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