1. Dharana: Cultivating the Power of Focused Concentration

Dharana, derived from the Sanskrit words “dha” meaning “holding, carrying, or maintaining” and “ana” meaning “other” or “something else,” refers to the practice of focused concentration on a single object. Here are some key aspects of dharana:

Dharana in Sanskrit means concentration or single focus. It is the sixth limb in the eight-limbed path of Ashtanga Yoga as described in the Yoga Sutras. It is the initial step in attaining a state of meditation.

The Sixth Limb of Ashtanga Yoga:

According to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, dharana is the sixth limb in the eight-limbed path of Ashtanga Yoga. It serves as an initial step toward attaining a state of meditation.

Concentration and Single Focus:

Dharana involves directing our attention and sustaining focused concentration on a chosen object, such as the breath, a mantra, a deity visualization, or a deep truth. The purpose is to quiet the mind by channeling all mental faculties into this singular focus.

Training the Mind:

Through regular practice of dharana, we cultivate the ability to anchor the mind, minimize distractions, and resist the urge to let our thoughts wander. It is a training ground for enhancing concentration, mental discipline, and mindful awareness.

2. Dhyana: Immersion in the State of Meditation

Dhyana, often translated as “meditation” or “contemplation,” represents a deeper state of mind where one’s focus is maintained or absorbed in the chosen object. Let’s explore the essential elements of dhyana:

Moving from Focused Attention to Absorbed Awareness:

Dhyana is a state of mind that arises from the practice of dharana. It is characterized by a seamless transition from active concentration to a state of effortless, absorbed awareness. In dhyana, the mind becomes still, and the object of focus remains steady.

Stability and Unity of Mind:

In dhyana, the practitioner experiences a sense of stability, where the mind is undisturbed by external influences or internal fluctuations. It is a state of deep inner calmness, where the boundaries between the observer and the observed begin to dissolve.

Expansion of Consciousness:

Dhyana opens the doorway to an expanded state of consciousness, transcending the limitations of the physical and mental realms. It leads to a direct experience of unity and interconnectedness with all beings and the universe at large.

3. The Progressive Path: From Dharana to Dhyana

Dharana and dhyana are interlinked stages of practice that support and complement each other on the yogic path. Here’s how they work together:

Dharana as a Stepping Stone:

Dharana acts as a foundation for dhyana. Through the practice of dharana, we refine our ability to concentrate and develop the necessary focus and mental discipline to enter deeper states of meditation.

Seamless Transition:

As our practice of dharana deepens, a natural progression occurs where the focused attention effortlessly transforms into absorbed awareness. The mind becomes still, and the object of focus becomes the anchor for our meditation.

Mutual Reinforcement:

The skills cultivated through dharana, such as concentration and mindfulness, enhance the quality of dhyana. Similarly, the expanded awareness and stillness experienced in dhyana deepen the practice of dharana, creating a symbiotic relationship between the two.

4. Practices for Cultivating Dhyana: Nurturing the Meditative State

While Dhyana is a state that arises naturally from the practice of Dharana, there are specific techniques and approaches that can help deepen our experience of meditation. Here are some practices to cultivate and nurture the meditative state of Dhyana:

Mindfulness Meditation:

Begin your meditation practice with mindful awareness of the present moment. Observe your breath, bodily sensations, thoughts, and emotions without judgment. Cultivate a non-reactive, accepting attitude toward whatever arises in your awareness.

Concentration Techniques:

Use objects of focus to develop concentration. This could include focusing on a candle flame, a sacred symbol, a mantra, or the sensation of the breath. As you concentrate on the chosen object, gradually let go of any effort or strain, allowing the mind to settle into a state of effortless absorption.

Progressive Relaxation:

Before entering meditation, practice progressive relaxation to release physical and mental tension. Start from the top of your head and progressively move down through your body, consciously relaxing each muscle group. This helps create a calm and receptive state for meditation.

Breath Awareness:

Direct your attention to the natural rhythm of your breath. Observe the inhalation and exhalation without trying to control or manipulate it. Focus on the sensation of the breath entering and leaving your body, grounding yourself in the present moment.

Silent Retreats:

Consider participating in silent meditation retreats. Immersing yourself in a supportive and focused environment for an extended period can deepen your practice and provide an opportunity for uninterrupted exploration of Dhyana.

Remember, consistency and patience are key. Dhyana is a gradual process that unfolds over time. It’s essential to approach your practice with an open heart and a non-judgmental attitude. Allow yourself to surrender to the experience, letting go of expectations and striving. Embrace the present moment fully.

By integrating these practices into your daily routine, you can create a conducive environment for the state of Dhyana to arise naturally and deepen your connection to the profound stillness and expanded awareness within.

Conclusion

Dharana and dhyana are interconnected practices that form the bedrock of concentration and meditation in the yogic tradition. By integrating both practices into our lives, we unlock the transformative power of meditation, leading to enhanced mindfulness, inner peace, and a deeper connection with our true nature.

Embark on this journey of self-exploration, and may the practices of dharana and dhyana guide you towards a life filled with clarity, tranquility, and spiritual awakening.

Eastern cultures have typically been regarded by the world as keen sources of spiritual learning. It’s true that Eastern civilizations, particularly in India and China, have spiritual histories dating back thousands of years

Western religions are comparatively modern and, as such, have more intimate solutions for people today.

Eastern cultures, religions, and spiritual traditions are rich in techniques for inner development and self (or God) realization.

And Western cultures, religions, and spiritual traditions have much to offer modern man, particularly in the areas of psychological and emotional growth and the development of society.

Unity in Diversity

Religions and spiritual traditions from both cultures believe in higher intelligence. This is a common factor.

