THE MIDDLE PATH

AS ALL RELIGIONS PREACH, THE MIDDLE PATH IS THE PATH TOWARDS ENLIGHTENMENT, AND YOGA IS JUST THAT. THANE PLUS HELPS YOU MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND USING THIS AGE-OLD INDIAN TECHNIQUE

NasserLalljee

In Hinduism as the Bhagwad Gita teaches, it is Yoga, Buddhism teaches the path of renunciation as is the same in Sufism, where it is known as the middle path. The perfect balance achieved is Yoga and this is a way of life, a lifestyle if you will, a mindset where the fruit of all action - good or bad - is offered to the feet of the Lord.

As per the Gita, "Kartum Akartum Anyatha Kartum", that is "Action, in action, just the action". The perfect action is inaction where the Lord is the doer of all and you are just the channel. In Sanskrit, 'Yoga' means 'to unite', and it is the union of the aatma and the paramatma, resulting in a perfect state of balance. These are ancient spiritual practices, and a school of spiritual thought that originated in India , where it remains a vibrant living tradition and is seen as one of the paths to enlightenment.

Hatha, Laya, Karma, Bhakti, Jnana, Raja and Mantra Yoga are considered the main sadhanas, but there are many other types. The method of attaining is the first word, and the end result is the Yoga.

According to Yoga expert Dr Ulka Natu, "The primary aim of Yoga is to restore the mind to simplicity and peace by freeing it from confusion and stress. This sense of ease and bliss comes from the continuous practice of yogic asanas and pranayama. Unlike other forms of exercise, which strain muscles and bones, Yoga soothingly rejuvenates the whole body."

By restoring the body as a whole, Yoga frees the mind from the negative feelings caused by the fast pace of modern life. The practice of Yoga aims to fill up the treasury of hope and optimism within you, helping you overcome obstacles on the Path leading to perfect health and spiritual contentment.

Practicing asanas purifies the body by destroying its impurities. By increasing the circulation of fresh blood through the body, the toxins that are a consequence of an irregular lifestyle, unhealthy habits, and poor posture, are ejected. Regular practice of the basic movements of asanas restores strength and stamina to the body.

Asanas, together with pranayama, or the control of breath, rectify physical, physiological, and psychological disorders. They have a positive impact on the effects of stress and disease. Among the many ailments that benefit from the practice of asanas are osteo-arthritis, high and low blood pressure, diabetes, asthma and anorexia.

Though asanas help clear the blocks caused by negative energy, in reality there are no physical postures as the state of Yoga is a state of mind. It is most important to remember that' more than the physical bending and posturing, it is the mind that needs to be supple to accept divine will.

Most people know that the practice of yoga makes the body strong and supple. It is also well known that yoga improves the functioning of the respiratory, circulatory, digestive, and hormonal systems. Yoga also brings emo tional stability and clarity of mind, but that is only the beginning of the journey to samadhi, or self-realisation, which is the ultimate aim of Yoga.

According to Shubhangi Ghalsasi, also a proponent of Yoga, "The ancient sages who meditated on the human condition some two thousand years ago, outlined some ways to self-realisation - Jnana Yoga, or the path to Knowledge; Karma Yoga, the path of selfless service without thought of reward; and Bhakti Yoga, the path of love and devotion. All are paths by which the mind and its actions are brought under control and all lead to the same goal- samadhi."

Ghalsai further explains how the Katho Upanishad, an ancient text compiled some time between 300-400 BC, compares the body to a chariot, the senses to the horses, and the mind to the reins. The intellect is the charioteer and the soul is the master of the chariot. If anything were to go wrong with the chariot, the horses, the reins, or the charioteer, not only would the chariot and the charioteer come to gief, but so will the master of the chariot.

The earliest written accounts of yoga appear in the Rig Veda, which began to be recorded between 1500 and 1200 BC. It is difficult to establish the date from this as the Rig Veda was orally transmitted for atleast a millennium.

The first Yoga text dates to around the second century BC by Patanjali, who prescribes adherence to "eight limbs", the sum of which constitute Ashtanga Yoga, to quiet one's mind and merge with the infinite.

Adding an all-important point, Dr Natu concludes, "In the effort put in following the path to enlightment, many by products like siddhi are generated. Please do not concentrate on the byproducts. These are to be ignored and the path ahead is to be followed."