Page 139 - Bodhayanti Parasparam Vol 1
P. 139

PRANAHUTI – ITS RELEVANCE IN SADHANA
sukhasana, that is, the posture which is convenient for us. Today people talk about asanas, and then quote Patanjali.
So it is to be noted that our system has nothing to do with the Ashtanga yoga, as it is understood today. In the first anga of the traditional system is Yama, and the second one is Niyama. The third anga is Asana. Then immediately after that is Pranayama. Yama and Niyama get the words Shama and Dama in Vedanta. Words are different but meaning is the same, there is no difference. They say, if one wants to do sadhana properly, Yama and Niyama are to be fully implemented. This is what we have just now talked about determination, namely we have got to determine ourselves about what we want to achieve, the goal for which we must avoid things, which are not conducive. We must develop properties, which are good for it. Yama and Niyama are high-sounding words, but literally for us to understand, they mean only these two - Whatever helps us in achieving the goal is to be accepted. Whatever is going to deter us from reaching the goal must be discarded. This has nothing to do with yoga actually. For any task for that matter asana is also a must. A student has to sit in a particular way only,
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