Both cultures also believe in morality as a basis for cultivating spiritual evolution and an evolved society. This is true in Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and pretty much every other major religion or spiritual tradition.

The third uniting element between Western and Eastern spirituality is the appreciation of similar values. Lovingness, kindness, non-violence, and not lying or stealing are all highly valued.

There are Commonalities Between Eastern and Western Spirituality, But Also Enormous Differences

One feature of religion and spirituality is that it develops to complement the ordinary consciousness of the general population that it evolves within. That is to say; it aims to complete persons and their society as a whole by providing what is lacking.

Western cultures are highly individualistic. what  about Islaam ? that too can be added to the list., Western religions like Christianity and Judaism emphasize the collective aspects of spirituality, like attending churches and synagogues regularly. They encourage selfless service like helping the homeless and other missionary work. The self-centered Westerner can find great meaning in serving others and thinking outside himself for a change.

On the other hand, Eastern cultures are highly collectivist. The population density in these countries makes anything else impossible. Not true when the religions evolved in India or china As such, the individual is lost in a sea of collective consciousness. Eastern religions like Hinduism, therefore, emphasize personal spiritual growth through Yoga, Meditation, and learning sacred texts.

An another point is that ancient religions give more emphasis to attaining Nirvana and  to get out of the cycles of birth and death while the western religions look at “do good to be in line for rewards on the day of judgement”. While the principle of Karma, while pointing out the implications of doing good or bad principally talks of getting out of that cycle itself.

Why should Eastern and Western spirituality be the same when their people and societies are not?

East Meets West

What’s already common aside, how can the East learn from the West? What religious lessons can Western cultures take from Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.?

Learning from the East for the West

Avoid Overindulgence, Focus on Inner Growth

While Westerners are all for personal growth, it is typically superficial. Career goals, relationship goals, personal goals, improving at their hobbies, etc., all take the lead. Development of consciousness and the soul is absent or takes a backseat.

Be Open

Hinduism is largely regarded as the most accepting religion. It not only tolerates but embraces people of different faiths. Open-mindedness – while not a scriptural directive – is natural to Eastern religions.

Western seekers would do well not to simply abandon Christianity and/or Judaism and completely place their faith in Hinduism or Buddhism, as many are reactively doing so today.

Hinduism prescribes vegetarianism as the right way of living. Why harm other living creatures when vegetarian food can sustain you just as well? But tantric Hindu texts like Aghori involve practices like consuming human corpses to transcend the fear of death and cause radical transformation of the mind by subjecting it to seemingly intolerable practices.

George Ivanovich Gurdjieff was a very famous Russian enlightened master. He was known to force non-drinkers to consume copious amounts of alcohol to break down their rigid ways of thinking and to prescribe frequent copulation to those that were previously celibate. On the other hand, those with drinking habits were asked to abstain, and sexually overactive or promiscuous students were prescribed celibacy.

Keeping an open mind is essential to spiritual evolution. Because it is the only way to learn. Our naturally enlightened state is one of openness and receptivity. Aspiring to such a state requires cultivating an open mind.

Practice Spirituality at Home, Not Just in a Church or Synagogue

Most religious Westerners, missionaries aside, tend to look to their Church and the Bible as the main source of spiritual growth.

In the East, spirituality is brought home in the form of rites, prayers, and meditation.

One need not make a shrine, but at least try to practice prayer and meditation at home. Christ has said, “the body is the temple of the holy spirit.” Your own soul is the closest thing to God, not your church, any tradition, or any religion.

Learning from the West for the East

Sex is not a sin

Even though the New Testament proclaims that having sex before marriage is a sin, Western culture has largely grown out of this narrow view. While promiscuity, fetishes, and other perversions are not altogether uncommon, casual sex between two consenting adults is commonplace and not frowned upon.

Sexual union harmonizes the male and female – yin & yang – energies for both partners. It is deeply healing and transformational. Sexual love and orgasm bring intense attention to an act of love. This is divine.

Modern Eastern cultures, even though Tantra is present in both Buddhism and Hinduism, consider sex a taboo topic. Here it is Easterners that should keep an open mind.

Emphasize Individuality and Personal Growth

Modern Easterners – not all but many – are lost in a sea of cultural collective consciousness. They rely heavily and fearfully on the popular opinion of friends, relatives, and the society they live in. Individual growth is encouraged only for career progression.

Emotional growth, learning things like hobbies, and mental growth from acquiring knowledge, has little place in modern Eastern society. While they may no longer be frowned upon, it is simply not part of the culture. And Easterners, in general, have also lost touch with the ancient ideal of pursuing spiritual growth that is their heritage.

Without spiritual evolution, man is as good as an animal, doomed to meaninglessness and suffering. While Western cultures might remain agnostic of this kind of personal growth, they at least pursue self-development as modern psychology prescribes.

It is greatly beneficial, amidst our complex world, myriad interactions, busy lives, and many relationships, to pursue personal growth. It aids and sets a foundation for spiritual growth. It develops individuality. Only a solid and firm individual can become enlightened and merge with the divine. One who has lost himself to the mind of the masses will remain an automaton.

Conclusion

Both Eastern and Western cultures, religions, and spiritual traditions have things to teach one another. They developed at different times and therefore help people overcome different kinds of hurdles.

For example, Eastern spiritual practices like Yoga and Meditation help cultivate pure consciousness, quietude of the mind, and balance of the mind-body-energy system.

Western spiritual practices focus on the growth of the soul and the spiritualization of society. Since man can’t live in a vacuum, a sensible, non-violent, and harmonious society is as important as internal peace and harmony.

Easterners can learn that sex is not a sin, meat is not necessarily bad, and that personal psychological and emotional growth are very important to accelerate spiritual development.

