Yoga Sadhaka I Cert. Yoga teacher I Holistic Health Educator I Spirituality I Ancient Knowledge I Mind Body Soul Connection I Wellness Instructor I A forever Learner I Seeker

  • Sadhaka Tatva & Badhaka Tatva

    What causes speedy success in Yoga & What obstructs the success in Yoga

    In chapter 1 of Hatha Yoga Pradipika, verse 15 and 16(i), Rishi Gorakshanath has explained about Badhaka Tatva and Sadhaka Tatva.

    Badhaka Tatva:

    In Sanskrit Tatva means “factor” & Badhaka means  obstructing. The factor that do not allow you to proceed in the path of YOGA.

    अत्याहारः परयासश्छ परजल्पो नियमाग्रहः |
    जन-सङ्गश्छ लौल्यं छ षहड्भिर्योगो विनश्यति || १५ ||

    atyāhāraḥ prayāsaścha prajalpo niyamāghrahaḥ |
    jana-sangghaścha laulyaṃ cha ṣhaḍbhiryogho vinaśyati || 15 ||

    Obstacle in Yoga , due to these 6 factors

    Yoga is destroyed by the following six causes:—

    Over-eating, exertion, talkativeness, adhering to rules, i.e., cold bath in the morning, eating at night, or eating fruits only, company of men, and unsteadiness.

    1. Atyahaar:

    Excess eating always leads to disease. When one eats more than what he needs then all the energy of the body is consumed to just digest the food. So, no energy or very less energy will be left for any development or rejuvenation work by body.

    2. Prayas & Prabhas:

    Prayas means excessive physical activity / effort and Prabhas means over travelling. When our most of the energy is lost by these two means , one wont to be able to perform any kind of Sadhana. For a Yoga Sadhaka these two are like poisons. Apart from consuming the physical energy these also act as complete distraction. And Yogis need to conserve the energy and stay focused all the time, for advancing in the Yogic path.

    3. Prajalpa:

    Over-talkativeness: Too much talking has many negative impacts on your body most importantly on the progress of Yoga. It will anyway not be beneficial and over the top of it , this attracts negative energy. As per Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the social situation and irrelevant discussion definitely distract the mind from Yoga Sadhana.

    4. Niyama -Agraha:

    This means rigidity or over insisting on things or rules and regulations like i.e., cold bath in the morning, eating at night, or eating fruits only. It is mentioned that strict rules and regulations need not be followed. These are hindrance in the path of Yoga and in the spiritual growth. Yoga is meant to expand not to limit. A yogi should have a free and open mind. Any kind of rules is a set back in the practice of Yoga. Your only focus need to be on the practice of Yoga.

    5. Janasangha :

    Being in the company of people : when you are overly social and try to spend most of time with them then it creates an obstacle for you to grow in your Sadhana. You will be affected by their thoughts, action whether you realise it or not. When your goals are different and visions are different then it will affect you. As per Maharshi Patanjali Satsang is good because here the goal is same and you are being benefited by being with them.

    6. Laulya:

    Unsteadiness/ Wavering mind: This is the state when your mind can not focus on one point and one goal. So how can you be steady in the practice of Yoga. The perfection only can be achieved when you do Sadhana at the same time , same place, without any fail.

    When one wants to progress in the path of Yoga , you need to avoid these things without any fail.

    Sadhaka Tatva:

    In Sanskrit Tatva means “factor” & Sadhaka means that helps.

    The factors that helps you to proceed in the path of YOGA.

    उत्साहात्साहसाद्धैर्यात्तत्त्व-जञानाश्छ निश्छयात |
    जन-सङ्ग-परित्यागात्ष्हड्भिर्योगः परसिद्ध्यति || १६ ||

    utsāhātsāhasāddhairyāttattva-jñānāścha niśchayāt |
    jana-sanggha-parityāghātṣhaḍbhiryoghaḥ prasiddhyati || 16 ||

    Speedy success in Yoga is due these 6 factors

    The following six bring speedy success: — Courage, daring, perseverance, discriminative knowledge, faith, aloofness from company.

    1. Utchaha/Enthusiasm:

    To succeed in Yoga enthusiasm is most essential. We constantly feel motivated, positive to carry out our Yoga Sadhana. You need to feel excited to do the Sadhana. Everyday need to be seem like first day of your Sadhana.

    2. Perseverance / Sahas:

    No matter what happens externally your Yoga Sadhana must be done regularly , whether you are at any material loss or you acquire any valuable possession. It happens sometimes you cant see the changes or any progress but still you have to keep doing your practices. Whether it takes months/ years / whole life time. Everyone is different so as progress. No matter what you need to be optimistic.

    3. Dhairya/ discrimination:

    Everything you do and every aspect of your life that need to be as per Yoga that is beneficial for it. Starting from food , place of sadhana, way of living, company etc everything need to be as conducive to your Sadhana. When this knowledge of discrimination comes automatically without you forcing it , then your progress is inevitable.

    4. Tatvagyana/ Unshakable faith:

    Faith is the most essential when it comes to practice of yoga or whatever you do in life. Faith on Guru, Higher reality, on Nature, on Divine is prime important. You may experience doubt on yourself but in that moment you have to have faith on God and Guru. Guru is the one who will lead you in the path of YOGA and complete faith is needed to succeed.

    5. Dridha nischaya/ Courage:

    When a Sadhaka has courage and set his vision clearly no one and nothing can stop him. This is a path that is less travelled so it becomes very common to prople not understand you. And here courage is needed on your own inner strength and vision.

