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Having spoken about  Perfection and Imperfection in Yoga, Patanjali now speaks of the reasons for these and recommends corrective action.

Intensity , constant and regular practice will speed up the process of Yoga .

• tivra = rate is fast, speedy
• samvega = momentum, force, vigor, conviction, enthusiasm
• asannah = very close, near, speedy

1.21 Those who pursue their practices with intensity of feeling, vigor, and firm conviction achieve concentration and the fruits thereof more quickly, compared to those of medium or lesser intensity.
(tivra samvega asannah)

He adds,

• mridu = mild, slow
• madhya = medium, middling
• adhimatra = intense, strong
• tatah = from that 
• api = also
• visheshah = differentiation, distinction
•  For those with intense practices and intense conviction (1.21), there are three more subdivisions of practice, those of mild intensity, medium intensity, and intense intensity.
  (mridu madhya adhimatra tatah api visheshah

Now we come to an important aspect of Yoga,Indian Philosophy.

That of God.

Hinduism speaks of Polytheism,Henotheism,Monotheism,Dualism and Non Dualism.

It speaks of principle as the Realiy, yet advocates worship of God as well.

ord Krishna in The Bhagavad Gita says that ‘Whatever God you pray, I shall, in the form of That God shall give you the fruits in that Form”

Does this mean God is only an imaginary Concept?

Again we find many Gods in the Indian Pantheon, which is contrary to the Vedic Mahavakyas,

Aham Brahmaasm,

Tatatvam Asi and

Soham Asi.

When I am That, You are That and He Is That, where is the question of God?

Detail on this

“In a Nut-shell, God does not have Name and Form. But we need to have name and Form to Realize the Reality. So, different forms and names are best left to individuals as they know best what they like.”

http://ramanisblog.in/2009/09/28/does-god-have-name-and-form/

At the Ultimate Level thre is no God with Name and Form.

Yet it is needed as a Concept to graduate in Spiritual Practice, it is a tool.

But how come there are legends and Histories of God s in Hinduism”

Reality projects itself as God.

It is Real in this temporal world, ceases its relevance at the Paramaarthika Level, ParaVidya Level.

Sounds not convincing?

The same question was asked of Adi Sankaracharya when he explained the Theory of Maya and Brahman.

We know Sankaracharya advovates Non Dualism ,Advaita.

He syas the Reality has to be reailzed by the Individual by reclaiming the Knowledge that He is None other than the Reality.

How come the One Reality became or appears, as he put it, as Many”

Here Sankaracharya speaks of Maya, mayavada.

The impediment to realization is Avidya, Nescience,Ignorance at the Individual Level.

This Avidya is called as Maya at the Macro level.

Sankaracharya explains that the Realit, Brahman appears to be many and the world of names and Forms of because of Maya.

When did the Reality start appearing as Many?

Right form the Beginning?

Does it mean thet maya Existed in Time along with Brahman at the same time?

Yes.

If so, are not ascribing ‘Timelessness’-Anaadithtva to Maya?

Yes.

Then does Maya have the same attributes as that of Brahman?

In that case non dualism becomes meaaningless for for interaction between two realities the Third One is required, and a fourth One to manage thiese three and this is a Fallacy of Infinity?

What do you say”

Sankaracharya states that this is as far as our Minds can go.

One has to experience this.

Swami Vivekanada echoed this  when he ated,

‘You go this far and then you will find there are no more questions’

And that is That.

Patanjali is his Sutra 1.23 says the same as Iswara paranidhaana.

 

 

• ishvara = creative source, pure consciousness, purusha, God, supreme Guru or teacher
• pranidhana = practicing the presence, sincerity, dedication, devotion, surrender of fruits of practice
• va = or
• From a special process of devotion and letting go into the creative source from which we emerged (ishvara pranidhana), the coming of samadhi is imminent.
  (ishvara pranidhana va)
• More on Iswara Pranidhana to follow

 

Related articles

• At Yoga Beyond Yoga Sutra 1.18 (ramanan50.wordpress.com)
• http://ramanisblog.in/2013/06/09/why-and-how-faith-helps-imperfect-yoga/