The core philosophy of Yoga is – leading a happier and healthier life accomplished by self-realization and the union of the soul with the Divine. This philosophy of man actually led to the development of the science of Yoga. Since time immemorial, humans have been wanting to harmonize with God, amongst themselves and with nature. The need for this arose as a result of evolution of man. Evolution has numerous by products, positive as well as negative. To overcome the negative by products such as bloodshed, un-ethical competition in the various spheres of life, diseases, stress, fear, hatred, jealousy and consequently loss of peace of mind, confidence and satisfaction, humans experimented and developed the science of Yoga. This science of Yoga roots its seeds in the philosophy that the body, mind, soul and the divine are actually one and cannot be clearly demarcated. Therefore, the whole philosophical aspect summarizes the process of this self-realization through the path of Yoga.

Yoga originated in India thousands of years ago and has explicit references in the Vedas.
But, by far the most authoritative text on Yoga philosophy and practice ever written are the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Sage Patanjali was born in India in the 3rd century B.C. and it was he who for the first time codified classical Yoga-philosophy and practice, outlining the path of Raja Yoga, in a most definitive and systemized form.

Knowledge of the philosophies of Yoga is critical to the successful embodiment of the spirit of Yoga. A Yogi can be successful only if he completely understands these philosophies. Therefore, it can be said that the philosophy and practice of Yoga go hand in hand and the discipline of Yoga would be incomplete without knowledge of either one.

CONFUSION?

Confusion erupts when we don’t know:
Who are we?
Why are we here?
Where are we going?

Result of this confusion leads to failure of human intelligence to take a decision. This is what happened with Arjuna during battlefield of Kurukshetra. He was confused to fight or not! Despite his confusion, Arjuna was intelligent enough to approach the real spiritual master - Lord Krishna and surrender upto Him, who enlightened his intelligence to remove confusion.

CONDITIONED SOUL?

All living entities are originally spiritual (as part of God) but due to the desires they are temporarily covered with material energy and are called conditioned souls. Soul is distinct from body-mind complex. It only resides in body for higher purpose.

GOOD-EVIL?

In the material world, meanings change as per fulfilment or non-fulfilment of desires. Same person or thing becomes good if that serves our purpose. Reverse is true if our desires are not met with. But in the spiritual world, whatever helps you think of Me (God) is good, and whatever causes you to forget Me (God) is evil.

It is truly said, “Those who live immoral and unethical lives are wicked people.” Sometimes evil people seem to flourish-not suffer. Do sins ever go unpunished? We may break the state laws and not be caught but there is no possibility of deceiving God. He is present within the hearts of all living entities, witnessing their attitudes. How long will a sinner flourish? For a life time? For 2-3 lifetimes? Lord Krishna says, ” I am death personified. Just because a fool temporarily gets unpunished, we should’t think that there is no punishment. Rather, he is just being given enough rope to hang himself!

MAYA?

What is maya-illusion? We can understand maya by knowing different meanings of illusion. Illusion is:-
Literal meaning: That which is not.
Misconception: I am this body and these things are mine.
Illusion: As soon as we think “I am the doer.”

Illusion (maya) and truth can’t exist simultaneously just as darkness and light can’t be seen simultaneously.

Most of us remain trapped by maya throughout our lives. Even Arjuna was trapped in maya when be refused to fight in the great war Mahabharata as he was concerned with his temporary blood relations than the eternal spiritual connection with Lord Krishna.

SIN?

In this material world no one can become desireless but we can change quality of desire. Similarly, passions can’t be eradicated but can be educated. Human beings have lots of desires and lots of passions. Urge for sex is the strongest of all material desires. All the senses can be controlled if sex life is controlled, but indiscriminate sensual satisfaction reduces man to a level lower than that of an animal. Thus, it can be concluded that tendencies are not sins. It is the inner consent to wrong tendencies that constitute sin. The urge for pleasure is not sinful. Indulgence in immoral pleasures which create greater bondage and retard our higher self development is sinful. Arjuna asked Lord Krishna: By what is one impelled to sinful acts, even unwillingly, as if by force? Lord Krishna replied, “It is lust only, which is born of contact with material objects of passion, later transformed with wrath, which is sinful of this world.” Disconnecting anything from God is also sin. For instance, as long as your hand is connected to your body, it is very useful and beautiful. But if it is severed, it is ugly and useless, although it may still be called a hand.

LUST?

Regardless of how much of anything we get, we always want more and more. Thus the senses become enraged like a roaring fire. Man’s pure consciousness is covered by his primary enemy, in the form of lust which remains ever dissatisfied. Lust is the strongest bond to material existance. Lust for material things must be changed into hankering for God. When love is perverted, it is expressed as lust.

DEATH?

It is rightly said - “Every date of birth has a date of death.” Death is like an arrow that is already in flight. Your life lasts only until the arrow reaches you. You should live each day as if it were to be your last. You will have to give an account for every moment wasted. Life is short. The vanities of the world are transient, but they alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive. Being the only animal capable of knowing that he has to die, man should live his life humbly and prepare for the next life.

LIBERATION?

Libration means becoming free from all reactions of actions. A follower of Vedas voluntarily retires from material life to cultivate Krishna consciousness before death overtakes him.

DO ANIMALS ALSO SIN?

Animals are programmed by nature. They eat according to their nature. Cows eat grass and tigers eat flesh. They act according to their instinct, not itelligence. Therefore, there is no question of sinning.

But, man can sin because he has been given the independence to choose between right and wrong. Without this independence to use the intellect we would be robots. Machines also can’t be sinful. Therefore, greater the gifts, greater the responsibility.

TAYAG - SANYAS?

To give up the results of all activities is called tayag (renunciation) and this stage of life is called the renounced order of life - sanyas. According to Hitopadesa, 1.120, a decrepit (weak due to old age) man can’t enjoy sensual pleasure, nor can he renounce it. That means, if you are not able to do any activity, due to disease or old age, then it is not tayag, because tayag is, doing something, without expecting anything.

SOUL

The word soul means atma in Sanskrit. Atma is the life force which is present in a body. A live body is therefore called a jiva-atma in Sanskrit.

SUPER SOUL

Param-atma is Super soul, who is the creator of all creation and all jiva-atmas - God. In Upanishads, soul and super soul are likened to two birds on a tree. Tree is the material body. One bird; the jiva-atma or the individual soul, is trying to enjoy the fruits of the tree which can be compared to the object of senses of this material world. The other bird; param-atma or super soul, is simply witnessing the activities of his friend the jiva-atma. The super soul - God is waiting for us to turn our attention towards Him, but we are so engrossed in enjoying the objects of senses that we ignore Him.

Truth is truth - regardless of whether any one believes it or not. After all, ignorant people warned Columbus that if he sailed too far, he would fall off from edge of the earth. But Columbus was well aware that the earth is a sphere. Whether scientists believe in God or not, does’t change the facts. The question is “Does an omnipotent God exist ?” If we affirm it, we get one result, and if we deny if, we get another result. By thinking of God, we associate with Him, and by associating with Him, we become Godly.

Can God be seen?

That is why we are different from God and even different from one another! Can we see God? Of course yes! But not with our eyes as the vision of the eyes is limited. A normal person can’t see in absence of light. If we can’t see God, that doesn’t mean that He is not there. We can’t see atoms, gravity, radio waves and TV waves, but we feel their effects. Thus we can’t deny their existence. Similarly, we can’t deny existence of God, when we can see and feel His presence in the Sun, Moon, stars, ocean, fire, rain etc. God is everywhere. He is Sat-Chit-Anand i.e Eternal, full of knowledge and bliss.

Is Sun the visible God?

We observe the sun daily. What is the sun ? It is a shere which is source of heat and light and we call it Sun God. This is the visible part. Sun-shine is invisible but is all-prevading, just as Lord prevades His creation. Thus, impersonal Brahman realization may be compared to realization of the sunshine.

