Lesson 5 - Preparing to Perform Yoga
We must live in the now to follow the path to enlightenment. In the
lower realms of the mind, where time and space seem very real, we are
worried about the past or concerned about the future. These two
intermingle and limit conscious awareness. Living in the past or the
future obstructs us in this way: the past by reliving old
experiences--mainly the negative ones, for they are vividly
remembered--clouds our vision of the future. Living in the future
overactivates the intellect, the emotion and the desires. The future is
little more than another form of mental fantasy. Past and future are
equally unreal and a hindrance to spiritual unfoldment. A person
functioning in the now is in control of his own mind. He is naturally
happier, more successful. He is performing every task with his fullest
attention, and the rewards are to be seen equally in the quality of his
work and the radiance of his face. He cannot be bored with anything he
does, however simple or mundane. Everything is interesting, challenging,
fulfilling. A person living fully in the now is a content person.
To attain even the permission to perform yoga one must have the grace of
Lord Ganesha and the grace of Lord Murugan. Lord Murugan is the God of
the kundalini, of the advanced yogic practices. Unfoldment all happens
within the kundalini and the chakras within our subtle bodies. Once a
profound relationship is developed with Lord Muruga, then with the
guru's permission and guidance, true yoga may commence. Otherwise, no
matter how long one sits in meditation, no matter how hard one tries, it
is just sitting, it is just trying. There is no fire there, no shakti,
no power, no change. It is the Gods who control the fire and at this
stage help the devotee immensely, bringing him closer and closer to the
supreme God, Siva. Quite often the yogi in his deep internalized state
may see in vision the feet or form of God Siva before he begins to blend
into the mind of God Siva, called Satchidananda. It is God and Gods in
form that help us to find the formless God.
Most people have not realized that they are, and were, Siva before they
search for Siva. They are confined to their own individual anava, their
personal ego and ignorance. When we realize that we have come from Siva,
the way back to Siva is clearly defined. That is half the battle, to
realize we came from Siva, live in Siva and are returning to Siva.
Knowing only this much makes the path clear and impels us to return to
Him, to our Source, to our Self.