yoga - #3

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Question: Hatha Yogic practices are said to banish diseases effectively and are therefore advocated as necessary preliminaries to Jnana Yoga (Yoga of knowledge).

 

Sri Ramana Maharshi: Let those who advocate them use them. It has not been the experience here. All diseases will be effectively annihilated by continuous self-enquiry. If you proceed on the notion that health of body is necessary for health of mind, there will never be an end to the care of the body.

Question: Is not Hatha Yoga necessary for the enquiry into the Self?

Sri Ramana Maharshi: Each one finds some one method suitable to himself, because of latent tendencies (purva sanskara).Question: Can Hatha Yoga be accomplished at my age?

Sri Ramana Maharshi: Why do you think of all this? Because you think the Self is exterior to yourself you desire it and try for it. But do you not exist all along? Why do you leave yourself and go after something external?

Questioner: It is said in Aparoksha Anubhuti (by Sri Sankaracharya) that Hatha Yoga is a necessary aid for enquiry into the Self.

Sri Ramana Maharshi: The Hatha Yogis claim to keep the body fit so that the enquiry may be effected without obstacles. They also say that life must be prolonged so that the enquiry may be carried to a successful end. Furthermore there are those who use some medicines (kayakalpa) with that end in view. Their favourite example is that the screen must be perfect before the painting is begun. Yes, but which is the screen and which the painting? According to them the body is the screen and the enquiry into the Self is the painting. But is not the body itself a picture on the screen, the Self?

Questioner: But Hatha Yoga is so much spoken of as an aid.

Sri Ramana Maharshi: Yes. Even great pandits (pundits) well versed in the Vedanta continue the practice of it. Otherwise their minds will not subside. So you may say it is useful for those who cannot otherwise still the mind.