The effect of our thoughts

Just as water, air, and solids are food for the body, thoughts are food for the mind. If we do not have healthy, positive, and spiritually illuminating thoughts we cannot sustain a joyful mind. The body and mind are the tools to attain the highest purpose and meaning in life. If these tools themselves are faulty, it is absolutely impossible to envision the meaning and purpose in life. In order to maintain a radiant body and a brilliant mind, we must pay attention to the sources that provide nourishment to our body and mind.

According to the scriptures such as the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and tantric texts, the quality of food is dependent on the quality of the soil. The quality of the soil is dependent on the quality of the water. The quality of the water is dependent on the quality of the clouds. The quality of the clouds is dependent on the quality of the air in space. The quality of the air is dependent on what we produce on earth and deposit in the air, and the quality of space is dependent on the quality of the sound we produce through our speech. Speech is a reflection of our thoughts. Therefore, the quality of speech is dependent on our thought patterns.

-- Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, The Himalayan Institute, Honesdale

Keeping the Vows

         (This article was written by me for the February 2013 issue of Complete Wellbeing magazine)

The core of thepractice of Yoga is not in the Postures that we follow in classes but in the principles that form the roots on which this mighty tree stands

Yoga science is said to be thousands of years old. Infact it is not just a science but also a philosophy, being one of the six systems of Indian philosophy. Originally, taught in ashrams or monasteries through a Guru-disciple medium, it later got popularised through mass teachings as traditions and lineages slowly started to fade into the background of a fast-developing modern world.

Widely believed to be a holistic and ‘well-rounded’ science, Yoga was always meant to provide an aspirant with physical, mental and spiritual benefits. In theancient times, it was a common practice, for those suffering physically or mentally to retreat to the ashrams of the yogis and build their strength through practices advised within the system of Yoga. When I say mental suffering,what I am referring to is disturbances caused by the ‘adhis’ such as anger,jealousy, insecurity, etc, that often lead to diseases or illnesses. The ancient Yogis, it seems, were well-versed with the effects of the Mind over theBody, what we commonly term as psychosomatic today. These yogis knew that inorder for a human being to live happily and successfully, he didn’t just require a series of exercises that would strengthen his limbs but also a systematic and healthy way of ‘being’ through mental and spiritual vows aimedat developing his character and personality, proving to us that Yoga was used as a form of therapy in the ancient times as well.

It is indeed saddening to see how this holistic and well-rounded science has been reduced to a ‘series of postures’ today. I often encounter practitioners who boast of aten or fifteen year ‘practice’, and upon my further inquiry into the nature ofthese ‘practices’, I am shocked to discover that it simply is an asana practice twice a day! I am almost always tempted to ask these great practitioners how well they are doing with the principles of Yoga and whether they have managed to incorporate these into their daily lives in order to refine their personalitiesand build character but often have to bite my tongue and hold back.

The  practice of Yoga was shared with mankind by the great sages as a roadmap to liberation and freedom from suffering. They seemed to understand the conflict that human beings struggled with to live both in the internal and the external world, hence they created practical methods to resolve these conflicts. Their main teaching to mankind, through the philosophyof Yoga, was that man’s true nature is divine, but he remains unaware of thisand believes his body to be the final reality. With the body being subject todeath and decay, he lives in constant fear of losing ‘himself’ at what he perceives to be the end. The practice of Yoga leads man to discover his true inner self, allowing him to rest in its infinite nature while performing hisduties in the external world bringing harmony to his existence. One can defineYoga in the words of a Himalayan sage as, “Religion tells you what to do and whatnot to do but Yoga teaches you how to be”.

In theBhagvad Gita, Lord Krishna mentions the word ‘Yoga’ on numerous occasions,presenting to Arjuna, the different paths of Yoga that an aspirant could choose from to find liberation. These main paths are Karma Yoga (the path of action),Bhakti Yoga (the path of devotion), Jnana Yoga (the path of Knowledge) and RajaYoga (a combination of all the other paths) also known as the royal path. Thedifferences in these paths are only in the preliminary stages, the end goal of all being perfection and realization.

It is said that for those of us who live in the world, Raja Yoga is ideal as it combines the teachings of Karma (action), Bhakti (devotion) and Jnana (Knowledge) into a practical path that leads one to the development and mastery of the physical,mental and spiritual. Hence it is recommended for householders and non-renunciates.

The origin of Raja Yoga can be traced back to thousands of years and the wisdom contained therein is said to be of a ‘revealed’ nature and not created by man. Around 200B.C., these teachings were collated and systematized by a great sage called Patanjali, who felt there was a great need to present the teachings in an organized, easy to follow way. Patanjali wrote the well known Raja Yogatreatise called The Yoga Sutras, a classical text that guides an aspirant torealization of his true Self. In this treatise, Patanjali shared with aspirants the eightfold path or ‘Ashtanga’ (‘Asht’ meaning eight and ‘anga’ meaninglimbs) system which present a practical way to achieving liberation. These eight limbs are: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyanaand samadhi. These eight steps enable an aspirant to go from the gross to the subtle, systematically guiding one to deepen one’s practices in order todiscover the true Self.

It often saddens me to hear people speak of Ashtanga Yoga as a series of asanas, whichit certainly is not. And neither was it conceived or created by a recent lineage. The real Ashtanga Yoga is simply eight rungs of a ladder (Asana beingonly one of them) meant to lead one to self-realization. I hope that this article will remove some of the misconceptions that people have about AshtangaYoga today. When I encounter people who tell me they practice Ashtanga Yoga I am always tempted to ask them how they are doing with Pratyahara (withdrawal ofthe senses) but then realize that they probably are just ‘parroting’ what they have been taught. Some people even mistake Patanjali to be the creator of Ashtanga Yoga and that isn’t true either. Patanjali only systematized the teachings for the benefit of mankind and these teachings existed long before him.

