Yogacharya Dr Ananda
Balayogi Bhavanani, Editor
How do we deal with the obstacles, the antaraya-s, the chittavikshepas and their manifestations (sahabhuva)?
“Make the mind one pointed and follows one path”, says Maharishi Patañjali.
In order to deal with the nine antaraya and the four accompanying manifestations, we need to focus on our practice with single-minded and dedicated effort.
If we can stay on the path to oneness and be fixed on the goal, these obstacles will be removed on their own accord.
This implies the taking up of one principle and then working on it relentlessly, never giving up!
We must be a miner on the spiritual path. To mine gold, we have to dig deep, go through obstacles, trials and tribulations until we find the gold.
Most people are “puddle diggers” instead, they dig a little bit here and there, never satisfied, and always superficial. Please remember, puddle diggers can never achieve great spiritual heights.
Self-analysis is required to know what we are and where we are going on our chosen path.
Once the path has been chosen with awareness and consciousness there should not be any hesitation at all in digging deep, deep and deeper.
Most self-styled aspirants today don’t use any discernment in choosing their path. They go from one teacher to the next, focusing here and there and everywhere. They end up nibbling on anything and everything without ultimately getting the real taste of anything.
You need to stabilize the mind and make it crystal clear for the highest experience.
How to get to that state?
Make your mind one-pointed!
This is a very important lesson that Maharishi Patañjali is giving us.
If you dig many shallow wells you will not find water. Dig one and go deep and you will find water. This is a common metaphor found in many Indian stories and teaching. Take one thing and do your best. Be focused and do not lose focus under any challenge.
The secret is to be able to maintain a balanced state of mind with focus even when you multitask.
The path chooses us.
Yoga has chosen us and not the other way around.
We should realize the amazing opportunity we have in this lifetime to evolve because we were chosen by this path.
Do not run away. If you run away this time, you will just come back over, and over, and over and again, again, and again.
Do you want to be a frog again? Or a lizard? A squirrel?
In this human incarnation we have a chance to experience eternity.
Why waste this golden opportunity for eternity?”