STAGES OF YOGIC METHODOLOGY

STAGES OF YOGIC METHODOLOGY
ONLY YOG – (केवल योग) THE ENDLESS
ULTIMATE FOR ALL ‘UltimatES’
YOGIC ENLIGHTENMENT
A) – PREPARATION STAGE – A STEP IN ACCEPTANCE OF PRAGYA (प्रज्ञा)

ऋतंभरा तत्र प्रज्ञा – RITAMBHARA TATRA PRAGYA
Insight means understanding the universal rhythm and inter-dependence

It means equipping oneself with the knowledge of the basics of the composition of entire universe including SELF (ATM GYAN आत्म ज्ञान). Such knowledge in entirety has been addressed as BRAHM GYAN (ब्रह्मज्ञान) in Vedas. It appears to be a very tall order to begin with but Patanjali insistence is only on ACCEPTANCE of basic directive principles responsible for any existence and already encoded in Vedas along with a method of finding out called as YOG, if any worthwhile discovery about BRAHM GYAN (ब्रह्मज्ञान) is to be made. This methodology is further qualified with an exhortation that research has to be a continuous and never ending process because whatever has been found out is nothing and will always remain nothing in comparison to the vast ocean of knowledge (BRAHMGYAN ब्रह्मज्ञान).One has to begin from somewhere to reach somewhere. He, therefore, proceeds to explain those basic directive principles under the concept of ISHWAR in Sutras I-24 to I-26 and already explained in SECOND BLUFF – RELIGION under PRINCIPLES OF EXISTENCE and PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIZATION. In a nutshell these principles indicate the presence of some universal rhythm and rules of inter-dependence of entire existence. From no stretch of imagination the word ISHWAR (ईश्वर) as explained by Patanjali can be understood as some anthropomorphic God as interpreted by the spiritualistic explanations. The word ISHWAR with such precepts can stand for KNOWLEDGE only as borne out with umpteen words in Vedas conveying the same sense. He addresses inculcation of will to ACCEPT these precepts about ISHWAR (ईश्वर) as PRAGYA (प्रज्ञा) formation. So this head can be understood in Patanjali language as a step in PRAGYA FORMATION. By ACCEPTANCE all that Patanjali is asking for is to accept in the beginning of any effort that there are innumerable principles hidden behind any existence and human aim should be to keep on finding them in such a way that it benefits all. And this is nowhere a tall order. As it is we are following it because this is the only way of discovering anything. Then where is the problem? The problems are threefold.
• First the so called civilized and developed world has yet to come to the grips of the Vedic concept of very indulging to discover anything should be for the benefit of all and happiness for all (SARVAJAN HITAYA SARVAJAN SUKHAYA सर्वजन हिताय सर्वजन सुखाय) for the simple reason of knowledge being limitless (NIRATISHAYA निरतिशय), a directive principle of its existence and hence there being no point in giving birth to a rat race. In a way they are completely unaware of it. That’s why the words like patent, copyright, competition, success defined as ‘survival of the fittest’ in money generating abilities only, motivation meaning desire to excel by generally designing means and strategy to outplay others etc. have become their guru mantras of ‘knowledge based economy’ for survival. For them even globalization, another hype, conveys the sense of extending the borders of exploitation only.
• Secondly, we in India the part of so called developing world have been made to believe this economic status of ours by those who for no fault of theirs and historical reasons were born, brought up and groomed in borrowed education and economic systems guided by again borrowed political, legislative, executive and judicial systems. By the passage of time this borrowing has dug its tentacles so deep in our psyche that copying the models even discarded ones from the developed world has become our only way of tackling any problem and armchair solutions are churned out daily without ever caring for ground realities. We are suffering from a kind of inferiority complex and take pleasure in quoting examples from the developed world as our role model. We berate not only our diagonally opposite social system but take pride in the process of forgetting that we have a cultural heritage which in spite of misinterpreted and corrupted form can still be or is still the beacon to the so understood developed world. Anything indigenous is looked down upon. We find it difficult to assimilate that VASUDHEV KUTUMBKAM (वसुधेव कुटुम्बकम) a Vedic concept, is a better and more humane concept than ‘globalization’ as it does not advocate cut throat competition We refuse to accept that the hymns of PURUSH SUKTS (पुरुष सूक्त) of RIGVED (ऋग्वेद) underline the basic principle that there cannot be any economy if it is not knowledge based and knowledge can be and, therefore, should be used in four forms only through the concept of VARN (वर्ण) and it has to be a continuous process till death of an individual as explained under ASHRAM (आश्रम) concept given in YAJURVED (यजुर्वेद). For details refer SECOND BLUFF – RELIGION. The history of last five thousand years can at least warn about the damage that has been done due to misinterpretation of these economic postulates and take necessary precautions. Or is this the turn of entire humanity to face the consequences of misinterpretation? Overall, this borrowing mentality has made our intellect mindless, our governance spineless, our economy bereft of initiative and our comfort providing skills wailing for opportunity. I think only ghost of Macaulay is smiling.
• Thirdly we have been drugged to shun knowledge and believe that we can discover foolishly also through BHAKTI (भक्ति), ASTHA (आस्था), POOJA (पूजा) blind faith in iconic gods and rituals, and such spiritualistic jargons that Patanjali has not used anywhere. In other words we have been lulled into complete inaction and still rejoicing in self given titles of complete, higher and perfect human beings. We are so much over awed by the self created icons of our worship that we have created a niche in every home for a temple. We fail to assess the most probable reason of the presence of only one temple of BRAHMA the so revered as creator - the senior most of the trinity, could be the absence of very thought process of temple worshipping when BRAHMA (ब्रह्मा) was imaginarily created by spiritualistic manipulations from the scientific concept of Vedic BRAHM (ब्रह्म) and when iconic worship was instituted BRAHMA (ब्रह्मा) in all probability was no more in vogue. It was VISHNU temple that came to be constructed first I quote from the book AGAM KOSH (आगम कोष) by PROF.S.K.RAMCHANDRA RAO – “It has been ascertained that the worship of VISHNU in public shrines (of which there are epigraphical or other evidences ) dates back to a couple of centuries before the Christian era. The earliest monumental temples in India appear to have been for VISHNU--------It is not surprising, because the cult of devotion (BHAKTI) which, in fact occasioned the temple culture in our country, was the consequence of the BHAGVATA movement (with its emphasis on the worship of VISHNU) which is mentioned in great epic MAHABHARATA, and which is illustrated by the celebrated text BHAGVADGITA”. The third god SHIV (शिव) with its temples came into existence much later in twelfth century when SHAIV cult was founded by GORAKSHNATH. We have thus become victims of a cult of very recent origin and getting entrapped in whimsical practices by creating a new god and a new temple everyday. I am convinced that Patanjali is a non-spiritualist and he knows these are bluffs that just cannot lead to any research / discovery except a stunted and hopelessly unrecoverable mental state that he aptly calls as VYUTHAN (व्युत्थान) meaning ‘deranged’. Nowhere his insistence on ACCEPTANCE does take the form of a spiritualistic ordinance that must be followed without understanding and any type of questioning. It is always in the form of pure logic where a directive principle forms the basis for any subject of enquiry and is open to any scrutiny and experimentation for arriving at ultimate proof. He considers understanding and accepting of PRAGYA (प्रज्ञा) formation by an individual absolutely necessary for the simple reason that the existence of entire universe including self without chaos can be possible only due to some laws of rhythmic functioning alone that lead to perfect balance. And he calls this rhythmic functioning as PRAGYA (प्रज्ञा) and trying to understand is wisdom (VIVEK विवेक).

