hinderances & Obstacles!

[Guest guest]

Concentration of mind is the first and foremost

pre-requisite in any sadhnaa. Most of us might have felt that

it is not an easy task. Mind refuses to concentrate

on our Ishtaa after tiredness of the day and the

moment we try to be calm, several useless thoughts

encircle the brain and make it restless. There are certain

factors which control this restlessness and Sage

Patanjali has beautifully explained the hinderances and

obstacles in the path of Yoga. Like in Samadhipaada(shloka

30) Patanjali says;<br><br> Vyadhistayansanshayaa

pramadaalasaya viratibhrantidarshanaa<br> alaabdhabhumikatwanva

sthititatwaani chittavikshepasteyantrayaah<br><br>Vyadhi,

Satyaan,Sanshya, Pramaad, Alasya, avirti, bhrantidarshan,

aalabhdh-bhumkatva, and anavasthitva These Nine are the main

hinderances in the path of Yoga. Let us see what these

hinderances are.<br><br>1-Vyaadhi : vyadhi means illness of

the body due to disturbance of equilibrium of the

body juices. When body is ill, Pranayama is forbidden,

and it is not possible to concentrate due to

restlessness of the body and mind. Strict discipline of food

habits and exercises of Hathha yoga can save us from

Vyadhi. Food should be without chillies and hot spices

and one should not smoke or drink alcohol during yoga

exercises.<br><br>2- Satyaan : This may be called incapability. Even

if one is not ill but is unable to do yoga due to

defect in body system or any other incapability, one

will not be able to concentrate. In serious problems

of incapability, one may go for another form of yoga

like Mantra japa or Gyana yoga.<br><br>3- Sanshay:

Doubt. If we have doubt in our sadhnaa or our guru or

our goal, then it is not possible to establish into

concentration. We have to first remove our doubts and then start

our meditation to remove this obstacle.<br><br>4-

Pramaad: Carelessness. Even after having fit body and

mind, one may be too careless about his routine of

Meditation, then it is also an obstacle and without removing

it, we can not concentrate.<br><br>5- Alasya:

Laziness is another obstacles. Lazyness of body can be

removed by having light diet and full sleep and lazyness

of the mind can be removed by filling oneself with

positive energies.<br><br>6- Aavirati: Attachement is

another obstacle. We may still have attachment towards

physical enjoyments and when we sit for Meditation this

obstacle may force mind to think of physical and material

enjoyment hence hindering its way to concentration. Feeling

of renunciation (Vairagyaa) and giving unimportance

to physical pleasure is the key to remove this

obstacle.<br><br>7- Bhranti-Darshan: Even if we have removed these

six obstacles and are established into concentration,

this seventh type of obstacle stops our way. Bhranti

darshan means viewing false visions. <br><br>8-

Alabhdhaa-bhumikatava: Removal of the above 7 obstacles is not

enough.Sometimes we may not reach the height of concentration

i.e.Samadhi. There may be many reasons like past karma,

non-clearing of chakras or any of the above obstacles still

present in subtle form.<br><br>9- Anavasthita : Sometimes

one may even reach samadhi but may not stay there for

long…this type of obstacle is called anavasthita.

Continuance of meditation or help of guru can remove this

obstacle and take us to the higher realms.

[Guest guest]

Now there are some obstacles which arise when our

mind is not concentrated these are <br>Dukha

daumarnsyaang meyjayatva shvaaspravashaa

vikshaipsahabhuva:<br><br> Dukha (grief), daumarnasya ((Commotion),

Angamaijayatva(trembling of organs), Shvaas (inhalation),Prashavaas

(exhalation), are the five hinderance which are only present

when mind is not concentrated.<br><br><br> Here Sage

Patanjali beautifully explains that grief, commotion due to

unfulfilment of desires, or trembling of body ;and even our

respiration are hinderances which stop us from going into

pre-stages of Samadhi. One may well ask if respiration too

stops, we may die ! But when samadhi is gained

respiration is stopped and there are many saints, yogis who

live in this stage of almost dead, for long periods of

time.<br><br> Swamy Yogananda in his book “Autobiography of a

Yogi” has given a beautiful, logical and vivid

explanation of this state when he wrote “….My body became

immovably rooted; breath was drawn out of my lungs as if by

some huge magnet. Soul and mind instantly lost their

physical bondage and streamed out like a fluid piercing

light from my every pore…..”<br><br> Respiration acts

double ways, when we respirate it incites chitta to send

vrittis (thought waves) to reach the mind…and vrittis

force the act of respiration. Both are inter-dependent.

