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1. What is Yoga?
2. What is the difference between this yoga system and others?
3. Who can practice yoga? Are there any prerequisites?
4. What exactly is meditation?
5. What is self-realization?
6. What is the difference between meditation and yoga?
7. Isn't it self-centred to sit around meditating all the time when there is so much suffering in the world?
8. Is meditation a form of brainwashing?
9. How do you know if this is the right meditation technique for me?
10. What are the benefits of meditation?
11. What is the relationship of Yoga and vegetarianism? Do I need to be vegetarian?
12. How to prepare for a yoga class?
1. What is Yoga?
As with everything that has been evolving for so long, Yoga has many branches or approaches, and probably the most known aspect of it is the use of special postures, called "Asanas". Yoga is a rational and scientific method for an integral human development from which asanas are only a part.
Yoga postures (asanas) can help you in controlling, through their subtle effect on the glandular system, the many propensities of the mind. This is because our minds, our thoughts and our emotions have an indisputable relationship with our bodies and actions, and vice versa. This is the subject study of Biopsychology, a new and yet ancient science that is an integral part of Yoga practices. This is the method thought by P. R. Sarkar (aka Shrii Shrii Anandamurti), one of the greatest yoga masters of our time.
Through the practice of carefully selected yoga postures, we can achieve not only physical, but mostly mental equipoise. According to this method taught by P. R. Sarkar, it is possible to change chronic and pathological patterns of thinking, being and behaving with yoga postures.
Yoga postures are “inercises” more than exercises. By assuming certain postures we can stimulate the glandular system, hence changing the physiological patterns of the body and affecting the whole being. The effects of the glandular system on the human mind are well known today of which the depletion of serotonin in depression is one common example.
2. What is the difference between this yoga system and others?
This system of yoga focuses on mental development, and on the attainment of emotional and mental equilibrium, in contrast to the majority of yoga systems that focus mainly on the physical body. Rather than just hard and exotic workout exercises, this yoga method is a practical way of attaining balance between body, mind, and soul. Yoga is a path to inner harmony, which then gets reflected in all other spheres of human life.
3. Who can practice yoga? Are there any prerequisites?
Yoga can be practiced by anyone regardless age, gender, race or beliefs. Yoga is suitable for anyone who wishes to improve his/her physical and mental health. The only prerequisite to practice yoga is to have a body and a mind. You don’t need to be flexible to practice; you will become flexible with practice.
4. What exactly is meditation?
Meditation is the process of concentrating the mind on the source of consciousness within us. Gradually this leads us to discover that our own consciousness is infinite. This is why the goal of meditation is sometimes described as "self-realization."
5. What is self-realization?
The goal of meditation is to realize who we really are at the core of our being. The philosophy of yoga says there are two different levels to our inner self: our mental or emotional self and our spiritual self.
The mental self is sometimes called the individual mind. It is limited because it is strongly associated with our limited physical body and is the cause of the feeling "I am this individual person" – our ego. But our real sense of self-awareness comes from our connection to a wider, subtler form of consciousness.
Yogic philosophy says there is a reflection of an infinite, all knowing form of consciousness within our minds. This Infinite Consciousness is unchanging and eternal, and is at the core of our true spiritual "Self".
When we identify with the small ego-centred self this is called relative reality which is prone to change. But when we realize that there is a subtler, permanent reality behind the relative one and we see that our true nature is pure unlimited Consciousness, this is known as self-realization.
6. What is the difference between meditation and yoga?
To many the word yoga means a series of physical exercises stretching and tying our bodies into impossible knots. But these physical postures are only one aspect of yoga, known as "asanas". The physical postures of yoga are practiced for their health benefits, and because they help to prepare the body for meditation.
Yoga is both a philosophy of life and a system of spiritual practice. The word "yoga" actually means union between the individual self and Infinite Consciousness.
