Evolution of Yoga

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EVOLUTION OF YOGA

Transportation such as cars, motorcycles, buses, etc. have made people lethargic and less active. If energy is not used up, energy saturated with toxic products is accumulated in the body causing different ailments which leads to chronic diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, chronic indigestion, etc.

To solve this problem, scientists and sociologists have turned their attention towards our ancestors, their ways of living, their eating habits and how they used to spend their leisure time. Their attention was drawn towards yoga, because our ancestors used to lead their lives based on principles of yoga.

This book is written to explore and explain how to spend our lives usefully by remaining connected with the supreme (Nature) by yogic principles. We are a product of our past deeds (Karmas), deeds of our ancestors (Pittri karmas). Our soul is a part of Universal cosmic energy (Mother energy) and our endeavour should be to purify the energy within us and around us to perfection, while remaining connected to our Mother Energy. This can be achieved by following certain principles described in yoga, which are: Ethical disciplines, Rules of conduct, Health of the physical body, Correct breathing process, Restraining of the senses and Meditation.

Dr. B.B. Sahi is an ardent pursuer of the study of yoga, spirituality and religions. At present, he is engaged in research in human attitudes and behaviour. Dr. Sahi is also the author of "Vital energy" and "Mind, Love and Sex."

Industializa tion after the Second World War has made the world a prosperous place to live in. Prosperity can be seen in every sphere of life: in higher standard of living, transportation, food, communication, education, etc.

People have started eating convenience foods, readily available cooked foods, frozen foods packed food, tinned foods, etc. These foods not only lack freshness, but most of their nutritional ingredients are destroyed in the process of cooking, freezing and preserving them. They are far less nourishing than fresh ones.

Transportation such as cars, motorcycles, buses, etc. have made people lethargic and less active. It is essential that toxic energy (energy containing waste products) is eliminated from the body and is replaced with fresh vital energy. If energy is not used up, energy saturated with toxic products is accumulated in the body causing different ailments. Constant accumulation of toxic energy in the body leads to chronic diseases such as heat disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, chronic indigestion, etc. Over eating manifests, in the form of obesity, which leads to so many other ailments.

The high pace of life has given rise to increased desires for gratification and more stress. To fulfill those desires, more resources are required which leads to a vicious cycle. To release stress and satisfy the senses people turn to over rating, drinking alcohol, excessive tea or coffee and become addicted to various stimulants classified as drugs.

To solve this problem, scientists and sociologists have turned their attention towards our ancestors, their ways of living, their eating habits and how they used to spend their leisure time. Their attention was drawn towards yoga because our ancestors used to lead their lives based on principles of yoga, which teachers us how to spend our lives constructively by remaining connected to our mother energy (God). A yogi lives life in harmony with the principles of Mother Nature.

This book is written to explore and explain how to spend our lives usefully by remaining commected with the supreme (Nature) by following yogic principles. I have made an effort to explain the principles of yoga, the yogic exercises to be performed for keeping different parts of the body healthy and free of disease, the yogic diet and how this diet can be modified according to the present day and age, ways of keeping the mind relaxed and means to connect the mind with the body on the one hand and with the soul on the other.

I am confident readers will enjoy reading this book, which I have divided into short chapters. I hope it allows them to understand way to adopt a healthier, wiser and more constructive lifestyle.

Talk of yoga and people start thinking about different postural exercises called Yog Asanas. Actually Yoga is a way of life based on certain principles to be followed with strict discipline.

Yoga was devised by our ancestors thousands of years ago for the benefit of masses to lead a life with a purpose. It was 'Dattatreya' who conceptualized the yoga, 'Sanaka' mastered it and ‘patanjali’ laid down the principles of yoga. At that time the main purpose was to explore the self, serve the society particularly the underprivileged and disabled members of the society, while remaining connected with the higher energies, which were called God. The emphasis was to live this life in harmony with ourselves, our family, community and nature (environment), giving a meaningful purpose to this life.

Yoga is a Sanskrit word which means "to connect". At that time this connection was envisaged to be the connection between the creature and the creator. With education, scientific and technological advancement the definition of yoga has been modified from tine to time. In modern world we are dragged by our senses towards luxuries and purpose of life has been changed to earn money and acquire luxuries.

When yoga was invented, that period was dominated by the Jupiter, which is a planet of wisdom, knowledge, good deeds and spirituality. This was followed by a period dominated by mars, a planet of strength, wars, might and dictatorship. During this period lots of wars were fought, masses were suppressed and small countries/kingdoms were created which were ruled by mighty kings.

This was followed by a period dominated by Mercury which is a planet for intellect. During this period evolution advanced further, people became intelligent, the number of intellectuals increased all over the world, scientific discoveries were made, and technological advancement took place.

Since Mercury and Venus are situated near each other and have a relationship of lover and beloved, so luxuries started creeping in. Venus is a planet of richness, luxuries, sex, nakedness and vehicles. Hence we are passing through combined period of Mercury/Venus which is gradually culminating into the period of Ketu also paves the way for spirituality and may lead us to the period of Jupiter once again in not very distant future, where the evolution shall advance further.

Yoga, as mentioned above, means "to connect". To connect:

The individual soul with eternal soul. The human body and mind with the supreme (God). The Microcosm (Human body) with the Macrocosm (Universe). The right hemisphere of the brain (right hemisphere of the brain represents female energy which is involved in recognition of patterns, intuition and creative abilities) with the left hemisphere of the brain, which represents male energy, which is responsible for rationalization, critical thinking and analytical sense. Human Vital energy with the cosmic mother energy. Your lower self (representing senses and illusion) with your higher self (representing the cosmos or universe). (The higher self has no ego, has no discrimination, it is always one and connected with the universe).

Yoga is a way of life. It connects the lower self with the higher self to create Universality. The people who practised yoga were called 'yogis'. In my view, the purpose of human life is:

To purify energy within us. To purify energies around us. We are a product of our past deeds (Karmas), deeds of our ancestors (Pittri karmas) inherited by us through our genes and gunas.

Depending upon these deeds, we take birth in a particular family at a particular place under particular circumstances. Our soul is a part of Universal cosmic energy (Mother energy) and our endeavour should be to purify the energy within us and around us to perfection, while remaining connected to our Mother Energy. This can be achieved by following certain principles described in yoga, which are:

Ethical disciplines. Rules of conduct. Health of the physical body. Correct breathing process. Restraining of the senses. Meditation. Ethical disciplines; To keep yourself pure and for proper integration in society some ethical disciplines are maintain :

(a) Truthfulness. (b) Non-violence. (c) Non-stealing. (d) Non-coveting. The roots of these evils are Greed, Desire and Attachment. Rishi patanjali has described how to overcome these evils by thinking along five principles. Since his original writing are in Sanskrit, some Sanskrit words have been used in the process.