The first four steps of the Ashtanga system comprise the path of Hatha Yoga – Yama,Niyama, Asana, Pranayama – which is a preliminary path to the final stages ofRaja Yoga. If you practice asanas, then you are practicing Hatha Yoga. The manydifferent forms of asana practice that exist today are only different ways to perform the asanas and not a different form of ‘Yoga’.

Both Yama and Niyama comprise the principles on which the practice of Raja Yoga is based. They are vows that a practitioner makes to himself in order to let the practice manifest completely. Yamas are five observances that a practitioner isencouraged to follow: Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-covetousness),Brahmacharya (continence) and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness). These five bring about behavioral modifications in an individual and enable one to form better relationships with others. The observance of the Yamas lead one to becomingaware of their imperfections and building virtues rather than further strengthening these imperfections. The five Niyamas that an aspirant is encouraged to follow are Shaucha (cleanliness), Santosha (contentment), Tapas(austerity to bring about purity), Svadhyaya (study to obtain knowledge) andIshwara Pranidhana (surrender to a greater reality). Observing the niyamas is said to enable the aspirant to build habit patterns that bring about purity of thought and action. Together both the Yamas and Niyamas allow an individual to overcome one’s imperfections and bring about true transformation. Given the reality of the times we live in this becomes vital as most diseases and illnesses are said to be caused by emotional and mental disturbances. Hence,the practice of yamas and niyamas remain a necessary and important part of the practice of Yoga.

The ancient yogis explain that if the mind is constantly full of unsettling thoughts and emotions, then no amount of asana practice will be able to help you. The asanasallow you to strengthen the external limbs and maintain the health of your physical body, but it is the mind that influences the body eventually, proving that asanas and pranayama have limited value when done in an isolated manner.

For example,the practice of Ahimsa or non-violence does not just refer to being non-violent in action, but also to being non-violent in thought as thoughts often manifest as actions and if you have a habit of thinking violent thoughts, chances arethey will manifest into actions one day. Additionally, being non-violent starts with being non-violent towards ourselves first – avoiding berating ourselves, and putting ourselves through emotional and physical pain by indulging in self-destructive behaviour. If you observe a physically violent person, you will always notice some form of self-destructive behaviour before he or she starts acting out destructively. I often see people venting their aggression on their bodies in an asana class and I wonder what sort of Yoga they are practicing if they have to punish the body by forcing it into postures that itis not ready for. The end result of such a practice is always injury and thelesson, unless explained by a competent teacher remains unlearnt. We must startwith ourselves first. We must observe how we think and act. We must observe ourselves in all our relationships. Where and in what scenario can we spot self-destructive behaviour? This is a good way to begin observing the principles of Yoga.

In additionto observing Yamas and Niyamas, Patanjali talks of the four brahma-viharas or right attitudes, which when followed in addition to Yamas and Niyamas bring about purification of thoughts and emotions. These four attitudes are:friendliness towards the happy; compassion for the unhappy; delight in the virtuous and indifference towards the wicked. When practiced together, all ofthese bring about chitta prasadanam, clarityand purification of the mind, thereby loosening karmic bonds.

Now I know that one may feel overwhelmed by all of these principles and the task may seem impossible, but it is doable and progress can be made if one takes it slow allowing for slip-ups now and then but remaining committed to building a firmer foundation. And once this foundation is made, the tree of Yoga will grow into a mighty one, bearing the fruits of tranquility, serenity and a deep inner strength that enables one to stand tall in the external world. Imagine what sort of a world we would be living in then! When each one of us is non-violent.When each one of us practices non-covetousness; when each one of us practices truthfulness; when each of us exercises self-restraint. We wouldn’t have to look elsewhere for heaven, because we will have created it right here, in our physical world. 

Here are excerpts of an interview I did with The Yoga House Mumbai (www.yogahouse.in), where I was teaching a workshop recently :

YH: Aditi, your upoming workshop, “Inner wisdom through outer body” sounds interesting, tell us something about it

AG: Well, the intention behind the workshop is to help students obtain a deeper experience from their Yoga practice. And I don’t mean deep as in an increase in flexibility but deeper as in moving inwards, discovering the Mind-Body equation. Most practitioners understand an intensive practice to be physically hardcore but a practice can be mentally intensive as well. When we come face to face with our own impatience, restlessness and fears in an asana, we are discovering something a lot deeper that never gets addressed, let alone worked upon. Normally, we take an asana class and for us that is Yoga. The practice of Yoga involves a lot more than just asanas. The emphasis on observing the breath, making the body and the mind still is not emphasized as much. As a result our consciousness stays only on the physical aspect of things. The inward journey never begins. I always tell my students that Yoga is about conquest of the Mind and not conquest of the body. Seek to control the Mind through the practice, understand why each posture affects us differently, not just physically but also mentally and emotionally.  And to be able to make that discovery one must make an attempt to go beyond the physical. In this workshop we will seek to understand our Mind,  and see how it affects not just our bodies but also our quality of life.

YH: So its going to be a relaxed, slow practice?

AG: An interesting choice of words. I have never quite understood why people address a practice as slow. Holding postures for some time, is a good test of the condition of the Mind. Can your Mind become still during a posture? Are you able to accomplish that? Or is it all over the place, waiting to jump to the next posture? If you’re feeling ‘bored’ during the practice, clearly your Mind is not in it, only your body is. And an asana is complete only when your body is aligned, the breath is directed and the mind is focussed and still. An asana isin’t just about twisting your limbs into one position and then thinking about when the teacher will ask you to come out of it. If you learn to dive deep within yourself, explore what’s happening to the mind during the asana, watching the breath, becoming aware of what’s happening there you are beginning to come close to what the yogis wanted you to discover through your practice. If you want pearls you have to dive deep into the ocean, pearls don’t float on the surface.