Let me also now borrow and try to understand this stage by a modern quote of a western soldier:-

“If you do not know about the enemy you will suffer defeat but if you do not know about yourself, you will suffer disaster”. – General Clausewitz

The Preparation stage follows the spirit of the above quote. Why do we behave in a particular way? Are we handicapped? Or, we are endowed with excellent, effective ammunition and armory and we just don’t know how to use it. This stage therefore, entails thorough understanding of what all we are endowed with. In one sentence we are immersed in an ocean of, are endowed with, and are nothing but a bundle of millions of VRITTIS (वृत्ति) inside out and a CHITT (चित्त) that is again a kind of VRITTI only. And all these VRITTIS function so rhythmically that these appear to be bound by some law. Preparation means equipping oneself with the basic knowledge of these by going through the following concepts:

a) Concept of VRITTI (वृत्ति)
b) Laws of operation of VRITTI (वृत्ति)
c) VRITTIS (वृत्ति) operating in nature and influencing the human beings.
d) VRITTIS (वृत्ति) operating in human beings
e) Rules of presence of VRITTIS (वृत्ति)
f) Concept of CHITT (चित्त) and Comparison with VRITTI (वृत्ति)

If we neglect the information given under above heads we are bound to suffer disaster.

B) – PLANNING STAGE – A STEP IN DEVELOPMENT OF (विवेक)
ज्ञानदीप्तिराविवेक ख्यातेः – GYANDIPTIRAVIVEK KHYATE
Knowledge alone develops discretion and is the key to any planning.

Having understood the basics of VRITTIS Patanjali exhorts to understand this stage as efforts put in for development of discretion (VIVEK विवेक). It is the insight that is capable of discriminating not between virtue and vice as spiritualists put it but between what is to be made use of and what is to be discarded on our way to realization of a set goal. No amount of planning can suffice if the set goal of flawlessness with all its parameters is not grasped thoroughly. This stage, therefore, entails understanding of those steps that we intend climbing, making use and ensures smooth functioning by removing the hurdles already existing and providing for eventualities that may crop up en-route. It involves understanding and application of the following concepts

a) Concept of flawlessness (NIRGUN निर्गुण)
b) Concept of ASAN (आसन)
c) Concept of impediments (चित्तविक्षेप)
d) Concept of PRANAYAM (प्राणायाम)
e) Training of CHITT (चित्त) and Concept of PRATYAHAR (प्रत्याहार )

C) – EXECUTION STAGE – STAGE OF SANYAM (संयम)

