A Journey from Yogi to Jogi

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For ages it has been said that everybody has a purpose in this world. Robert Bryne quoted that the purpose of life is a life of purpose. Millions of people are oblivious to this, whereas, millions aim to seek their purpose in this world. Art, travel, introspection and serving others doesn’t justify what so many people are searching for. It doesn’t quench the thirst of the soul. A few drops of water don’t make a river. Purpose, however, can be simplified to a one dimensional view.

A bird must fly and it must sing out to the rains, it is what the human eyes see. The true purpose of the bird though, can’t be figured out by imagination or with science. Only the bird knows what it flies for. Similarly, a human must walk, sleep, eat, think and express. In a two dimensional view, humans create, build, destruct, feel and interpret.

Our purpose is known and yet, not discovered by many. The shocking thing is that the answers we’ve been waiting for, to the questions that we can’t really form, have been known all this while. In Yoga hide all of our answers and our true meaning.Yoga is to a man what flying is to a bird.

Yoga is an ancient science, an art, a spiritual discipline and an ascetic practice. It is an abstract concept. Yoga is practiced by people to cure diseases of the body and mind, as an exercise routine, as a stress-reliever and also as a way of life. Yoga originated in India and has been kept alive by Indians for centuries. It is a path to spiritual growth which is approximately five thousand years old. The purpose of yoga is to unify the lower personality with the higher personality. It is the method of encouraging union with the finite, the transitory self and the infinite, the eternal self. Disciplined practitioners of yoga, Yogis are devotees or performers of ‘jog’, meaning, union with God or the supreme power. A true Yogi knows that the entire universe is situated within his own body and they master themselves, controlling their minds and bodies.

A Yogi is a person who realizes himself in spite of the worldly illusions and desires around him. A yogi believes in yoga as a religion. He can attain ‘siddhis’ or powers by awakening the ‘Kundalini’ power by purification of the mind and body by ‘Pranayama’ or control over breathing, continuous meditation and practicing Yoga. If a Yogi gains control and access to all the seven ‘chakras’ ofthe body, the ‘siddhis’ are awakened. This is a rare phenomenon in the modern world.

Not very different from a Yogi, a ‘Jogi’ is person who has abandoned all worldly ties and does not indulge in any sexual activity. Yogis worship Yoga and Lord Shiva. The literal meaning of Yogi and Jogi is the same: union with God.  Lust, rage, greed, attachment, ego and envy are the six evils a Yogi must win over.  The interesting transition of a Yogi to a Jogi happens when he denies all worldly offerings, is not bound by family ties and realizes his true purpose and becomes free. They shun what a still Yogi allows himself. They see through human relations, craving and attachments.

A saffron body-cloth, little personal belongings and undisturbed long hours of meditation comprise the life of a Jogi. Their calling is not limited to a few Yoga asanas, it is beyond that. Jogis claim to attain pure connection with the supreme power. Yogis and Jogis live their lives at the notes of a Tibetan meditation bowl which sings at the frequency of the manifestation of the universe. Yoga is the way to finding our true purpose. A Yogi finds it in Yoga alone or maybe, beyond. A Jogi finds it on every road ever built or yet to be built. The transition of a Yogi to a jogi is painful and brave yet, blissful in its own way.

The Importance of Being Aware About the Yogic Traditions

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Culture and tradition are two things that are always associated with India and is an integral part of the country. The heritage of India is deep rooted and consists of ancient knowledge and teachings that span centuries. While the nation as a whole has accomplished so much over decades, it still holds on to some of its beliefs and teachings of yore. Yoga has been part of the Indian culture and tradition for centuries now. Although it has evolved and adapted to suit the taste of the modern day Yogi, the core values are still the same.  

The tradition and teachings of Yoga have crossed several borders and people from around the world are adopting it. The modernized version of Yoga has been modified to attract more people. But there are still some places in India that practice Yoga in its true essence. Yoga is a spiritual science which has evolved through hundreds and thousands of years of practice, study, and experience. The union of mind, our emotions, and our soul is what underlies the Yogic tradition.

