Within Yoga practice is a secret, which should be easy enough for the public to grasp. Meditation and visualization could advance all of human kind. The power of visualization is enough by itself, but meditation teaches us to focus on one thought at a time. This is such a challenge, that most of the public would rather practice Yoga postures, and forget about meditation.
If you have practiced Yoga for one session, you realize that Yoga postures are much easier to focus on than it is to control your mind. Many people feel very uncomfortable trying to harness their minds. No wonder the ancient Yogis compare the mind to a monkey. The mind is restless and resists the concept of self-mastery.
Yet, the ancient Yogis were also concerned about combining Yogic meditation, with visualization, for egotistical purposes. It has commonly been thought that some people would misuse this aspect of Yoga for acquiring material, power, and fame.
The ancient Yogis had nothing to fear, because a Yoga practitioner would need much practice to reach Samadhi (The eighth limb of Yoga - Complete Meditative absorption); there are many levels of Samadhi.
However, Samadhi, and the eight limbs of Yoga, described by Patanjali, are largely ignored by many Hatha Yoga practitioners around the world. Many Hatha Yoga practitioners have developed a “ranking system” for Yoga. Ask most students what advanced Yoga is, and they will mention a difficult Asana (Yoga posture).
It is not their fault, because their Yoga teachers think the same thing. Many Yoga teachers do not really understand the concept of Samadhi, and they do not reflect on the Yoga Sutras.
© Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html |
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