Having spoken about the prerequisites for streamlining the Mind to enable it to do our bidding, Patanjali tells us how,
Practice.This is closely associated with and inspired by, our resolutions.
The more one practices more steadfast one becomes and the more one is resolved and motivated, the Practice becomes easy and regular.
Practice requires blind adherence to your resolution, come what may.
This is true of any action for that matter.
You deliberate on something, decide on it and act.
If you hesitate or pause , the action will become difficult to perform .
You get nagging doubts about performing the action and later it becomes a doubt on your ability to perform.
To quote an example,look at some cricketers like Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar.
Sehwag is passing through rough patch in his form.
His shots have become tentative and his body language negative on the field, clearly conveying self-doubt.
This is due to a wavering resolution and self-doubt, fueled by comments by others.
He had been advised Vivian Richards, not to show fear even if he has,for every one has them, and go blasting on the field.
He came good.
Tendulkar said much the same thing when he had a slump in form, when recovering.
Do not listen to others when you are practicing.
Nor should you discuss your Resolutions with the others.
It would slow you down if not break you.
So, having taken the resolution, go ahead and practice.
And trust your resolution.
This principle applies to breaking bad habits as well.
I used to smoke 80 Cigarettes a day.
This, I was doing for 19 years.
Then, one night as I was smoking in my office around 10 pm, I thought that it was silly to smoke and threw out the packet and I have not smoked since.
The reason is that there had been a resolve to kick the habit away at the back of my mind but it was just that I could not bring myself do it.
If your resolve is strong, you will do it.
Another point is that if your resolutions are sparked by or reinforced by those whom you love, then you do it.
I used to drink and had been for nearly 30 years.
One day my daughter came to me(she was 25 then) and said to me,
‘we want you, do not Drink any more”
I stopped Drinking from that Day.
So two things are important,
Follow-up your resolutions blindly and
Have it reinforced by those who love you.
That’s it.
Two great points by the sastras.
Never disclose your Pooja or Mantras to others.
Always surround yourself with Satsang (people of Good Thoughts and Deeds)
Remember it is equally important to have the Grace of God for these Sadhanas.
So much so, Yoga, called as a Nastika System(Atheist), for Sankhya and Yoga do not believe in the Testimony of the Vedas( Astika is one who believes in the Testimony of The Vedas), because it does not believe in it, is forced to accept personal God as Iswara for Yoga Practice.
His Grace is necessary, even Patanjali.
Now onto the Sutra 1.12.
tatra -in regards to these [abhyāsa and vairāgya]
sthitau – standing firm [`as in battle’] standing, staying, situated, resting or abiding or remaining in
yatnaḥ – effort, activity of will, volition
abhyāsaḥ – practice, repeated or permanent exercise, discipline, use, habit, custo
The practice requires Firmness of Resolution and Practice.
Related articles
- Directing The Mind, Yoga Sutra 1.12 (ramanan50.wordpress.com)