Westerners must learn to keep an open mind and mix-and-match learnings, teachings, and spiritual practices from various cultures and traditions to find what best suits them. They must also realize that spirituality is not only about morality and charity or about attending church or synagogue. Meditation and prayer must be practiced at home and in daily activities to achieve a state of self-realization or God-realization.

Even the Christian ideal of salvation from sin can’t be achieved simply by spending on charities and attending church. Spirituality must become a way of life.

Be open to any religion or spiritual teaching, or tradition that could potentially help you on your journey as a seeker. I have moved this to the end as one of the conclusions.

You may also point out the difference between religion and spirituality in the beginning. Many westerners do not have the distinction clear.

Also that Hinduism is not a religion but  a way of life, in that sense it is slightly out of the periphery of religions and can’t be truly compared.

You may refer to  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San%C4%81tana_Dharma

Here are 5 essential supplements to help your body cope with the stress of resistance training.

1. Fish oil, extracted from the skins of various fatty fish like tuna, salmon, cod, etc., contains significant amounts of high-quality omega-3 fatty acids. It also contains vitamins like vitamins A and D, among other powerful nutrients. Omega-3 fatty acids are considered ‘good’ fats and support your body in many ways. Fish oil consumed at doses of 3000-9000mg daily can also positively affect body composition by optimizing your body’s fat-burning environment.

2. Protein Supplements – Resistance training creates micro-tears in muscle fibres, which require lots of amino acids to be repaired. A quality protein supplement is very useful. There are many kinds of proteins to choose from – Whey, casein (milk), egg, soy, plant proteins, and even animal proteins. However, for gym goers, it is much better to stick to whey, casein, egg, or animal proteins as plant proteins are incomplete in their amino acid profiles, and soy proteins contain significant levels of estrogen, which could negatively affect the muscle-building process. Whey is fast absorbing and is best after exercise when your muscles are craving nutrition. Casein is much slower to absorb but can be used at any time during the day.

3. Fitness Multivitamin – Resistance training increases the requirements of the body for various vitamins and minerals. A ‘fitness multivitamin’ is essential as ordinary multivitamins do not take these additional requirements into account. This applies to all people who undertake strenuous exercise of any kind.

4. Sleep Aid Products – These are a surprise on this list. Daily life in the modern world is stressful, and good sleep results in better health. But, sleep is not always about how many hours of it you can manage; it is also about the quality. Deep and restful sleep for 5 hours is far better than 8 hours of disturbed sleep. Melatonin is the hormone in our body that regulates sleep and gives the ‘signal’ to our brain to fall asleep. Melatonin supplements can help induce a deeper sleep, or even act as a natural sleeping pill if you are not able to fall asleep when you want to. It is also used by travelers to combat jet lag and adjust their sleep cycle. 10-20mg of melatonin daily acts as a gentle and natural sleep aid, and, particularly for gym-goers that absolutely require deep sleep to destress and repair the body, muscles, and nervous system, it can be very useful.

5. Creatine – Contrary to popular belief, creatine is not a dangerous supplement, but for athletes that are involved in explosive physical activity (not aerobic, but anaerobic activities such as weightlifting, powerlifting, and bodybuilding) it can assist in the growth and training process. The body uses ATP (adenosine triphosphate) as fuel for such activities (where oxygen is used for more aerobic exercise like jogging, etc.). In this process, ATP is converted to ADP (adenosine diphosphate) after it is used in the energy release process during explosive physical activity. Creatine allows your body to instantaneously convert some of the ADP back to ATP, essentially allowing you to add more weight and bust out more reps. It is the only natural supplement that can be considered almost steroidal in its results.

Diet, exercise, and regularity are the 3 pillars of health, fitness, and other gym-related activities. But supplements can be powerful assistive tools. Using these 5 supplements will help you progress and achieve your goals quickly.

The core practice that will facilitate perfect health for you is not anything specific, but rather an understanding. From this understanding, all your activities will have the right energy and direction to result in a state of health and wholeness for your body and mind.

You are not just a body with a mind; you are a consciousness that inhabits a body and possesses a mind, consciousness being synonymous with soul or essence.

Your consciousness influences your mind and body. When you are in a state of joy and freedom, your mind is tranquil and your thoughts are positive. Your body is healthy because of the radiant energy that permeates it and there is no scope for confusion or sadness.

There are thousands of studies in medical science as well as quantum physics that confirm this. Animals and human patients heal faster and better when they listen to music or are lovingly taken care of. When they have dear ones to give them love, they tend to spring back from illness quickly. In quantum physics, it has been observed that electrons respond not just to physical interference, but to whether or not they are simply being observed. As crazy as it might sound, water droplets that are slowly frozen in the presence of music, form more symmetrical, beautiful crystals than without music!

So, what you need to understand is that you are not simply a body, subject to the whims of disease and aging. You are sentient. You can influence your mind and your body’s healing by how you feel, how you think, and what you do.

So, what are the best things to feel, think, and do in order to attain and enjoy perfect health?

To address each one of the 3 aspects; consciousness, mind, and body, there are 3 levels of practices to consider.

For the body, diet is very important. What you eat directly influences your body, both keeping its baseline state of healing at the correct level, as well as causing it to exist in a state of ‘surplus health’. Vegetarianism is the most important mandate here. Meat pollutes the body and its energy. It hardens the arteries and causes heart disease. Human intestines are also not built for the consumption of meat.

