Shvetashvatara Lesson 5
This was a particularly good talk! I have never heard success in yoga described in quite this way. It is very inspiring to me. In western culture I feel that success in yoga is seen as fame, money, physical beauty, ability to perform asanas, traveling the world etc. While we all like those things and aspire towards them in our own way, they are only the external things which sometimes happen to those who have that karma. Here Dr. Rao is describing, amongst other things, the internal experience of realization and what it actually feels like on the inside to let go of all your fears, desires and limitations and simply reside in ones own true beauty which is wholly free from external circumstances- now that was inspiring! Here are my notes from our recent class.
Lesson 5 with Dr. H. V. Nagaraj Rao.
At the beginning of the second chapter, we explore the transformative experiences of yogis. The first mantra invokes Savita, the sun god, who awakens the mind and intelligence, initiating Buddhi. The brilliance of the sun illuminates the world, symbolizing auspiciousness and spiritual progress.
Towards perfection, we should strive, connecting our minds to a higher truth. The Shvetashvatara Upanishad teaches that everyone is a child of immortality, journeying to reconnect with the original source. This knowledge, it asserts, should be spread worldwide.
A philosophical metaphor in yoga is Arani, where the student is the bottom piece of wood and the teacher the top piece. When rubbed together vigorously, they create the heat to ignite the student, symbolizing the transfer of knowledge and enlightenment.
In Indian philosophy, the powers of nature are regarded as gods. Achieving harmony with these forces makes one's mind fit for yoga. The sun god, essential for life, feeds the plants that feed us. Respecting the sun is thus respecting the source of all things. Offerings to the divine are expressed through social service. Service to humanity, however small, brings great satisfaction and happiness, embodying karma yoga.
The journey of a yogi involves specific practices and experiences. Maintaining a straight line from the back through the neck and head is crucial. The senses, often distracted by external stimuli, must be drawn inward. The knowledge of yoga is likened to a boat navigating through the sea of memories, both pleasurable and painful.
In the 6th chapter of the Gita, similar practices are described. The meditative posture involves keeping the head, neck, and trunk straight, with eyes neither fully open nor closed, and attention focused between the eyebrows. This helps one escape the prison of thought. Pranayama, or breath control, is key. Inhaling through the right nostril and exhaling through the left is recommended.
The chariot metaphor illustrates the importance of controlling the senses, both inwardly and outwardly, to achieve total freedom. The place of meditation should be flat, clean, and pleasant, free from pests and disturbances. Historically, yogis sought caves for their practice.
Advanced practitioners experience visions, indicating progress. These visions, like snow falling silently or waves gently crashing, reveal special knowledge. This prelude leads to the central experience of yoga, glimpsing the true reality of the soul.
Yoga brings about special abilities, symbolized by Yogagni, the yogic fire that burns away undesirable qualities and illnesses. The yogi transcends the body's limitations, achieving freedom from disease, desire, and craving. Such individuals exhibit a pleasant demeanor, fearlessness, clarity in speech, and cleanliness. Their peaceful and graceful state is evident to all.
Liberation is achieved when the entire system is purified through yoga, with internal and external impurities falling away. Atma Tatva, or self-knowledge, is essential for divine knowledge. With this understanding, the soul is unbound, recognizing the omnipresent truth in all creation.
In this context, Aushati refers to plants that yield their fruit and continue to live, symbolizing renewal and continuity. Soma is also mentioned, reflecting its significance in yogic tradition.
This holistic approach to yoga encompasses physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions, guiding practitioners toward ultimate liberation and unity with the divine.
As always, if this sort of stuff gets you thinking and inspired then check out out online studies program! https://www.mysoreyogatraditions.com/online-studies