त्रयमेकत्र संयम – TRAYAMEKATRA SANYAM
Three aspects are essential for any execution.
तज्जयात् प्रज्ञाऽऽलोकः – TAJJYAT PRAGYA ALOK
Then only emerges the awareness of a principle
Patanjali defines this stage as SANYAM (संयम) that consists of three aspects viz DHARNA (धारणा), DHYAN (ध्यान) and SAMADHI (समाधि). These are highly technical words and do not have any English equivalents and thus have to be assimilated as such. For him execution, therefore, is a wholesome process consisting three aspects of forming an objective (DHARNA), sticking to an objective (DHYAN) and putting single minded efforts (SAMADHI). Any execution is bound to fail if there is no clarity in goal fixation. It will also fail if the goal is lost sight of anywhere en-route due to any reason. Lastly, no realization of goal is possible if the efforts are slackened anytime. For ensuring smooth execution and ensuring FLAWLESSNESS Patanjali has provided such a simple technique through the following steps that the task is not only achieved with mechanical ease but each step has check back and rectification mechanism that stands for reason as well as symptom if the process encounters any problem

a) Determination of the area of engagement from
EITHER
i. BRAHM GYAN (ब्रह्म ज्ञान) – that Patanjali calls information about elements (BHOOT / TATTVA (भूत / तत्त्व)
OR
ii. ATM GYAN (आत्म ज्ञान) – that Patanjali calls information about senses (INDRIYA GROUP इन्द्रिय जाति )
b) Formation of DHARNA (धारणा) – essential ingredients
c) Sticking to DHARNA - (DHYAN ध्यान) – essential ingredients
d) Efforts put in for realization of DHARNA – (SAMADHI समाधि )
The concepts mentioned above have been subjected to utter misuse by spiritualistic explanations so grossly and widely in spite of clear definitions by Patanjali that one must first discard any scientific interpretation as inferior knowledge and then proceed further. This dictum of spiritualism goes against the very ethos of Vedas and Patanjali YOGSHASTRA wherein such compartmentalization of knowledge as superior or inferior is considered a figment of unreliable imagination (AVIDYA अविद्या). Going through the above stages will invariably lead to the insight of that principle which confirms the presence of rhythmical sequence that we had accepted in the PREPARATION stage as PRAGYA (प्रज्ञा). Every time we embark upon a mission (DHARNA धारणा) an insight into a new principle will emerge and there is no limit to human DHARNAS and thus no limit to the emergence of principles.

D) – IMPLEMENTATION STAGE – STAGE OF VINIYOG (विनियोग)

तस्य भूमिषु विनियोगः – TASYA BHUMISHU VINIYOG
A discovered principle can now be applied to any branch of knowledge.

प्रयत्नशैथिल्यानन्तसमापत्तिभ्याम – PRAYATNA SHAITHILYA NANTA SAMAPATTIBHYAM

Stability in efforts leads to innumerable possibilities.

As per YOGIC concept; the search for knowledge does not end at SAMADHI (समाधिः), the last mentioned aspect of SANYAM stage or the EXECUTION STAGE. Rather it begins here and there is no end to it. The principle thus known should be tested for its efficacy by applying it to various branches of knowledge. Continuous efforts in repetition of a process will always lead to innumerable possibilities of finding, further revising already found principles. Application of a principle will always result in inventions and further need to explore more principles as brought out in THIRD BLUFF – YOGA followed by explanations of various bluffs perpetrated by the spiritualists in the name of Patanjali by quoting third chapter of his treatise as chapter of boons (VIBHUTI PAD विभूति पाद). To make these inventions and search for further principles free from flaws Patanjali advocates the following steps that put the entire process in a never ending cyclic mode – the prime model for any activity of nature and thus in tune with natural process

a) Application of achievement
b) Determination of the area of engagement
i. Information having potential of further fructification – that Patanjali calls SABIJ GYAN (सबीज ज्ञान)
ii. Information having termination potential – that Patanjali calls NIRBIJ GYAN (निर्बीज ज्ञान)
c) Following the stages mentioned at A,B and C above

GENESIS OF THE SOLUTION

GENESIS OF THE SOLUTION
ONLY YOG – (केवल योग) THE ENDLESS
ULTIMATE FOR ALL ‘UltimatES’
YOGIC ENLIGHTENMENT

GENESIS OF THE SOLUTION

During the process of my findings, the two significant observations emerged as under:

a) The humanity at large has yet to ACCEPT that concept of flawlessness where exploitation has no place at all. We are living in a world where following so propagated and make believe ULTIMATE systems one after the other becomes our only way of tackling situations. It is a kind of reliance on ‘Trial and Error’ method. There is no system of ours that shuns exploitation. Rather it promotes. It is only later on when we have braved the sufferings of the systems we realize that the ultimate systems were after all not that flawless as we were made to believe. But still we refuse to accept that we suffered because the systems we invented and chose to follow had to fail because these advocated exploitation. Is there any compulsive reason for such behavior? Yes, there is. And it has been explained in details as MANOVRITTI (मनोवृत्ति) oriented behavior in Patanjali YOG SHASTRA. It is applicable to all fields of human activity. In other words it means that presently at best only the precautions may be taken to avoid flaws but to become flawless may remain a wish only due to our unprepared state for no fault of ours possibly. Needless to say that many claimants of ‘ULTIMATES’ will thus keep on emerging and decry each other as hoax or bluff or be hand in glove with each other with a sole and common aim of exploitation.. And here lies the silver lining. The assorted claims one after the other indicate definitely to some kind of quiet evolution in the direction of achieving flawlessness only. If not today, hope for the day when we all will understand the inadequacy and fallacy of sugar coated words like competition, motivation, success etc. that invariably lead to exploitation.