The organ is very long, and the meat that is eaten sits in it for a long time before being fully processed and excreted. During this time, it will gather bacteria. This is why most people experience foul-smelling flatulence a few hours after eating meat. Energy is a subtle field that exists inside and around your body. It is being proven through different methods such as Kirilian photography that this field does indeed exist. It is also mentioned in countless ancient texts from around the world – the serpent energy in the bible for example. It exists between your mind and body and is the carrier for your mental and emotional movements to express themselves in your body.

On this level, the animal experiences fear and anxiety before and at the moment of its death. When you eat its flesh, you consume that negative energy. This will make you feel angry, low, or confused.

For the body, the utilization of ayurvedic herbs is also very beneficial. While a healthy vegetarian diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables will result in a very healthy body, eating superfoods and micronutrient-rich herbs has its own benefits. It helps deal with the stress and pollution of our modern world, which cause additional wear and tear to the body’s systems. It helps immunize against disease. Ayurvedic herbs such as chyawanprash, shilajit, giloyl, ashwagandha, triphala, etc., all possess very strong healing properties. They are all potent antioxidants and help the body eliminate ingested pollutants and create a ‘super-immune’ system that is very resistant to modern illnesses.

Yoga is another practice to consider. While physical yoga, called asan, is also valuable for flexibility and skeletomuscular health, it is breathing yoga, or pranayam, that has the most value to the body, mind, and consciousness. The mind and body are both heavily influenced by breathing. The body’s most essential processes such as the beating of the heart, health of the lungs, and oxygenation of the blood, are all influenced by your breathing. Practices that improve the quantity of oxygen consumed, as well as your blood’s capacity to carry oxygen, are of immense benefit to the immune system and your health in general. The mind’s tranquility is also influenced by the breath. The next time you are sad or angry, take gentle, deep breaths for a few minutes. Amazingly, you will find your mood sublimated into something positive. So, a daily practice of 30-60 minutes of pranayam, preferably in the morning before breakfast, is a powerful tool to improve your mental and physical well-being.

At the level of the mind, there are many things one can practice both actively as well as passively. Actively, one can practice stress-relief meditation and participate in sound, light, infrared, and energy healing sessions (guided meditation sessions to release stress are abundantly available today. If you don’t want to pay for one, you can stream or download from YouTube.) If you find a holistic healing center near you, you can participate in various sessions that help calm the mind and promote positive thoughts. These include sound and vibration related therapy sessions, infrared lights focused on the brain, reiki or quantum healing sessions, acupuncture, acupressure, etc.

Many passive practices can also relax the mind and promote a healthy mental state. To begin with, bring awareness to your thoughts and thought patterns at all times. There is no need to have a goal here, as the simple direction of your energy towards the mind’s processes awakens a better quality in them. When you learn what makes you angry or sad, and why, you might notice that it is something in your response pattern, or some hurt from the past, which causes you to feel the way you do. With these realizations comes natural healing that will bring tranquility. You can also take out some ‘me time’ during the day to just be with your emotions and thoughts while having a quiet cup of tea for instance. Gently relaxing your thoughts, trust that whatever concerning matters are crowding them can be dealt with later, and enjoy your tea quietly. This teaches your mind to not worry too much, because once it observes that there is little reason to worry constantly, it will ease its obsessive tendencies. It is known that a healthy mind lives in a healthy body. But the reverse is also true. Your mind’s obsessive tendencies, violent thoughts, confusion, etc., all poison your body with stress chemicals. To relax the mind is to bring about greater health in the body.

Next, we arrive at consciousness. There are various things you can do to improve its quality and deepen its connection with its source; the divine and existence. Meditation is the one central practice that will benefit you the most here, as well as influence the tranquility of your mind. In the beginning, you can use a mantra, mental picture, or silently count your breaths to bring yourself into the right state. This is a state of gentle concentration, which amplifies the soul’s presence in your universe. It also purifies your being from old hurts and deep worries. At a later stage, you can drop the mantra and just sit in a space of quiescence. It is deeply healing and makes you a brighter, happier, more intelligent, and capable person. The healthier and happier your soul is, the more positive thoughts and silence you will experience, as the mind is an expression of the soul.

These are the various aspects that can influence your body’s ability to heal itself. It can also bring about a transformation in your mind and being whereby you are a more joyous, focused, and radiant person. What is important to understand is that you are consciousness first and foremost, which has a mind that can influence your body. This understanding precedes the wisdom of the different practices to improve the health of your entire body-mind-consciousness continuum. Only when you fully appreciate this truth, will all your efforts find the right direction. Then, you can be on your way to attain the perfect health that you deserve.

In this blog we will delve deeper into these distinctions, exploring the real reasons why mainstream medical science is incapable of both grasping the nature of healing, as well as is incapable of actually causing real healing.

One major factor that favors holistic healing over modern medicine is the absence of intelligence with which drugs operate in the body. The body’s healing process has immense intelligence which ensures that the right things happen at the right time. The chemicals that the body releases to aid in healing also have no side effects, unlike modern drugs.

Let’s look at the following excerpt from Deepak Chopra’s ‘Quantum Healing’. “Any one of the processes involved in healing a superficial cut – the clotting of the blood, for example – is incredibly complex, so much so that if the mechanism fails, as it does with hemophiliacs, advanced scientific medicine is at a loss to duplicate the impaired function. A doctor can prescribe drugs that replace the missing clotting factor in the blood, but these are temporary, artificial, and have numerous undesirable side effects. The body’s perfect timing will be absent, as well as the superb coordination of a dozen related processes. By comparison, a man-made drug is a stranger in a land where everyone else is blood kin. It can never share the knowledge that everyone else was born with.”

So, it is not chemicals in the body that result in healing, it is the intelligence with which they perform their activities.

