Yoga for a New Age

This is a photo of Bourke Street,Melbourne's entertainment hub.

I typed this into Google search “Practice Yoga" and got the following search results. About 37,300,000 results (0.14 seconds)

The word Yoga comes from a Sanskrit word Yuj, which means to reconnect with the Supreme. The word Yoga is perhaps the most widely misunderstood term and most of the times people consider that doing some postures, controlled breathing and the body and generally practiced for the physical health. I also heard many other terms like, Hot Yoga and even Hip hop Yoga.

So going with what most people generally think Yoga is - Physical exercise and breathing is actually a part of Astanga Yoga, which involves controlling the mind and following the Asta angas or eight limbs like, Yama, Niyama,Asana, Pranayama,Pratyahara, Dharana,Dhyana, Samadhi. The first four limbs—yama, niyama, asana and pranayama—are considered external cleansing practices and involving living in seclusion, controlling the senses, maintaining a posture made of special materials like Kusa grass, deer skin and controlling the breath. Next four- pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi are considered as the internal cleansing practices which are even more difficult to practice and involve withdrawal of mind from senses, concentration, deep meditation and union with the object of meditation. I am not talking against Yoga that is being practiced today. Totally agree with all the health benefits it gives. In-fact, I myself also practice some of the Yoga Asanas. What I am getting at is that it cannot quench our spiritual thirst, that experience of Happiness and Bliss that a Soul is unconsciously hankering for.

I work in the City, in an office, sitting in front of a Computer, full time, 9-5, Monday to Friday. Looking at the impracticality of practice of Astanga Yoga - I turned towards Bhakti yoga, which is a spiritual path described in Bhagavadgita as efficacious for fostering love of, faith in, and surrender to God and a means to realize God, It is the easiest way for the common person because it doesn't involve extensive yogic practices as stated above.

Bhakti Yoga consists of following the nine processes of devotional service as explained in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 7 Chapter 5 Verses 23-24

sri-prahlada uvaca

sravanam kirtanam vishnoh

smaranam pada-sevanam

arcanam vandanam dasyam

sakhyam atma-nivedanam

iti pumsarpita vishnau

bhaktis cen nava-lakshana

kriyeta bhagavaty addha

tan manye 'dhitam uttamam

Prahlada Maharaja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Vishnu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words) -- these nine processes

are accepted as pure devotional service. One who has dedicated his life to the service of Krishna through these nine methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge.

(1) Sravanam -listening to the scriptural stories of Krishna and his companions, (2) kīrtanam praising,usually refers to ecstatic group singing, (3) smarana remembering or fixing the mind on Vishnu), (4) pāda-sevana (rendering service), (5) arcana (worshiping a bonafied Archa Vigraga - Deity form, (6) vandana -paying homage, (7) dāsya - servitude, (8) sākhya friendship,and (9) ātma-nivedana-complete surrender of the self.These nine principles of devotional service are described as helping the devotee remain constantly in touch with God.

As a part of my spiritual practice, I chant this mantra regularly “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare" which is confirmed by Srimad Bagavatham, as the most glorious, easiest, suitable and mantra for this age.

Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.51

kaler dosha-nidhe rajann, asti hy eko mahan gunah;

kirtanad eva krishnasya, mukta-bandhah param vrajet.

 “My dear King, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age. It is that simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.

Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.52

krite yad dhyayato vishnum, tretayam yajato makhaih;

dvapare paricaryayam, kalau tad dhari-kirtanat.

“Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Vishnu, in Treta-yuga by performing sacrifices and in Dvapara -yuga by serving the Lord’s lotus feet can also be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.

Shrimad-Bhagavatam (8.23.16) it is said:

mantratas tantratash chidram, desha-kalarha-vastutah;

sarvam karoti nishchidram, anusankirtanam tava.

“There may be discrepancies in pronouncing the mantras and observing the regulative principles, and, moreover, there may be discrepancies in regard to time, place, person and paraphernalia. But when the Hare Krishna maha-mantra is chanted, everything becomes faultless”

In the last of the verses of Shrimad-Bhagavatam (12.5.53) it is concluded:

nama-sankirtanam yasya, sarva-papa pranashanam;

pranamo duhkha-shamanas, tam namami harim param.

“I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Hari, the congregational chanting of whose holy names in the form of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra destroys all sinful reactions, and the offering of obeisances unto whom relieves all material suffering.”