b) The second observation concerns a remarkable insistence by Patanjali that any individual anywhere is capable of understanding and achieving flawlessness in his pursuits through an absolutely scientific method of YOG irrespective of the stage of Darwinian environmental evolution if there is any; one is passing through. I mean a slight change is required in our concept of evolution from valuable contribution of Darwin to the Vedic concept of Sequential Existence that Patanjali calls AWASTHA (अवस्था) and explained under LAW OF APARINAMI in a succeeding paragraph. It is possible because human beings alone can come to acquire an apparatus called CHITT (चित्त) and this apparatus is capable of willfully following or accidentally stumbling upon a procedure encoded in Yogsutras that leads to flawlessness. The names given to willful following and accidental stumbling by Patanjali are YOG (योग) and SAMAPATTI (समापत्ति) respectively. YOG is the only systematic ULTIMATE process I have referred to above and the word ULTIMATE does not have a plural.

TWO PROCESSES OF HUMAN INDULGENCE

The above mentioned observations do indicate the two processes of human indulgence. The first mentioned at a) is a pointer to what all we are doing at present in order to survive and the second at b) is an alternative born out of an appreciation of the first with a view to suggesting that what all we can do in order to avoid the pitfalls and be absolutely flawless in our endeavors. If we can somehow find out the reasons of our first kind of behavior and the reasons of helplessness for such a behavior then only the chances of our appreciating the alternative brighten. That is exactly what Patanjali has done. He considers the first kind of behavior as MANOVRITTI (मनोवृत्ति) oriented or NON-YOGIC and the second as CHITT (चित्त) oriented or YOGIC PROCESS. He, therefore, makes it quite explicit in the beginning only with rather a warning tone to anyone interested in finding out the YOGIC PROCESS to be well versed with the difference between CHITT (चित्त) and VRITTI (वृत्ति). Otherwise the VRITTIS will keep on coming in the way of CHITT and make it non-functional, non-effective and thus non-discernible. The methodology recommended by him to ultimately reach the YOGIC PROCESS through a thorough appreciation of MANOVRITTI (मनोवृत्ति) oriented process can be studied under the following stages:

METHODOLOGY OF YOGIC PROCESS

A systematic following alone will lead to thorough appreciation of Yogic process that involves the following stages:

A. PREPARATION STAGE – Patanjali tries to explain this stage as a step towards acceptance of existence of PRAGYA (प्रज्ञा)

B. PLANNING STAGE – Patanjali exhorts to understand this stage as efforts put in for development of discretion / wisdom (VIVEK विवेक)

C. EXECUTION STAGE – Patanjali calls this stage as SANYAM (संयम)

D. IMPLEMENTATION STAGE – Patanjali calls this stage as VINIYOG (विनियोग)

A DIFFERENT ANALYSIS

A DIFFERENT ANALYSIS
ONLY YOG – (केवल योग) THE ENDLESS
ULTIMATE FOR ALL ‘UltimatES’
YOGIC ENLIGHTENMENT

HOW IS THIS ANALYSIS DIFFERENT?