Here is another concrete example from the same book. “Hypertension patients are generally told to bring down their elevated blood pressure with diuretics – drugs that take water from the cells and pass it out of the system through urination. This is exactly what the kidneys do all the time as they delicately monitor your blood chemistry to make sure that the balance of water, waste products, and the necessary salts, or electrolytes, is precisely maintained. A diuretic, however, has only one idea in mind, and obsessed with that one idea, it careens through the body, demanding, “Water! Water!”, from every cell it meets. The result is that the fluid tension in the blood vessels is reduced, which is what the doctor wants to happen, but the water level everywhere else is affected at the same time. The brain may be forced to give up some of its water, which under normal conditions it does only in the direst emergency, causing the patient to feel dizzy and drowsy (…) In the view of some endocrinologists, the dehydration induced by diuretics in the presence of alcohol or tranquilizers is the leading cause of death among older Americans.

So, drugs act without judiciousness, they don’t have the intelligence to do things in the right way. They always have side effects, and in some cases as with diuretics for the treatment of hypertension, they can even cause death due to their ‘brute force’ mechanism of action.

Chemotherapy is another example of a poor method of dealing with disease. The goal of chemotherapy is to poison the cells in a body, and since cancer cells grow at an alarming rate, they ingest more of the poison and die off more quickly. But, a typical cancer patient may have around 10 billion cancer cells. Even if their chemotherapy is 99.99% effective, there would still be 1 million survivors, more than enough to start over again. It is simply a brute force method, lacking any real intelligence

Surely, there is a better solution to improving health and dealing with disease? Why can’t we utilize the body’s healing to its highest potential? And, what exactly is that potential?

For answers, we can look to one instance. In 1990, Dr. Dean Ornish proposed that lifestyle changes could cause radical improvements in the body. Starting with a one-year study, Ornish took patients already suffering from coronary artery disease, the primary cause of heart attacks. One group of subjects was followed with normal medical care while others were enlisted in a lifestyle program that consisted of whole foods, stress management, moderate exercise, and social support. The lifestyle group found that the coronary vessels had opened, which was the first time that coronary artery disease had ever been reversed by any means, including drugs.

This is one example, but there are countless others. How do spontaneous cancer remissions occur? Are they freak incidents? Even then, there must be some explanation. One study found that whenever a cancer remission occurred, it was preceded by a radical change in the patient’s awareness. Often they would reconnect with old relationships because they thought they had little time to live, and the relationship would blossom. So, there is a body of evidence to suggest that cancer remissions are not variances from the norm, but occur when someone returns to a better state of awareness.

This state of awareness is not something transcendental, but basic. For man to exist in a state of joy and good mental and emotional health, we now know, is not something extraordinary. Yoga, meditation, and a healthy vegetarian diet have been shown time and again to result in a state of mental wellbeing. And yoga in itself has been shown to reverse many illnesses, including some for which there is no known pharmacological cure, such as diabetes.

It has been shown over time that the mind and emotions of a patient influence their healing. Happy individuals with joyous relationships tend to contract fewer illnesses and live longer.

The land of Okinawa in Japan is known for the long lives of its inhabitants. One common factor is the adoption of a philosophy or way of life called ‘Ikigai’. It propagates finding something to do with one’s life that is fulfilling, useful to society, and that one can excel at. It also prescribes a diet where one eats only till one is about 80% full and no more. A person’s mental state influences their physical health profoundly.

When the body is in homeostasis and functioning normally (we do not call an ordinary person’s function normal in this case. They are overly stressed, eat poorly, and are exposed to all kinds of pollutants from noise to air, violent TV, etc.) its capacity to heal is far more powerful than drugs from modern medical science. You do not need to be a yogi to achieve this state; it is simply something lacking in the modern lifestyle. The body has not only every chemical required to keep it functioning optimally, it also possesses the intelligence to use these chemicals properly and without side-effects. Stay tuned for our next blog where we will go into further detail on what the best practices to adopt are when seeking a life of mental, emotional, and physical health.

Modern medicine fumbles in the dark for solutions to problems because it has a misguided approach. Instead of recognizing the extraordinary capability of the body to keep itself healthy and to heal itself from disease, it seeks to cure disease directly and does not focus on finding a way to make this self-healing capability an everyday reality.

This approach is flawed because the body’s innate intelligence is irreplicable. When a cut needs to be healed, dozens of processes that occur flawlessly within the body are a testament to the body’s intelligence. Antiseptics might slow the growth of bacteria and prevent infection, but the body has its own capacity to do this and the actual healing of the cut is done best by it.

Another example is the use of diuretics to solve hypertension. The goal of the drugs is to reduce fluid tension in the blood, but this comes at a cost. Water is indiscriminately collected from every cell in the body, and alcohol combined with these diuretics is the leading cause of death among older Americans.

Yet another example of the flawed approach of modern medicine is chemotherapy. Cells are irradiated, in the hopes that cancer cells, which grow faster than ordinary ones, will die first. However, chemotherapy, by itself, takes a huge toll on the body, and the statistics are not in favor of this treatment. A typical cancer patient may have around 10 billion cancer cells. If chemotherapy is even 99.99% effective, there would still be 1 million survivors, more than enough for the disease to resurface easily again.

If not drugs and medicine, what is the solution to attaining a disease-free body?

The reality is that our bodies are immensely capable of remaining disease free, and even of not aging in any detrimental way when it is pure and whole. It is our modern lifestyle, poor diet, consumption of meat, constant stress, and indulgence in violent TV programs that have reduced both our body and our mind’s capacity for self-healing. That the mind influences the body’s healing is now a known fact. In both medical studies, as well as in quantum theory, it has been shown that consciousness affects matter significantly. Our minds are a mess, full of confusion and drama, violent and self-deprecating thoughts. Is it any wonder that our bodies are ill?

In the next 3 blog posts in this series, we will discuss ‘perfect health’, the shortcomings of modern medicine, and suggest lifestyle changes that will help you attain perfect health.

So, what was the ideal of health 10 years ago? Simply put, it was the absence of disease. It was assumed that biological systems must contend with aging and disease and that one or the other were part of an inevitable process that was life. The body was expected to decline with time, either due to breakdown of the body over time or due to contracted diseases. This was set in stone – there was no way around it. Health was a relative term, meaning fewer diseases and a slightly delayed aging process. But today, the World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

One of the primary contributors to this new perspective on health has been research into holistic health. That the body is simply cells and atoms has been challenged periodically by noted scientists in the past decade. According to ‘Perfect Health’ by Deepak Chopra M.D, “the scientific community has shifted from outright rejection and ridicule of alternative healing approaches to serious investigation. If you access the National Library of Medicine’s database, you will find over forty thousand articles on alternative and complementary medicine with over sixteen hundred on herbal medicines alone. Meditation, yoga, massage, and nutritional approaches are increasingly embraced as mainstream tools for healing. St. John’s wort, Ginkgo biloba, and Echinacea have become household words, with almost every pharmacy in America carrying its own line of natural medicines.”

So, what exactly has been discovered to replace the old paradigm? ‘Perfect Health’ states that “there exists in every person a place that is free from disease, that never feels pain, that cannot age or die. When you go to this place, limitations which all of us accept cease to exist(…) This is a place called perfect health.” This is an invitation to a higher reality. A place that is not just a result of curing diseases, but complete freedom from them. And a place where aging is not natural, where it is recognized that the body does not even have to age.

At the heart of all this is the realization that we do not simply have bodies, we inhabit a body-mind.

In ancient civilizations and cultures, there is a different concept of consciousness than what we commonly refer to today as an opposite to unconsciousness. Consciousness is considered the intelligence that pervades everything; the very spark that causes us to have a will.

That we are this consciousness, and that this consciousness exists within a body that is relative to it, and indeed, possesses a mind that is part and parcel. Why is this a revelation? Because consciousness has volition and a will of its own. We have seen in quantum physics that electrons are affected simply by the consciousness that watches them; they behave differently simply by being observed. And we have seen from countless cancer remissions and placebo trial studies that the mind can influence the body. This changes the paradigm from man being just a body, subject to nature’s whims, to a deeply complex and capable entity that can influence its own healing.

For instance, today’s neuroscience suggests that the brain is plastic; it is influenced by thoughts, feelings, choices, and self-awareness. So, how you feel and what you think ultimately affects your genes. Which in turn affects your body’s ability to heal itself. Spontaneous remissions from life-threatening diseases occur from the body’s ability to heal itself. In fact, there has been some research on this matter. One phenomenon that was observed was that every time a spontaneous remission occurred, it was preceded by a radical change in the patient’s awareness. Great breakthroughs with relatives due to the crippling condition are a common example of changes in awareness.

These remissions are not outlier cases; removed from the norm. When the norm of humanity is so lost in negative thoughts, emotions, and lifestyles, these cases represent what would happen if someone’s life were more pure and ordinary. The body’s ability to heal itself could possibly even counteract the entire aging process.

A clearer understanding of health and disease is growing and has already reached a new frontier. Ample scientific evidence suggests that the body is not static and does not necessarily have to age or contract disease at some stage or the other. Empirical evidence has shown that the body can heal itself even from cancer if there is a radical shift in the thought process, feelings, and general state of awareness of a person. And scientific theory from quantum physics is beginning to discover that man is not just his body. He is a consciousness above and beyond, which is infinite in its potential. That this consciousness can impact the body’s healing is the new discovery of the age.

There are many ways to align with this new understanding. Adopting a healthier lifestyle, vegetarianism, yoga, and meditation are all core aspects. Reading and listening to teachers on the matter is another. Holistic healing methods such as Ayurveda and the like can also be utilized for maximum benefit. They are the open secret to long life, health, and happiness.

We discussed the first 4 steps: yam, niyam, asan, and pranayam. Each step follows from the last in a logical order. While all 8 steps are about directing one’s energy towards a singular purpose; liberation or moksha, the first 4 steps deal with the more gross aspects of our human existence.

Yam deals with how one behaves in society; towards others around oneself. There are 5 yams: ahimsa (non-violence), satya (being truthful), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (abstinence not from sex in general but from senseless indulgence in it), and aparigraha (renouncing greed.) Self-restraint in all these ways brings about a revolution in the furthest borders of our consciousness and directs our energy towards positivity.

Niyam deals instead with how one behaves with oneself. There are 5 niyams as well: shauch (cleanliness), santosh (being content with what one has), tapa (austerity; to face challenges with tenacity and righteousness), swadhyaya (the study of quality spiritual literature), and ishwar pranidhan (surrender to and service of God.) Once the most distant horizon of human consciousness, ie., relating to others, is directed positively, we turn our attention inward towards our relationship with ourselves.

Asan, which originally meant ‘relaxed body’ and not ‘postures’ as interpreted by yogis today, recognizes that the body of an ordinary person is not in a good state. It is not in control and is full of lazy energy. Asan attempts to correct this through various yogic practices involving movements of the body, as well as the simple practice of just sitting quietly. Forcing yourself to sit without distractions eventually transmutes the body from restless to restful. Now, we can focus our energy on the subtler aspects of our existence in our search for spiritual enlightenment.

The last of the first 4 steps, pranayam, deals with the fact that our breath and mental state are closely linked. When we are angry, upset, or sad, our breathing becomes shallow and irregular. When we are happy it takes on a more steady and tranquil quality. Conversely, learning to breathe correctly transforms our mind from scattered and weak to something more strong and quiet.

