Meditation and Yoga: Aids to Positivity - Meditation and Yoga

By Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati

If there are two piles, one of gold and one of dirt, which one will you choose? The gold one. If there is only one pile in which the dirt and gold are mixed you would try to separate the gold from the dirt and take the gold. We need to do the same with our personality.

We tend to overlook the good things, preferring instead, to focus on all thatÕs bad. So despite having so much to give, so much to receive and so many positive qualities within, we end up identifying ourselves with the negative. Yoga helps us separate the negative from the positive; to select and hold on to the positive.

In individual development and perception, our awareness must be deepened in such a way that we are conscious of the dirt, the negative, as well as the beautiful, the positive. Rejection of the negative and connection with the positive has to take place. This is not only an intellec-tual concept, it is something one has to imbibe in life. After all, why do we react? Why do we desire one thing and not another? Reactions are a result of identification with dislikes. Actions follow positivity. This awareness has to be nurtured.

Meditation and practice of asanas is important. But that is not all, for, how long can we practise postures? When we are physically unfit, asanas have no relevance. Yoga and meditation can be practised as long as we have the desire and ability to continue with it. But if we want to overcome likes and dislikes, desires and rejections, we have to learn to bring out and appreciate the positivity of life.

That positivity has to be expressed in every situation, whether it is an exam, a human relationship, social living or reclusive living. This is the understanding that yoga tries to give. It cannot be an intellectual understanding. It has to be an experiential understanding of the process which leads to deve-lopment of the self, and this infuses one with contentment, peace and tranquillity.

You go through various experiences, some good, some bad. Whenever you react it is a bad experience and whenever you accept and act, it is a positive experience. This positivity and acceptance has to be the focus in life if you want to succeed. If this focus is lost then do not claim to be a practitioner of yoga. You can only claim to be a practitioner of asana, or a practitioner of meditation.

Change has to come from within. Harmony should be experienced both externally and internally. If you identify only with the inner experience, with the inner state of happiness, and there is reaction in external attitudes, behaviour, relationships and communication, then that experience can never be complete. That is the true meaning of yoga. In the third sutra of the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali discus-ses being established in oneÕs own nature as the seer, the drishta.

Take the example of the flowing river. If there is a big rock in the river bed, the river simply flows around it and carries on with its journey. The river does not come into conflict with the immovable object. Similarly, personal attainment is only a selfish subjective attainment. That attainment can be lost at any time. It is easy to attain and also easy to lose because life follows a principle of give and take. That is the flow of life with which yoga identifies.

In the beginning yoga is a practice, then it becomes a way of life. When it becomes a way of life identification with and expression of the balanced, positive and optimistic nature takes place and then one attains physical, mental and spiritual wealth.