Meditation is the most important practice in the yoga system and is the means by which this merger or union is achieved. So yoga is a system or science that enables an individual to develop themselves physically, mentally and spiritually, and meditation is the practice that makes the mental and spiritual development possible.
7. Isn't it self-centred to sit around meditating all the time when there is so much suffering in the world?
It could be. It rather depends what you would be doing if you weren't meditating. If the answer is "watching television", by all means, meditate. But if it means you are neglecting your family, or using it as an excuse to avoid doing something for others, that is another matter.
8. Is meditation a form of brainwashing?
Meditation is not a form of brainwashing. Usually when people express concern about brainwashing, they are afraid of losing control of their minds and being manipulated.
Meditation actually helps to protect us against having our minds manipulated by strengthening our willpower and making us more self-aware.
If you're seriously concerned about other people manipulating your mind for their own purposes, I suggest that the first thing you do is switch off your television, a device which is used to great effect by advertising companies, amongst others, to influence people's behaviour.
9. How do you know if this is the right meditation technique for me?
This is something you have to decide for yourself. If you come across a practice that makes sense to you, and feels right, I suggest you try it. If you then experience that it is bringing the kind of changes you feel you need, keep doing it. If you experience difficulties, be patient. Don't be too hasty to switch to another technique. You may face the same problem again, and be forced to realise that the problem was with you, not with the technique.
If, after giving it your best shot, it still doesn't seem to be working, try something else. But don't keep shopping around forever – you should try to find a technique you're happy with and stick with it.
10. What are the benefits of meditation?
Extensive studies have been made of the physiological and psychological benefits of meditation, here are some personally experiences:
a. I feel more mental peace.
b. I am much more emotionally balanced
c. I am more creative, I feet that I tapped into a rich new spring of inspiration, ideas and insights.
d. I discovered a profound sense of purpose in life
e. Improved self-awareness.
f. I have a developing sense of universal love. I feel more love within my self, and greater love and compassion for others.
g. I enjoy good health – I lead a very busy life – I travel frequently and there are constant demands on my time. Yet I do not suffer from the stress related illnesses that afflict many busy people. Meditation and the natural lifestyle associated with it are definitely a recipe for a long and healthy life.
h. Improved will power and concentration. Over the years I have noticed my mind becoming clearer and stronger. If we exercise a physical muscle, it develops. The same is true of the mind.
i. I really enjoy meditation. Sometimes it is hard work requiring concentration, but when it really flows it can be intensely blissful – more blissful than anything else I've experienced.
j. I am happy. I know that I am much happier than I was before I started on this path, and this feeling has grown over the years. I'm more emotionally balanced, more creative, I'm developing as a person, I sense a profound meaning in my life, I feel closer to God, closer to people, I feel more love. Of course I'm happier.
11. What is the relationship of Yoga and vegetarianism? Do I need to be vegetarian?
No, you don’t to be vegetarian to practice yoga.
Vegetarianism is normally associated with yoga for moral reasons, not inflicting pain in other living beings. When one has the opportunity to choose, one should make a choice based on moral values and make the least harm possible to other life forms. Being in harmony with nature and the world around us is also part of the yoga way of life.
It is also well known that a vegetarian diet has numerous benefits to health, mainly longevity and increased overall health. Vegetarians are also more flexible (hence why it is normally easier to practice yoga) and have less proneness to be obese.
Vegetarians are also less likely to have heart or artery diseases, amongst others. A fast search on the web will reveal the so long hidden secrets of vegetarianism.
Beyond moral and health issues, there are social and economical issues. For example, reducing meat production by just 10% would release enough grain to feed 60 million people. There is a great deal of information available on the web concerning this subject.
12. How to prepare for a yoga class?
Avoid eating in the two hours prior to the class. Yoga is better practiced with empty or light stomach. Do not eat two hours before or drink 30 min. before.
For the yoga class all you need is good mood, comfortable clothes and you might consider bringing a personal yoga mat, towel or blanket to practice the exercises.
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