Why God has so many names?

What is God’s name? God is unlimited and is called by an unlimited names throughout His creation. When we contact electricity, we become electrified regardless of medium, carrying it. Similarly, God’s name is not material but spiritual. A lover may have a name for his beloved that no one else knows!

God is tapering

God is a tapering experience. Our vision is limited. By seeing a strong muscular man, we see his muscles and assme that his muscles are strong. But actually it is thin nerves which bring power to muscle. Those nerves bring power from finer brain cells which we can’t see because these are microscopic. So, it is really ‘fine’ which is the seat of power. Body is grosser and it tapers and becomes finer which we call spirit (soul). This universe is exactly like that. It is gross externally and it tapers into something finer and finer until it becomes God.

God can be seen

God can be clearly seen in His creation, just as an inventor can be known by his invention. Because invention shows a logical design, it pre-supposes a designer or creator.

Have we ever experienced in our lives that physical illness affects the mind and mental illness or tension often affects the body? If yes, then it means that mind is a finer body within our gross body. If mind is a body, then there must be something which makes it. Our gross body is made up of bones, flesh, nerves etc. But mind is not made up of bones, muscles etc. Mind is matter which is at a very high rate of vibration. And there must be some matter which is convertible into mind! And that is food! We understand that whatever we eat undergoes process of digestion in our body i.e. food undergoes breakdown process till it is converted into glucose, proteins etc. These end products are then stored or utilised by the cells for energy. That means the grossest part of food becomes excrement (waste), middle part is transformed into flesh and the subtlest (sattvic) part is utilised to form mind. Just like churning of curd leads to formation of butter. This explanation about transformation of mind (our finer body) form our food highlights the importance of constituents of what we eat. Therefore, our aim should be to consume sattvic food which is naturally vegetarian. Thus, nature of mind depends mainly on type of food which we eat.

As stated above, mind is matter which is at a high rate of vibration. This causes the mind to be in a state of uncontrolled thinking. Uncontrolled thinking hampers enlightenment of our intelligence which is pre-requisite to control our mind.

Uncontrolled mind is just like uncontrolled horse which can lead you to where the horse wants. One can understand the relation of senses, body, mind, intellect and soul from verse of Kathopnishad which explains: The body is like a chariot to which the senses are yoked like horses. The mind is like the reins which hold the horses (senses) in check. Intellect is the chaiorteer and the soul rides on the chariot. Road is the world of objects over which the chariot moves. If the reins are not held firmly and wisely (uncontrolled mind), the senses like vicious, unmanagiable horses, will get out of control and the chariot will not reach the ultimate goal (Moksha), but will go round and round in births and re-births.

Therefore, it recommended that one should practice Yoga and Meditation to control the mind, bring to rest its vibrating matter and ultimately achieve Moksha, which is the final goal of all spiritual subjects.

The human being has a twofold nature i.e. lower nature and higher nature. Lower nature is material nature and higher nature is spiritual nature.

Material Nature : It is dominated by the senses and it is characterised by these features:

1. Eat
2. Sleep
3. Defend
4. Mate

This is called as lower nature as all animals are doing these things in their lives.

Spiritual Nature : It is dominated by reasoning and intelligence. This is called higher nature, as most of the animals don’t have it or, have it in a very faintly developed state. Reasoning is a unique gift by which one can distinguish right or wrong. Intelligence is also a unique gift, which if enlightened controls the mind which in turn controls the senses.

Enlightening of intelligence is possible only in humans, and Guru, Satsang, and Shastras are its means of enlightenment.

Guru

A genuine spiritual master never claims to be God but,he is the most confidential servant of God. The prerequisite for understanding a scripture is surrendering to God. Anyone who teaches how to surrender to God is called a Guru.

