him. “One has to move from the stage of being an intellectual to that of being a neophyte Yogi. (Beloved Michael 2011) Jnana Yoga: Jnana (pronounce as “gyana”) means knowledge; a knowledge of absolute. It is mainly associated with individual consciousness and its union with ultimate consciousness. In our day today life we pursue knowledge; knowledge of computer, history, maths, science etc. But this knowledge can never fulfil our pursuit towards the real and ultimate knowledge. The real knowledge is to know about ourselves. Who am I? Why am I here in this world? Why am I suffering? Where does everything come from? Thus the real knowledge lies in overcoming our egoism and our desires. Jnana Yoga is a constant pursuit of knowledge, which makes us know how to control our mind and senses and concentrate in our spiritual self. It helps to be free from bondage and the cycle of the births. While telling the characteristics of wisdom, Lord Krishna firmly says that there is no other purifier like wisdom. While narrating the significance of wisdom or knowledge, Lord Krishna says that one, who has perfected yoga, ultimately finds wisdom within himself. The knowledgeable person in real sense thus can see himself/herself in all beings. The action, devotion and knowledge are seen in the path chosen by the greatest prophets and saints. Mahavir, the founder of Jain religion and Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism had chosen the path of knowledge i.e. Jnana to attain the Ultimate knowledge. Jesus Christ followed the path of devotion to attain the Supreme Lord. Hence he becomes the dearest child of Supreme Lord. “I will never be separated from one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, nor will he ever be separated from Me.” (6.30 Bhagavad Geeta). Prophet Muhammad on the other hand followed the path of Karma. He worshiped Allah with his good action and good deed, never expected the result. If we look back to the life of prophets and saints, we come to know that they have followed different paths but the ultimate aim of everyone was to attain Supreme Lord. The path may be different, the way of worshiping may be different finally every honest worship reaches to the one and only Supreme Soul. No religious, cultural and social barriers are there for worship. No one is inferior or superior before the Supreme Lord. This is the message Bhagavad Geeta has conveyed to the entire world. Sources: 1. Beloved Michael (2011) “Brahma Yoga Bhagavad Gita” Michael Beloved Publications. 2. Bhagavad Geeta – Various editions from internet. 3. Steven Rosen (2007)“Krishna’s Song : A New Look at Bhagavad Geeta. Pg. 1& 2 4. Dr. Collins Jane. (2009)“Cosmopsychology: The Psychology of Humans as Spiritual Beings, Xlibris Corporation publication Read More