Lifting the Sternum - Samadhi and the Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali - Part 2

 Here is part 2 of the essay written by Lynn Holt from Yoga Rahasya vol. 25, No.4, 2018,

The essay is called: Lifting the Sternum - Samadhi and the Yoga Sutra-s of Patanjali.

Our head and spine:

The human brain is the central organ of the human nervous system, and with the spinal cord makes up the central nervous system.  The brain can be divided into three main portions: the cerebral cortex,  the hypothalamus and the cerebellum. The cerebral cortex functions in the process of thinking, speech, memory and imagination.  The hypothalamus regulates the activities of the internal organs and imprints emotional reactions of pleasure and pain, joy and sorrow, contentment and disappointment.  The cerebellum is at the base and the back of the brain; and is found just under the cerebrum of the brain.  The back brain is regarded as that which functions in meditation; it is the seat of wisdom and clarity.

The cerebrum is connected by the brain stem to the spinal cord.  The brain stem consists of the midbrain, the pons, and the medulla oblongata.  The medulla connects the higher levels of the brain to the spinal cord, and is responsible for several functions of the autonomous nervous system which are very important in meditation practice.

An understanding of the anatomy of the brain is important to understand why in meditation practice the brain has to be well balanced in relation to the spine.  Any unevenness in its position disturbs the quietness of meditation.  When an imbalance occurs, it is because the energies of the left and right hemisphere of the brain have to be brought to centre, to cease the thinking activity of the brain.  When correctly aligned Guruji tells us the flow of energy is diverted from the brain towards the heart and the brain is kept as a passive observer.  With the quiet brain then it is only possible to begin the process of going inwards to reach our very being - our core.

The importance of obtaining a quiet mind was observed but Lord Krishna in the sixth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita verses 13 and 14, where he gives directions to sit erect with the spine and head straight to concentrate the mind. Patanjali in the Yoga Sutra-s has comprehensively detailed the functions of the brain and the connections with our practice.  

Lifting the Sternum - Samadhi and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Part 1

 

In the 25th anniversary edition of Yoga Rahasya (Vol. 25, no.4, 2018) Lynn Holt wrote an essay titled:

Lifting the sternum - Samadhi and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

This blog will be the first part of the essay, with the remaining following over the next few blogs.  I have also attached an audio recording of the first part of the essay.

Classwork Book 1 - Organ of Conscience in Asana

 

In Prashant Iyengar’s book, Classwork Book 1, he writes in class 23 about Organ of Conscience in Asana.

Below is his notes on this class.

Just as we have organs of body, we have organs of “mind” as well.  The “mind” here should be looked upon as a consciousness substance.  This substance in different containers takes different forms corresponding to the forms of the container.  

Just as water or any liquid, takes the form of and is well-settled in different containers of different shapes, so is the case with this conscious substance or “mind” substance.  This mind, as a substance, does not essentially change.  In one organ, it works as a thought organ (in the brain). In another container, in the heart, it becomes emotions and sentiments.  Similarly, it becomes intelligence, ego , identity, etc.  Thus, we can surmise that we have,

            * a sensitivity organ

            * a mental organ

            * a thought organ

            * an intelligence organ

            * an ego organ

            * an identity organ 

            * an motional organ

            * a sentimental organ

            * a memory organ

            * an imagination organ

            * a creativity organ

            * an analytical organ

            * a synthesis organ

            * a conscience organ, etc.

    

  Anatomy has not identified, and has even failed to identify, the emotional organ in the heart, which is otherwise extremely apparent and obvious.  Yog identifies these in a very systematic manner.  Strangely, this unification process begins with conspicuously-analysed demarcations.  Yogic processes work on evolving each of those organs of the mind and consciousness, to evolve the intuitive mystic organ that is extremely vital for essential  Yog.

Essential Yog needs Dharmendriya i.e. an organ of virtue and merit, because to be right and righteous is vitally important in core Yog.  The organ of conscience that identifies right as against wrong from the perspective of Dharma.  The empirical mind distinguishes between sensory good and bad through sensation. The intellect rationally divulges right and wrong in practical aspects of life.  The organ of conscience divulges what is essentially right and wrong.  

Our sense of right and wrong is conditioned by delimitations of the subjective entity “I”, such as

         - class

        - caste

        - creed

        -  race

        - ethnicity

        - faith, religion

        - disposition

        - trait

        - brainwash

        - gender

        - age

        - condition

        - nationality

        - ancestry

        - genetic background

        - DNA

        - genealogical background

        - life-condition

        - life-relations    

    And such countless delimitations which exercise gravities, pulls and pushes, and so we are                       disqualified from having the essential right identified.

In Yog, such delimitations are greatly relaxed and kept at bay. Hence the claim that Yog surfaces and constitutes a conscience organ.

__________________________________________________________________________

As you contemplate this class, what are your thoughts.  Can you look at things from the perspective of different organs.  Please share your thoughts.

Yours in yoga,

Pam 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ashtanga Yoga - Yamas - Ahimsa and Satya - Non-violence and Truth

Astanga yoga describes the eight limbs of yoga, where the first limb is the Yamas or ethical discipline.  The first Yama is Ahimsa, which means non-harming or non-violence.  In his book, Light on Life, Mr. Iyengar writes that violence arises out of fear, weakness, ignorance or restlessness.  To curb it what is most needed is freedom from fear.  To gain this freedom, what is required is a change of outlook on life and reorientation of the individual.  Violence is bound to decline when people learn to base their faith upon reality and investigation rather than upon ignorance and supposition.  The yogi believes that every creature has as much right to live as he has.      

