The journey from general to particular, and again from particular to general is the main means of sharpening knowledge in the human mind. Immersion, concentration, and utmost enjoyment in the work we do is the general introduction of yoga. One who concentrates his entire attention and power on the game, then that is Yoga of player. If a cobbler prepares shoes by stitching meticulously, then that is the Yoga of his level. Doing any work with full power and focus is yoga of its own level. The yoga of Kshatriya is the protection of his border. This yoga of different levels is itself a leveled yoga as well as a means of Magayoga. Because unless there is efficiency, dedication, and attention in one’s work, then yoga will not be proved. Some say that he is a student, he does not like studying, or does not like playing or does not like in any work. So he cannot prove lifelong yoga. Even if such a person performs asanas etc., then his action will be called physical exercise, it cannot be called yoga. Today the Yoga imported from and influenced by the western world is partial and only physical. Because the cultivation of Mahayoga cannot be accomplished without practice. If someone thinks that he does not feel like doing any work, nowadays yoga is on a lot of fame regarding the same; people think that they can become yoga instructors after taking a yoga course, so there can be no bigger deception to them and their students because the first step is of Yoga is to control of senses and mind through practice. If you keep cutting hair, making shoes, teaching without a controlled mind, then the senses keep running somewhere else, and fail in the first step of yoga. The definition of yoga for a simple beginner level trainee is ‘Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam’.
When you get engrossed in your work, you will automatically reach the second stage of yoga. Because skill in tasks means that you have learned to use your senses and mind in tasks, that means you have learned to control your senses according to your mind in the work of your interest. Now the second step of yoga practice is that the control of the senses which you have learned in the activities of interest, that control should become stable, that is, even if the work is not of your interest, you can control your senses by force. This action will force you to practice sense control. This is what was named Sham, Dam, Uparati etc. in Shataksampatti. You have to practice this forceful sense of control for a long time. Till now, you have been controlling your senses and your mind by force. This long-term practice will make your sense control quite easy, glib, and without force. You will no longer need any object of interest, nor any external force to restrain your senses and mind. You will be able to do this restraint effortlessly. In this stage, you are on the third stage in the accomplishment of Mahayoga.
In this third step, you will be able to focus your senses and mind on any subject without any effort without any force, and also on any unpleasant subject. The only thing left in your practice now is the subject. Keeping in mind the object, idea, or element that you are practicing on, in the next step you have to discard. That will be the fourth stage of your spiritual practice. If you are concentrating on something tangible or material, then control your senses and mind by removing that object or meditating on emptiness or your vision. In the fourth stage, when you concentrate on that subject, then that subject will become like your mind with your attention power and sense control. There will be unity in your meditation and that goal. Now the object will also be shaped by the size of your mind. Now the object is finished but the mind remains. Pride is remaining in your practice in form of Chittavritti. You gradually removed the interest first, removed the restraint by force, removed the object, and reached some abstract entity, you also brought the abstract being to the mind. Chitvritti is your ego, you have slowly finished everything. Now you are absolutely at the door of MahaYoga. All you have to do is to control your Chittvritti, and this final and the fifth step is what will happen with constant practice and eventually, Sampragyat and Asamprajnata Samadhi. You started with the work of your interest and reached the cessation of the Chittavritti. The definition of Mahayoga is also revolving around Yogah Chittavritti Nirodhah.
The idea is that gradually leave all means and move towards self. A small child rides a bicycle with a supporter-wheels for the first few days— removing the supporter-wheels and falling for a few more days, proves the essense of learning riding a bicycle without any support, the journey from the ordinary to the special— that’s an analogy we can use to understand the practice of Yoga. The means in the process of this Mahayoga is Ashtanga Yoga. Some moral rules are Yama, some physical exercises are Asanas, focusing one’s attention on one’s breathing is Pranayama. And thus the journey to Samadhi through the paths of Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, and Dhyana is an auxiliary part of the. process. Yoga is not rocket science, just a climax of practice.
The writer is an assistant professor at the Tilkamanjhi Bhagalpur University. Views expressed are writer’s personal.
The idea is that gradually leave all means and move towards self. A small child rides a bicycle with a supporter-wheels for the first few days— removing the supporter-wheels and falling for a few more days, proves the essense of learning riding a bicycle without any support, the journey from the ordinary to the special— that’s an analogy we can use to understand the practice of Yoga. The means in the process of this Mahayoga is Ashtanga Yoga. Some moral rules are Yama, some physical exercises are Asanas, focusing one’s attention on one’s breathing is Pranayama. And thus the journey to Samadhi through the paths of Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, and Dhyana is an auxiliary part of the learning process. Yoga, essentially, is not rocket science, just a climax of practice. There are plenty of benefits to be had from embarking on the yogic journey, and deciding to commit to a regular practice is an exciting step. Luckily, in the 21st century, there are resources galore to support you on your path, help you connect with the yoga community at large, and help you find your personal community.