The further we are coming into the twenty-first century, the scientific we are becoming, which is amazing because now we do not want to believe in superstitions. We want facts and proof. We analyze the information thrown at us much critically. But as the discoveries of science rises, we are questioning many things. One of which is religion.

Religion, has a bad name in today’s world and all the blame has to poured into the fanatics that believed into everything that their mad prophets said to be true. As a result, millions of people lost their lives, many mother lost their children, their home. They took something sacred and tore it in a way that we in modern society do not want to look in to the path anymore. Why should we anyways? The name of religion has done more harm than it has ever done good.

In well developed nation where people do not have to struggle any more, where crime rates have gone almost to zero, why would such countries need/want religion. Religions were formed to keep the society with in bound. So, one could scare uncivilized humans and keep them away from harming other humans, killing other humans. If you look at every religious book, their first words are non-violence. Yet in the name of same religion people have been massacred.

So, why would we need such religion anymore? The answer is we do not. If there is a religion we need, it is religion of humanity.

I have been delving into these questions quite a lot lately and on my way I stumbled up on the book Raja Yoga, written by Swami Vivekananda in 1896. The book has many insights which could help make our every day life easier. The book and the practices in the book are meant to help one become a perfect yogi and attain the Samadhi (enlightenment), but it does not hurt us to incorporate them in our routine. I have been trying to do the same. It has helped me stay calm, peaceful and get rid of my anxieties.

I am planning to write a series of texts each topic in the book, of which the first is combined Chapter I and II, “Introductory” and “The First Steps”, respectively. So with out further ado, lets get into it.

Introduction & The First Steps

We are facts based people, we believe in something with proof. Every time there is a new discovery, a new fact, it has to go through a series of well described methods, peer review of the results before a scientist can claim the truth. Similarly, Swami Vivekananda claims that the methods prescribed in the his book to be the way to the eternal peace and enlightenment, which peer reviewed by hundreds of Yogis who themselves have attained that bliss.

He does not want to pursue us from the place of faith but rather from the place of practice. He claims if one follows the instructions given in the book, he/she/they shall see with in short period of time changes with in them. Changes in physical, mental and spiritual attributes. The changes are not grand changes, but subtle; in the way I see other beings, the way I talk, the way I perceive. That was the short intro about how Swami Vivekananda starts the book. Now lets get into the steps.

He has divided Raja Yoga into eight steps.

Yama

The first being Yama. Yama stands for non-killing (violent), truthfulness, non-stealing, continence and non-receiving of any gifts. Most of these attributes we already possess. I personally find, the non-receiving of any gifts as the hard one. We are a social beings, we love to receive and give gifts. It would be rude not to follow up to that social standard. But what he really means by that is to give more than you receive. If some one gives you something, or does some thing for you, make sure you return the favor, that way you are not in debt of others. As, we are quite familiar in-debt mind can not be free. So next time your friend gets you a drink, make sure you give some thing nice back to them.

Additionally, we might find difficult always to be truthful, also because some times truth can be very harsh. But we in society where we are quite sophisticated in regards with the evolution of the language and we can always find softer words to replace those rude sounding words. Also, with truthfulness he essentially means, do not lie. Rest of the requirements, in my view is easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

Niyama

This deals with cleanliness, contentment, austerity, study and self surrender to God. For those of us who are not religious, surrender to your loved ones, your family, friends and be vulnerable with them. Niyama is a Sanskrit word that mean duties.

As a yogi or even as a human being, we can not find peace in a place which is disturbed, unclean, and messy. Cleanliness sometimes can be hard, especially in those days where one is feeling all drowned. One of the thing that helps me with cleanliness usually is to not keep things out of order, or in other words keep things in places where they belong to. For example, when you get out of bed make sure first thing you do is make your bed. Make that your habit!! Or in the kitchen after a cup of coffee, wash it immediately, that helps you not to stack a pile of uncleaned dishes which later you will look at and be mad at yourself.

