The Midweek Sun

HOW CAN WE GO Contrary BEYOND THE RATIONAL MIND?

To common understand­ing, Yoga is not just asana (physical exercises).

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This column seeks to share a broader perspectiv­e on the benefits of Yoga to human beings, to raise We awareness continue to of end how the Yoga year is by a

enriching ourselves with timeless way of life, how practicing it makes

wisdom from Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, life for lighter those and who haven’t more meaningful, yet accessed and it also on social to bring media. to the This fore is how the appreciati­on He responds that to the all that title we question do in yoga above” is to lead us to the stillness within, “We to Usually bring Do inner Only peace. That Which Is Purposeful, Useful, And RaThe philosophy of Yoga touches tional. Everything You See, You many aspects of our being, i.e.

See Through The rational mind. our But physical, an intuition, our mental a discovery, and new our emotional, knowledge and goes is beyond pursued the from ramany tional angles. mind. Truth is beyond the Patanjali, rational mind. who is The regarded rational as mind the is like a railroad track that is fixed Father of Yoga, explains one of the

in grooves. A plane has no tracks. themes of yoga as: “yoga chitta

It can fly anywhere. A balloon can vritti float nirodha”, anywhere. that Some is, people quieting step of the out of thought the rational waves mind is yoga, in order or subsiding to rebel against the thought society. activity They want in the to mind break is social yoga. law but for the ego’s In sake. this They introducti­on, do it out of the anger, focus hatred, rebellious­ness, and wanting is on Astanga yoga, in which Pa

attention. This is not stepping out tanjali explains the “eight limbs of

of the rational mind (though they yoga”, think the it is). first one being the five Yamas. We step out of the rational mind

They when we deal do with something one’s that ethical has standards no purpose. and Accepting sense of that, integrity, as an

act, makes it a game. Life becomes focusing on our behavior and how

lighter. If you are stuck with only we conduct ourselves in life, the

rational acts, life becomes a burden. social Suppose discipline­s you play to a guide game without us in our a relationsh­ips thought to winning with others. or losing, just

Non-violence in thought, speech and action. Usually we think of violence in action, but this ethical standard challenges us to be peaceful in thought and speech as well. It advocates the practices of act compassion, irrational­ly. Making love, understand­ing, an act without any purpose attached to it - it is patience, etc. freedom - like a dance. So just step

Truthfulne­ss. Patanjali describes out of the rational mind and you will find truthfulne­ss a greater freedom, as to an be unfathomin harmony able with depth, mind, and word you will and come action. face to Our face actions with reality. in life must bring harmony in Reality relationsh­ips. transcends logic and the rational Non- mind. stealing Until means you transcend not just the rational mind you will not get refraining from physically taking access to creativity and the infinite. possession of what is not yours, but But if you do an irrational act in order to also find not freedom, allowing then the it already possession has of a unpleasant purpose and thought, a meaning. speech It is no and longer action. irrational. It speaks This against knowledge inordinate sheet desire has for already wealth spoiled or being its envious own possibilit­y. Break the barrier of the of others’ possession­s. rational mind and then find freedom

Continence or self-control, or for yourself.” celibacy. In other words, At the it different pays to take stages a of break our lives, from we the are rational called mind to selfsometi­mes. discipline and May self-control we contemplat­e in how on we this deal knowledge not only in with sexual awareness relations, that but leads even us in to our transcend general the outlook rational mind. More on httpd://www. about life. youtube.com/SriSri; http://twitter.

Non- covetousne­ss refers to com/SriSri; http://facebook.com/ SriSriRavi­Shankar. non-accumulati­on, whether it be of Register earthly on possession­s, tiny. cc/ HP10DEC or even in the your negative walk to emotions the state that of inner we enpeace, counter joy from contentmen­t, time to that time is not which dependent upon people in your life inevitably leads to ill-health, or satisfying certain conditions. in its extreme would manifest in undesirabl­e More next behavior. week…

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PAULINE SEBINA

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