&n= bsp; = ; <= /span> Art Of Living Newsletter &n= bsp; July 1^st,2009

Yoga - The Science of Being

Secrets of Sequencing Your Hatha Yoga Practices&n= bsp;

It appears that every one starts out practicing Asanas (= Postures) first and call it Yoga. Where as Hatha Yoga approach outlines a very simple sequence of starting and developing your yogic practices for t= he optimum results. 3D"Hatha=

First, you must purify your body. There are 3 types of w= aste products in the body, mucus (kafa), gas (vata) and acidity (pitta). Ayurveda says if these 3 types are balanced then perfect health can be maintained. So Hatha Yoga recommends 6 cleansing techniques to balance this secretions of the body. Neti (nasal cleansing), Dhauti (Internal cleansing), Basti (Yogic enema), Nouli (Abdominal massage), Kapalbhati (Frontal brain cleansing), trataka (cleansing of eyes) are 6 types recommended. Most of these have been covered in our previous Newslett= ers in detail. When these 3 energies are balanced, all the systems of the body like, respiratory, digestive, excretory, nervous system and other systems work in prefect balance. As per Hatha Yoga, the cleansi= ng techniques remove the blockages in the Channels (nadis). These blocka= ges create obstruction to the flow of prana (vital force), which results = in various physical and mental problems.

After the cleansing the body, the Postures (asanas) are = the second step in Hatha Yoga. The purified body is then subjected to discipline of asanas. Asana is a steady and comfortable posture which= is essential for meditation and higher practices. The sanskrit word asana comes from the verb "asa" which means "to be establish= ed in". So a body posture which is maintained for a long time can o= nly be termed as "Asana". These longer practice of postures balances prana (vital force) in the nadis (channels). In asanas = you subject your body to different stretches and strains and then try to maintain the posture in a relaxed manner. This practice builds the strength and stamina in all parts of the body. Healthy and peaceful b= ody is the starting point for advance practices. This is the purpose of Asanas.

The third step is pranayama, which literally means contr= ol of prana (vital force). Prana is the main force in the universe, all = the actions is a result of prana. This same energy also moves through body and mind. If one can control the prana then all the functions of the = body and mind can be controlled. So the purpose of pranayama is to control this prana through the skillful use of breath. With the practices of pranayama, all the chakras (psychic energy centers) are purified and awakened. The sushumna nadi is awakened which is the pathway for kundalini energy.

<= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fare= ast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black'>After the i= nitial three steps, following three steps complete the process of total liberation.

Dha= rana - (Concentration on Object) Concentration = of mind on one object and its field.

Dhy= an - (Meditation) With drawing mind from all external objects and Focusing it on one point and meditating on = it.

Samadhi - (Salvation) State of Super bliss, joy an= d merging individual consciousness in to universal consciousness. Union between Jivatman and Paramatman. Union of Shiva and Shakti in Sahasrar Chakra (the top of the he= ad). Realizing the Bramhan (pure consciousness)

3D"Sri = Knowledge se= ction

<= span style=3D'font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareas= t-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#663333'>Reverence & Reference

=

Knowledge= is always in some context. When the context changes, knowlwdge also changes. But love has reverence. If a child says 2+1 is zero you correct him. You = tell him - no my dear, 2+1=3D 3. But when an adult says 2+1 is zero and if= and if you start arguing with him, you are not in the context. You have g= one and moved out of context. When I say 2+1 is zero look now to the mome= nt. A person is not so stupid or does now know that much math to say 2+1 = is zero. If then I still say so, there must be something in it. That is Trust.

Readiness= to look into the unknown is called Trust.

You do not know but are willing to see how 2+1 is zero. You see that? You do not know what 'knowing' is. Now you are willing to know what is "I d= on’t know" and what is "to know". What is knowledge , = who is the knower, what is knowing, what is Truth all about? <= /span>

Only through Trust you can cross the Ocean of delusion. Delusion is always about unknowing. That is why it is delusion. Only those who have cros= sed delusion can help those who have not . Otherwise it is not possible.= You need someone from the other side to throw the rope , which you can ho= ld on and cross. The bridge has to have its own foot on the other bank. = Otherwise it is no bridge or you cannot cross. If you question if this bridge h= as its leg on the other shore or not, even before getting on the bridge,= we will not be able to resolve it. This happens in two instances. One, y= ou do not believe in yours= elf. You suspect you will get into trouble when you trust. So you will not trust the other person because you do have no faith. You think - will= I be able to walk the bridge? May be the bridge is ok but if I collapse= on the bridge? You will not be dispassionate.

"ita tarasi ita tarasi ita lokam sarvan" .Only through Him who h= as crossed, Only through Him you can cross. That is the common experience. When t= here is reverence, Love catches. You don’t have to know a lot, learn= a lot, read a lot of books, undertake hours and hours of practice in or= der to enjoy the Divine Love. Life is already burning with wicks undernea= th. "Ita tarasi ita tarasi ita lokam sarvan". The delusion= , only he can overcome who has faith in himself and in the master. ---commen= tary on Narad Bhakti Sutra

&nb= sp; by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar