Universality of Yoga
In modern times, the art of yoga has become confined into some physical exercises or a therapy to cure certain physical ailments. Only a few recognises yoga as true and time tested spiritual science. The men of wisdom who conceived the science of yoga conceived it as not an instrument for curing ailments or bringing up a healthy body. To them yoga is remembering God; be one with God. To do yoga means to remember God. They considered it as so sacred and approached and practiced it with so much devotion, because yoga bestows liberation from all sorrows of a human soul forever. So, they called it Yoga Vidya (vidya means that which liberates from bondage). Only a few sincere seekers understand truly this side of yoga. Majority believes it as body twisting exercises or some breathing workouts.
The Sanskrit term ‘yoga’ originates from the root word ‘yuj’, which means to unite. So, yoga in its deepest sense means the union of individual soul with the Supreme soul or God. Secondly, yoga implies various scientific techniques and systematic approaches adopted by the devotee-seeker to regain the lost union. In that sense, yoga means the practice of a spiritual discipline.
Yoga employs systematic practices that help the seeker to bring his mind under his control with least effort and complexities, by scientific life-force control mechanisms. When yogi gains control over his life-force that animates his body, he is in the pathway to gain control over his mind too. It means that he is controlling his life. By life-force control, the yogi can wilfully withdraws, life and consciousness from the body and unite it with the Spirit that resides in the higher centres of his brain and spinal cord. By disuniting himself from the identification of mortal body, yogi understands that he is no longer the body. By uniting himself with Spirit he comes to the understanding that he is not different from God. Thus he realizes his true nature. This knowledge liberates him from all sorrows.
Yoga can be practiced by all irrespective of one’s religious affiliation. Whether one is theist or atheist, if he ventures in the path of yoga sincerely, it is sure to bestow result. It is because yoga is a science- a science of life force control. Whatever path one may follow to reach God, finally everyone has to pass through one single path. It is the path of spine or sushumna nadi. The life-force and mind has to pass through the spinal channel to the brain and from the brain it goes out of the body and merges with the Infinite.
To attain self realization, all the seven cerebrospinal centres must be awakened. With the awakening of subtle centres, the yogi will come in contact with realms of higher consciousness. He experiences them initially as the Divine Sound of Aum, and later as Cosmic Light of Aum. The Cosmic Vibration of Aum is the sole connecting link between individual soul and its creator Spirit. This is same for everyone- Hindus, Muslims, Christians, atheists, theists, and so on.
Yoga is not a blind belief system. It is a science because it helps you to open the path to year reality which is already present in you. It does not ask you to believe in particular belief system. It asks you to begin from your present reality (breath) and advance forward to higher realities which come to yogi’s perception as a result of his practice. So, yoga is universal. It can be called as a universal religion. It suits to every one of any religious affiliation. If one is a human being and is truly interested in seeking God, for him yoga is a best way.
