The Four Yogas as Spiritual Discipline to
follow the Dharma
Bhagavad Gita
karman.yevaadhikaaras the' maa phalesuu kadaachana |
maa karma-phala-hethur bhoor maa the' sango'sthv-akarmani
||
-II-47 || Chapter II -47
Thou hast a right to action or work alone, and never to its
fruits;
let not the fruit of work be thy motive, let not thy attachment
to inaction.
yoga-sthah: kuru karmaani sangam thyakthvaa dhananjaya |
siddhy-asiddhyoh: samo bhootvaa samathvam yoga uchyate'
||
-II-48 || Chapter II -48
Do thy work being steadfast in devotion and abandoning
attachment, O Arjuna !
and being equal in success and failure. This evenness of mind is
called Yoga
doore'na hy avaram karma buddh'i-yogaadh dh'ananjaya
|
buddh'au saranam annnviccha kr.panaah phala -hethavah: ||
-II-49 || Chapter II -49
O' Arjuna mere action performed with attachment is
inferior to action performed
with mind poised in evenness. Seek shelter in this state of
unperturbed evenness
in a desireless mind. Those who work for selfish gains are indeed
pitiable.
i. The Spiritual Discipline and Teachings Applied for the
Practice
The Philosophical teachings of Hinduism, like any scientific
theory, are of no use to the common man unless it is applied for
their daily practice. It has survived the test of time for many
thousand years and still remains popular due to the sound
principles on which its practice is based. It gives different
rules of ethics and conducts for various categories of people.
The Dharma Sasthras and Smrithis teach us of normal conduct in
performing our work. Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha are the four
Purusharthas that govern out activity. Dharma is the proper rules
of one's duty, which literally means "that which
holds" the universe and its beings. They are classified as
Samanya Dharma or the general and universal rules and Visesha
Dharma or specific personal rules for each individual. They give
peace, joy, strength and tranquillity. Artha and Kama are the
materialistic desire and passion, that also govern our actions.
Unless one seeks the material benefits and pleasures within the
scope of Dharma, it will cause grief with greed and lust. Moksha
is the relief from pain and suffering and ultimate liberation
that is the main reason for all our actions.
ii. The Four Yogas as Spiritual Discipline to follow the
Dharma
As rituals became popular and were being considered as the
sole path for the eternal bliss, the soundness of its philosophy
and ethics of practice were reestablished by the sages. The four
Yogas give us the spiritual discipline of our conduct. Karma Yoga
is the correct path of performing work without greed or desire
and the action performed without looking for the fruits of
benefit or loss. Raja Yoga is the discipline of control of our
body and mind. It teaches concentration, meditation, breathing
and physical exercise and a state of equanimity of the mind as a
natural reaction to all activities. Bhakthi Yoga is the spiritual
discipline of absolute devotion and love of God. It teaches
prayers and surrender to God at all times. It teaches to see and
feel God in all people and all actions. Jnana Yoga is the path of
obtaining Spiritual knowledge through action, study, meditation
and devotion.
iii. Development of the three Gunas in Cultural Practice
Vedas describe three personality traits, Sathvika, Rajasika
and Tamasika. Sathvika Gunas are present in the pious person who
follows all teachings of the faith and Dharma. Compassion to all
animals, Ahimsa and vegetarianism are advocated as Sathva Guna.
The Rajasika Gunas are present in people who enjoyed some amount
of worldly pleasures directed by desire and ego, which are Artha
and Kama. Tamasika persons have no knowledge of the proper Dharma
or they do not care for them. They are driven solely by Artha and
Kama which are passion, greed and lust. These Gunas are present
in all but one is dominant. The Yogas advocate the ways to follow
the superior Sathva Guna and the ways to suppress the undesirable
Artha and Kama without the proper Dharma. Performance of proper
Dharma and all the Karma leads to a sense of peace and equanimity
of mind and eternal bliss. The individual makeup of a person, his
Guna and effects of his Karma determines the rebirth and ultimate
liberation. Performance of one's duty without devotion to God
is dry and empty. Performance of such duty should be without any
attachment to its fruit but as a devotion to God. Hinduism gave
us the four Vedas, the three Agamas, the six Dharsanas and the
four Yogas.
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