Interesting posting........

[Guest guest]

An interesting posting came as under. The author did not care

to sign his name. It is not only the theology that he expresses

that is so touching - it is the very sincere and heatfelt love for the

subject matter that comes thro' so clearly.......hari..hari..........jay

 

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In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali talks about painful and painless actions

(karma). Basically, all actions that have a selfish motive bring pain. Those

actions done with a selfless motive will not cause pain (create karma).

Please don't forget that the YAMAS and NIYAMAS expounded by Patanjali are

the

basis of morality and spiritual practice. Without these, concentration,

meditation, and samadhi cannot be practiced.

 

I'm also a believer in the saying "The road of excess leads to the palace of

wisdom." Sometimes we have to go through painful experiences in order to

realize what the middle path should be. The mind's insatiable desire for

pleasure will always lead to pain- just as a pendulum swung 30 degrees to

the

left will swing back 30 degrees to the right. This "swinging" might help us

find the middle- although few people ever give up the pursuit of pleasure no

matter how many times they've been burned. When we renounce the pursuit of

pleasure we will no longer suffer the miserable effects. Although I read

this

in books years ago, it took many years before I understand the full impact

of

this, because in our society there is the strong belief that pleasure is

possible

without pain (and this is Maya!). But the Yogi must renounce both.

That is why Patanjali doesn't say there are painful AND pleasurable

experiences- because they are the two sides of the same coin.

The freedom from the identification and attachment to the body and mind

is the goal- then the Seer abides in his true nature.

What leads to this freedom could be called "morality", what keeps us

stuck in this false identification (and all this pain) could be called

"immoral." The Yamas and Niyamas are not limited to any culture or time

period- they are universal and timeless. Victory to all sincere devotees!

 

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