SAI SATSANGH COLUMBIA

 

Yoga & Meditation

Goal, Methods, Experiences & Obstacles.

Goal of Meditation - Sukshma Buddhi

Goal-Refinement of mind to receive knowledge from Guru. It is meant for jnana yogyata praptihi.

Yoga is ChittaVritti Nirodha (Patanjali yoga sutras).

A refined mind is relaxed, has the capacity to focus, can expand analytically and detoxed mind.

Gradual refinement of the personality, starting from the exterior grosser part and gradually going towards the interior subtle part is beautifully described in Astanga Yoga.

Process of Refinement

1 Yama & Niyama handles our external aspect of life. i.e. our character -moral personality.

2 Asana & Pranayama deals with physical personality

3 Pratyahara & Dharana deals with psychological personality.

4 Dhyanam & Samadhi deals with spiritual personality

Obstacles in Meditation

Arjuna uvācha 

yo ’yaṁ yogas tvayā proktaḥ sāmyena madhusūdana
etasyāhaṁ na paśhyāmi chañchalatvāt sthitiṁ sthirām (BG 6;33)

6.33 Arjuna said, Oh Krishna, the system of yoga which You have summarized appears impractical and unendurable to me, for the mind is restless and unsteady.

—subdue the senses

—give up all desires

—focus the mind upon God alone

—think of him with an unwavering mind

—see everyone with equal vision

 

The mind is very restless, turbulent, strong, and obstinate, O Krishna. It appears to me that it is more difficult to control than the wind.

śhrībhagavānuvācha

asanśhayaṁ mahā-bāho mano durnigrahaṁ chalam

abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa cha gṛihyate (BG 6;35)

6.35 Lord Krishna said, Oh Arjuna, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by constant practice and by detachment.

Krishna’s answer -Practice and detachment.

Obstacles

Physical obstacles: Aimless wandering, stopping sadhana, dehaadhyasa, disease, discussing too much, environments, lack of yama & niyamas, evil company, fault finding, improper food.

Mental obstacles: anger, doubt, dreams, bad thoughts, impatient, false thusti (contentment), greed, jealousy, mental kingdom, memory, and impressions, too much taarkikathinking, Vishyasakthi.

Higher obstacles: Pride, ambition and desire, Moral and spiritual pride, Dambha, Name and fame, visions, Siddhis, bhutaganas.

Three Major hurdles to Kaivalya

Mala dosha: 

Problem: Mind is too disturbed; -impure mind (Chitta). 

Solution: Niskama Karma (Karma Yoga). Yama, Niyama etc.

Vikshepa Dosha: 

Problem: Mind cannot focus or concentrate; Scattered thoughts. 

Solution-Aasana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dyana, (Meditation -bhakthiyoga).

Aavarana Dosha (Ajnana-Avidya): 

Problem: Cannot experience the truth. 

Solution-Jnana (Sravana, Manana & Nidhidyasa).

Finally, realization of the truth (Self-Realization)

To be continued---

OM SAI RAM!