I often have people come and ask me, “Is your class intensive?” and I reply, “depends on what you’re definition of ‘intense’ is. What is intensive for me may not be intensive for you and vice versa. For me a ‘mentally’ intensive practice—one that brings me face to face with my Mind and emotions -- is more of a challenge than a physical one. I mean its easier to build strength of muscle, but its difficult to face our fears in a posture, confront our emotions of restlessness, irritability in the practice. And how will you face these things if you keep jumping from one pose to another? Where is the time to become still and observe? I’ve seen people practice asanas for 15 years and they do consider themselves very accomplished, and on a physical level it is, but if you ask them to make the body and Mind still for 10 minutes they can’t do that. What does that say? That for 15 years you are stuck in the doorway and haven’t moved forward. Asanas are only a doorway to something much greater that is waiting to be discovered. Don’t get stuck in the door. Move forward through an inward practice. In the workshop we will learn to perform a practice with awareness and mindfulness, allowing the Mind to reveal to us what we have within us. It requires courage and willingness definitely, but the fruits of such a practice greatly outweighs the efforts that one invests into it.

YH: What is the structure of the workshop going to be like?

AG: We will begin with Pranayama. Specifically, Anulom Vilom (Alternate Nostril breathing).  Talking about and discovering  the reasons behind the invention of this Pranayama, we will learn the basics of Svarodaya (Science of the Breath), move into a series of asanas discussing their origins, benefits and learn to bring mindfulness into the asana practice by holding the postures and allowing the breath to create expansion. Normally we deepen the posture by pulling or pushing ourselves into it, but a true practice involves expansion of asana by expanding the breath. We end with a deep meditation that will take you deeper into the recesses of the Mind, away from the physical, allowing you to surface back with awareness, clarity and serenity.

YH: sounds wonderful. Does one need to have any yoga experience to join the workshop or can beginners join it as well?

AG: The practice of mindfulness and awareness is for everyone -- Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced practitioners.  Everyone seeks inner peace.  And with our lives in the external world getting more and more chaotic and fast paced, the need to calm the Mind is even greater today. Learning to be mindful and calm from within will help us cope with the stresses of everyday life. What we learn in this workshop will be simple and practical. And not to forget, it can be easily incorporated into your existing practice. Nobody is asking you to abandon your current practice, we are simply offering an addition to it – and one that you will greatly benefit from. As the great sage Patanjali says in The Yoga Sutras, ‘Yogash chitta vritti nirodhah, Tadah drashtuh svarupe avasthanam’, Yoga is learning to control the modifications of the Mind, only then can one rest in its true nature”. The texts highlight the importance of keeping the body healthy through asanas so that one may develop and maintain the practice of Meditation through which one explores the reality within. Hence if you go through the eight limbs of yoga (Ashtang) Dharana (Concentration) and Dhyana (Meditation) always follow Asana and Pranayama. Asana and Pranayama are meant to prepare you for the practice that lies ahead. Like I said, don’t get stuck in the door, move ahead. We exist in both the inner and the outer worlds at the same time, the only thing we need to learn is a way to create a balance between both. Meditation shows us how to accomplish that. Its fruits of clarity, serenity and stillness expand our sense of identity and we learn to live in the external world peacefully and meaningfully.

Staying afloat

There are times when you find yourself under water. You have no idea how you got there but you're there. Maybe it was carelessness. Or perhaps an overly optimistic dive into waters you didn't know ran so deep.
As you find yourself struggling for air, fighting for your survival, panic sets in and you start kicking and pushing, using all the strength you have to bring yourself up to the surface, where you know a breath of air awaits. Never before has that breath of air seemed this out of reach and never before has it seemed so vital.

 The harder you kick, the more you realize that your Life indeed depends on your pushing through. You could allow yourself to drown or you could use every iota of your now failing strength  to push through. "If I do end up drowning, at least it will be while trying to make it" you tell yourself. And you push with all your might. Suddenly what seemed like a losing battle now seems to be a conquerable one. The rise to the surface  seems slow, maybe its because you don't have enough strength or maybe the resistance is too much. But you can feel yourself coming up, the surface is now within reach.

That first gasp of air feels like the greatest gift anyone could ever give you. But did someone actually give it to you? Nobody gave it to you. You were the one doing the pushing, the kicking, the believing. the surviving. And you survived. You survived being under water. When everything within you had said it was impossible, that you were in too deep, you somehow found the strength to believe, to push through.

"One more time. Let me try a little harder this time", you said to yourself. And it was that one last push that brought you up. Up to that gasp of air that awaited you. Almost as though it was meant for you and no one else. Almost as though it had always been there. And when you found it, you discovered there was more, that there would always be enough. All you had to do was push to the surface. If you found a way to push to the surface, you'd know there was no need to gasp anymore. No need to believe that being under water was  forever. being under water was the end. It wasn't.

As you start to take Life in, you realize that you aren't under water anymore. You're just in it. That's one step forward -- not under, just in it. Suddenly you ask yourself  "How do I survive this? How do I get out?" Not realizing that the greatest gift that could ever be received has already been received by you --the gift of Life. A minute ago you were under water, now you're just in it. The gift of Life was given. But did you receive it? You're so wrapped up in yet another reason to worry about your survival that you forget to be grateful for the gift of Life --the gift that you were praying for a minute ago when you were under water. How quickly you forget!

