Yoga and freedom

Purushartha (Human goals)

The countless goals that human beings want to accomplish are classified into four by Vedic scriptures, known as purushartha (human goals). They are artha, kama, dharma and moksha. Artha is generally known as material wealth. Anything that is needed for physical survival such as food, clothing, shelter, health is artha. Kama is pleasure, all kinds of comforts and entertainment can be included in kama. Dharma is righteous living. In the context of purushartha, it is invisible form of wealth in this life and hereafter. Dharma contributes to your well being. This is merit which can be acquired by appropriate means. Artha, kama and dharma put together is called preyas meaning anything that you acquire. The fourth goal is moksha, freedom otherwise called Shreyas. The first three goals are temporary as they enslave you. The ultimate goal of human being is moksha, freedom from slavery and inner mastery. Moksha is the ultimate goal because that alone gives total sense of fulfillment while living and at the time of death.

 Yoga (Course of discipline)

Vedic scriptures prescribe course of discipline for the accomplishment of the above goals, both material and spiritual. There are three levels of disciplinary courses; each level links the seeker and the sought properly. Each level is called yoga. The Sanskrit word yoga has the root yuj meaning unite. Yoga unites the seeker and the sought. Karma yoga, upasana yoga and gnana yoga are the three courses of discipline mentioned in the scriptures. They are not alternative or optional methods. All steps are important to achieve the ultimate goal of freedom. Bhakti is the common atmosphere in all the three.

Karma yoga (proper action)

Karma yoga is doing proper action with proper attitude. The moment one does an action, the universal laws take over and the Lord processes the action and gives the results. In karma yoga all actions are dedicated to the Lord and the results are received from the Lord with reverence as prasadam, gracious gift. There is no karma yoga without Eshwara arpanam(dedication) and Eshwara prasada budhih(acceptance). Bagavath Gita says, ‘samatvam yoga uchyate’, equanimity is yoga. Equanimity towards pleasure and pain, success and failure is the result of Karma yoga. In the third chapter of Gita, Krishna says,”For me there is nothing to be done. Yet, I remain engaged in action for people to follow my example. The wise perform action without attachment for the benefit of the people.” All human beings have to perform certain actions as duty, whether they like or not. These actions (nishkama karma) contribute to spiritual growth. The scriptures prescribe five proper actions that help inner growth of a person. They are, Deva yagna (prayer to Lord),Pitru yagna(thanks giving to ancestors),Brahma yagna(preservation and propagation of Veda),manushya yagna(helping humanity),bootha yagna(respect to all beings). These actions make great contribution to the universe in its totality. All actions helping other beings are considered as highest in level, actions to meet personal ends are considered medium level and harmful actions are least level. In karma yoga one has to avoid all harmful actions, minimize selfish actions and maximize good actions helping other beings and get a clear mind to pursue self knowledge.

Upasana yoga (Personality conditioning)

Upasana yoga is a program to condition our personality fit for the accomplishment of all four goals. Katopanishad compares the body to a vehicle. As a ship must be sea worthy, the human personality must be worthy of accomplishing the goals. Human personality can be analyzed in different ways. For the purpose of upasana yoga, it is taken as three layers and conditioned. They are kayikam(physical),vachikam(verbal) and manasam(Psychological)layers. Asana or physical posture is popularly known as yoga now days. Actually asana is one of the eight limbs of upasana yoga. Upasana yoga was collated and systematized by Patanjali in his work yoga sutras. Patanjali has enumerated upasana yoga as ashtanga yoga (yoga with eight limbs). They are,1.yama(universal moral commandments)2.Niyama(selfdiscipline)3.Asana(posture)4.Pranayama(breathcontrol)5.Pratyahara(withdrawal of mind from external objects)6.Dharana(concentration)7.Dhyana(meditation)8.Samadhi(A state of oneness with consciousness). Preservation of health is easier and less expensive than cure. By practice of asana one makes the body a fit vehicle. The physical body is given to us not only for personal experience but also for rendering service to others and realizing the self. Speech discipline is discussed in seventeenth chapter of Bagavad Gita,” Speak truth, without hurting, in a pleasing way and that which is good to the listener”. The sixth chapter of Gita discusses meditation elaborately. The mind of the meditator is compared to a lamp protected from wind to indicate contemplation of the self. There are basically four types of meditations.1. Relaxation meditation-You relax by breath control or repeating a mantra.2. Focus meditation-You concentrate in a particular field for a length of time.3. Expansion meditation- This is meditation on the creation itself; you see the totality of creation (Vishwaroopa Dharshanam) 4.Value meditation-You deliberately change the thought pattern. This meditation helps in weeding out the negative tendencies of the mind. The adverse consequences of unhealthy tendencies such as anger, fear, and hatred are eliminated by visualizing oneself free from such tendencies. Ramana Maharishi says,” your mind and breath are two paths, intimately connected. By controlling one you can control the other”. Between chants there is an interval which has no thought of form and shape. This is silence or rather peace. Thus upasana yoga makes human body fit and mind to focus on goal.