Satya means truth and in yoga is the highest rule of conduct or morality.  In Light on Yoga, Mr. Iyengar writes, “If the mind thinks thoughts of truth, if the tongue speaks words of truth and if the whole life is based upon truth, then one becomes fit for union with the Infinite.”  He further writes that truth is not limited to speech alone.  There are four sins of speech: abuse and obscenity, dealing in falsehoods, telling tales and ridiculing what others hold to be sacred. 

At this time I reflect on non-violence and truth.  

PLN Yoga

"Helping Unite Body, Breath and Mind"

Pamela L. Nelson 

Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher, Level 3

The Ways of Re-Conditioning the Citta

 

In Astadala Yogamala vol. 8 there is an essay called “The Ways of Re-conditioning the Citta”.  This essay was taken from a talk Mr. Iyengar gave in December 2007.  The definition of citta Mr. Iyengar gives in Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, is consciousness, a composite word for mind, intellect and ego (pride or the sense of self).  

In his talk Mr. Iyengar says that Yogic philosophy is not just about ignorance and knowledge, but for moving from ignorance to knowledge and from knowledge to wisdom with a non-corrupt simple, innocent mind.  He says that enlightenment in yoga comes when at a right time when one is at a peak state of sadhana after years of endeavour.  

The talk includes the eight (ashtanga) limbs.  With some focus first on tapas, which is one of the niyamas.  He says that tapas means to let the power of light in the body, mind and intelligence to blaze forcefully and brilliantly to shine forth through the zeal in sadhana so that it does not extinguish the will to stick to the sadhana.  Tapas is the fire of ascetic devotion towards the sadhana.  It is the fire from right action with attention, to brighten the infallible knowledge.  

In this though, most of us, even if have a diligent practice are stuck not practicing according to Patanjali’s dictum (see Y.S. 1.13), but practicing to remain healthy and happy.  We must change from casual practice and satisfaction to an attentive, stable and intense practice.  

Many other ideas are given in this talk, but as he nears the end of his speech he says, “In sadhana the gut says to flush out the old thoughts without disturbing the basics in order to bring new thoughts and ideas so that the sadhana gets qualified to reach the zenith in the asana.”

Culture, he says, develops when one begins to re-condition the old conditions to fit in to the present days’s mental caliber.  This conditioning, re-conditioning and un-conditioning moves like a perennial stream.  That is why the sages say not this, not this, not that, not that.  This thought of “not this, not that” is not a pessimistic approach but an optimistic approach so that one dose not get stagnated with fixed ideas or practice but proceeds to reach the exalted position where no room is found for re-conditioning.

Mr. Iyengar says it does not matter where each of us are on the path now, but says it is for us to think to find out how to proceed to the higher standard from the present sadhana.  Yogic sadhana is the means and yogic sadhana is the end.

Yours in yoga,

Pam 

Class 6 - Body as a Synthesizer in Asana

 

In Class 6 Prashant writes about the body as a synthesizer in asana. Below is the class he wrote in his book Classwork Book 1. 

In yogasanas, the physical anatomical body becomes like a musical instrument called the synthesizer or keyboard. This keyboard is an electronic marvel in music and sounds.  This one instrument has a fabulous repertoire of several sounds such as wind, tornado, thunder, airplane, jet, cries of animals and creatures, to various musical instruments, by selection of buttons.

Similar is the case of yogasanas in producing effects.  Various parts and spots in the body (with associated/kneaded conditions) work like keys in the keyboard.  Furthermore, when the internal-activity agency is in a fully operative state, one and the same asana can have a variety of effects.  

For instance, a basic and profound, but relatively not a difficult position, such as Utthita Trikonasana can be considered here.  This one asana, because of the synthesizer effect, can work fabulously. It can work as an exercise the the overall skeleto-muscular body or even as a conditioner for the corporeal body.  There are various conditions such as loosening, limbering, warming, cooling, exercising, soothing, etc., and also remedying.  It can work on toing and tuning, correcting deformation in the body, etc.

Then it can work for remedying the physiology or conditioning it positively.  It can work for the circulatory and nervous systems too.  It can work for cellular consideration and even cellula metabolism. Organs of the systemic body can also be soothed, rested, revitalised, tuned and toned by the associated breath and certain kriyas of Yog in Trikonasana.  Thus, the organs can be directly addressed and conditioned.  

Similarly, the holistic breathing can be addressed along with its system and process.  This can work for the associated body and mind, for what lies in between (glands, endocrine and nerves), and also beyond them viz. the mind stuff, consciousness and conscience.

Trikonasana can work for the mind state ranging from negative to normal, and onward to a yogic state of quietude, neutrality, sublimity, virginity, soothe, benevolence, purity, piety, sanctity, nobility, equanimity, equilibrium and transcendence.

This marvel is because of the various body-centric paradigms, mind-centric paradigms, and breath-prana-vayu paradigms.  Thus, Trikonasana can bestow several kinds of effects, almost countless.  Thus, the concept can be stated as

 Associate body - Synthesizer (keyboard).

Let me know your thoughts if you explore this concept in your own practice.

Namaste,

Pam