Survival it seems is always at risk. And always on our mind. At first, you wanted to reach the surface, now you want to get out of the water. And so the kicking and pushing continues. But the resistance seems too much. Your will  seems too small., the battle seems too big. The water that you find yourself in, stretches beyond the horizon. The kicking and pushing that helped you get to the surface, now seem inadequate to get you ashore. Doubt and hopelessness creep in, closely followed by frustration. And once again, you ask yourself, "Will I ever survive this? How far could I go even if I tried?" And you give up. You prepare to embrace your fate, unable to push any further. Your limbs hurt, tears burn your cheeks and the pain of dejection threatens to overwhelm you before the water can. You stop kicking, You just let go.

And you discover its been a while since your last kick, your last push. And you discover that neither the water nor the dejection have overwhelmed you. You find yourself afloat. Giving up the kicking and the pushing enabled you to float. The environment that seemed overwhelming, the elements that supposedly provided the resistance are now carrying you, only because you let go and allowed yourself to float. No kicking, no pushing, just floating. Nobody taught you that, but something within you knew. And you realize its a far better way to be. Just letting go of the resisting and floating. And as you float, you find yourself noticing all that you took for granted. You find the sky is beautiful to look at. You notice that its a richer blue than you had imagined. You learn that it looks over you even when you're not looking at it. That it remains committed even when you're not committed to it. You find that possesses a softness that only a mother's embrace possesses. And you feel comforted. You feel held. You're not alone, you only thought you were.
You learn to observe and you discover that when you close your eyes its night and when you open your eyes its day. You realize the importance of listening. Listening to everything that being in the moment has to share with you. An infinte number of things can be revealed to you right now, if only you let go and listen. If you decide to just float and watch.

You discover that kicking and pushing may serve their purpose but sometimes its floating that really keeps you afloat. You slowly learn to trust and let go, knowing that the more you let go the lighter you feel and the easier it is to float. Until one day you discover that it doesn't matter if you reach the shore, for now its enough to just float.

How to be a good student of Yoga

If you have just begun your yoga practice and want to know more about how to approach this age old science, here are 6 tips every practitioner should bear in mind to get the most out of the practice.

1.       Clear your mind before a class:

We live in such a fast-paced world that we are constantly running from point A to point B, carrying around with us impressions, to-do lists and worries not just from our previous engagement or meeting, but also from the previous day. Try and arrive a few minutes before your asana class and calm yourself by sitting in silence with your eyes closed. Remember, Yoga is an inward journey that is made through the body. The inward journey can be embarked on only when the mind is made calm. Instead of engaging in idle chatter which only creates more stimulation in the mind, try and compose yourself and prepare to go within.

2.       Be considerate:

An important principle of your practice should be developing consideration for those around you. If you find yourself arriving late for class, wait until the initial prayer is completed and the teacher is ready to let you in. Try not make your presence felt by throwing your mat on the floor while others are in silence. Respect the environment that you are in by adapting to it. We often expect others to be considerate of us but rarely realize that we too must inculcate the feeling towards others. This consideration should not just be limited to other fellow practitioners, but should extend to the world around you. Yoga was not designed to just be practiced for an hour on a mat. It was meant to be inculcated as a way of life. Seek to understand its principles as much as learning the next asana.

3.       Approach the practice with humility:

Remind yourself that the knowledge that is being shared with you in class is an ancient one that was developed by Sages and has helped millions move towards peace, happiness and fulfillment. Humility is an important quality for a yoga practitioner and is often indicative of how much one has grown on the path.

4.       Surrender:

I often encounter students who come to class to ‘teach’. Surrendering to the teacher, regardless of how much one knows about the path, is a must to move forward. It also teaches us to be open minded to another perspective or method. Its good to remind ourselves that only an empty cup can be filled with something. If you wish to gain knowledge and understanding make sure you make yourself the right medium to receiving it.

5.       Make the right selection:

In today’s times when we have endless ‘styles’ ofasana practices available to us, its important to pick a style and teacher that connects with us deeply. Try not to get carried away by what your friends are doing. Remember that they are on their own journey and you are on yours. If a dynamic style practice suits your best friend, it doesn’t mean that it may be best for you. Take your time to make your selection. Approach different styles with openness, be completely present while the teacher is teaching and then ascertain whether or not the practice is right for you. Likewise with the teacher. See how much of the practice has manifested in the teacher by the way they act, talk and teach. When you find a style and teacher that appeal to you, give them your commitment and allow them to lead you on the path of sef-discovery and transformation.

6.       Make a commitment to yourself:

The practice of Yoga is an internal journey. And this journey is undertaken with commitment: a commitment to being a happier, healthier you. No matter what comes your way during the course of the day, keep that commitment to yourself by taking time out for your practice. Remember, in order for a seed to grow into a mighty tree, one must nurture and cultivate it with the commitment of sunlight, water and tender loving care. Your yoga practice is the nurturing you need to remain connected with who you really are and to not get lost in the mundane things of the everyday world.  Once you realize this, making the commitment will become easy.

A lot is said these days about the quality of yoga teachers and while I agree that it is a subject that deserves much thought and discussion, I feel not enough is said about what qualities a student must possess to deserve a good teacher. Most people expect a good teacher out of a sense of entitlement, which may not be the best approach to have. The important question to ask ourselves is, “What sort of a student am I? Before I start to criticize teachers as good or terrible, let me first check my own approach or ‘bhav’ (feeling ) toward the practice”. Prepare yourself to deserve before you can desire. As the old saying goes, “When the student is ready, the Master will appear” Keep pursuing the practice with sincerity and honesty and soon enough you will discover the practice manifesting in your life in deeply enriching ways. The presence of a good teacher only being a small such part of it.

The ties that bind...and liberate!

I was inspired to write this post after seeing this touching picture of a son serving his mother in her final days by taking her on a pilgrimage. The man in the photograph has been identified as Kailash, and is a resident of Madhya Pradesh, India. When this picture was taken he was on his way to Badrinath (yes on foot!) so that his old mother could fulfill her desire of making the holy pilgrimage before her death. 