It is different because:-

• It is not based on any spiritualistic premises of some imaginary GOD and an imaginary SOUL (आत्मा) in pursuit of GOD ultimately becoming one with GOD.
Patanjali also does use the term ISHWAR (ईश्वर) for GOD but purely as a thoroughly defined technical term for knowledge encoded in innumerable VRITTIS (वृत्ति) that was always there, is always there and will always be there. Further, there is no mention even of the term ATMA (आत्मा) in his YOG SHASTRA. It is the study of human efforts made in search of knowledge, the reasons and the flaws with the efforts and the suggestions to overcome them with scientific reliability and precision. If we analyze these spiritualistic and Patanjali versions, we will find these are virtually the same in essence. But the problem is that the spiritualists have concocted a GOD and a SOUL which they propagate to be real visible or invisible personae and refuse to compromise without ever giving any reasons as there are none but for hollow explanations lacking in substance. Patanjali, on the other hand, not only explains this behavior of the spiritualists as symptoms and properties of some stage of existence of human beings and is equally sure of some other stage where such symptoms will just vanish. I am sure if the YOGIC methodology as postulated by Patanjali is adhered to in our actions the progeny will find this world a better place to live in and will not show any helplessness or a villain’s conceit in accepting a civilization that advocates hunting of human beings in all the fields by human beings only. The approach of this paper is, therefore, to convince the young Indian minds in particular and the humanity at large in general that people like Newton who are engaged even accidentally, in pursuits for the benefit of all, are the real perfect YOGIS as explained by Patanjali and the people who are engaged in the activities of hunting human beings should be proclaimed offenders and not the beacons of civilization howsoever sharp scientists or skilled rulers or administrators or business tycoons they might be. And similar should be the treatment of those who are masquerading as YOGA experts in the name of some higher civilization propagated as spiritualism bereft of happiness and welfare of all but still spreading an illusion by promising unverifiable uplift of an individual only through an unrealistic journey of soul which they will never be able to demonstrate.
• An effort has been made to understand Patanjali lexicon as he has defined or explained and interpret it in practical and scientific terms only and not with any impractical, imaginary, arbitrary, moralistic or commercial bias.
There are many reasons of misinterpreting Patanjali by the adherents of spiritualism. Main reasons are threefold. First a steadfast refusal to accept those meanings and explanations of the technical words in spite of clear definitions or explanations given by the author and thus treating these words as routine having arbitrary and free for all explanations. These are definite scientific terms and there is no spiritualism manifest in them. In this category are words like YOG (योग), ISHWAR (ईश्वर), DHARNA (धारणा), DHYAN (ध्यान), and SAMADHI (समाधि) SANYAM (संयम), ABHYAS (अभ्यास), VAIRAGYA (वैराग्य), NIRODH (निरोध), AHINSA (अहिंसा), SATYA (सत्य), ASTEYA (अस्तेय), APRIGRAH (अपरिग्रह), BRAHMCHARYA (ब्रह्मचर्य), SHAUCH (शौच), TAP (तप), SANTOSH (संतोष), SWADHYAYA (स्वाध्याय), ISHWAR PRANIDHAN (ईश्वर प्रणिधान) etc. Secondly, giving routine words such a spiritualistic coloring that these appear to be highly technical but in fact pedantic only as these fail the basic test of uniform universal understanding. In this category are the words like DEVTA (देवता), SUKH (सुख), DUKH (दुःख), JATI (जाति), SWARUP (स्वरुप), STHUL (स्थूल), SUKSHM (सूक्ष्म), GYAN (ज्ञान), TATTVA (तत्त्व), GUN (गुण), SIDDHI (सिद्धि) etc. Thirdly, coining such words for explanation of Patanjali Sutras that the author has not mentioned anywhere in his text. The words like SWARG (स्वर्ग), NARAK (नरक), PRALAYA (प्रलय), YOGI (योगी), ATMA (आत्मा), PARMATMA (परमात्मा), PUNARJANM (पुनर्जन्म), BHAKTI (भक्ति), ASTHA (आस्था), ARADHNA (आराधना), SADHNA (साधना), VIBHUTI (विभूति), ARTI (आरती), POOJA (पूजा), ASHT CHAKRAS (अष्टचक्र) and KUNDALINI (कुण्डलिनी) etc fall in this category. Overall these three types of words have rather become a sort of plaything in the hands of different varieties of spiritualists who are not only inimical to each other but contradictory also and still have the temerity to quote Patanjali only as the source of their arbitrary explanations mainly because there is similarity of words. A complete bibliography with dictionary is required to fully explain these words. It may tantamount to digression Therefore, while going through the methodology in successive paragraphs the precautions have been taken to explain the relevant contextual words and concepts only as Patanjali has defined or meant them with due references and not in any other prevailing spiritualistic sense. Many words emerge as having no equivalents in English language and thus have to be accepted as such conveying a concept given by Patanjali.