From Gross to Subtle

Now, we will discuss the last 4 steps, which involve much subtler layers of consciousness. We are moving from our everyday interactions with society and ourselves, our bodies, and our breath, to the realm of meditation. The last 4 steps are not physical yoga (although they can be performed in conjunction), but involve the subtle mind in an attempt to attain samadhi, which is a mental state of pure stillness and bliss.

Step 5: Pratyahar

 The 5th limb and step of Ashtanga Yoga is pratyahar, which can be translated to ‘sensory withdrawal’. Patanjali recognized that human consciousness is very closely tied to our senses. Because we are always living through our senses – outward – our consciousness is typically weak and fragmented as a result. We watch TV, eat tasty foods, indulge in sex, talk, and listen constantly.

These are all relatively unconscious activities; not that we lack any consciousness when we do them, but we don’t do them with purpose and with a unified mind. We surf mindlessly through channels, lust after junk food and sex, and talk gossip on the phone for hours on end. As a result, the consciousness tied to our senses is diluted,weak, and incapable of becoming truly still and giving us freedom and bliss.

Pratyahar attempts to reverse this. By inwardly withdrawing from senses during a seated practice of meditation, one channels all one’s energy towards one’s inner light.

One common method to accomplish this is to focus on one’s breath. Another method is to inwardly chant a mantra. By bending your mind around a single point, you gain the ability to move your mental focus away from your senses and towards the object of your meditation.

Pratyahar ripens your consciousness for deeper meditation, and the next step, dharan.

Step 6: Dharan

 Dharan can be translated as ‘holding steady’. Through pratyahar, by disconnecting from the senses, one lays the foundation for deeper meditation. Pratyahar enables one to enter into meditation; to stay in it is the act of dharan.

There is not much difference between dharan and pratyahar practices, but the intent and experience are different. The intent of pratyahar is to enter meditation, the focus of dharan is to sustain the meditative state.

Like with pratyahar, the practitioner focuses on a singular objection: a thought, matra, or on his breathing. But, the idea is not just to disconnect from the 5 senses, but to stay in a steady state of concentration.

Pratyahar enables one to have a single-pointed mind, and dharan utilizes this ability to focus intently on one mental object.

This is the beginning of meditation. The next step is dhyan, or pure meditation.

Step 7: Dhyan

 Dhyan can be considered an advanced stage of dharan. It is experienced through its gateway.

In dharan, the meditator and an object of meditation exist. There is a duality. To experience oneness, the object and subject of the meditation must dissolve into a singular mystical experience.

When one establishes in the practice of dharan, eventually the object of the meditation is forgotten, and with it the subject. Thus, only the state of meditation remains, where both the person and point of focus disappear.

This is called unity experience or oneness. It takes time practicing dharan to achieve dhyan.

Dhyan is the last step that takes effort and will. The final stage in Ashtanga Yoga, samadhi, requires no effort and is a culmination of one’s dhyan practice.

Step 8: Samadhi

 This is it, the final step and ultimate goal of Patanjali Yoga.

Through repeated immersion in the practice of dhyan, the meditator becomes purified. One by one negative tendencies, thoughts, and emotional constructs that constitute the personal self, all drop away.

Who and what the person originally thought he was, is now seen as a veil; an illusion. That you are not a person solely of memories and rigid ideologies becomes apparent, and the practitioner experiences gentle ego death.

When the ego dies, the meditator moves beyond the experience of dhyan and into samadhi; pure transcendental bliss.

This is not the bliss of sex or achievement. It is a deeper, more subtle bliss, which is accompanied by learning of great wisdom and understanding. You learn the origin of things, why things are the way they are, and that something supramental and delightfully divine is behind everything. You might have glimpses or suspicions of this before, but in samadhi, one knows it fully; profoundly, intimately, and infinitely.

Ashtanga Yoga: The End and the Means to This End

 Many religions, spiritual sects, and philosophers have reasoned that the purpose of human life is evolution. Liberation, moksha, or spiritual enlightenment, is a common concept which postulates an ‘end to suffering’; a final goal in our evolution.

The ancient yogi Patanjali has presented us with a scientific methodology for achieving such an exalted state. It is within his system of Ashtanga Yoga that the steps to achieve it can be found. But, unlike other practices, the practice is both an end as well as a means to an end. The practices of dhyan, dharan, and pranayam all contain the experience of unity consciousness in one way or another, even though they are limited in perspective compared to the final step, samadhi.

The beauty of this yoga system is that one can apply the scientific method to it. A hypothesis is proposed at each step, which one can voluntarily inquire into its validness by practicing as advised. The results have been spoken for by millions of people.

At the very least, Ashtanga Yoga offers significant mental health benefits, even if spiritual enlightenment might seem a lofty goal for some. The calming of the mind, the purification of negative behaviors, and so on, are of value in themselves. It is worth trying this yogic path, even if the beginning is simple curiosity.

In this article, we will outline the first 4 steps of Ashtanga Yoga, and explain the logical flow from one step to the next.

8 Steps or 8 Limbs

Ashtanga Yoga has 8 steps. These steps are also called ‘limbs’. Ashtanga Yoga has both 8 steps as well as 8 limbs. They are steps because they follow logically from one to another, but you can’t practice them out of order if you want results. They are also limbs because they are organic developments from one another, and none of them can be skipped.

In any sequence, steps can sometimes be skipped, even if they are not performed out of order. You can jump from step 1 to step 3 in certain cases. But limbs, like those in the body, can’t be removed as each serves a critical function. Thus, Ashtanga Yoga has 8 steps which are also 8 limbs, none of which can be forgone or performed out of order.

