YOGA MADE EASY -2
(FROM THE TEACHINGS OF PARAMHAMSA SWAMI NIRANJANANADA SARASWATI)
In 2005, I came across a few books of Swami Ji. These books seemed quite difficult but left a deep impact on my mind. They have changed my concepts of Yoga greatly. Though I had been reading his yoga articles since many years in Yog Vidya, a monthly magazine published from Munger (Bihar). I always liked his practical, scientific and modern approach. Many of my doubts were answered in his article “KALP TARU KI CHHAON MEIN”. The older editions of Yog Vidya which contained Sri Swami Ji’s replies interested me greatly. His bold statements set my mind on fire. That was a beginning of my experimentation and faith. I concluded that here was a saint who was not trying to overload people with his mundane teachings but was challenging them to experience. To my amazement, I experienced many of his teachings. That is how I really truly believed him.
In 1998, I became a life time member of the Yog Vidya. I eagerly used to wait for the book and read it greedily. I read the different side of old preaching in the modern context.I enjoyed it, liked it and applied many of them in the course of my life. His article on spirituality inspired me greatly. He wrote, “People generally connect spirituality with God, puja etc. but it actually means going from, ‘Pravritti to nivratti’.” In your daily life if your desires are decreasing materialistic thinking is changing, that is spirituality. Heemphasized that it is a very slow process. It cannot happen over night. I instantly felt at peace with my self as I realized that I was on the right path. I repeated this teaching to my other friends also who were restless like me.
I liked his book, ‘DHARNA DARSHAN’ very much, though I could understand only a little bit of that. He has compared mind concentration with a laser beam and written that the mind is powerful like a laser beam when concentrated. Children liked it very much and understood their mental level immediately.
GITA DARSHAN is a book in which he has translated chapter 1, 12, and 15 of Gita.Swami Ji has explained each sloka in 4-5 pages. It is extremely easy and interesting. I immensely enjoyed grasping the deeper concept of each sloka by reading it many times.Daily I used to read 1 sloka and tried to assimilate each and every word. When ever I pick it up again I find something new. It has changed my version of Gita from boring and difficult to interesting.
YOG SADHNA PANORMA is another book which I liked very much. It contains his lectures in different parts of the world. It includes various meditation practices. Some of them were beyond my comprehension, but others were very simple. One of them I experimented both on my self as well as in my class proved absolutely true, easy and effective. He has written that while practicing Pawan Mukta asana with breath; concentrate your mind on each part and imagine that Prana Shakti is flowing there. If there is pain or some problem, concentrate for more time and imagine that prana flow is curing that problem. The vibrations of Prana in that region remove the obstacles in the flow of the Prana.
He has emphasized the presence of vibrations in each and every mantra and their effect on our mind and body. When Surya Namaskar was done with 12 syrya mantras in a children’s camp; all of them felt very energetic.
The concept of SWAN appealed to me greatly. S stands for strength i.e. positive points ofan individual’s personality. W stands for weaknesses i.e. negative points of one’s personality. A stands for Ambition and N stands for needs. He has explained it very clearly that in our life we should assess both our strengths and weaknesses clearly and choose ambitions which are viable (achievable). Also what is the need of the present stage of our physical, mental and emotional state should be given utmost importance. In spite of running after very high set ambitions which are out of reach, getting frustrated;we should be practical. We should strengthen our weak points and set the eyes firmly on our present requirements. Ambitions if very high should be set aside in a separate corner of our psyche; so that when ever they pop up; in spite of getting depressed; we get motivated to improve ourselves as soon as possible.
Another very simple concept of DIFS given by Swami Ji appealed to me very much. It stands for disease induced Fear Syndrome.’ He has clearly explained that disease causes problem both physically and mentally; but a greater damage is done by the fear, tension, anxiety and depression caused due to the disease. This fact, I found to be very much true in my own case. When I was suffering from the crippling disease of RheumatoidArthritis, all the time I was gripped with unnecessary tensions, anxieties and worries. Depression was all time high which is very much against my basic nature; as I am strongly positive minded. But at that time, more negative thoughts captured my imagination and worsened my pain.
For ‘Sadhaks’ he has given a 5 ‘S’ programme.
1.
Samarpan- ability to surrender to Divine Will.
2.
Swadhyaya- self study of one’s nature
3.
satsang- Being in the company of truth
4.
Seva- selfless service
5.
Sneha- Affection for all
6.
Mother ‘S’ stands for SADHNA
A) Service
B) Self analysis
C) Self observation
For attaining equanimity, 5 easy to understand steps are
1.
understanding
2.
friendship
3.
support
4.
compassion
5.
forgiveness
I do not feel justified in explaining his teachings, let alone understand and gauge their depth. I am fully aware that I am too naïve, too shallow to analyze his great works and wisdom.
Whenever I think of him, his teachings I feel too blessed, too happy to put it in words on the paper for the benefit of those, who don’t have time to go through his books. He is too great a personality to be assessed and so are his books and teachings. I consider my self fortunate, blessed by the grace of God to come in contact with him and his books; which have put me on a path of deep contentment, eternal happiness and bliss.