• One of the literal meanings of YOG that is ‘summation’ of a few things has been stressed while approaching it as a holistic concept and not as a linear concept.
Patanjali has studied YOG as a process having eight parts that he calls ASHTANG (अष्टांग) namely:
i. YAM (यम) comprising – AHINSA (अहिंसा), SATYA (सत्य), ASTEYA (अस्तेय), APRIGRAH (अपरिग्रह) and BRAHMCHARYA (ब्रह्मचर्य);
ii. NIYAM (नियम) comprising – SHAUCH (शौच), TAP (तप), SWADHYAYA (स्वाध्याय), SANTOSH (संतोष) and ISHWAR PRANIDHAN (ईश्वर प्रणिधान);
iii. ASAN (आसन);
iv. PRANAYAM (प्राणायाम);
v. PRATYAHAR (प्रत्याहार);
vi. DHARNA (धारणा);
vii. DHYAN (ध्यान) and
viii. SAMADHI (समाधि).
YOG is a very exhaustive term with meanings running into pages. Patanjali knowing it chose to define it in the second sutra only of his YOG SHASTRA to ward off any misinterpretations. But still the spiritualistic methodologies generally recommend for some imaginary ‘ultimate union’ of SOUL and GOD, one of the literal meanings of YOG that has been presupposed arbitrarily as Patanjali has not even mentioned the word SOUL (ATMA) anywhere. For them it is an imaginary journey of imaginary SOUL from the human body to the imaginary GOD in a linear fashion by mastering the concepts of these eight parts beginning from YAM (यम), and ending at SAMADHI (समाधि) which they consider as the ultimate aim of human existence. The first hurdle came when it was rightly found that mastering the first YAM only out of five that is NON-VIOLENCE (AHINSA अहिंसा) itself may take a complete lifetime and still remain illusive. The question of mastering all the eight parts of YOG does not arise at all unless the very concept undergoes a kind of metamorphosis. Many varieties of YOG, religion and sects thus came into existence. Obviously such an imaginary journey could not have been performed without substituting the imaginary interpretations of these eight parts and thus completely neglecting the scientific definitions as given by Patanjali. The promised journey was still not completed but confusion was successfully achieved by creating an aura of awe around that practitioner of spiritualist YOGA and overall the concept of spiritualism. I have used the term YOGA mockingly everywhere to differentiate it with Patanjali or Vedic term YOG. (For details refer BLUFF OF RAJYOG, SAHAJYOG AND YOGA under THIRD BLUFF-YOGA - continued-2) All these eight parts of YOG were converted from precise scientific definitions of Patanjali into highly arbitrary concepts of individual convenience. YAMS were made free for all debatable ethical values and no two religions have ever agreed upon the content of any ethical concept except the name. NIYAMS were converted into meaningless abominable rituals completely devoid of reason and bordering on superstition many a times. The concepts of ASAN (आसन), PRANAYAM (प्राणायाम), DHARNA, DHYAN and SAMADHI were converted into various profit oriented commercial schools of YOGA having no relevance to Patanjali YOG, but each claiming the superiority of its methodology and sure way of reaching the ultimate union of SOUL and GOD about which they all knew that it could never become a verifiable concept. ‘Ultimate union’ in any form is thus the only literal meaning of YOG that a spiritualist is searching for in all explanations. In the present analysis YOG has been approached as a holistic concept where each part has a definite role that is essential for achieving not only flawless functioning but the set goal of any human search / research also. YAMS (यम) are essential for forming any objective (DHARNA धारणा) and NIYAMS (नियम) are imperative for sticking to that objective defined as DHYAN (ध्यान) by Patanjali. The concepts of ASAN (आसन), PRANAYAM (प्राणायाम) and PRATYAHAR (प्रत्याहार) are not only the ingredients of any long term planning but do function as instant remedial measures for any impediment. YOG is thus the summation – another literal meaning of YOG and not the ‘ultimate union’ as propagated by the spiritualistic explanations. It is the summation of all these eight parts being essential for any achievement that is the result of SANYAM (संयम) and it means SAMADHI (समाधि) added to DHARNA and DHYAN. The process of YOG does not stop here. The achievement mentioned is just an awareness of a principle responsible for a happening. Patanjali addresses this principle as PRAGYA ALOK (प्रज्ञा आलोक) about which he affirms that this principle now can be applied to any branch of knowledge and further research undertaken by again following the same process of YOG that calls for ‘summation’. In simplistic terms it means that first, for example the principle of gravity is found out and then it can be applied for further research to the various branches of knowledge like, astronomy, ocean logy, rocketry, space research, and hydrology and so on and so forth. Spiritualistic YOGA ensures that even such simple logic is not understood by the people and they always remain under the illusion of self given titles of being higher human beings in search of some higher knowledge. The tragedy is that through the centuries of conditioning we have come to believe in it.

QUESTIONS WITH ONLY ONE ANSWER

QUESTIONS WITH ONLY ONE ANSWER
ONLY YOG – (केवल योग) THE ENDLESS
ULTIMATE FOR ALL ‘UltimatES’
YOGIC ENLIGHTENMENT

THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE ONLY ONE ANSWER

Does evolution in any interpretation of biological or social sense mean leading to that civilization which like a villain pursues permits and glorifies?

a) Hunting of human beings by human beings on the grounds of nationality, religion, race, color, economic status, sex, political power, diplomatic finesse etc.
b) Production, sale and purchase of weapons of human hunting on the seemingly laudable grounds of friendship, cooperation and interoperability but the parties involved in transaction hiding the intentions
c) Production and proliferation of weapons of mass hunting and destruction and claiming innocence, desirability or even legal sanctity
d) States overtly or tacitly indulging in production, protection and peddling of drugs, narcotics, bio-chemicals, counterfeit currency and even disposable humans as tools of human hunting and humanity at large.
e) Accepting helplessly as a factual statement in the opinion based Forbes list that OSAMA and DAWOOD the most wanted criminals of our age are in the company of OBAMA and MANMOHAN as among the most powerful people of our world.
f) Glorifying Democracy on one hand as the most exalted and desirable system of political thought but on the other hand accepting helplessly the fact that this system throws up the mediocrity only at the key positions of legislating governance. And this mediocrity whether in or out of power suffers from a permanent kind of ‘non-achievement syndrome’- a feeling of inadequacy, non-fulfillment of personal desires and ambitions that forces them to devise deplorable means of stunting the minds of electorates and thereby achieving the aims of mass hunting. The entire electoral strategy of stunting is designed on the assumption that the masses deserve this treatment.
g) Zealously preserving and following an economic system that crashes every now and then even on frivolous grounds at times and leaves millions as hapless victims as if willfully designed to be hunted
h) Permitting provision of education and sports also to drift into the category of money generating agencies like industries of sex, porn, drug, advertisement, hotel and tourism etc and thus treating education and sex at par on one hand and on the other accepting helplessly sex trade as non-avoidable activity being the oldest profession in spite of it being labeled as the most reprehensible and perverted form of human existence deriving sustenance from exploitation alone.
i) Decrying begging as a black spot on one hand and on the other encouraging charity – a sweet coated way of either promoting begging or extortion only, as a highly laudable human activity by endorsing it in religion, politics, education, literature, law and economics and then wondering how begging has become an industry!

