AWARENESS IS THE KEY

- Anil Peter

    Awareness is the ability, to stand back and watch one’s mental and physical activity.  So what’s unique about this phenomena?  Well, the fact of the matter is very few of us are aware.  Most of the time, we have so completely identified ourselves, with our body, mind, work, habits etc.  that we get lost in them.  And yet, this quality called awareness is unique to the human species.

    Plants have feelings, but no mobility, Animals have both feeling and mobility.  Man also has this but at the same time he has this extra attribute awareness.  Man has this extra and all important ability to be able to know his consciousness, and to allow it to manifest and blossom to its fullest potential.  This consciousness, the underlying life principle in every atom, is the same in all things, but its expression can be different.  In plants and bacteria, this consciousness is expressed at a very rudimentary level, while in man it is expressed at a far more complex level.

    So where does all this get us as far as our daily life is concerned?  If one looks at the nature of the mind, one can immediately see that its essential nature is movement.  By being aware, one watches this movement of the mind.  A very beautiful story would illustrate this point.

    There once lived a king, with a beautiful, but rampantly wild horse.  The king promised, that he would handsomely reward anyone, who could subdue his horse.  A contest was therefore arranged, where many tried mounting this horse, only to be thrown off it.  Finally, one rather weak looking individual volunteered.  He escorted the wild horse out, and returned a while later, seated astride on the horse, with the horse obeying his every instruction.  The king was amazed, and wanted to know how this man had succeeded, when so many others had failed.  To this the horse tamer replied, “Instead of fighting your stallion, I let him run freely to his hearts content, following his own impulses.  Eventually he became fatigued and submissive.  It was then no problem, to befriend your horse and gain command”.

    It is the same with the mind, if we fight and wrestle with the mind, we will never achieve mastery over it.  The method to adopt is similar to the wild horse tamer, let the mind follow its impulses and tendencies without restriction, until it becomes ready to accept your authority, give the mind free run.  Don’t suppress it, but merely watch and get to know it.

Through increased awareness, we start responding to situations instead of reacting to them.  That is, by watching the life process, the activities around  oneself as well as one’s mental activities, this divine intelligence in us, the consciousness, is better able to express itself.  As a result of which we become better communicators, salesmen, research scientists, family men etc. As one starts responding to the environment, one starts living in greater harmony with it.

Awareness is a quality that can quite easily be developed.  It is in fact a quality, we always have possessed, but have forgotten it, because of wrong thinking.  Awareness is in fact a process of letting go.  We let go of our dogmas, ideas, concepts, and try seeing things as they are.

Published in the Oct 2010 edition of Yoga & Total Health Magazine.

MYSTICISM IS MYSTERIOUS



Sant Kabir had no bias about religion. He spoke of self – existence, spiritual consciousness to be reached by removing the veil of ignorance. 

He did not believe in preaching as this put one on a higher pedestal. One’s life should be an example to oneself.

Guru Nanak spearheaded the concept of spiritual reality, devoid of attributes. Such trends begin from 14th century with Jayadev, Trilokana, Namadwa, Ramananda, Raidas, Kamal Dhanna etc.

Like the transcendental, ecstatic union with the deity, contemplation and communion, consciousness of beyond, following the real (from Abl-al-Haqq, exalted state of consciousness, coming face to face with reality, intuitive apprehension or silent enjoyment with God etc. were spoken of.

There are more concepts and words like Kaivalya (aloofness), Mahabhava (great feeling), Mahabodha (great understanding), Mahalaya (great absorption), Mahasunya (great void), Nirvana (extinction), etc. that are attempting to grasp what is beyond words.

Sometimes methods are equated with mysticism, trance like deep meditation, spiritual discipline aiming at union etc. Mysticism is a way of feeling leading through intuition to illumination. The fact is that mysticism is subjective. It is a study and interpretation of the mystic himself and his behavior and belief, thoughts and his evolving consciousness.        

Dr. S. N. Dasgupta defines mysticism as a theory, doctrine or view that considers reason to be incapable of discerning or realizing the nature of the ultimate truth and at the same time believes in the certitude of some other means of arriving at it. It is intuitively experienced knowledge.

                                                                                                    Dr.  Jayadeva.   



Published in the July 2010 edition of Yoga & Total Health Magazine.

Children's Camp from April to June 2011

Bring you Children for a fun day at the Yoga Institute.

April 21st to June 9th, 2011
Venue: The Yoga Institute, Shri Yogendra Marg, Prabhat Colony, Santacruz (E), Mumbai – 400055.
Date: April 21st to June 9th, 2011  Time: between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.



Learn Fun Activity - the Yogic Way
Age Group: 5 - 8 Years
Month
Day & Date
Time
Fees
May
 Wednesday 4th - Thursday 5th
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Rs. 300/-
June
 Wednesday 8th - Thursday 9th
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Rs. 300/-

Age Group: 9 - 12 Years
Month
Day & Date
Time
Fees
April
 Thursday 21st - Friday 22nd
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Rs. 600/-
May
 Sunday 15th - Friday 20th (6 days camp)
 Wednesday 25th - Thursday 26th
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Rs. 1000/-
Rs. 600/-
June
 Wednesday 8th to Thursday 9th
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Rs. 600/-

Age Group: Teenagers
Month
Day & Date
Time
Fees
April
 Saturday 30th - Sunday 1st May
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Rs. 600/-
May
 Monday 9th - Tuesday 10th
 Friday 27th - Saturday 28th
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Rs. 600/-
Rs. 300/-


Please call on 022-26122185 for details.


Click to see more Camps at The Yoga Institute Website


STORIES THAT STIR

PAINTING  GOD
Dr. Patanjali J. Yogendra


A father walked into his little son’s room and found the boy scribbling something on a piece of canvas. “What are you busy with, son?”
                                  
“I am drawing God,” replied the little boy, without even looking up.

“But”, argued the father, “No one has seen God at any time, son, nobody in the world knows what he is like.”

“They will”, the boy assured him. “after I have finished.”

What may appear as a little boy’s innocence, is in reality a great lesson for us all.

Can we confidently say that we have not seen God or felt his presence? Why, when we see the sun rising in the morning, trees gently swaying in the breeze, little children playing in the meadows, bees humming around, flowers, people rushing to work, why for that matter, the beggar at the corner of your street; are we not seeing and feeling the presence of god? I should think painting a picture of God should be the easiest thing in the world. Just put pen to paper and there you have Him. For God lives in all his creations. 

Published in the Sept 2010 edition of Yoga & Total Health Magazine.