Yoga is widely misunderstood ! Yoga is synergy through restraint

Yoga is widely understood and misunderstood. Spiritual leaders say that Yoga is union of self (Atman) with Almighty (Paramatman). Many persons say that Yoga is breath-control (Pranayama) in appropriate postures (Asana). But Yoga is much more than that. Bhagavad Gita says that Yoga is the skill to achieve  success (Yogah karmasu kausalam) and should be followed by Yoga for happiness (Samatwam Yoga ucyate). 

Confucius said, “A gentleman always puts his ideas into action before expressing them ………… If one is able to acquire new knowledge by reviewing old knowledge, he is qualified to be a tutor." I applied Yoga for success and reached the top position as an engineer. Since then, I have been practising Yoga for happiness. 

  Yoga is synergy from union and restraint. The word Yoga comes from union (Junjate iti Yogah). It develops synergy. Following are some of the unions cited:

·       Synergy (Yoga) of mind and body

·       Synergy of a team

·       Union of male (Pure Consciousness / Purusha) and female (Power of Pure Consciousness / Sakti / Prakriti)   principles. A similar principle is of Yin and Yang in Taoism practised in China.

·       Union of Almighty (Purusha) with Nature (Prakriti)

Yoga Sutra by Patanjali states, 'Yoga is control of thoughts'. It is achieved in three stages: empathy (Yama), ‘Rules of conduct (Niyama)’ and control of mind (Samyama). Control is inherent in all three stages. The eight-component (Astanga) Yoga by Patanjali consists of the following: Empathy (Yama), 'Rules of conduct' (Niyama), comfortable posture (Asana), breath-control (Pranayama), non-attachment (Pratyahara), Concentration of mind (Dharana), meditation (Dhyana) and development of intuitive true knowledge (Samadhi). Bhagavad Gita outlines different forms of Yoga prevailing at that time. It prefers action (Pravritti) without attachment to results (Karmaphala Tyaga). It leads to synergy through restraint to achieve success. Then follows Yoga for peace (Nivritti) through true knowledge (Samkhya Yoga) or meditation on Almighty according to Vedanta. 

Yoga is synergy through restraint