Contentment: A simple word with such a deep meaning. It is quite easy with the amount of information available today to compare ourselves with other people who have achieved more than us. It is a pit where we all have fallen into. We see influence-rs or our “successful” friends in social medias like Instagram and wonder why are our life is not like that.

Be aware not to fall into that hole!!!

The only person you should compare yourself is you from the past and if you read this blog until here I am pretty much sure you are on a better way. Be thankful for what you have. However bad you might think your situation, find something to be grateful about. Victim mindset is the most toxic trait one could foster.

Asana

Asana, stands for posture in Sanskrit. Stand straight. Put your head, chest and back well aligned. You might not be aware of it, but how you sit and stand correlates with how you feel about yourself. Ever heard some one saying to stretch you body before going for an interview or make yourself bigger to feel more confident. Well, that is true. You can experiment it on yourself. Try sitting in a squeezed position for few minutes, you will feel sad and weak. Try the opposite, you will feel more confident about yourself.

Pranayama

You might have had heard this word before. It is quite famous word in world of yoga. Pranayama means controlling the force that drives the life within us. It starts with controlling our way of breathing until we become able to control everything with in the life force.

We were taught quite many things, a lot of it we can not even remember. But one thing we were never taught was how to breath. One might say we know how to breath and if I did not know how to breath, I would have already been dead. Do yourself a favor and ask yourself a question, are you aware of how you breath? Most of us are not. We breath very unconsciously. Sometimes I even find myself not breathing for some moment, all caught up on what I am trying to do.

Therefore, first thing to do is to be aware of how we breath, and try to make that breathing more rhythmic. There are bundles of research article one could read on benefits of conscious breathing. The gist of all is though is to be conscious and breath rhythmically. Soon you will see changes in how you feel.

Pratyahara

Pratyahara means restraining ones’ senses from their object. In other words, we are too much involved into what we like and dislike. We generally as human being are caught up into materialistic things, which makes us ridiculously vulnerable to suffering. We see something, we like it and we want it. In case, we do not get it we make ourselves miserable.

One can not live a healthy life if we are stuck in getting pleasure through materialistic possessions or external validation. These might give you a short term happiness but it is just another form of addiction. I remember many nights when I went out drinking, all hammered and having fun but next day waking up hungover regretting things I did when I was drunk. I am not saying we should not drink but if we drink to be happy that is a red flag for yourself. Drink or do things not to make yourself happy, rather drink and do stuff because you are happy. Happiness is within you, do not go out looking for it.

This reminds me of a beautiful story. There was a fish. One day he meets a shark and ask her, “Hey, I am looking for the way to the ocean. Can you tell me which way is it?” The shark with a surprising look on her face says, “What are you talking about? You are already in the ocean.” The fish replies,” No, this is just water. I am looking for the ocean.” You are that ocean of happiness. You do not need to seek it else where.

Dharana

Next on the list is Dharana. It means to fix the mind on one spot. It is meant to control the mind. Our mind is like a monkey, not capable of staying still. You should try it yourself and see how mind flies from one thought to another in a matter of second. A moment ago I was thinking about my favorite book, and a moment later I realize, I have traveled to ten different thoughts about what I do not like about a celebrity to what would happen if I had done certain things a certain way in past.

It is a hard task to be focused but with continuous practice we can get there. I try to focus my mind on my breath. That way I can control both my mind and the way I am breathing.

Dhyana and Samadhi

These are the last two steps in Raja Yoga. Dhyana means to meditate and Samadhi means to get to the super-conscious state. I am discuss about it more in future. For now I think it is quite a lot to digest at once. But do not worry we are going to come back to each of these again and again. And I will try to share my experiences with these practices.

Until then try to involve one or more of these practices in your life and see how it helps you.

If you have made so far, leave a comment and let me know what you think about Raja yoga.

Cheers,