I am amazed that even in today's times, where people don't have time for anything but themselves, there still exist people like Kailash, who have put everything aside (even their own comfort) to serve their parents in their last days. Kailash is already being called a modern day Shravan Kumar and I would easily agree with this comparison. 


Growing up in a typical Hindu household, our growing years were filled with stories and myths that contained lessons in how to follow your dharma and make performing your duties your highest responsibility. Looking after and serving your parents was high up in the order of duties and Shravan Kumar's story inspired me so much that it made it all the more easier, at least for me. 


Shravan Kumar was known to be a dutiful son who considered serving his parents his most important responsibility. Both his parents were blind and when they expressed a desire to perform a pilgrimage before they left their body, Shravan Kumar took it upon himself to realize their last desire. Since in those times travelling was arduous and there was no way his blind parents could make it on foot, he created two baskets, that hung from a sling which was supported on his shoulder. He carried both his parents from shrine to shrine with such devotion that he attracted the admiring gaze of many during that time. One night as the three of them were taking their evening rest, Shravan Kumar's parents asked him to fetch some water to drink. Shravan Kumar walked to a nearby pond to obtain a water and that is when tragedy struck. Dashrath (popularly known as the father of Lord Rama), the King who ruled during that time was hunting in the same area and was waiting by the pond for the next animal to come by. Since it was dark Dashrath mistook the sound of water being collected to be that of a thirsty animal having its fill, and fired an arrow in the direction. After a moment's silence he heard the cry of a young man and rushed to the spot to find the arrow pierced through Shravan Kumar's heart. Filled with guilt, the King fell at Shravan Kumar's feet begging for forgiveness. Knowing that his last moment was near, Shravan Kumar requested the king to take the pot of water he had filled for his thirsty parents to them and died. The King found Shravan Kumar's parents nearby and related the events as they had transpired. Having lost their only son and filled with grief, Shravan Kumar's parents cursed the King, saying that he too would suffer the same fate: he too would die of grief after losing his son. This came true much later after Lord Rama was exiled into the forest, and unable to bear the pain of being apart from his most beloved son, King Dashrath died overcome by both grief and guilt.


Each time I hear Shravan Kumar's story I am filled with admiration for him. His desire to serve his parents and honour their last wish, touches me so much that I wonder if one can really inculcate such devotion, not just towards one's parents but also towards performing one's duties. 


As I look around me I see children not just ill-treating their parents but also conveniently leaving them in old age homes to spend the last few years of their life in isolation and loneliness. It saddens me to visit an old age home and I often ask myself what makes this justifiable? Our parents spend every waking moment of their lives thinking about our welfare and we cannot even bring ourselves to spend time with them when they need us the most ? From the time a child is born, parents are only consumed by feeding time, bathing time, time to change, time to put the baby to sleep. And all of this happens at the cost of their own sleep, their own comfort. Why ? Because the baby has priority over everything else. When the infant grows into a young child, the same parents are consumed by a new set of responsibilities: wake the child up, give them a bath, get them dressed for school, feed them their breakfast, drive them to school, pick them up from school, feed them lunch, put them to sleep, take them to the park, bring them back, do homework, feed them dinner and put them to bed. Only after this do they find an hour or so for themselves. Perhaps this is why our scriptures say that parenting (when done with love and devotion) becomes a spiritual exercise. It becomes a way to lose the sense of me and myself. A parent performs the ultimate sacrifice of dissolving himself/herself and keep the attention on the child, serving it constantly until it becomes able to fend for itself. And I'm not even talking about the financial sacrifices that they have to make to give the child the very best. That in my eyes, is the least important when compared to the emotional and mental involvement that a parent has to make to take care of a child. By the time the child is able to support himself the parents become weary with age and realize their whole life has gone by in serving the child. Hopeful, that the same child they nurtured and gave everything to, would now  take care of them, allowing them to feel cared for and nurtured, they look towards the child only to be told that the child is 'too busy' with his life and has no time to call or visit. When the parent falls ill and as the end approaches, the child realizes that 'caring for' someone who can't fend for themselves would take too much investment in terms of time and energy and decides to place them in a home that cares for old people, not realizing that at such a time, the parents need their children near them and not some stranger for whom he/she is just another patient. Why don't we for a moment stop to think what would have happened to us if our parents had placed us in such a home that cares for babies and children, because they didn't want to invest their time and energy in bringing us up? How would we really feel at being 'abandoned', unable to relate to our environment? I'm sure we would be quick to call such a parent (and they do exist) self-centered, but what do we call ourselves when we do the same to them ? 


It is said that the child's first Guru is his mother and I believe this because I see such inspiring ones around me. Sleep-deprived, food-deprived, they rally on. Making their child their only priority. I cannot even begin to fathom the pain that a mother goes through when the child leaves her to live alone in her old age, because they consider her 'too difficult to live with' or because 'they need their own space'. Have we all really become so selfish that we can't look beyond ourselves? 


Its time for us to really put emphasis on the roles that we came into this world to play: as a human being, as a child, as a partner and as a parent. Performing our duties and playing our roles to the best of our ability is the highest dharma. And its only when we play our roles lovingly and with complete devotion that we can liberate ourselves. Indulging ourselves and losing ourselves will certainly not liberate us. For proof, look at the world around you.


