Yoga, Meditation, Hinduism

[Guest guest]

I would be glad to receive some insights re. the practice of yoga and meditation, on the one hand, and their link tonduism.

 

Anyone who has parctised yoga for a signficant amount of time could let me know his/her experiences and kindly tell me how and in which state of mind one should proceed to carefully and rightfully "use" yoga, the possible pitfalls/mistakes one may make in the process.

 

Besides, how does one meditate while doing yoga (particularly while doing the different asanas). How does one remember God while being actively involved in some exercises.

 

A bit long, I know, I would realy be very glad if experienced yoga practitioner(s) could share a bit of his/her experience with me. Thank you.

[Guest guest]

How does one remember God while being actively involved in some exercises.

 

no one can meditate, and no one meditates, hata yoga is simply a phisical exercise, a corruption of the original ashtanga yoga

 

now there is not any serious spiritual path based on phisical yoga

 

(the original meaning of yoga is "reunion with the absolute, with god"... there's some serious kind of yoga for the real purpose of attaining liberation, but not phisical yoga)

[Guest guest]

Physical Exercises are absolute important.

Try concentrating on god when you have Constipation or stomach problem, or flatulance,then you will know what you are concentrating on.

 

I agree your point on Ashtanga yoga. But I cannot accept your critisism on Hatha Yoga. The Therapeutic and Preventive effects of Yoga are well known.

 

Certain Asanas and Bhandhas can activate Kundalini.

 

I was a Yoga Practitioner for 2 years continously, and I was able to control my urges ( you know what I mean)very easily. My body was light , and I did not have excess body fat at all. I was eating less, and I had a healthy digestion and a good sleep.

 

Now I have stopped doing yoga for the past 7-8 months, and Only after stopping I came to know what all I am loosing.

 

Human beings feel the loss greater much more than they feel a gain. They wont know the importance of health as long as they have it. But once health is lot , one knows the importance of healt.

 

Actually within six months, I have put lot of weight, my thinking is becoming cluttered, and I am planning to take yoga again rigorously. In the name of professional committment, I have screwed up with my regular yoga sessions and I am feeling the effect now.

 

My uncle had some Palsy ( some sort of paralytic attack) and his face was deformed, with mouth twisting to one side of the face. It was Yoga that came to his resque. He went to a famous yoga center in Madras where he was put on a rogorous session of yoga and Pranayama. Within six weeks there was a lot of improvement. Now he is perfectly normal.

 

I have personally experienced the Physical and mental benifits of yoga and have seen lot of examples.

 

So if you know nothing about the importance of health or about yoga, its better not to comment or critisize yoga, and discourage people who want to know about yoga

 

[Guest guest]

If you go to a Yoga practitioner or guru, the guru will instruct you to feel the breath that is filling in, the muscles that are getting relaxed,the various sensations, the realxing feeling and the guru will guide you through the process.

 

The Guru will also guide you to create an awareness and once you start practising as per the instruction, you will forget yourself and your thoughts for the whole session.

 

At the end of a 45 minute session you will feel " WOW " How did I miss it all my life.

 

Actually Every posture in Yoga has a Counterposture and you have to learn thoroughly.

 

There are some basic 13-14 important asanas, that anyone can do. These 14 asanas will keep you in top condition.

 

But In extreme cases, when treatment of certain diseases or problems (like my uncle) is required, specialist instruction is needed.

[Guest guest]

hata yoga has not given to you the necessary concentration to read attentively the messages

 

i do not criticize the effcts on health (there's many forms of gymnastic, fitness, exercises and so on) i am only saying that now it is useless for transcendental purposes

 

otherwise what's the use to control urges?

[Guest guest]

You cannot transcend or whatever if you have physical difficulties, or discomforts.

 

Rather that will take away your attention.

 

Hata yoga makes sure that your body has less discomforts (pain, urges, impulses etc) and acts as an aid in transending or whatever.

[Guest guest]

Try Concentrating on your work when you have a stomach pain.

Hata yoga keeps all internal organs in top condition.

 

Your body is an instrument that you use for spiritual upliftment. If you dont take care of it properly, you cannot achieve spiritual greatness at all.

 

Its like trying to reach America from India with a broken cycle. You need a flight to reach America. So does one require a sound body to cross the spiritual Chasm.

 

Your post shows that you are a half boiled spiritualist who doest want to see what good other systems have to offer.

[Guest guest]

"You cannot transcend or whatever if you have physical difficulties, or discomforts."

 

so it is enough to have normal care for the health, avoid heavy karmic loads, like eating meat or taking drugs... and spend time in spiritual realization

 

phisical yoga is a very nice thing, but it is a matter of personal taste and gratification, not essential for spiritual advancement

[Guest guest]

I was trying to answer the question raised by the guest who started the thread. And he wanted to know about Yoga and he was asking opinions from People who have practised it.

 

So I answered from that point only. He did not ask if practising yoga is a must or not. Your answer points in that direction.

 

So the bottom line is I tried to share some of my experiences with the guest ( thats exactly he wanted) and he did not want an Unsolicited advice on " Yoga is not useful" aspect.

 

So watch the thread and what the request is before making any Unsolicited advices.

[Guest guest]

thank you !

[Guest guest]

there was an initial question: " How does one remember God while being actively involved in some exercises"

 

i have answered that "modernphisical" yoga has not so much to do with spiritual realization.. so the advice is.. solicited and pertinent

[Guest guest]

I am the guest who started the thread.

 

Do you mean that the practice of yoga in its "modern form" - I am not sure I understant this term - is not a path to enlightment, or part of what a human being can do to quieten him/herself and start turning to God ?

 

I really do wish one would answer questions more clearly and fighting over terms and concept, while forgetting the topic as the first person who answered my question very rightly said - is really strange and does not help at all. It pushes people to just leave the forum.

 

Any other meaningful explanation re. the practice of yoga, meditation; its link to hinduism, as well as experiences to be shared by other people doing yoga ? Thank you

[Guest guest]

Do you mean that the practice of yoga in its "modern form" - I am not sure I understant this term - is not a path to enlightment, or part of what a human being can do to quieten him/herself and start turning to God ?

 

exactly

 

 

I really do wish one would answer questions more clearly and fighting over terms and concept, while forgetting the topic as the first person who answered my question very rightly said - is really strange and does not help at all.

 

opinion difference, one will give the answer that he feels right, where's the problem?

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Could you please explain the difference. Again, do remember that I am no specialist in the field and may not understand all the terms. I would be grateful if you could answer. Thanks.

 

[Guest guest]

the main difference is that there was ages when the astanga yoga was a system of meditation on the supreme, now, hatha yoga is a considerably reduced version of astanga yoga, followers are not requested to have any quality or behaviour (astanga yoga practitioneers had to be perfectly celibate from birth, vegetarian, no intoxicants, ascetics etc)

 

and it is reduced to a form of fitness, gymnastic.. maybe very effective but not at all a way to spiritual realization