Gnana yoga (Self knowledge)

Gnana yoga is for self knowledge which gives freedom, moksha the highest human goal. This is freedom from all bondages. Adi Sankara says,”Self knowledge is the direct means for freedom just as fire is the direct cause for cooking”. Any object or person in creation can cause bondage by its absence as well as presence. Atma gnanam, self knowledge makes one free from the problems created by absence and presence of objects and persons. How do we get this knowledge? Any knowledge can be gained by using an appropriate instrument of knowledge, pramanam. For example only eyes can perceive color; you cannot use ears to confirm a color. There is no choice with regard to instrument of knowledge as it is decided by the object of knowledge. All your sense organs are used to study the external objects. Therefore you need an extra instrument to see yourself internally as you use a mirror to see your face. This extra instrument of knowledge is sastra pramana, Vedic scripture. Self knowledge is not information to be experienced as we do with external objects. It is knowledge of removing self ignorance. Therefore you need an expert; guru well versed in scriptures to unfold the truth in a systematic way for a length of time. This is done in three stages. In the first stage of sravanam, you expose yourself to scriptural teaching handled by an expert guide and get self knowledge by removing ignorance. In the second stage of mananam, you bring out all your questions and get cleared. Your knowledge is now firm and beyond any doubts. In the third stage of nidityasanam, you remove your habitual behavior caused of misconception and assimilate the teaching. This assimilated knowledge changes your self- image and behavior just like assimilated food nourishing your body. Sweet is not dangerous, weakness for sweet is harmful. If you know to handle the world, it is friendly and divine. Self knowledge makes this possible by revealing your higher nature of reality. In the seventh chapter of Gita Krishna says, “gnani (who has self knowledge) is always united to me, his devotion resolved in oneness, is distinguished.”

Bhakti (devotion to God)

Bhakti is devotion (reverential love) to God. It is the union of individual with God. Bhakti is the name for entire course of discipline-karma, upasana and gnana yoga. In karma yoga all actions are dedicated to God. In upasana yoga, we meditate upon God. In gnana yoga we discover our nature; self discovery is none other than God discovery. We start the study with prayer and end with prayer. The twelfth chapter of Gita deals with bhakti. Generally all our love is directed towards three things- love towards the end objects we want to accomplish, love towards the means and love of oneself. One loves the means to get the end and loves the end for oneself. Therefore the intensity of love for oneself is of the highest order. The seeker in the beginning knows God as creator of the world and visualizes God as a person. This is one form God, eka roopa, such as Rama. The next level is seeing God as the cause of universe. In this level God is seen in universal form, Vishwa roopa. God alone has become the universe. Any form one sees is the form of God. In the third level, God is understood as the substratum of universe without any form, aroopa. Here, the gnani looks upon God as non different from himself. The later level does not replace the previous levels but includes them.  God appears as the world in all forms not affected by the forms in which he appears. This is like the sun light reflecting in pond water not affected by the water. God transcends good and bad, but everything exists because of God.

Freedom

All the three disciplinary courses, with bhakti as common atmosphere, are important to reach the goal. Vedic scriptures guide human beings considering various levels and characters of individuals. As per individual level and character, each may follow a particular yoga dominantly at a particular period of life. However no discipline can be skipped to reach the ultimate goal of freedom. It is very important to study and practice yoga under the guidance of a qualified guru. Karma yoga makes the mind clear, upasana yoga conditions the mind to concentrate, gnana yoga removes ignorance, bhakti sets the atmosphere right through. The glory of this teaching is to make one free, unlimited and immortal while living in this world.

-Arasu Ramanujam