Let the readers add as many agitating questions to this list and-------------------

I KNOW YOUR ANSWERS WILL NOT ADVOCATE ANY SUCH CIVILIZATION BUT THEN ISN’T THERE ANY WAY OUT?

Yes there is and it is very much existent in Vedas and lucidly explained in Patanjali YOG SHASTRA but badly mauled by the spiritualistic explanations to the extent that its very presence is not acceptable to them. And this spurs me to at least put across more vehemently my findings to open scrutiny, experimentation and application for all those who are interested in flawless planning and execution of their passions. This presentation is, therefore, entirely different in essence from all the existing explanations of Patanjali YOG. Presently the word YOG has been mutilated into YOGA with a view to eulogizing a practitioner of YOGA by spreading a bluff of his possessing super human powers and secondly, for selling its various parts for entirely commercial considerations.

INTRODUCTION – UNIQUE DISCOVERIES

INTRODUCTION – UNIQUE DISCOVERIES
ONLY YOG – (केवल योग) THE ENDLESS
ULTIMATE FOR ALL ‘UltimatES’
YOGIC ENLIGHTENMENT

UNIQUE DISCOVERIES

Albert Einstein once said, “Without Indians no worthwhile discoveries could have been made” The discoveries elaborated in the succeeding paragraphs are verbatim copies of Patanjali YOG SUTRAS, a complete scientific treatise and his source of inspiration is the knowledge contained in four VEDAS. Different scholars have interpreted Vedic knowledge differently. Patanjali is also one of them. He, in turn, has been interpreted differently and diversely by umpteen scholars from all over the world. Tragically all of them, without exception, have seen Patanjali in the light of spiritualism – a thought process that was introduced by some UPANISHADS and followed by entire Vedanta philosophy that holds the humanity in awe till date. (For details refer FIRST BLUFF- SPIRITUALISM). So much so that it has come to stay as the only synonym of Indian epistemology. For this a very simple and effective technique that holds good today also, was employed. The Vedic words, phrases and the terms used in Patanjali YOG SUTRAS were so craftily manipulated by the newly coined spiritualistic language that all rational and scientific concepts of Vedas were lost for ever along with will to discover but for certain brilliant patches of discoveries at some points of time like the contributions of CHARAK (चरक), SUSHRUT (सुश्रुत), PANINI (पाणिनि) and ARYABHATT (आर्यभट्ट) etc. I feel Patanjali (पतंजलि), KAPIL (कपिल), GAUTAM (गौतम) and KANAD (कणाद) also belong to this ilk and not to any so projected spiritualistic manipulation. They all have tried to explain the basic directive principles of DISCOVERING anything as given in Vedas in a language other than the classical Sanskrit of Vedas. On the other hand the origin of western philosophy promoted by all thinkers beginning from Plato to as recent as Kant and Schopenhauer and all types of religions can actually be traced to the UPANISHDIC concept of “that art thou” (TAT TWAM ASI तत त्वमसि) promoting no scientific but irrational and unverifiable spiritualistic meanings only and aptly reflected in the phrases like AHAM BRAHMASMI (अहम् ब्रह्मास्मि) or BRAHM ATMA AIKYAM (ब्रह्म आत्मा ऐक्यम) that is the inter-relationship of spiritualistic concepts of soul (आत्मा) and God (ब्रह्म). Strange it may appear but this in itself points towards a remarkable but decelerating contribution towards advancement of science by Indian philosophy about which also many western philosophers feel indebted though grudgingly at times. Paul Deussen calls it “unconscious dependence of all religions on the fundamental dogmas of Kantian philosophy which in a less definite form was already laid down in the Upanishads”. Schopenhauer goes a step further for which he faced quite a criticism. Quote - “In India our religion will now or ever strike root: the primitive wisdom of the human race will never be pushed aside there by the events of Galilee. On the contrary, Indian wisdom will flow back on Europe, and produce a thorough change in our knowing and thinking” – Unquote. Clearly these spiritualistic outbursts cannot be the concepts leading to “worthwhile discoveries” that Einstein has referred to. While going through the unique discoveries elaborated in successive pages any conscientious reader will straightaway be consumed by the comparative modern discoveries in various fields and the enchanting questions nagging his mind will always be like this. How far or near the Vedic thought Einstein, Darwin, Freud, Rousseau and such and such modern inventor / discoverer or philosopher have come? And what unlimited all is possible if we just know the basic directive principles encoded in Vedas? But in the mean time just ask the subsequent questions to yourself.

YOG – THE PANACEA FOR HUMANITY

YOG – THE PANACEA FOR HUMANITY
ONLY YOG – (केवल योग) THE ENDLESS
ULTIMATE FOR ALL ‘UltimatES’
YOGIC ENLIGHTENMENT

WHAT EXACTLY IS PATANJALI YOG?

