Yoga obstacles: Hurdles and obstacles in Yoga

By Yogacharya Kundan Kumar

Yoga enables us to unite the individual soul with the ultimate eternal One. This union is the chief purpose of human life and in our endeavour to achieve this, we are faced with innumerable obstacles. But all hurdles are removed when the sadhaka or practitioner of yoga obtains the grace of God.

A simple way to receive such grace is through prayer and humility. The Vedas say: - We the sadhaka s practising different forms of yoga do pray to the Almighty, to protect us from all the obstacles of yoga so that they do not become a reason for the disruption of samadhi (total unity with God). -

Fourteen obstacles have been observed formally by yogis. Nine of them are classified as main obstacles and another five, as sub-obstacles. The nine main hindrances are:

1. Vyadhi or disease, physical or mental.

2. Styana or disinclination towards performing ones kartavya or duty.

3. Sanshaya , doubting ones capability or the result of yoga.

4. Pramada , neglecting duties which lead us towards the goal of yoga.

5. Alasya , inertia of mind-body due to dominance of the tamasic or negative element.

6. Avirati , generation of lack of vairagya or dispassion, as a result of the contact of sense organs with their objects.

7. Bhrantidarshan , development of a false notion about the practice of yoga and its outcome.

8. Alabdha-bhumikatva, non-attainment of the yogic accomplishments, despite sadhana, leading to the discouragement of the sadhaka . This happens due to faulty or non-guided sadhana .

9. Anawasthitatwa , non-permanence of a yogic accomplishment.

When these nine hurdles are encountered, five more obstacles appear according to the circumstances:

1. Dukh or sorrow: There are three types of dukh Ñ adhyatmik dukh sets in due to pain in the body or mind arising out of kama, krodha and vyadhi or desire, anger and diseases; adhibhowtik dukh arises due to pain caused by human beings, animals, birds, mosquitoes and other creatures; adhi-daiwik dukh is caused by divine phenomena like rain, cold, fire, strong winds, earthquake and lightning.

2. Daurmanasya , pain caused by non-fulfilment of desires.

3. Angamejayatwa , the shivering of parts of the body.

4. Swasa , disturbances in the external kumbhaka or breath retention Ñ the phenomenon of inhalation occurring without the desire of the sadhaka .

5. Praswasa , disturbance in the internal kumbhaka Ñ the occurrence of exhalation without the desire of the sadhaka .

The nine and five additional obstacles are called vikshepa and upvikshepa respectively. Through abhyasa (practice) and vairagya sadhakas can overcome these hurdles.

In abhyasa , the yama and niyama or the 10 rules of conduct form the base. The asanas are the third limb of yoga. Shiva expounded 84 lakh asanas, with 84 main asanas out of which 33 are of special importance for martyaloka (planet earth). Out of these, the Hatha-yogapradipika considers four as pradhanasanas or asanas of great significance and siddhasana as the best of all the asanas. Bahya-bhyantar Ñ external and internal Ñ cleanliness has to be ensured, according to Patanjalis Yogadarshan.

Pranayama has its rules, too Ñ it should be preceded by the sodhana (cleaning) of 72,000 nadi s, or nerve channels in our entire body. Then the body becomes lighter and healthier, and the nasal passages are filled with a divine fragrance.