YOGIC LIFESTYLE
Yoga is a complete lifestyle. The practice of Yoga does not only deal
with developing the physical body, it also covers all aspects of a person’s
life - the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of an individual as well
as his environment and relationship with other creatures. In Patanjali’s Yoga
Sutras, he described the eight aspects of a Yogic lifestyle and called it the
Eight-Limbs of Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga. These eight limbs are a practical guide
for personal development to achieve harmony of the mind, body and spirit, which
ultimately leads to Samadhi or Enlightenment.
As Yoga deals with universal truth, its teachings are as valid
today as they were thousands of years ago. The practice of Patanjali’s eight
principles would lead to deeper self knowledge, love and respect towards other
people and creatures, a cleaner environment, healthy diet and union with the
Divine.
The
3 Gunas of Nature
In the philosophy of Yoga, all matter in the universe arise from
the fundamental substrate called Prakriti. From this ethereal Prakriti, the
three primary Gunas (qualities) emerge, creating the essential aspects of all
nature - energy, matter and consciousness. These three Gunas are Tamas
(darkness), Rajas (activity), and Sattva (beingness).
All three Gunas are always present in all beings and objects
surrounding us, but vary in their relative amounts. We humans have the unique
ability to consciously alter the levels of the Gunas in our bodies and minds.
The Gunas cannot be separated or removed in oneself, but can be consciously
acted upon to encourage their increase or decrease. A Guna can be increased or
decreased through the interaction and influence of external objects, lifestyle
practices and thoughts.
a) Tamas
Tamas is a state of darkness, inertia, inactivity and materiality.
Tamas manifests from ignorance and deludes all beings from their spiritual
truths. To reduce tamas, avoid tamasic foods, over sleeping, over eating,
inactivity, passivity and fearful situations. Tamasic foods include heavy meats
and foods that are spoiled, chemically treated, processed or refined.23
b) Rajas
Rajas is a state of energy, action, change and movement. The
nature of rajas is of attraction, longing and attachment. Rajas strongly binds
us to the fruits of our work. To reduce rajas, avoid rajasic foods,
over-exercising, over work, loud music, excessive thinking and consuming
excessive material goods. Rajasic foods include fried foods, spicy foods, and
stimulants.
c) Sattva
Sattva is a state of harmony, balance, joy and intelligence.
Sattva is the Guna that yogi/ nis aspire towards, as it reduces Rajas and
Tamas, thus making liberation possible. To increase Sattva, reduce both Rajas
and Tamas, eat Sattvic foods and enjoy activities and environments that produce
joy and positive thoughts. Sattvic foods include whole grains, legumes, fresh
fruits and vegetables that grow above the ground. All yogic practices were
developed to create Sattva in the mind and body. Thus, practicing yoga and
leading a yogic lifestyle strongly cultivates Sattva.
The mind’s psychological qualities are highly unstable and can
quickly fluctuate between the different Gunas. The pre-dominate Guna of the
mind acts as a lens that effects our perceptions and perspective of the world
around us. Thus, if the mind is in Rajas it will experience world events as
chaotic, confusing and demanding, and it will react to these events in a
Rajasic way.
All Gunas create attachment and thus bind one’s self to the ego.
‘When one rises above the three Gunas that originate in the body; one is freed
from birth, old age, disease, and death; and attains enlightenment’ (Bhagavad
Gita 14.20). While the goal of yogi/nis is to cultivate Sattva, his/her
ultimate goal is to transcend the misidentification of the self with the Gunas
and to be unattached to both the good and the bad, the positive and negative
qualities of all life.
In Yoga philosophy, all living beings have Three Bodies and Five
Different Layers which are known as ‘Kosha’, or `Sheath`.24
Human beings are the best and greatest
creature of God, and are very different from all other living beings. According
to Yogic science, the existence of human beings starts from the Manomaya Kosha
or Mental Sheath. The power of discrimination comes simultaneously with this
state. On the other hand, the animal’s existence is only up to the Annamaya and
Pranamaya Koshas (the Food and Pranic Sheaths), which is why their interests
are only eating and reproduction and unlike humans, they do not have the power
of discrimination.
The development of a person’s Manomaya Kosha depends on the type
of company one mixes with. Mixing with good company helps develop & bring
up the superior part of the Manomaya Kosha, and associating with the bad brings
out the inferior part of the Manomaya Kosha. The wave of high thoughts or hopes
creates the wave in Manomaya Kosha, which in turn develops one’s intelligence
and consciousness. These good notions ultimately have an effect on the later
life. On the other hand, the bad effects of Manomaya Kosha will be transferred
to the next birth. Manomaya Kosha is the place of work - a virtuous act takes
you to heaven whereas impure work takes you to the nether/lower world. If one’s
Manomaya Kosha becomes pure, there will be a luster around one’s body just like
a saint’s.
The Three Bodies & The Five Layers
Physical Body - - - - - -Annamaya Kosha (Food Sheath)
Subtle Body - - - - - - -Pranamaya Kosha (Vital Sheath)
Subtle Body - - - - - - -Manomaya Kosha (Mental Sheath)
Subtle Body - - - - - - -Vijnanamaya Kosha (Intellectual
Sheath)
Causal Body - - - - - - -Annandamaya Kosha (Blissful Sheath)
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