We keep claiming that we are an evolved species but our actions don't come close to even defining the word 'evolution'. We keep saying that we've come a long way from our ancestors who lived in caves, but yet we continue to live like animals: chasing gratification of the senses -- living to eat, sleep and procreate. Its easy to indulge and get lost in your own desires and whims, and most of us are guilty of this, but we need to stop and ask ourselves if this is the reason why we were created. Were we really meant to live a self-absorbed life where we don't have time for anything but ourselves? Have we become so selfish that we cannot even for a moment think about our responsibilities towards those that brought us into the world? And I don't even mean providing for them financially, that is the easiest thing to do -- send them some money and my duty is done. Remember, we are thinking and feeling beings. We all need love and nurturing, irrespective of age. And it is this love and nurturing that puts a song in our hearts, that makes us bloom, even in our twilight years. More often than not, it is the human touch that heals and not the money. And today, we've learnt to give with the hand and forgotten to give from the heart.


So please, use this post as a reminder to evaluate where you are in your life. Can you look beyond yourself just for today? Can you selflessly perform your duties to your loved ones today? Can you reach out to them and give with your heart totally and completely today ? Today is more important than any other day because today may be the only day they have. Today may be the only day you have. 

Cleaning before Viewing

Today I happened to come across one of my all-time favourite books while cleaning my library. It is a simple collection of stories of some of the greatest sages of the Himalayan lineage. From Vashisht to Madhusudana Saraswati, the book essays some key stories from the lives of each sage and I often turn to it when I need strength or am in need of clarity. 


The lives of the sages, the great masters has always fascinated me. I have often wondered about what it took for ordinary people (seemingly so) to develop superhuman abilities and strength, and to me nobody portrays this better than the Himalayan sages and masters. They started out like us, full of fears, apprehensions, prejudices and weaknesses and then rose to overcome all of it to become a "Seer" one who sees and lives the Truth. Their examples paved the way for many who came after them. Some had loftier ambitions while some just wanted to deal and come to terms with the many struggles that one faces in everyday life.


I, happen to be amongst the latter. While the loftier ambitions have tempted me many a time, I often found myself entangled in the challenges of every day life, unable to proceed on to loftier ambitions. However, each time I struggle with a weakness or a conflict I return to the stories of the Sages, wondering how they had responded to the many challenges that were thrown at them. Desperate to find a common ground, a common thread, that I can hold on to and find an answer to some, if not all, the questions that plague me I read and re-read the stories of these ancient Sages that remain a mystery to so many of us even today.


I am almost constantly drawn to the story of the mighty Parshurama each time I face one of my weaknesses. Parshurama is known to be the most skilled warrior there ever was. He had obtained and mastered the knowledge of every form of warfare known to mankind, which is why, all warriors, before going into battle, sought his blessing. Besides being a skilled warrior, he had also received the highest spiritual education from his father, who himself was a known and respected Sage. Parshurama, was also known to be a kind and loving son, who worshipped his parents as God. One day, a greedy king visiting the ashram of Parshurama's father asked for the Sage's wish-fulfilling cow to be handed over to him, as everything within his kingdom, by law, was owned by him. Upon being refused by the Sage, the King ordered both the Sage and his wife to be killed. 
Parshurama, upon seeing the corpses of his beloved parents, flew into a rage and stormed the king's palace, killing him, his entire family, and all his subjects. When he returned to his father's ashram, he was filled with guilt at his actions, knowing fully well that his spiritual education did not permit the killing of another human being. Saddened and tormented, he took over the reins of running his father's ashram and returned to his spiritual practices to overcome his pain and guilt. A few years later, news reached him that some of the King's relatives had escaped to a distant kingdom, and this angered Parshurama to such a great extent that he stormed their palace and killed each  one of them. Once again, when he returned to the ashram, he was filled with guilt and remorse at his actions and fell at his teacher's feet, asking why, he was taken over by such rage and felt unable to control himself. Once again, his teacher consoled him and asked him to stay focussed on his spiritual practices. 


A few years later, word got to him that a few of the deceased King's subjects had escaped to a distant land where they had begun life anew. Once again, filled by rage and a need for revenge, Parshurama rode out alone and killed all of them. This continued twenty-one times. Each time, Parshurama was overcome by the need for revenge and each time he would be overtaken by guilt and despondency soon after. Finally, his teacher sent him out to the great sage Dattatreya, telling Parshurama that if there was anyone who could help him, it was Dattatreya. 
Eager to overcome his weaknesses, that he realized, had now got a firm grip on him, Parshurama rode out to meet Dattatreya. Dattareya welcomed Parshurama and told him that he was now ready to finally confront his weaknesses and assigned him to an intense, long practice in the forest. Parshurama grateful to have found a true Guru, persisted with his practices and after many long years of sadhana (spiritual practice) overcame his weaknesses
and became a 'Master' (one who has mastered his emotions and mind) and is looked up to and revered even today.


Parshurama's story has been an inspiration for many. His struggles with his anger and his need to hit back feel so real to me. We encounter it every day of our lives. And I can vouch for this. As also, for the intense remorse that overtakes me after having hit back at someone, knowing fully well how unnecessary it actually is. Sometimes, my weaknesses feel like a web that I can't free myself from but Parshurama's story gives me hope. And faith. Faith that if he could do it, I can do it too. 


I am also struck by how the Gurus assigned their students to intense practices in the middle of nowhere (in order to remove all distractions and temptations), so that they could engage in deep introspection and sadhana, developing their internal strength to counter what the external world threw at them. It seems they understood, that one can't fight a war with half of one's strength. Hence, students were advised to retire, rebuild their strength through intense practices and then return to the world. I like to think of it as Debugging and Rebooting your internal system. You withdraw into your own space for a while, introspect, overcome and then come back into the world, armed with your internal strength to face what comes your way. Such an intelligent way to respond to Life ! We all need that time to withdraw and we should give ourselves that. There's no need to retire to a cave, just sit your room, or in front of your altar, close your eyes and try to go within. Perform a 'system scan' and see what comes up. Then face what you see and work at overcoming it. This is how the examples of the perennial Sages can be brought to life in the twenty-first century. And given our stressful lives, I think we are in desperate need to retire and withdraw to our own place to reorganize our mind, our emotions, just so they work positively for us and not makes us their slaves. 


