YOGA - WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT : 5.

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A slender creeper entwined that tree and reached up to a great part of the height.

It appeared to be strong, though it perilously dangled in the air.


A greedy man, desirous of possessing honey, without much effort, began to ascend the tree with the sole help of the creeper.

He was too lazy to cut steps on the trunk of the tree and thought that the creeper was strong enough to take him to the top.

When he was a few feet above the ground, a violent wind broke the creeper and the man fell down and fractured his limbs.


Similar is the case with those who try to ascend the tree of Yoga (Divinity), in order to drink the honey of Moksha, with the help of the creeper of Kamya Karmas (actions with selfish motives and desires) through short-cut paths.

The path of Yoga lies along the trunk of the tree of Divinity.

You have to improvise steps on it, with some effort, which is Sadhana (spiritual practices).

You have to ascend step by step, starting with 1. Yama, 2. Niyama, 3. Asana, 4. Pranayama, 5. Pratyahara, 6. Dharana, 7. Dhyana and then reach the pinnacle of 8. Samadhi.

There is no short-cut to this.

You cannot evade this responsibility.

If, on the other hand, you climb with the help of Kamya-Karmas,—though they, too, appear to be strong,—they will not take you to the heights of Yoga.

When the wind of selfish desires, greed for the things of this world and the pleasures of heaven, blows, this creeper of Karma will break and you will have a terrible fall.

Sri Swami Chidananda
To be continued  ...


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