Yoga and True Self

The great sage Patanjali in his work Yogasutra codified all yogic knowledge and practices which prevailed in ancient India in the form of aphorisms. He defined Yoga in a simple way as - controlling of thoughts arising in the mind(I.2). The nature or work of mind is to think or desire always. As waves are generated along the seashore, so thoughts are generated in the mind incessantly. In order to fulfill these desires man acts relentlessly. When thoughts are controlled or prevented, the outwardly moving mind turns inwards. The sphere of the activities of mind contracts and mind comes to the center. At the center of mind lies the true self or soul(atman).

True self or soul is the source of life and consciousness in all living beings. In fact soul, life and consciousness are one and the same and constitute the only truth in the whole universe. The Upanishads which contain the spiritual cream of Indian Philosophy, describe that soul(atman) is Brahman, the ultimate Reality. World is not different from being, being is not different from Atman and Atman is not different from Brahman.

When thoughts in the mind are controlled, Yogasutra describes - the the seer rests in his true self(I.3). When all thoughts cease to exist, mind becomes pure conscious. As water is purified through filtration, so mind is purified by controlling thoughts. The pure conscious mind is the true self of a being. So through the practice of Yoga one regains one's true self and nothing else.

Everything has a true self or true nature. The nature of sugar is to give sweetness, the nature of water is to give coolness and the nature of fire is to give heat. When a piece of gold is purified bu burning, it does not change over to any other thing, but becomes pure gold. Only a pure gold is appreciated and is more valuable. Similarly when the mind attains purity, it does not change over to any other thing or merge with something. When mind is pure conscious, it is pure bliss. The real nature of a being is its blissful state. In order to achieve this blissful state people of all religions wander here and there in search of God.

Religious people concieve of a God who is a divine being residing in heaven. This concept and imagination is only the reflection of true self. Heaven is the heart of a being and God is the true self. It is the true self or soul that impells an individual to seek for God. After long searches here and there, one returns to one's true self and realises Gog within.

So the aim of Yoga is to realise this true self or God. Such a God is only real and existent. He gives life and consciousness to all beings. All worlds, all beings and all souls are one and the same. This is the ultimate Truth or Reality.

The author Premansu Chand is an Indian who practices Patanjali Yoga in its purest form. He has published his first book "Quest for Truth: the spiritual and yogic way" recently. More information relating to spiritualism and yoga can be received from this book.

---

Stress - How To Manage Effectively

Stress is very common in all walks of life and... Read More

Christian Yoga?

There is an interesting article in the September 5th issue... Read More

Eating Disorders And The Use Of Yoga In Prevention And Treatment

It was not so long ago that eating disorders, such... Read More

Some Tantric Exercises to Increase General Well-Being and Sexual Abilities

A healthy anal and genital area is of great importance... Read More

Maybe Bikram is Right?

For some reason, I had the time to sit down... Read More

Eating Wisely and Weight Loss

Please bear in mind that I am not a dietician,... Read More

Yoga is Unity

Experienced Yoga practitioners often feel discouraged when a naturally gifted... Read More

Yoga for PMS

Most women experience PMS symptoms at different points of their... Read More

Basic Yoga Poses (Asanas)

In most forms of Yoga there are three components to... Read More

The History of Pilates

In order to understand the basics of Pilates and why... Read More

Yogic Way of Controlling of Thoughts

As described in my earlier article... thoughts in the mind... Read More

This is Not Your Grandma?s Rocking Chair

Senior Yoga / Chair YogaIs it possible that grandparents are... Read More

How to Use Yoga DVDs and Videos to Round Out Your Practice

I absolutely love using yoga DVDs and yoga videos during... Read More

Yoga - The Solution for Insomnia

At one time, or another, all of us have experienced... Read More

Total Concentration(samadhi) of Mind

A true Yogi(practitioner) is one who has acquired self-knowledge and... Read More

Yoga and Meditation - That Leads to Gaining Enlightenment in this Life?

Every process of Yoga... neigh Meditation that frees us from... Read More

Confessions of a Yoga Teacher

The following are questions that Yoga teachers still need to... Read More

Yoga in the Office

Spending eight or more hours a day in an office... Read More

What is Self Mastery? - Part 2

To continue with our overview of the physical component of... Read More

The Benefit of Pilates

Pilates can benefit your overall health and sense of well-being... Read More

Don?t Focus on Failure

Internal defeat is a state of mind, where you begin... Read More

The Mystery of Enlightenment

Initially, enlightenment is living in the present moment and accepting... Read More

Can a Yoga Prop Help Prop Up Your Practice?

Some people may wonder if using a yoga prop can... Read More

A World of Infinite Opportunities

Many people feel that there is a limited amount of... Read More

Yoga and Pregnancy

Every woman wants to have a healthy baby. Yogic practices,... Read More

What is Self Mastery? - Part 4

Now, let's cover the last component of self-mastery, which is... Read More

Yoga Clothes for Comfort, Functionality ? and Lets Not Leave Out Fun!

Yoga clothes should be comfortable and functional. They should allow... Read More

Yoga Accessories? Getting What You Really Need

Unlike some other sports, you don't need a lot of... Read More

Positive Energy

Cultivating positive energy: Most of us who study Yoga have... Read More

Understanding the Different Types of Yoga

Yoga is becoming a more and more popular activity in... Read More

Hot Yoga - Bikrams Twenty Six

Even though the world population has shifted from mainly rural... Read More

Yoga and Christianity a Conflict?

Being a practicing Christian myself, there are very few things... Read More

Muscle Fitness ? Can Yoga Make You Stronger?

Many people wonder if yoga can improve their muscle fitness.... Read More