4.5. Yoga and the Final Destination

The final destination in yoga sadhana is to attain samadhi where the soul is nearer to the purest of its state, highly knowledgeable and blissful.

‘The point of actuating the various focuses of the body and setting them up for activities on higher planes all together that they may show the best conceivable vitality. They season the sensory system with the goal that it might probably bear still more prominent strains amid higher sadhana.’^[1]

For as the heights increase so does the challenges.

‘Accomplishment in sadhana and the appearance of vitality rely upon the order of the body. No painter can paint an extremely excellent picture except if the canvas, on which he paints, has been legitimately arranged. A decent ground, a great circumstance and legitimate instruments are expected to deliver a great painting just as accomplishment in sadhana.’^[2]

If we contemplate about life and our role in it, we see that, besides yoga sadhana, even our dreams fall under the category of sadhana, as they take us towards the bigger purpose. Be it becoming a prolific writer or painter, an entrepreneur or a sportsperson; we all need a healthy body to move ahead to pursue our dreams along with favourable familial environment and emotional strength. This indicates that together all of these prepare a better ground for us to achieve what we want.

But in the quest of following our dreams we cannot over-exert ourselves. Meditation gives us few moments of deep relaxation, of emptiness, to rejuvenate and revive.

Sometimes it is good to stay away from even what we love to do the most. It only enhances our energy and leaves us with higher spirits.

‘Every one of our activities spring from the body. So as to be latent we need to desert the body, to render it totally inert, to such an extent that our senses stop to work. This is called Kayotsarga in Jain Yoga, complete immobilization of the body.’^[3]

For emptiness and idleness lead one to newer, fresher ideas.

‘In Vedic Dharma, the term 'yoga' is synonymous with otherworldly association of human and perfect characteristics, and exercises that lead to that association. For Jains, yoga implies all activities, regardless of whether helpful or unsafe, sacred or secular.’^[4]

But the purpose is the same i.e. to attain the best of human possibilities or in other words–taking the atman towards the paramatma.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

MBM. pp. 17

[2]:

MBM. pp. 20

[3]:

MBM. pp. 35

[4]:

LJ. pp. 112