Researchers say that Yoga was practiced way before the Indus Valley people and there are many wall murals that depict the different Yoga postures and teachings. Although Maharishi Patanjali was the one who jotted down all the information and knowledge regarding Yoga, he was not the one who invented the practice. Yoga had been around even before his time. The teachings were based on from one person to another and evolved with each century.

Strengthen the Mind-Body Connect With Yoga

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Amidst the teachings of Yoga, there is a huge place for Lord Shiva who is considered as a symbol of the supreme sense of unity and consciousness. The union of Shiva and Parvati is something that many are aware of, Yogic tradition manifests a similar sense of union.  That is a powerful union of the soul with the ultimate self.  Ashtanga Yoga is the one most Yoga practitioners are aware of, but there were other forms and types of Yoga in the ancient times. The tradition of meditation that came from the period of Buddha was also added to the overall practice of Yoga.

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Today meditation and asanas go hand in hand and one is incomplete without the other. Unlike most people think, Yoga is not a religion or Hinduism. Yoga is a way of life which is dedicated to enriching our health and also decluttering our minds. It’s ideal for people who want to lead a wholesome life wherein they are free from a clouded vision of ego, anger and other negative emotions.

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The underlying philosophy is that of spiritual liberation and discarding impurities from our body and mind. Along with the daily practice of Yoga, the Yogis or ascetics believed in consuming a simple vegetarian fare that enriches the body. The actual practice of Yoga was more intensive and exclusive compared to the modern take on it.  Yoga started with a soothing OUM chanting and breathing exercise to prepare the body for the exercise and then performing all the asanas. It was a way to connect and communicate with God. Although we have left behind a lot of concepts and teachings of Yoga, it still maintains all the important teachings.

Yoga & Faith

It’s said that faith can move mountains, and could it be true? Well, eternal optimists say yes, though there is no concrete evidence as such.

Faith varies in its definition from person to person, as it is very individualistic in nature. But for anything to work in our lives we need faith and faith in Yoga leads to not only a person’s overall well being but also helps one begin on the path of Moksha or salvation if one desires.

Moksha is spoken of in a spiritual manner and just like faith and everyone has their own definition of spirituality. Spiritual maturity doesn’t necessarily mean years of meditation. It just means a person is aware of every breath of life and tries to make the most of it for self and by helping others. Spiritual maturity simply means realizing that everything is transient hence people stay in the present without dwelling over what is done and without worrying about what is to come.

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Instead of getting into the details of types of Yoga, let’s just say that the overall research proves one could reach on the highest peaks spiritually and even attain Moksha or salvation! For this, one needs to go through and then remain in a state of detachment. To realize and practice detachment we have to, once again, accept that everything in this world is transient hence detachment makes sense. Well, is that easy? Definitely not! 

That is where the realization that the soul is immortal matters. And once we realize that our souls are indestructible we definitely need to focus on our thoughts and deeds in human form. Purity of thoughts and selfless deeds is also a form of Yoga- Karma Yoga, this helps one to get onto the path of Moksha, and then to stay on this path, it is very important that one strives for peace in every manner.

In order to gain from this form of health science, one has to practice Yoga not only on the mat, but also off it. Only then can we say that it is not just a form of exercise but a way of life. Also we all know that no spiritual or practical aspect of our lives can begin without our having faith in what we want and what we do to achieve it. The same stands true for Yoga! A person could be practicing Asanas for hours and years, but may get very little results and declare that Yoga doesn't work. On the other hand one may practice Yoga for a limited one hour daily and gain a lot. The difference here would be that of faith. A believer will surely reap more benefits than a non believer from Yoga. ‘Keep the Faith’ does make sense!

Only if we have faith will we be able to reap manifold benefits. Without getting into the details of those benefits, we all know that practicing Yoga not only has physical but also mental and emotional health benefits, and all this put together could help a person mature spiritually as well. Having faith in what one wants or is doing brings more motivation and conviction to the goal or act and the achievement then becomes easier!

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There was a time when very few believed in Yoga but with the recent Yoga Day, going global and aptly being titled ‘International Yoga Day’, proves that this way of life is not limited to few cultures but its benefits are now being given a worldwide recognition!

Yoga> Physical-Mental-Emotional Health Benefits> Spiritual Maturity... it’s all in good faith.