== THE PRACTICAL SCIENCE OF YOGIS ==
Namaskar,
One day I asked rector Dada, about my asana review. He was very busy in
arranging duties related with the master unit. When he inquired about my
problem, I told him that earlier I did not have any serious problem. But
when I started doing asanas, then it looks like more problems came.
I related that when I had visited Ananda Nagar, that time one Dada
prescribed me some asanas. He was also very busy. But when I requested,
then in distracted fashion he gave some asanas while I was walking along
with him. And when I practiced those then my situation worsened.
After listening this, my rector Dada told that 'You have to understand the
problem of our workers, WTs. Because of organizational work pressure,
everyone is busy. They do not have time to study Baba's books and acarya
diary, or to have proper knowledge about various asanas and their positive
and negative effects. And which asana is related with which disease, etc.'
THE SCIENCE OF ASANAS
Here follow is more what my Rector Dada recounted to me that day.
Asanas are a tested and proven science. Thus they should be prescribed with
carefulness. Only after proper analysis and inquiry regarding the
practitioner's physical and psychic diseases or problems. Thus asanas are
not just some free-hand exercise. Asanas are deeply healing 'postures of
comfort' that are related with various glands and subglands.
Baba has revealed a new science on this whole area. In the past, various
yogiis were doing asanas. But they were not aware about the serious
consequences, what way asanas link with various propensities. And in the
discourse "Glands and Sub-glands", Baba has revealed the secret.
Baba says, "This is a new science which is unknown today." (YP, p.124)
Here Baba revealed the science how asanas affect various cakras and their
related glands and subglands.
So asanas should not be learned or practiced in a haphazard way. If anybody
does asanas without proper carefulness, it can cause serious harm or invite
more disease. Physical, as well as psychic. To avoid this situation, better
is to follow Baba's direct teaching.
Of course in the asana book it says that margiis should consult with
acaryas. Then how can margiis decide our own asanas with the help of the
books only?
The answer is simple. Rationally thinking, we have our Yogic Treatment
book. And Various diseases and their respective asanas have been mentioned
there. One should carefully read about their problem. And accordingly the
asanas which have been recommended for that problem, one should practice
very carefully. Otherwise, danger is possible.
Here is more of what Dadaji and I discussed that day.
Then Dada confided in me, 'You see, my situation. I am extremely busy in my
master unit work. If any asthma patient or heart disease patient asks me
about asanas, what can I tell them? And if I will give some wrong asana,
this will be very bad. So for the sake of safety and welfare for others, I
suggest everybody that they should read the Yogic Treatment book, and
follow the guideline. And decide and practice their asana. That is the only
safe way.'
Then I replied, 'Dadaji earlier nobody told like this. In such a clearcut
way.'
Dada replied, 'On this very point, what can I say? I know my own
shortcomings. I do not have any hesitation to accept them. Because due to
extreme pressure of work, many WTs do not have time to study all those huge
teachings of various diseases and their remedies and asanas. So related
persons should decide. That is why Baba has written the books. Otherwise,
what for?'
In the last Dadaji warned, that 'Be careful. If asanas are done correctly
then that is very good. Very beneficial. But if they are done incorrectly,
then they are very harmful.'
After that he showed me the Baba's discourse, saying 'Look, in this very
discourse, "Glands and Sub-glands", Baba has revealed this science. That,
some asanas give pressure on the glands and then their secretion of
hormones increases. And that affects on the body and mind. Whereas other
asanas have a deep pressurizing effect on other respective glands. Which
affect just the opposite way. So some asanas are working in one direction,
and then other asanas are working in just the opposite direction.'
'And Baba also especially warned, that in various diseases certain asanas
are prohibited. Like, in high blood pressure, sarvangasana (shoulder stand)
is very harmful. Similar in the case of heart patients, salabasana is very
bad. There is a long list of such conditions. So the best is to consult
Yogic Treatments book. That is the safest way.'
MORE OF BABA'S GUIDELINES ON ASANAS
Dada told, 'This following paragraph of "Yoga Psychology", is very important:
Baba begins telling about cakras.
Baba says, "Cakra is a Sanskrit term while "plexus" is the Latin term.
Besides the main nerve centres at the point of each cakra, there are also
sub-centres where sub-glands are located. These sub-glands influence the
propensities attached to each cakra. This science is largely unknown today."
Baba furthermore continues. Here He gives the link between asanas, cakras,
and propensities.
Baba says, "By performing a'sanas regularly, human beings can control the
propensities attached to each cakra, and hence the thoughts which arise in
their minds and their behaviour. This is because a'sanas have a profound
effect on the glands and sub-glands."
Baba then goes on to explain the way asanas affect the glands:
Baba says, "All a'sanas have either a pressurizing or depressurizing effect
on the glands and sub-glands. For example, mayu'ra'sana [peacock posture]
has a pressurizing effect on the man'ipura cakra. The secretions of the glands
and sub-glands of the man'ipura cakra and the propensities associated with
them will become more balanced if this a'sana is practised regularly."
Here Baba gives a specific example.
Baba says. "If someone has a great fear of public speaking, it means his or
her man'ipura cakra is weak. Through the regular practice of mayu'ra'sana,
this propensity will be controlled and fear will be eliminated."
Baba then explains more about the precise way in which asanas exert their
effect on the cakras.
Baba says, "Other a'sanas may have a depressurizing effect on the man'ipura
cakra, and if these a'sanas are performed regularly the glands and sub-glands
associated with the cakra will become less active. Increased glandular
secretions generally make the propensities more active and vice versa."
Baba concludes by giving the link between importance of asana selection,
and their effect on each person's propensities:
Baba says, "By practising a'sanas regularly, one can control the
propensities and either increase or decrease their activity. So spiritual
aspirants should select the a'sanas they perform very carefully. This
effect of a'sanas on glands and sub-glands has never been revealed before."
(YP, 1998 Ed.)
Baba's quote ends here. This quote comes in full from the discourse "Glands
and Sub-glands", in "Yoga Psychology".
Please write your thoughts, what way you experienced in following on the
path of spiritual practices.
At His feet,
Acintya
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How to Judge
Baba says, "We deduce conclusions just from whatever we observe in this
external phenomenal world. We should try to see the subtle cause behind the
crude phenomenal world, but we do not see it. For instance, a particular
person stole something, and when we say, 'Thief! Thief!' people will start
beating him. If we try to inquire about the reasons for the theft, we may
come to know that he had been hungry for the last three days. And how are
we treating him? We are beating him rather than giving him food."
"So we should think and try to find the noumenal cause behind the phenomenal
world. If he was hungry and so stole, then we are more responsible for that
theft than he, because we failed to build up society, so that he had to
remain hungry. So we must see, and try to find the noumenal cause behind
the prima facie observable world. If we are intelligent beings, possessing
intellect, we must discover the noumenal cause. It is not proper to arrive
at conclusions from mere observation of outward expressions."
"In some places today, a person's hand is cut off if he engages in
stealing. With a little thought it can be seen that this is not at all a
humanistic recourse to eliminate stealing. We must seek the noumenal cause
behind all actions." (AV-12, p. 155-56)
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