To find out we must first shatter the myths about YOG and we must know that:
• YOG IS NOT ABOUT DOING ASANS (आसन). Umpteen physical postures propagated in the name of Patanjali YOG are business shops like gyms, aerobics, akhadas (अखाड़ा) etc. run by qualified, semi-qualified or even quacks employing all fair and foul tricks to attract the clientele. In fact Patanjali has not mentioned a single ASAN in his treatise.
• YOG IS NOT ABOUT DOING BREATHING EXERCISES. Innumerable breathing exercises concocted and propagated as PRANAYAM (प्राणायाम) in the name of Patanjali YOG are again business ventures flourishing mainly because most of us have been conditioned to accept for right or wrong reason that we do not know the most natural function of even breathing properly and our diseases are the result of this malaise. In fact Patanjali has discussed PRAN (प्राण ) as life force in its four dimensions as one part only of the entire process of YOG explained as summation of eight parts.
• YOG IS NOT ABOUT MEDITATION TECHNIQUES. Innumerable meditation techniques propagated as DHYAN (ध्यान) in the name of Patanjali are business ventures to attract the gullible by promising attractive returns with minimal investment and ultimately benumbing the faculties of even complaining after complete bankruptcy. In fact Patanjali has not mentioned a single meditation technique in his YOGSHASTRA. .
• YOG IS NOT ABOUT GOING INTO ANY KIND OF TRANCE IN THE NAME OF A HIGHER FORM OF EXISTENCE. There is no higher form of existence propagated as SAMADHI (समाधि) in the name of Patanjali. It is just an intellectual venture on business lines to attract the gullible and convince the knowledgeable in order to swell the rank and file of the followers. In fact very classification on the lines of dualities of higher and lower is anti-thesis of the concept of YOG and has been labeled as a figment of imagination equated with ignorance and discussed under a well defined technical term AVIDYA (अविद्या) by Patanjali.
• OVERALL YOG IS NOT ABOUT ASAN (आसन), PRANAYAM (प्राणायाम), DHYAN (ध्यान) AND SAMADHI (समाधि) as generally understood and propagated. These terms have just been lifted from Patanjali YOG and given arbitrary interpretations to suit the sole aim of exploitation by knowledgeable experts and crafty quacks alike.
How could such large scale exploitation be possible? You can’t make fool of all the people all the time. There must be some genuineness about the whole concept of YOG. Yes, there is. It is entirely based on that ever existing knowledge which is impeccably organized. And this knowledge has always been used, misused and abused through the imagined techniques of interpretation by all sorts of people all over the world throughout the periods of entire human history.

YOG IS ABOUT

YOG deals with understanding the reasons of misuse / abuse of knowledge by the people and lays down a process following which will ensure that knowledge is not misused / abused but always used flawlessly for the benefit and happiness of all. This brings me to enumerate in a nutshell the various aspects of knowledge contained in YOG. It is about

• An unending scientific process of finding out, organizing and implementing any principle of knowledge in any field of human activity.

• A scientific process of sorting, sifting the information so gained about knowledge in a well-organized way and avoiding mal-organization. People tend to mal-organize also as either organization confers immense powers on the wielder.

• A scientific process of converting mal-organization of information due to misinterpretation into well-organization because mal-organized knowledge confers on an individual transitory power that not only destroys him ultimately but wreaks havoc on the very existence .

• A scientific process of converting mal-organization of thought due to misinterpretation into disorganization meaning disrupting and disintegrating the mal-organization. Knowledge so disorganized is useless and becomes non-functional.

• A scientific process of inculcating discretion (VIVEK विवेक) and awareness (PRAGYA प्रज्ञा) leading to friendship, joyfulness, compassion and complete avoidance of misuse / abuse of information by thoroughly understanding the concept of flaws (AVIDYA अविद्या) accruing due to misinterpretation and mal-interpretation.
YOG AS A SCIENTIFIC PROCESS

The process of YOG offers a reliable hope for the strife ridden humanity as it is the unique discovery mentioned in Vedas that is unending and suggests solutions to many problems that we keep on creating, manipulating just to suit definitions of intelligence artificially created for our convenience. On the other hand YOG talks about wisdom comprising discretion and awareness and shuns artificial intelligence by recognizing its symptoms. The importance of YOG as scientific process and its methodology has been explained under the following topics in forthcoming postings:

• Introduction – Unique discoveries
• Introduction – Questions with only one answer
• Introduction – A different analysis
• Introduction – Genesis of the solution
• Stages of YOGIC methodology
• Preparation Stage – Concept of VRITTI (वृत्ति)
• Preparation Stage – Laws of operation of VRITTIS (वृत्ति)
• Preparation Stage – VRITTIS operating in nature
• Preparation Stage – VRITTIS operating in human beings
• Preparation Stage – Rules of presence of VRITTIS
• Preparation Stage – Concept of CHITT (चित्त) and its comparison with VRITTI
• Conclusions about Preparation Stage
• Planning Stage – Concept of flawlessness
• Planning Stage – Concept of ASAN (आसन)
• Planning Stage – Concept of impediments and their resolution
• Planning Stage – Concept of PRANAYAM (प्राणायाम)
• Planning Stage – Concept of training of CHITT (चित्त) and concept of PRATYAHAR (प्रत्याहार)
• Execution Stage – Stage of SANYAM (संयम), Determination of the area of engagement
• Execution Stage – Formation of DHARNA (धारणा)
• Execution Stage – Sticking to DHARNA, Concept of DHYAN (ध्यान)
• Execution Stage – realization of DHARNA, Concept of SAMADHI (समाधि)
• Implementation Stage – Stage of VINIYOG (विनियोग)
• Conclusion – YOG an unending process