Why physical practice is not the goal of Yoga.
Yoga is an ancient word that has been found in many schools of thoughts and philosophies in the East, from the region which now we know as India. Dating as far back as 5000 year sago, the word ‘yoga’ first appeared in the Rig Veda, the oldest and sacred text in the Hindu tradition. The Vedas were a collection of texts containing songs, mantras and rituals to be used by Brahmins, the Vedic priests. The meaning of ‘yoga’ continues to be refined in the Vedas, most specifically in the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita, and also in other traditions such as Sankhya, Jainism and Buddhism.
In the context of that time where yoga was practised and defined by various schools of thoughts and philosophy, Sage Patanjali compiled and wrote the Yoga Sutras around 500 BCE. It is important to note that although the definitions of Yoga between Sage Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra and Vedanta (study of Vedas) are technically different (we shall not get into the details here), the ultimate goal of Yoga is the same: to liberate the soul from the material world and attain the ultimate freedom (and satisfaction).
Using 196 sutras (sutras are short concise verses in the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions), Sage Patanjali set out to define the goal of yoga, and how it can be achieved by a novice or an experienced practitioner, i.e. you start where you are.
In [1.2], he dives straight into the definition of Yoga.
Sutra [1.2]
yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ
“Yoga is the stilling of the changing states of the mind.”
yogaḥ = yoga;
citta = the mind;
vṛtti = the fluctuations
nirodhaḥ = the cessation, restrain, control
Yoga is the cessation (nirodhah) of the ever-fluctuating activities or modifications (vritti) of the mind (citta). The cessation of the mind activities can be interpreted as the ‘quieting’ of the mind, and the goal of yoga is to reach this point of silence, where the activities of the mind are restrained or controlled.
When the mind reaches a stillness without disturbance from fleeting thoughts, we come to a stage of deep inner peace, and we are able to see clearly our true nature - the autonomous consciousness that is separate from the mind, the body and the senses which are part of the material world. And how do we reach this state of nirodhah of our mind? The nature of the mind is always thinking, have a thought every second; what can we do to reach this stillness that Sage Patanjali talks about?
Just like a turbulent lake that cannot be stilled by force, it is not possible to reach this stage with suppression, but with wisdom and the practice of meditation. Although the practice of meditation can be daunting and exasperating for some, through regular practice over time, the ‘stilling’ of the thoughts can become more natural and with less effort.
As we learn to focus more on our body and our breath in our asana practice, we realise it is possible that the thoughts can become quieter. And over time, with practice, the silence becomes the window through which we can have a glimpse into our true nature.
