AWAKENINGS

Yoga By S. Sankaran Preface: The purpose of the article is to bring out the tenets of yoga as explained by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. There are eighteen chapters in the Bhagavad Gita and at the end of every chapter, the title of the chapter is narrated as under: ‘Thus, in the Upanishad of the Bhagavad Gita containing the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, ends the chapter titled ‘yoga of …..(name of the subject being mentioned)’. By this, one can very much understand that yoga is the main link of the entire message of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna is praised as the Lord of Yoga in the Bhagavad Gita. The words – yoga, yogam and yogins – are mentioned on the whole in the Bhagavad Gita in 76 stanzas of which the maximum number of 29 stanzas is confined to Chapter 6 – Yoga of Meditation. This goes to show that yoga and meditation or to be precise – yoga and mind have a direct bearing between them. Hence, it is to be understood that yoga is...

Be alone. Seek a solitary spot. Selected spot should be clean. Selected spot should neither be too high nor too low. Spread a cloth on the floor. Firmly seated on it, practise Breathing Exercise or  Pranayama. Steps for Breathing Exercise or Pranayama:     1.       First Stage:      Breathe with both noses in a measured way, in and out for some time. Practise this for a few days.     2.     Second Stage:      Slowly fill the lungs with breath through the left nostril and then hold the breath for some time. For beginners, holding of the breath is for four seconds and slowly it can be increased. Release the breath slowly through the right nostril.  Repeat the breathing in the same with the right nostril. This is one Pranayama.    3.     Third Stage:     Draw the breath with the b...

Every entity has two aspects – a hidden inner core i.e. its true nature and a false appearance. This co-existence of true nature and appearance in entities is called Maya. Appearance alone is accepted as true at first. But the reality dawns on man far late due to the prevalence of ignorance and the absence of knowledge. False appearance in the entity is purely due to ignorance, which can vanish with the occurrence of knowledge.  The co-existence of ignorance and knowledge also can be classified as Maya.   Maya is due to three gunas and the gunas are hurdles to know and realize God. God is therefore deluded to the world due to this Maya. The nature of Maya can well be explained by the following examples: 1.    A man treads on a rope in the street while walking in the darkness and he is frightened mistaking the rope to a snake. Due to darkness, which is akin to ignorance, the true nature of the rope has been identified with a false appearanc...

Vivek Agnihotri and many others from film industry on their meeting with PM Narendra Modi on 7/11/2015 - Source:  opindia.com 2PM By the time we came out of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Anupam received a message from PM Modi asking us to meet at 6.30PM. 6.30PM While waiting in a small hall in 7RCR, I could feel meticulous professionalism and humility all around. We weren’t sure if PM would make it on time as he was travelling back from Kashmir and it was also the eve of Bihar election results. 6.30 sharp he arrived in spotless white kurta payjama and his trademark jacket. He listened to us, one by one, with absolute concentration and then he spoke with wit, humor, concerns, anecdotes and hope. I have never heard a better half hour speech on tolerance. Some highlights: He told us about his belief that cultural space shouldn’t be ‘rajya aashrit’ (Government dependent) as it takes away the voice of reason but it should be ‘rajya puraskarit’ (Awarded by the ...

Reader is fond of reading the Bhagavad Gita. He is now faced with doubts as to the real meaning of the three words – viz. yoga (the path of selfless action with devotion), sanyasa (renunciation) and tyaga (sacrifice or relinquishment). Reader is faced with the doubts mainly due to the conflicting definitions given in the Gita to sanyasa and tyaga. Reader explains his position as follows: Sanyasi has been defined as ‘one who discharges the duty without attachment to its fruits’ – in Chapter 6 – 1. It has also been stated therein that sanyasi is also a yogi. It is further clarified that sanyasi is not the one who has abandoned his duties such as lighting sacred fire and performance of rites. Now, let us turn to the definition of tyaga as expounded in Chapter 18 – 2. Tyaga is defined as ‘the abandonment of the fruits of all duties’, which is quite similar to the definition given to sanyasa. Gita has declared that sanyasa and yoga are one. But there is no such st...