Spiritual knowledge or transcendental knowledge is imparted and received through disciplic succession. The scripture - Srimad Bhagavatam tells us that, the Lord spoke Vedic knowledge to the first living being Brahma, who gave it to Narada and from Narada the knowledge succeeded to sage Vyasa Dev - (Vyasa Dev is considered to be the first preceptor who lived thousands of years ago. He taught orally the four Vedas to four disciples) - a process of transmission and flow of knowledge.

An ordinary man can’t interpret the laws of the state himself. For correct interpretation, statements of expert lawyers and judges are required. Similarly, only a Guru or spiritual master can interpret the spiritual knowledge.

Satsang

An association with a representative of God, who can be called as Guru or Sage is known as Satsang. It forms a very important part of the spiritual path and can be understood by following example :

A bottle which once contained perfume will retain its particular odour even when empty. Similarly the representatives of personality of God head are more potent than perfume, whose heart is ever burning with compassion, charity, love and forgiveness. With such association, one can find profound spiritual help in proportion to frequency of one’s approach.

Shastras or Scriptures

Shastras or Scriptures are knowledge texts, which provide an insight into the various spiritual paths. A Guru can help a subject to select a Shastra most suitable for him/her.

Reading of scriptures is greatly recommended in the Hindu religion, since they provide a wealth of knowledge on spiritualism, Yoga, Meditation and Self Realization.

The feeble minded, who do not make earnest effort through well directed meditation and control of mind and senses, can’t hope to realize the self within.

Majority of us believe in God. Most of us do perform various rituals - pooja, havan or jagratas to please the Almighty. Do we really understand the meaning of those mantras? Do we really follow instructions of the priests performing pooja, seriously and sincerely? No, not at all! Is that havan or pooja meant for that specific purpose only? If yes, then we are just bribing God. Once our particular project or desire is fulfilled, we don’t even thank God. We start preparing for our next project, for the next desire and for the next pooja, havan etc.

This shows our belief in God, but our devotion is interrupted. Remember, ‘Uninterrupted devotion is necessary to keep alive fire of spirituality.’

For this purpose, the spiritual paths of Yoga and Meditation are professed so profoundly in the Hindu scriptures. If ordinary human beings who live their lives performing multiple duties of their house-hold, profession and towards society, i.e. all earthly commitments and chores inculcate these paths in their daily lives, the world shall truly become more harmonious, peaceful, healthy and consequently a better place to live in.

In order to comprehend the philosophies of Yoga, a subject should first know the 5 basic truths or dimensions of the physical world around which these philosophies exist, which are given in the scriptures such as the Vedas, Bhagavad-Gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali amongst others. The 5 basic truths or dimensions are :

Isvara : The Supreme controller or the Divine reality-God, the eternal force which governs the universe. God is infinite, omnipotent, omnipresent, perfect, divine and eternal.

Jivas :  The quantum living entity living as consciousness in all living beings is called Jiva. As tiny sparks fly from a fire, likewise all the individual Jivas come from the Supreme. The Jivas engulfed by a physical body may have different powers, sizes and shapes but, are the same in quality with the Supreme.

Prakriti & The 3 Gunas of Nature : Prakrti or Prakriti is the material matter which makes the universe. It can also be called as nature. Nature acts through three different modes or qualities called gunas – Tamas (ignorance), Rajas (passion), Sattva (goodness). In Tamsic action, we have an inert personality which is subject to and satisfied with material aspect of nature without any effort at a freer action or mastery. In Rajasic action we have the restless, active personality which forces nature to serve its needs and desires without really understanding the need of doing so. In Sattvic action we try to live as an enlightened personality working on reason and truth.

Kala : It is the transcendent time dimension of existence of the material nature. The change of time applies to everything in the physical world.

The Law of Karma : The Law of Karma states that for every action there is a reaction or in other words, you will reap whatever you sow. Furthermore, ignorance of the law is no excuse. We are still accountable for everything we do. Karma is produced by performing fruitive activities for bodily or mental development. One may perform pious activities that will produce good reactions or good Karma for future happiness. Or, one may perform selfish or what some call sinful activities that produce bad karma and future suffering.

