Therefore, Become a Yogi
Sutramanam Prthivim dyamanehasam
susarmanamaditim supranitim.
Daivim navam svaritramanaga
samasravantimaruhema svastaye.
(Rgveda-10.63.10)
The verse thanks the Isvara for gifting humanity the excellent vehicle for self-transformation, that is the human body. It says — Prabhu (Isvara} by staying in this perfect human shaped boat, and with your support, we can cross the ocean of life. This body protects us, is endowed with the sadhana (means) of acquiring knowledge and is capable of movement, it provides security, it is expansive, contains the element of fire, and is devoid of flaws, it provides happiness, is well built, yet very modest. By crossing this ocean of life with the body as our means (boat), lets try and obtain the Paramkalyana or moksa.
After erasing the bad vrttis of mana, a new birth takes place. New vision (that was suppressed by vrttis) is obtained, then we perceive a beautiful world within us and feel the bliss of life. We ourselves are the cause of our happiness and pain. The day when we understand this truth, that is the day when our sorrows begin to die out one by one.
Na bhutam ksiyate karma
kalpakoti satairapi.
Avasyameva bhoktavyam
krtam karma subhasubham.
This means that the effects of subha (auspicious) and asubha (inauspicious) karma does not leave till millions of srsti (creation). One has to experience the karmaphala (fruits of karma) until one reaches the state of jivana-mukta (liberation in life itself).
The world will be happy when the good of the world will be guided with the means of social-moral values, truth, non-violence, humanity, sensibility, purity in character and patience. If we keep faith and determinedly follow these human values, then we will never be burdened by sorrows in our personal lives. One Santa has remarked:
Let’s learn to smile is our pain
Let’s learn to cry in others’ pain
The happiness in seeing other
eat is not in eating by oneself
Let’s learn to be useful for others
Yogi
A Yogi intakes materials like ghee, butter, almonds, halwa, khira and rasamalai etc. for life protection. Yogis consume rich nutritives to keep their bodies healthy, strong and fulfilled, and to ultimately realize Isvara. Their senses and minds are not asakta (attached) to these materials.
Even a complete yogi can not be compared with the Paramatma because the jivatma by nature is ekadesi, has infinitely less knowledge and power (compared to the Paramatma). A yogis jivatma can approximate in a small measure, the attributes of the Paramatma, but only selectively and in inconsequential measures. Even as a yogi, the limited and definitive attributes of the jivatma endure, as they are the natural attributes that the jivatma possesses.
Reasoning is not a badhaka (hinderance) for a yogi, but is a sadhaka. However, reckless reasoning is not profitable. For instance:
Srutivakyanusarena tarkyatam ma kutarkyatam. (Pancadasi)
Both the sexes, whether male or female, are capable to become a yogi.
Even towards a completely ahimsaka (non-violent) yogi, all pram (organisms) cannot be expected to leave animus. To expect mutual reciprocity is foolhardy. Only those who, according to their abilities, have understood the yogis instructions and character are able to suppress their all-too-natural human hatred.
A true yogi can not confer samadhi on anyone by blessings or by directing spiritual energy to a ajnani-adharmi (ignorant and unrighteous person). This is so, because to attain samadhi, rigorously abiding by Astanga-yoga (Eight-limbed yoga) is obligatory. One must make one’s mind devoid of raga-dvesa (attachments and hatreds) etc., i.e. all the attributes of pancavikara.
Veda is the knowledge gifted by Parampita-paramatma to humans. In Arsa-grantha (texts of Truth) like Vedas, there is ample knowledge that the three padarthas (Isvara, Jiva and prakrti) of existence are eternal, permanent and separate from each other. That is why those who go against this Truth can never aspire to be successful as a yogi.
(Excerpted from the book Divine Transformation: Building Blocks for Englightened Life, Ideal Nation & Peaceful World by Acharya Balakrishna)