Step 1: Yam or Yama

 The first step in Patanjali Yoga is ‘yam’. Loosely translated, yam means ‘self-restraint’.

But, this is not the self-restraint that is generally understood in the West to be self-control, repression, or suppression. Instead, it is a constant practice of guiding one’s life force towards a singular goal.

Human consciousness, as present in most of us, is a creature with innumerable heads. It is constantly in motion in a multitude of directions. Sometimes we are entertaining ourselves by watching TV, but we feel perhaps that time should be spent doing something more constructive. When we instead do gardening or cooking, we wish we were watching TV. Thus the mind is constantly pulled in different directions.

Our actions are in contradiction to one another. We make donations to charities, but ignore the suffering of homeless people on the road on our way to work every morning. We expect our significant other to not keep any secrets from us, but we keep secrets from them. All these opposing polarities create a field of confusion and suffering within us. A man that is so disjointed can’t be whole, and can definitely not be whole in his pursuit of something as profound as spiritual enlightenment.

So the first step of Ashtanga Yoga is yam. Yam occurs in the broad context of society. In English, we call these ethics. How we behave towards those around us and within our community is the most general direction in which our energy flows. Hence, the first level of Yoga is to discipline ourselves in relation to society.

One yam is ahimsa or non-violence. We pledge to not harm others. Another yam is asteya, non-stealing. We vow not to steal from others. The other 3 yams are satya (speaking the truth), brahmacharya (celibacy; which is not abstinence from sex but abstinence from overindulgence in it), and aparigraha (renunciation of greed.) Yam is the first step that deals with the broadest aspect of our existence, our behavior within society. This leads to the next step, niyam.

Step 2: Niyam

This can be translated to ‘fixed observance’. It is a matter of our individual consciousness or our behavior in relation to ourselves. Hence, it is the logical next step from yam. First, we pledge to behave in a certain way towards society, and now towards ourselves.

How we behave with ourselves, and how we handle our thoughts, dictates how we grow as human beings. This is morality. It is different from ethics, which concerns others.

One such niyam is shauch, or cleanliness. We vow to keep ourselves physically and mentally clean, disengaging from violent and self-deprecating thoughts that would otherwise poison our minds. Another niyam is swadhyaya, which is the study of ‘good’ literature and scriptures. This one is about feeding your mind with positive influences and keeping it nourished with thoughts of God, the soul, and other topics found in spiritual literature.

The other 3 niyams are santosh (contentedness; one chooses to be content with what one has), tapa (austerity; facing life’s challenges with righteousness and tenacity), and ishwar pranidhan (surrender to and service of God).

A steady practice of niyam, over time, opens up possibilities for the third limb of Ashtanga Yoga, asan.

Step 3: Asan or Asana

 Unlike modern yoga, where asan simply means a specific yogic posture like downward dog pose or mountain pose, asan in Patanjali Yoga means a relaxed body.

Once the broadest strokes of our consciousness in relation to society, yam, and in relation to ourselves, niyam, are in control, we can move our minds closer home towards our bodies.

The body is full of different energies, which are normally out of control and aligned with negativity. Most people are so used to ‘doing’ something all the time, their energy system is unable to be at rest. The food that is consumed is so polluting, that their body frequency is very low, more like a wild animal than an evolved species.

So, the third step in Ashtanga Yoga is asan, which means to bring the body under control until it can relax freely.

Try to just sit down quietly for 10 minutes without your phone, a beverage, or someone to talk to. Most people find this a very trying challenge. Your body will start complaining. It will claim that you are itching here or there, or are in pain. It is false! How can such things begin to occur within just 10 minutes of sitting quietly!

The third step in Yoga is posture. It is harder than the first two. You need to dedicate time to sitting quietly, spine erect and without support, every day. In the beginning, you will feel all kinds of aches and pains, feel itchy and irritable, or experience fear; which is the body’s flight or fight response taking over. But, slowly, you will attain dominance over your body, and it will become subservient to you, as it should. For you are the master of your body, not it yours, and such should it be.

Once you have control over your body in this way, your energy starts to relax. Your mind starts to still. You feel more tranquil.

The next step is pranayam.

Step 4: Pranayam or Pranayama

 Once your life energy is focused unidirectionally with yam and niyam, and your body is able to relax under your control, the next step is to attain a healthy breathing rhythm. There are many practices under the umbrella.

Breathing influences your mentality very profoundly. Observe yourself when you are angry, upset, or sad. You will find that your breathing is irregular and shallow at these times. Conversely, if you perform practices that make your breathing deep and regular, you can instantly transform anger into a clear and tranquil mind. Regular pranayam also makes your mind still and silent throughout the day, and is a prerequisite for attaining samadhi or perfect stillness of the mind, which is the ultimate goal of Ashtanga Yoga.

Once your breath is constantly tranquil and is supplying your body and mind with clean, healthy energy at all times, you can move on to the next 4 steps of this kind of yoga.

The Gross and Subtle Minds and Conclusion

 The first 4 steps of Ashtanga Yoga deal with the more gross aspects of the human mind. That is behavior, self-restraint, and good practices for a healthy body and mind. The last 4 steps deal with something different, the subtle mind. They deal with consciousness in its most intricate and intimate aspects. Since these steps are different in flavor, we will discuss them in our next blog, The Last 4 Steps of Ashtanga Yoga: From Gross to Subtle.

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3. Fitness Multivitamin
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5. Creatine
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Diet, exercise, and regularity are the 3 pillars of health, fitness, and other gym-related activities. But supplements can be powerful assistive tools. Using these 5 supplements will help you progress and achieve your goals more quickly.