Our mind, our emotions and our body were given to us to experience this world. And they can either help us enjoy it or make us abhor it. Retiring to our own space and going within, especially when we feel broken or despondent, enables us to clean our instruments of perception -- the mind, emotions and the body.


So why is it so important to clean our instruments of perception? Imagine putting on a pair of spectacles that has a layer of dust on it. What would you perceive, if anything at all, through such an instrument of perception ? Wouldn't you spontaneously pull out a piece of cloth and wipe it clean ? Why ? Simply because you want to perceive correctly. Yet we pay such little attention to our internal tools of perception. Not realizing the value of cleaning them, or understanding how they affect our 'worldview' and our life at large.


If you want to see what lies within you and realize all that you can become, you have to clean the tools that were given to you -- the mind, the emotions, the body. The process of cleansing will help you develop clarity of thought and purity of heart -- both of which enabled the Sages to become conduits for the knowledge that was revealed to them -- both about themselves and the world they lived in. And armed with clarity of thought and purity of heart, they went on achieve superhuman strength and the ability to influence the world. 
Parshurama is simply an example, and who knows maybe even a myth. A myth that can definitely help us achieve our potential and realize our goals, should we decide to embrace it and apply its lessons in our everyday life. 


So each time you feel lost or despondent, don't lose heart. Just think of Parshurama and take some time off to go within. Face your demons and confront your weaknesses. Don't become their slave and live a life of fruitlessness. Use the gifts that were given to you to achieve all that you can. It will take herculean strength, but in the end, it will all be worth it. Just like it was for Parshurama.  

The practice of Yoga

Today I had a very interesting discussion with a fellow yoga teacher on yoga and how it is perceived in our modern world. We started with a discussion of how sometimes we have students in our classes who come in with preconceived notions about what a yoga class needs to be like. Never mind that most of them have never tried to understand the origin of yoga or what it espouses. Instead, they embrace a very lop-sided view of this ancient science -- its either too "passive" or a "big high" (depending on what 'style' they are practicing). Perhaps it isn't their fault entirely -- how many yoga teachers really understand what yoga stands for or why it was created in the first place?


A lot of times, I find people who claim to 'do' yoga, when all they're really doing is a few asanas. Asana and Pranayama are only two rungs on the eight limbed ladder of yoga, as formatted and presented by the sage Patanjali. Yoga, as I understand it, was meant to empower an individual to realize his own potential. And all of the steps mentioned in Patanjali's eight limbs (Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi) were meant to lead an individual to this realization. I know that the term 'realization' means different things to different people but to me realization (or samadhi) is nothing but the realization of your own potential. A lot of times we see adepts showing extraordinary powers and we all sit amazed thinking, "What a great soul this is." Great, yes. But he too, I would imagine, would agree with me when I say that this display is nothing but a glimpse of all that lies within us, and which we fail to realize in our lifetime. 
Being Indian, this is something I can vouch for: we put our saints on such a high pedestal that we fail to understand that they are nothing but humans who have realized their own infinite potential. We tend to create a separation between them and us thinking they are 'above' us for some reason. Instead, what would be wonderful is to look upon them as a source of inspiration, understanding that we too can become all that we want to be if only we make an effort to discover and understand what lies within us.  
Practically speaking, yes its hard to take time out for ourselves in the world we live in today. Perhaps because we feel that all that we have to accomplish in this life lies only in the external world. Hence, introspection seems pointless, if not a ludicrous idea. 
For example, one of the things the world we live in today teaches us that relaxation is sitting in front of a TV watching programs in our free time and we don't realize that true relaxation is not just of the body but also of the mind. So many of us can vouch for the fact that we wake up tired even after sleeping for 8 hrs straight. Why? Because our mind is working even in our sleep! So when does it get to relax ? Never. Is it surprising that so many people in the world are complaining of nervous disorders, personality disorders, anxiety, depression, etc. Why? Simply because we don't give the mind a chance to relax. Our mind is constantly 'on' something, expending most of its energy on unnecessary things. As a result, when we really need to become focussed, we realize our attention span cannot be held by anything for very long. And a scattered mind can never attain its objective. Only a focussed, one-pointed mind can. Patanjali mentions Dharana and Dhyana -- Concentration and Meditation -- in his eight limbs to emphasize the need to harness our energies and become one-pointed so that we can attain the final goal: realization. And each of these limbs or rungs lead to the final goal, confirming the validity behind their inclusion in this blueprint for realization.  
Yoga is much misunderstood today. And while I know I'm not in a position to clear this misunderstanding on account of my own limited understanding of the subject, I would like to offer my perspective on why it is more relevant in today's times than it was when it was shared with mankind thousands of years ago. So what makes it more relevant today than ever? For starters, your asana practice doesn't just twist your limbs to increase your flexibility but also gives your inner organs like your digestive system and the endocrine system a stimulation so that they can do their job properly keeping you healthy and keeping disease at bay. Pranayama or regulation of the prana (very loosely referred to as breath for the purpose of understanding. In actuality, it is the life-force that rides on the breath) calms your nervous system, pumping oxygen into your lungs and expelling stale air. Amongst a host of other benefits, it also tones your blood, increasing a person's vitality and raising one's energy levels. It is a well known fact that Pranayama done at the start of the day, will infuse enough energy within you to get you through the entire day. I would imagine this to be a perfect recipe (as opposed to stimulants) for those long, demanding days at work. 
The practice of Yama and Niyama is just as important and pertinent to yoga as a strong asana practice. Both Yamas and Niyamas help us build our character by showing us how to relate with the outside world while also building a relationship with ourselves. Very often I notice our inability to relate to other people, and I feel it is this inability that leads us from one failed relationship to another. One of the aims of yoga is to strengthen your interaction with the outside world, while nurturing the inner self so that one can balance the internal with the external. As long as we are in the human body, we have to live in both these worlds -- the inner and the outer. And also find a way to balance both. Both Yama and Niyama show us how to accomplish this. 
It is my belief that without the practice (or at least an honest effort) of Yamas and Niyamas one can't really claim to be practicing yoga. I often encounter teachers who have a very strong asana practice but their conduct in everyday affairs shows very little display of the principles of yoga like Yama and Niyamas. What's worse is that this strong asana practice becomes the foundation of their elevated opinion of themselves while also serving as a barometer of another's practice for them. I think that while building a strong asana practice with the right understanding --that it is only to ensure that the body doesn't become an obstacle in the fulfillment of our goals -- we must make an honest effort to apply Yama and Niyamas in our everyday lives. While this is hard, it can be accomplished with persistence. And the adepts or masters of yoga are living proof of this. They too started somewhere and if they achieved such magnificent success why can't we ? 
I once encountered a yoga teacher who, needless to say, took a great deal of pride in how she twisted and turned her body in asanas, but when you asked her to sit in meditation (or Dhyana -- as Patanjali refers to it) she couldn't sit still for more than two minutes. So much for being a practitioner of Ashtanga or the eight limbs of yoga !
What I'm trying to say here is that the conquest of the body is easier than the conquest of the mind, which is the ultimate goal of yoga. If one hasn't brought the mind to stillness, or calmed one's emotions, the asana practice is pointless. Your asana practice is only an entry point so to speak. The journey has yet to be made. 
I've personally been in classes where one comes out feeling a surge of adrenaline, ready to run a marathon, and not really infused with a sense of calmness and inner peace -- a definite sign of the mind having come to its natural state of equilibrium. 
So why is it so important to leave a class with a sense of calmness ? Simply because it's only when the mind becomes still or even comes close to stillness that it can really recharge itself. And it is this recharged, one-pointed mind that ultimately reveals to you its latent powers. Your latent powers. And the day you realize these latent powers within you, that day you will be realized. That day, Yoga will have fulfilled its mission.

