Symbolism must end at some point and in-depth understanding must begin. Everyone from the Prime Minister to citizens across the globe will celebrate the International Yoga Day on 21st June. They all will perform a few Asana in the public domain and the celebration will end, one more year.
Just knowing about Asana and Pranayama for a limited health purpose is like having a piece of diamond in hand using it as a piece of glass.
What is to be done on Yoga Day?
Yoga day is not Asana/Pranayama day. We all need to go beyond just knowing and practicing a few Asana and a few Pranayama.
Unless one goes in depth in the vast subject of Yoga, Asana and Pranayama will be a barrier to our knowledge.
A person who practices Yoga must follow Yama and Niyama;
Yama:
- Non-violence
- Non-stealing
- Truthfulness
- Continence i.e. Practising Bharmhachayra (If not complete, with a few restrictions and rules)
- Aparigraha – Non-hoarding beyond some limit
Niyama:
- Saucha – Cleanliness of the body, mind, and emotions
- Santosh – Contentment
- Tapa – Penance
- Swadhyay – Reading religious scriptures / knowing about the self
- Ishwara Paridharna – I have no role in whatever happens. A firm belief that It’s all destined. With this understanding taking out the ‘I’ (ego) from the act. To become an observer from being the doer.
Like Asana, following Yama and Niyama is also Yoga. This should be practiced before Asana and Pranayama. Here it is important to know why Yoga fails.
Practising Yama and Niyama build character. A person’s character is the foundation of Yoga. This is why Yama and Niyama are the 1st two limbs of Yoga.
“Neither money pays , nor name, nor fame, nor learning , it is character that can break walls of difficulties.” Swami Vivekananda
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Anyone who gets to know about the real meaning of Yoga will experience transformation. This has nothing to do with physical fitness. This is about transformation in the way the person thinks and his approach to life.
In Bhagwada Gita the real Yogi is defined as:
“You have an intention or a desire and your mind and your life are running in that direction. When you drop this, then you become a yogi, then awareness, knowledge and wisdom dawn.”
This is the transformation. From the state of endless desire to desire less state.
On this Yoga day, commit yourself to the daily practice of Yama and Niyama.
On this Yoga day, commit yourself to practice Internal Yoga.
On this Yoga day, commit yourself to do Yoga 24 X 7
On this Yoga day, commit yourself to expand the knowledge of Yoga.
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