Yoga Explained

What does that term Yoga mean?

The word yoga means ‘Union’. It is union of the self with the all pervading universal life energy that’s is permeating this existence. This life energy which makes life happen is prevalent in all living and non-living things in this universe and is also present within oneself. When the life energy within oneself merges with the life energy permeating all existence then we are in yoga.

To understand how this works, imagine your physical being being represented as a clay pot. The air within the pot is the same air as outside the pot. Same way, the life energy within you is same as the life energy around you. That means all of us, even though we have distinct and unique physical and mental existence, we have the same life energy flowing through us. When we realize and experience the universality of the life energy within us and merge with it, we are then in yoga. With yoga sadhana(practice), we try to wear thin the clay pot (physical existence) until eventually it's obliterated and we dissolve into this universal self.

What is Consciousness

The intelligence that's responsible for life and for this creation is ever present in everything in the whole cosmos and is called consciousness. As you can see, life can be experienced only when you're conscious. This intelligence or life energy is referred to by many names such as Paramatma, Shiva, Universal self, and many more. Terms such as Paramatma, Shiva are often confused to be names of gods. However, the term ‘god’ is actually foreign to yogic culture and has been borrowed from other traditions. Paramatma is a combination of two terms - ‘Param’ (super) and ‘atma’ (soul). The word ‘Shiva’ has many connotations and one of them is the life energy within you and surrounding you in this existence. Yoga is achieved when the individual merges with the Consciousness or Paramatma/Shiva and becomes one with this larger creation.

In yoga sadhana (practice), this union is achieved by merging the body, breadth and mind, which is referred to as ‘Triputi’. The body knows how to function without our input, but the mind needs help staying where one wants it to stay. The mind is often wandering into the past or worrying about the future. When the mind is gently coerced into following the flow of the breadth and that of the body, Triputi is achieved. When union of body, breath and mind is achieved, one is in yoga.

The ultimate goal of yoga is to attain 'mukti' or liberation from all suffering. This can happen only when one is able to become one with the creator or the very source of life. Yoga paves the way to go inward to attain total bliss and liberation from all suffering.