Success on the Yogic Path
What does success and Yoga have in common? Isn’t yoga just another way to get some exercise? Or how could Yoga make me happier? These may be questions or thoughts you’ve had about Yoga.
In order to truly succeed on the Yoga (for inner awakening, self realization, and experiencing total Yoga), surrendering unconditionally to the teachings and guidance follow these five important steps. Ancient Indian texts say that there are five very important ingredients and qualifications to receive the total success on the path of ultimate Yoga which are as follows:
Anushansan (Discipline): Discipline is commonly understood as following the rules and regulation imposed by others, but Anushansan in Yoga is different. Maharishi Patanjali starts his Yoga Sutra “Atha Yoga Aunshasanam” (PYS, 1:1). “Now be disciplined and Yoga begins.” Discipline in this context means ruling or regulating the self. Discipline means not being a victim of the mind, ego situations, surroundings, stress, or tension.
Abhyas (Practice): New experiences can be filled with tension, anxiety, fear, uncertainty, anguish, and over excitement. With prolonged and regular practice, these types of negative responses can disappear and you can attain balance, confidence and relaxation. Seekers of the Yogic knowledge may feel anxiety, tension, fear and other negative feeling, but you should not give up, but continue the practice (abhyas) to achieve balance. When Arjuna from the Bhagavad Gita asked, “ How do you master the mind?” Krishna answered, Abhyasentukauntey, which translates as “you just practice”. With proper and sincere practice, one can reach the true goal of receiving the knowledge; not by complaining, expecting or talking, but by practice.
Samarpan (Surrender): Only those who totally offer themselves and are unconditionally present, listen, and follow the teacher attain higher results. Samarpan opens the gateways of Total Yoga to the seekers. For excellent results, one should have unconditional samarpan.
Sharaddha (Trust): Unconditional trust of the Yoga disciples is absolutely necessary to open the new era for receiving the higher knowledge in their lives. Just as a child walks with her mother, the child does not doubt the mother and has complete trust. The mother wants what is best for the child.
Vairagya (Detachment): When the student is thinking about problems, things that happened yesterday, likes, or dislikes, the student is physically present, but mentally absent. Learning and positive outcomes fail. Therefore, while you are learning yoga or anything new, practicing there should be vairagya (detachment) from the external world. Focus your practice on the inner self and be mentally present as well as physically present.
These teaching are from the book “Yoga through Third Eye” by Dr. Omanand (Guruji) of the Paramanand, Institute of Yoga Sciences and Research.