Soya bean has a protein content of 43% as against 25% in dal, 18% in meat, 30% in eggs and 13% in cheese. Soya can be turned into hundreds of delicacies—making it a chefs delight. Apart from soya milk, one could use soya to make ice creams, chocolates, yoghurt, cake, bread, pies, milk shakes, paneer, etc.

Soya beans can rightfully claim the honour of being one of the most concentrated and nutritive foods known to man.

In the Indian context, soya assumes even greater significance. To make the best utilisation of agricultural land, here are some facts, which may surprise you.

One hectare of land used for different purposes will produce protein as follows:

Soya 500 kgs, Wheat 150 kgs, Meat 20 kgs, Milk 50 kgs, Corn 180 kgs

This is one of the reasons why experts studying the world food situation are virtually unanimous in their opinion that soya bean will be the key protein source in the future. Clearly as farmland grows more and more scarce, the above factor assumes even more importance.

Soya milk possesses all nutritional attributes of soya bean and offers a revolutionary, yet simple source of good quality products.Soya milk contains all the amino acids and is therefore a source of complete protein. Take a look at some of the other features which may not be so well known.

Soya protein allow better assimilation. Soya milk is a rich source of absorbable iron. Most Indian women are anaemic, and growing children also are generally lacking in iron. Unlike the iron present in leafy vegetables like spinach, soya iron can be easily absorbed by the human body. The absence of lactose (milk sugars) enables persons suffering from lactose intolerance to consume soya milk. Lactose intolerant people cannot digest dairy milk. Those suffering from high cholesterol levels can find remedy in cholesterol reducing effect of soya milk. Soya milk also offers easily digestible protein to those suffering from milk protein allergy. Soya milk suits diabetic patients being free from starch.

LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT SOYA MIIK

1. As many as 15% of the infants are allergic to dairy milk. There is no evidence of similar reaction to soya milk.
2. Many babies after weaning lose the ability to produce lactose, an enzyme capable of breaking down lactose in dairy milk. When such lactose intolerant people drink dairy milk they feel bloated, get stomach pains and even experience diarrhoea. Soya milk contains no lactose.
3. Soya milk is cholesterol free and rich in lecithin and linoleic and linoleinic fatty acids.
4. When soya milk is served with cereal grains it can boost the usable protein by 30%.
5. Soya milk also provides the much needed `B’ vitamins.
6. A study made by scientists at the University of Western Ontario, Canada, shows that soya milk, in fact brings down the cholesterol level. Soya protein addition to a person’s diet reduces the serum cholesterol levels irrespective of any other dietary considerations.
7. Soya bean combats nutritional anaemia caused by lack of haemoglobin in the blood.
8. Research in the United States has shown that soya bean help in retarding the ageing process and make a person look and feel young.
9. Half a litre of soya milk covers the daily requirement of essential amino acids of a child.

EVEN THE MAHATMA PROPAGATED SOYA

As far back as in the early 30s, Mahatma Gandhi realised the importance of soya for the Indian people. Undoubtedly, the high protein content and the nutritional value of soya was what made the Mahatma propagate its use.

In a letter of Harijans in October 1935, the Mahatma said “Soyabeans are a most nutritious diet.” He followed by saying “Soya beans stand at the top of all known articles of diet because of its low percentage of carbo¬hydrates and high percentage of salts, protein and fats.”
Even earlier, in July 1935 Gandhiji referred to Dr. H.V. Tilak’s book on balanced diets. The Mahatma drew the attention of the people to the experiments conducted in an orphanage of over 100 children, whose diet was made richer in protein and more balanced by the addition of soya beans.

THE SEXY SOYA BEAN

Research carried out in the United States has shown that soya beans help boost flagging sex appeal.

Soya beans have always been the staple diet of vegetarian diet but it’s a little known fact that they are also powerful sexual rejuvenators says Volker Frademacher, managing director of Harverd Foods.

