On Yoga and Vedanta

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Greetings All,

 

On the occasion of Janmastami, I would like to post

this small essay on Yoga and Vedanta.

 

A Pragmatic Introduction To Yoga and Vedanta

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Broadly speaking there are two planes of existence (in

the Vyavaharika sense) - The Physical and the Mental.

 

The Physical plane is consists of objects that we have

come to believe exist out there.

 

The Mental plane is the plane on which the mind

exists. Thus all thoughts, feelings, perceptions

(including the perceptions of the objects in the

physical plane), intentions, desires exist at this

level. Note: One can argue that metal plane is the

only plane that exists (in Vyavaharika sense), since

apart from their perception, there is no point in

attributing any reality to the objects in the physical

plane. However, for the present discussion we will

talk of both physical and mental planes as existing in

the Vyavaharika sense.

 

The fundamental principle that a Yogi recognizes is

the following: "Event in the Physical plane is an

effect whose cause lies in the Mental plane."

 

By altering the thought patterns and perceptions it is

possible to influence events in the Physical plane. In

fact for a Yogi, the Mental plane is where the cause

and hence the cure of all problems lies. Manipulation

of phenomenon in this plane is the subject matter of

much of Vedic literature.

 

A yogi sooner or later (sooner the better) discovers

that manipulation of events in the Mental plane can be

quite a risky proposition, with not so obvious

negative effects. The main hurdle here is lack of

clear cut rules. And figuring out the rules via trial

and error might be an expensive affair. A yogi

recognizes the importance of this plane but does not

have a road map of its territory. With great

perseverance and faith the Yogi keeps working at

this problem. Then one day the yogi discovers the most

wonderful being. He/she declares, I have found that

by which the unknown becomes known, the unheard of

becomes heard of and the unachieved becomes achieved.

The Yogi has found his/her Self. The yogi recognizes

that the Self in its Saguna aspect is well acquainted

with the territory of the Mental plane. The

Saguna-Self knows all the ups and downs, the pit falls

and indeed everything that is there to be known about

the Mental plane. The Yogi under the guidance of this

ancient being begins a journey into world of unlimited

possibilities.

 

Thus Yoga and Vedanta stress the need to discover the

Self (in both the Absolute and Saguna forms).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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