    6. Janasangha Parityaga/ Avoiding the company:

    our most of the energy is dissipated while we spent time with others,  just hanging out, passing time. In this process what we loose is time that cant return and our creative energy.

    A Sadhaka should not consider others inferior to him but until his physical , mental, emotional, and psychic resistance are developed ; it is better to stay away from social interactions and negative influences.

    These factors need to be kept in mind of a Yoga Sadhaka who wishes to advance in the path of Yoga.

    #tyi #theyogainstitute #yogaphilosophy #philosophy #yogastudy

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  • Antarayas: The obstacles in the path of Yoga

    In Sanskrit “Antaraya” means obstacles / hindrances that stands in a way.

    Maharshi Patanjali has described NINE such anatarayas in the practice of Yoga. These are mentioned in the Yoga Sutra Chapter 1, verse 30.

    व्याधिस्त्यानसंशयप्रमादालस्याविरतिभ्रान्तिदर्शनालब्धभूमिकत्वानवस्थितत्वानि चित्तविक्षेपास्तेऽन्तरायाः ॥३०॥

    vyādhi-styāna-saṃśaya-pramāda-ālasya-avirati-bhrānti-darśana-alabdha-bhūmikatva-anavasthitatvāni citta-vikṣepāḥ te-antarāyāḥ ||30||

    These interventions which distract the Chitta are:
    disorder, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, over-indulgence,
    fallacious views, non-attainment of a stage and losing stability.

    Everyone starts the journey of Yoga by seeing others / social media/ by any other source but most of them donot make it a part of life. Many students always gets distracted in midway. Sage Patanjali has very beautifully mentioned these obstacles.

    1. Vyadhi: Disease /illness/ sickness:

    Imbalance of the constituents of the human body as well as of the nourishment provided to the body i.e. food , results in weakening the body and is the same as disease. Every Physical symptoms has its cause in the soul and spirit. In Hatha Yoga , one strives to take precautions not to let the disease manifest themselves in the first place. This Physical body is the only vehicle or medium through which one can connect to Yoga. Any fault in the vehicle can result in the complete stoppage of the travel/trip. As mentioned in the Gerand Samhita, this physical body is the Ghata means earthen pot and this need to be strong and it will only be strong by fire and this fire is the fire of Yoga.

    2. Styana/ Languor/ Mental Lethargy:

    It is the incapability of the mind to carry on work or a lack of desire to work. It is the tiredness that makes it difficult to experience the present. It keeps us away from living and practicing Yoga. As one can observe that whenever you are in a pleasant mood your efficiency increases , you feel you can do more whether work , practicing Yoga or being with the people. But when you are tired mentally , the opposite happens.

    3. Samsaya/ Doubt / Indecision:

    Doubt is a major obstacle as it reinforces thinking too. The main reason for doubt is great uncertainty and fear or believing wrong things. To be completely involved in the path of Yoga is to have complete faith. Doubt cant lead you to anywhere.

    4. Pramada/ Carelessness/ Negligence:

    The careless actions without reflection/ foresight or concentration / lack of enthusiasm makes you not go in the path of Yoga. Here discipline and perseverance are the key to move in the path of yoga.

    5. Alasya / Laziness:

    The step towards achieving success is developing bodily fitness and without movement of body in today’s inactive life style, is not going to happen. And now a days, laziness is like a disease and it is a main factor that obstructs your growth in Yoga. Yoga is participation of you with the life around you. It is not only for some moments, it is a 24*7 involvement. When one becomes lazy, he looses the interest.

    6. Avirati/ sensuality/ cravings: 

    It is the desire for sensory pleasure. We are dependent so much on our sensory pleasures that we are unable to focus on our inner self. Our all senses are projected outwards. So, how can we focus on what is happening inside us. As per Maharshi Patanjali we need to divert our senses to inwards i.e. Pratyahara , the withdrawal of senses to connect with ourself and proceed in the path of yoga.

    7. Bhrantidarshana/ Wrong perception:

    It is wrong perception which is a kind of Avidya (ignorance). People do not perceive the things/ situations/ people as they are, and they see and analyse them as their Buddhi/ memory/ based on past experiences. And in that way, they miss the present . Yoga is being in the very present moment, experiencing the present and living in the present.

    8. Alabdha-bhumikatva:

    In Sanskrit, alabdha means “unobtained”; bhum means “earth,” suggesting grounded-ness and stability; and katva means “bed,” suggesting a sense of comfort and stability. It is not being able to reach the high state of consciousness . sometimes it happens one has done so much in Yoga still unable to get the desired result. In yoga there may be many reasons why it happens to someone. One easily becomes demotivated as this happens but it needs to be understood that not even a moment of practice goes to waste, though it might not be seen but; that which is unseen, never think does not exist. So keep going.

    9. Anavasthitatvan:

    Inability to hold on the good state permanently. As the Samadhi state is not reached so many though proceeding in the path of Yoga still could not hold the state. Many a times it happens that we know its best for us still cant maintain it forever. Here one needs to develop faith more on Ishwara and his practices. Sometimes after a certain point the growth becomes steady or neutral. And this is the real test for the Sadhaka.

    Not to forget what accompanies these nine obstacles are, despair, pain, irregular breathing, frustration. Do not fall in the trap, keep moving.

    #tyi #theyogainstitute #yoga #philosophy #antarayas #obstacles #om *

Yoga Sadhaka I Cert. Yoga teacher I Holistic Health Educator I Spirituality I Ancient Knowledge I Mind Body Soul Connection I Wellness Instructor I A forever Learner I Seeker

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