The end of an institution ?

In the last few weeks I have heard too many stories about marriages going kaput. Some were a decade old, some lasted a couple of years and some only made for a couple of months !
It makes me think : has this institution (if indeed it is one) become redundant in the twenty-first century ?
First of all, I wish everyone would focus on the marriage just as much as they do on the 'wedding'. If only one would invest just as much attention in a marriage as much as they do on a wedding, perhaps marriages would last longer and who knows, maybe even thrive in today's times. Perhaps then single people like me wouldn't be writing this blog, wondering aloud about the validity and usefulness of this institution.
Before any of you jump to conclusions and think of me as cynical, let me clarify. Born and raised in India, I grew up with some very strong notions about marriage. You stick with it for the rest of your life. Even though the divorce rate in India is increasing and a lot of young people are choosing to get divorced rather than stick through what comes (and I'm not saying they should or shouldn't) as their parents may suggest, we were raised with the idea that marriage is something you do only once. We were told that it was for keeps -- for richer or poor, in sickness and health, etc, etc.
Even though my parents were very liberal and I have never felt the pressure to marry someone my parents chose for me, I do have friends who haven't been as lucky. And I consider this to be lucky only because I cannot imagine myself being married to someone I don't know at all. I do know of people who have, as they put it, 'embraced their destiny' by adjusting themselves to the situation but I still wonder if this 'embracing' has brought them true happiness.
Coming back to our topic at hand. The reason why I question the validity of this institution, is because when I look at people my age (28-30 yrs) I see in them a lack of clarity in not just why they want to get married, but also an inability to commit to one person completely. Maybe our need for instant gratification has something to do with it? We grew up with the idea of fast food, an instant pick me up (everything from coffee to Red Bull) a give-it-to-me-now attitude, hence the word commitment holds little value for most people my age. If I'm lonely now, I can just seek comfort with the next person who shows me attention and I'll just blame it on loneliness and my partner's inability to give me time...
Case in point: a good friend of mine, let's call her Ms. A. Beautiful, intelligent and affluent, has been married for five years. Her husband, a good looking, ambitious young man travels every month leaving Ms. A behind in her palatial home. So what does Ms A do ? develop a 'healthy' relationship with her equally good looking trainer. Her justification ? "I'm lonely. Its not my fault that my husband travels so much. I need to be with someone." It makes me think. Do we really understand the term, "commitment' ? Do we understand the vow, "being loyal and faithful through everything?" or maybe we just don't believe in it anymore. 
And then there are also those who marry for money. "I want to have the status I am used to" or "I want the finer things of life" (without having to work for them). What surprises me is, after a few years, one of them turned to me and said, "I'm so lonely, there's no love in our marriage". But I didn't know you were looking for love, I thought to myself. Reminds me of the saying, "No matter how hard you hug your money, it never hugs you back".
So I am lead to the theme of today's post, "Is it the end of an institution?" I mean what if I have all the money so don't need financial security or emotional security, would this institution still be necessary for me ? Are these the only two reasons why one enters into holy matrimony? Although through this post I may have pointed out how it isin't quite as 'holy' anymore...
And the question persists....

A New Start

After much pushing and prodding by my friends I finally decided to start my own blog. Sharing one's thoughts so openly can be a little intimidating so I'm hoping that I won't abandon this mid-way.
My friends insisted that I start maintaining a blog after I shared my experiences as a yoga teacher with them. At first I wondered about who would be interested in seeing the world through the eyes of an inconsequential yoga teacher, and a large part of me still wonders about this, however, I am told that if nobody else, my friends would definitely want to read about this. Let's see...