(FROM THE TEACHINGS OF PARAMHAMSA SWAMI NIRANJANANADA SARASWATI)
In 2005, I came across a few books of Swami Ji. These books seemed quite difficult but left a deep impact on my mind. They have changed my concepts of Yoga greatly. Though I had been reading his yoga articles since many years in Yog Vidya, a monthly magazine published from Munger (Bihar). I always liked his practical, scientific and modern approach. Many of my doubts were answered in his article “KALP TARU KI CHHAON MEIN”. The older editions of Yog Vidya which contained Sri Swami Ji’s replies interested me greatly. His bold statements set my mind on fire. That was a beginning of my experimentation and faith. I concluded that here was a saint who was not trying to overload people with his mundane teachings but was challenging them to experience. To my amazement, I experienced many of his teachings. That is how I really truly believed him.
In 1998, I became a life time member of the Yog Vidya. I eagerly used to wait for the book and read it greedily. I read the different side of old preaching in the modern context.I enjoyed it, liked it and applied many of them in the course of my life. His article on spirituality inspired me greatly. He wrote, “People generally connect spirituality with God, puja etc. but it actually means going from, ‘Pravritti to nivratti’.” In your daily life if your desires are decreasing materialistic thinking is changing, that is spirituality. Heemphasized that it is a very slow process. It cannot happen over night. I instantly felt at peace with my self as I realized that I was on the right path. I repeated this teaching to my other friends also who were restless like me.
I liked his book, ‘DHARNA DARSHAN’ very much, though I could understand only a little bit of that. He has compared mind concentration with a laser beam and written that the mind is powerful like a laser beam when concentrated. Children liked it very much and understood their mental level immediately.
GITA DARSHAN is a book in which he has translated chapter 1, 12, and 15 of Gita.Swami Ji has explained each sloka in 4-5 pages. It is extremely easy and interesting. I immensely enjoyed grasping the deeper concept of each sloka by reading it many times.Daily I used to read 1 sloka and tried to assimilate each and every word. When ever I pick it up again I find something new. It has changed my version of Gita from boring and difficult to interesting.
YOG SADHNA PANORMA is another book which I liked very much. It contains his lectures in different parts of the world. It includes various meditation practices. Some of them were beyond my comprehension, but others were very simple. One of them I experimented both on my self as well as in my class proved absolutely true, easy and effective. He has written that while practicing Pawan Mukta asana with breath; concentrate your mind on each part and imagine that Prana Shakti is flowing there. If there is pain or some problem, concentrate for more time and imagine that prana flow is curing that problem. The vibrations of Prana in that region remove the obstacles in the flow of the Prana.
He has emphasized the presence of vibrations in each and every mantra and their effect on our mind and body. When Surya Namaskar was done with 12 syrya mantras in a children’s camp; all of them felt very energetic.
The concept of SWAN appealed to me greatly. S stands for strength i.e. positive points ofan individual’s personality. W stands for weaknesses i.e. negative points of one’s personality. A stands for Ambition and N stands for needs. He has explained it very clearly that in our life we should assess both our strengths and weaknesses clearly and choose ambitions which are viable (achievable). Also what is the need of the present stage of our physical, mental and emotional state should be given utmost importance. In spite of running after very high set ambitions which are out of reach, getting frustrated;we should be practical. We should strengthen our weak points and set the eyes firmly on our present requirements. Ambitions if very high should be set aside in a separate corner of our psyche; so that when ever they pop up; in spite of getting depressed; we get motivated to improve ourselves as soon as possible.
Another very simple concept of DIFS given by Swami Ji appealed to me very much. It stands for disease induced Fear Syndrome.’ He has clearly explained that disease causes problem both physically and mentally; but a greater damage is done by the fear, tension, anxiety and depression caused due to the disease. This fact, I found to be very much true in my own case. When I was suffering from the crippling disease of RheumatoidArthritis, all the time I was gripped with unnecessary tensions, anxieties and worries. Depression was all time high which is very much against my basic nature; as I am strongly positive minded. But at that time, more negative thoughts captured my imagination and worsened my pain.
For ‘Sadhaks’ he has given a 5 ‘S’ programme.
1.
Samarpan- ability to surrender to Divine Will.
2.
Swadhyaya- self study of one’s nature
3.
satsang- Being in the company of truth
4.
Seva- selfless service
5.
Sneha- Affection for all
6.
Mother ‘S’ stands for SADHNA
A) Service
B) Self analysis
C) Self observation
For attaining equanimity, 5 easy to understand steps are
1.
understanding
2.
friendship
3.
support
4.
compassion
5.
forgiveness
I do not feel justified in explaining his teachings, let alone understand and gauge their depth. I am fully aware that I am too naïve, too shallow to analyze his great works and wisdom.
Whenever I think of him, his teachings I feel too blessed, too happy to put it in words on the paper for the benefit of those, who don’t have time to go through his books. He is too great a personality to be assessed and so are his books and teachings. I consider my self fortunate, blessed by the grace of God to come in contact with him and his books; which have put me on a path of deep contentment, eternal happiness and bliss.