If one stops the other will stop automatically.

<br><br> You may see this yourself. If you feel too much

angry, or sad or agitated…just hold your breath for some

seconds and exhale this for longer duration than

normal…repeat this exercise 10/15 times and you will be amazed

to find that the feeling of agitation is vanished or

weakened.<br><br> Sage Patanjali also explains the Mala (foulness)

which acts as obstacle for Samadhi. In shloka 33 of

samadhipaad he says:<br><br> Maitri karuna muditopekshanam

sukha dukha svapunya vishayam<br> bhavnatishchatta

prasaadanam.<br><br> <br><br>There are six defects of our mind. These

defects create six types of foulnesses in us

viz.<br><br>Raag - Kalushya : Foulness created by Raaga

(attachement). Raaga is a handiwork of Raj guna and it creates a

feeling of attachement to people and enjoyments. when

desires are unfulfilled, this foulness covers the

mind.<br><br>Irshya-Kalushya : Jealousy creates this foulness. when we see

others qualities or other’s happiness or others wealth

etc, and find that we do not have those things,

Jealousy takes over us and this fouls the mind.

[Guest guest]

Prapkaar-Kalushya: A feel to harm others my

action, speech or thought creates this negative energy

called prapkaar -kalushya.<br><br>Asuyaa-Kalushya:

Jealousy is also creator of this foulness. When we do not

find ourselves able to compete someone, we try to find

out his disqualities. We try to see faults in his

qualities and we try to see Proud in his thoughts. This

type of defect fills our mind with a sort of negative

energy called Asuyaa kalushya. This is also a big

hinderance in the way of samadhi.<br><br>Dvesha-Kalushya :

Hatered is another big defect which creates this

foulness. Hating anyone (including ourselves) creates such

negative energy ripples in the mind that one can not

progress in Meditation.<br><br>Amarsh_kalushya: Revenge.

when due to jealousy of hate, we try to harm any one,

or wish to avenge this foulness encircles our mind

and detracts it from being concentrated.<br><br>

Henre Patanjali very kindly tells us how we can remove

theses six foulnesses of the Mind, and establish

ourselves in Samadhi. He tells us <br><br>1- We should have

friendly feelings towards those who are happy and joyful.

This feeling will generate Positive energies and will

remove Raag and Irshya Kalushya.<br><br>2- We should be

kind to those who are in grief (even if they are our

enemies). Feeling grief of others as ours and sending love

and kindness will not only help in diluting other’s

grief but will also remove Praapkaar and Dwesha

Kalushya.<br><br>3- We should feel joy towards those who are higher

souls those who are on the path of truth. This joy will

generate enough energies to destroy the

Asuyaa-kalushya.<br><br>4- We should be indifferent towards those who are

rogues and who are busy in Bad karma. If we try to stop

them, or bad mouth about them or even think about them,

it will resonate our mind on the same frequencies

and will bring further foulness into us. Even hating

them unknowingly brings their negative energies to us.

Neglecting and being indifferent to those rogues and

scoundrels will clear the mind of amarsha-Kalushya.<br><br>

Sage Patanjali confims that after removal of these

Fouls, the way to Samadhi become clear and easy.

[Guest guest]

....and Rumi says: <br><br>This being human is a

guest house, <br>Every morning a new arrival. <br><br>A

joy, a depression, a meanness, <br>some momentary

awareness comes <br>as an unexpected visitor.

<br><br>Welcome and entertain them all <br>Even if they're a

crowd of sorrows, <br>who violently sweep your house

<br>empty of its furniture. <br><br>Still treat each guest

honorably, <br>He may be clearing you out <br>for some new

delight. <br><br>The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

<br>meet them at the door laughing, <br>and invite them

in. <br><br>Be grateful for whoever comes,

<br>because each has been sent <br>as a guide from beyond.

<br><br>Jaya Sri Radhey!