Vedantham : ( 07/11/2012. )

. Chapter 7: Yoga Discipline-22.' “The non-cooperation of people with me is the source of my unhappiness.” This is what most people may feel in themselves. But you will certainly find time to think a little more philosophically when you discover that you can be unhappy even when the whole world of humanity is your friend, because the world is not exhausted by the existence of humanity. The world does not contain only human beings. It would be very poor philosophy, poor science, and poor commonsense that go headlong with the conviction that “in the whole creation, the only reality is the existence of human beings like me”. In fact, you will realise that the more consequent determining factors of even the possibility of one’s life are not human, that they are outside the very purview of human thought. The forces of the world are not necessarily human forces. Even history, which mostly is identified with the movement of human thought and human behaviour, is conditioned by f

Chapter 7: Yoga Discipline-21. I began to tell you that egoism is mostly associated with the function of consciousness within the physical frame of the individual. It is a self-affirmation of the physical individuality, coupled with mental action. It can be a family affirmation, a communal affirmation, a social type of affirmation, or any kind of attachment, for the matter of that. Egoism is that vehemence of conscious behaviour which attaches itself to a particular area only, as if outside it nothing is and nothing can be. But, what is spirituality? What is religion? What do we mean by the practice of yoga? It is the inner aspiration deeply felt within everyone to be set in a state of union with Reality as such – being qua being. This aspiration to be in a state of harmony with Reality may be considered by everyone as a source of happiness, satisfaction and well being, but it may limit itself to a finite form or a totally distorted shape of reality that is conceived by oneself. For

Chapter 7: Yoga Discipline-20. Thus, the egoism of the human personality, which is the principal opposing force in any spiritual effort, is something to be understood with great caution, clarity, and patience. You may feel that you are not at all an egoistic person. “What sort of egoism do I have? I want practically nothing.” Many people honestly feel that they have no desires at all. “What desire do I have? I want nothing.” But this is not true, because conditions which make us feel that we are comfortable and secure in any way, whether outwardly or inwardly, may tentatively create a feeling within us that neither do we want anything, nor do we have any desires, nor are we as bad as people may imagine us to be. Nobody would accept that one is a bad person. “What sort of definition do you have about me? What is wrong with me?” We resent any kind of attitude on the part of another which may find fault with us. We are always perfect; there is no defect in any on

Chapter 7: Yoga Discipline-19. Likewise, there can be a moral condition of emergency, there can be an emotional condition, and such other peculiarities to which psychologists and psychoanalysts are well accustomed. There are various types of defence mechanisms which the mind manufactures within its own self to counteract the eventuality or the possible occurrence of this emergency situation. But an emergency situation is not a natural condition. It is also a kind of disease that you are trying to rouse up to counteract some other disease that has somehow manifested itself – as you vaccinate yourself against smallpox. However, it is nevertheless a kind of illness that you are introducing; and an emergency is nothing but that. It may be necessary, but it is not a natural condition. Swami Krishnananda To be continued ....

Chapter 7 : Yoga Discipline - 18. Now, this is nothing but a war that is taking place within oneself; and every illness may sometimes, or often, be considered as a kind of battle that is taking place. It is a serious condition, an emergency-like situation, arising in one’s own self, such as when one’s temperature rises to 104-105 degrees F and every activity is stopped at that time. The concern of the physical and psychophysical organism is only to see that the temperature comes down, and every other activity is stopped because of this emergency situation arisen in the body. Swami Krishnananda To be continued  ....

Chapter 7 : Yoga Discipline - 17. But, all human beings are not so crude in the affirmations of their egoism. This is only a rare occurrence that can be seen with difficulty in certain corners of human behaviour. There are polished forms of egoism, which sometimes take the form and the shape of even what sometimes goes by the name of altruism. Merely because the affirmation of consciousness has gone outside the boundary of the physical body, it need not cease to be egoism. One can be highly egoistic merely in one’s relationship with one’s family. There are people who are terribly attached to their family, and their concern is only what they consider as a sort of well-being and security of their family, even if another family goes to the dogs. They can hang another, if only it would conduce to the secure existence of their family and the relations with whom they are connected. There can be egoism of various types. We are well acquainted with what is known as communal tension arising

Chapter 7: Yoga Discipline - 16. But, all human beings are not so crude in the affirmations of their egoism. This is only a rare occurrence that can be seen with difficulty in certain corners of human behaviour. There are polished forms of egoism, which sometimes take the form and the shape of even what sometimes goes by the name of altruism. Merely because the affirmation of consciousness has gone outside the boundary of the physical body, it need not cease to be egoism. One can be highly egoistic merely in one’s relationship with one’s family. There are people who are terribly attached to their family, and their concern is only what they consider as a sort of well-being and security of their family, even if another family goes to the dogs. They can hang another, if only it would conduce to the secure existence of their family and the relations with whom they are connected. Swami Krishnananda  To be continued  .....