Distractions/Obstacles in sadhna

[Guest guest]

Patanjali speaks of several distractions and

hindrances to the practice of yoga which applies in varying

degrees to all (disciplined spiritual

practice).<br><br>He lists <br>1. Vyadhi- sickness disturbing the

physical equilibruim.<br>2. Styana - langour, sluggishness

or lack of mental disposition to work.<br>3. Samasya

- doubt, indecision.<br>4. Pramada -

indifference<br>5. Alasya - laziness<br>6. Avirati - sensuality,

preoccupation with desire for sensory objects.<br>7. Bhranti

Darshan - invalid or false knowledge, illusion of knowing

the Truth.<br>8. Alabdha Bhumikatva - failure to

attain contunity of thought or concentration.<br>9.

Anavasthitattva - instabiliity in holding on to

concentration.<br><br>Four others include - <br>1. Dukkha - pain,

misery.<br>2. Daurmansya - despair.<br>3. Angamehayatva -

unsteadiness of body<br>4. Svasa-prasvasa- unsteady

respiration.<br><br>Some of the methods to overcome such obstacles that

Patanjali suggests are through the practice of <br>1.

Maitri - friendliness - feeling of oneness with

all.<br>2. Karuna - compassion - including actions that

reach out to assist those in need become strong.<br>3.

Mudita - delight - joy at actions of all those doing

good (punya).<br>4. Upeksha - disregard - towards the

"bad" (apunya) actions of others and understand one's

own self to be able to understand others. <br><br>Due

to the intimate connection between breath and mind,

gurus of hatha yoga (B.K. S. Iyengar)further recommend

Pranayam (controlled breathing) and Yogasanas (postures)

as remedies to deal with these obstacles in

. <br><br>_/\_ Tat twam asi<br><br>Uma

[Guest guest]

Respected Uma and other members...<br><br>If a

person is experiencing an obstacle somewhere along

his/her spiritual path, how can he/she know which of

these distractions applies? Are there reasons for each

of these distractions? Do we get distracted/hindered

due to our own actions or reactions, or is it a

"divine test" of our will and dedication? How,

theoretically, can a person identify these qualities within

themselves and strive to overcome this setback?<br><br>In

Love<br>Erica

[Guest guest]

You have to lose the notion of "I" . Give up all

desires and be one with that "distraction" that you are

gealous or fond of. You are trying to wash off blood with

blood. You have to breathe deeper and get past those

"distactions" as directed in the Yoga Sutra's. Your whole

problem is gealousy erica

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry, but what is gealousy? It's not a word

that I am aware of. <br><br>If you're trying to say

"jealousy", it is spelled with a j, not a g. If that is,

indeed, what you're trying to get at, let me refresh your

memory of the meaning (as I have with the

spelling):<br><br>jeal·ous (jls)<br>adj. <br>1. Fearful or wary of being

supplanted; apprehensive of losing affection or position.

<br><br>2. Resentful or bitter in rivalry; envious: jealous

of the success of others. <br>Inclined to suspect

rivalry. <br><br>3. Having to do with or arising from

feelings of envy, apprehension, or bitterness: jealous

thoughts. <br><br>4. Vigilant in guarding something: We are

jealous of our good name. <br><br>5. Intolerant of

disloyalty or infidelity; autocratic: a jealous God.

<br><br>If you are referring to the fact that I am "vigilant

in guarding something", then you would be correct. I

am vigilant

(<a href=http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=vigilant

target=new>http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=vigilant</a>) in

guarding myself from negative energies, and

from people that attempt to bring me down to their

level. I won't allow it. <br><br>I pray that some day

you exorcise the darkness.

[Guest guest]

Erica....many of our family members here are from

other countries and may spell differently. Sarcasm does

not really suit you dear Look past the

misspellings and take what you need from each post. If it

doesnt apply to you, then leave it....surely it applies

to someone and may help them on their path. In love,

mirabai

[Guest guest]

exactly, you missed the point entirely. we, by

nature are gealous of God. Our own true Self. That is

the "root" of karma. And I am just as guilty. For a

self realized soul does not distinguish between

positive and negative energies, but rather ignorance and

Love. bye, Erika

[Guest guest]

well we might come back as animals but it is all in God's love.

[Guest guest]

0h mirabai, You are Beutiful!!!

[Guest guest]

Namaste Don Thank you for the complement. I am

also diplomatic I have read some past posts of

yours toward our friend and if I may suggest that

perhaps barbs toward each other may not be the best way.

Let us all strive to love each other. :)in love, as

always, mirabai

[Guest guest]

yes, I agree completely. There is a law of love that underlies all motives

[Guest guest]

I found that I actually had to get angry at many

of distractions that would disturb my sadhna. Most

of them are mental and come from an untrained,

uncontrolled mind. Pranayam is something I have found very

useful (especially with hiccups!) and yogasanas is new

to me but seems great for pain! <br><br>I use praise

to God for the most part for my sadhana. And for me

there is the speaking in tongues (peculariar to my

belief) which is another form of praise that only God

understands. It is most refreshing and spiritual uplifting to

me. It helped me to come up with all of the positive

affirmations and strength to recognize and defeat such things

as doubt and dispair (which of course do not belong

in the spiritual mind).<br><br>I consider when I am

cleaning the house, vacuuming etc, that I am cleaning my

spiritual house at the same time. That is an easy one

because housework is often tedious and mindless..what

better time is there to throw out the trash! after all,

we have it in the literal home, the physical mind

and the spiritual mind. Working this way, you put

your whole heart into what you are doing and you find

that you are working to please God/The Self and not

man. You would be supprised how much energy you can

amass that way and how quickly the work gets

done.<br><br>vicki