Soya beans have a high lecithin content as well as being rich in protein. Lecithin, an unsaturated fatty acid is said to clean out veins and arteries and to improve circulation.

It also relieves heart complaints, soothes the liver and gall bladder and relieves kidney disorders and some forms of psoriasis notes Frademacher.

Soya beans are rich in protein and are a good source of minerals and vitamins.

It is believed that soya beans are especially potent when eaten with pumpkin seeds. The two taken together act as a tonic to pep up sagging energy.

DRINK A PINT OF SOYA MILK A DAY

Drinking soya milk helps to keep your cholesterol level down. This finding was made after scientists at the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada, conducted a series of studies on the effect of soya protein on cholesterol levels.

They also discovered that the addition of soya protein to a person’s diet will reduce serum cholesterol levels irrespective of any other dietary considerations.

The researchers at the Western Ontario University, Drs. Nina Mercer and Bernard Wolfe along with biochemist Ken Carroll and nutritionist Patricla Glovanetti tested the effect of soya protein on both animals and human beings. In the human study, volunteers were first put on a six-week cow’s milk course in which they drank a pint of cow’s milk daily.
Next they were put on another six week course, but this time drinking an equal amount of soya milk (which also contained 2% butterfat). No other dietary measures were taken. In their weekly reports they found that “both cholesterol and triglylceride values dropped substantially during the soya period.”

The director of this research team, Kenneth K. Carroll, said that the point of this research was to find out ways in which plant protein could be unobstrusively introduced in to a normal diet. Instead of the milk they could have tested the effects with either meat or eggs.

The milk test showed that North Americans who achieve a better balance in their intake of animal and plant protein by replacing only their milk intake with soya milk can “conveniently and comfortably reduce their coronary risk.”

If God answers our prayers
He is increasing our faith

If He delays
He is increasing our patience

If He does not answer
He has something better for us

I found this written at the entrance of a hospital. Analyze it and you will realize its essence! It touched my heart so much that I thought of sharing it with the world.

“For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me. There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear. And I declare that he who studies this sacred conversation worships Me by his intelligence. And one who listens with faith and without envy becomes free from sinful reaction and attains to the planets where the pious dwell.” (Bg.18.68-71)

Here we can understand how powerful are the words and instructions of Lord Krishna. Simply reading the Bhagavad-gita, the conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, is a form of worship and meditation that utilizes one’s intelligence. This itself is part of the process of purifying our consciousness. Merely listening with faith cleanses one of the reactions to numerous sinful activities and allows that person to enter the heavenly planets of the pious. Therefore, reading Bhagavad-gita on a regular basis should be done. Setting up functions for the benefit of the general mass of people for reading and explaining Bhagavad-gita should also be encouraged. It will certainly spread a positive energy and spiritually charge the atmosphere in the community, especially for all who participate.

Lord Krishna also explains that those who spread and explain this message to others will certainly attain devotional service. Actually, such activity is direct service to God by spreading His message. And Krishna also says that there is no servant of His who is more dear than one who engages in this service. Some servants take great risks going all over the world to deliver this message to the people in general. So we can only imagine how much affection Krishna has for them. By looking at the world’s present condition and all the crime, war and quarrel that is going on, we can understand the need in society to be uplifted and to rise to a higher level of cooperation and peace, then we can also agree that the whole world would be greatly benefitted by hearing the Lord’s instructions. Therefore, we should make a point to share this spiritual knowledge with those around us. As we provide the means for the success of others, our own success is also guaranteed.

By following these points that are presented from the Bhagavad-gita, you can see how easy it is to practice this essence of the Vedic path and be assured of success. You only need to be serious, faithful, and sincere. Associate with other like-minded people and devotees, and add the principles outlined herein to your lives. You will quickly begin to see a difference in your life, your attitude, your interactions with others, and in your own relationship with God. I also wish you all success.