Questions to Swami Jyotirmayananda
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  Question: When did Yoga begin?  
 

Answer: Yoga philosophy has its source in the Vedas. When were the Vedas written? There are different views among the historians. They were definitely written more than a thousand years before Christ.

The teachings of Yoga are like the law of Gravitation--Newton discovered it but did not create it. In the same way, Sages discovered the Yoga, but the teachings are timeless.

 
  Question: In YOGA SUTRAS III, 54 the word "taaraka" is used. I have also seen it used as the name of a specific "medieval" form of yoga having something to do with light. Do you have any information about this Taaraka Yoga school?   
 

Answer: "Taraka" used in Yoga Sutras III, 54 literally means, "That which takes one across (the world-process)," This implies the attainment of intuitive intellect which is all encompassing and spontaneous. In this< context, Taraka is the gateway to Liberation.

A Divine Name (Such as Om or Rama) is also called a "Taraka Mantra" -- a Mantra that leads one across the cycles of birth and death.

I am not aware of any other usage of the term "Taraka," although it is possible. Another sanskrit word, "Trataka" in hatha Yoga refers to fixing one's gaze on any object of concentration, such as flower, a candle flame, a picture of a Deity, and so on. It is a repeated practice of looking without winking (however not to the point of straining the eyes), and is a way to promote concentration of mind.

 
  Question: If tomorrow the human race were to go extinct due to some tragic epidemic, will the cosmic illusion (Maya) still be a reality? Simply put, would Maya exist without a human mind to interpret it as such?  
  Answer: Even when a person dies, and his brain and nervous system is destroyed, yet his soul continues to be under the influence of Maya or Cosmic Illusion. It is only in the state of enlightenment that Maya is gone. Keeping this point in view, even when the human race is destroyed on this earth, yet, souls of countless humans, will continue to reincarnate and evolve through countless world-systems. Maya has to be broken by each individual by his enlightenment.  
  Question: In order to attain a balanced personality, how much time should one devote to the different types of yoga styles during each day? For a beginner such as myself, should I try to put in any certain number of hours performing each and every type of yoga style?  
 

Answer: In order to develop a balanced personality, one must blend the four aspects of Yoga in daily life. They are Action, Devotion, Meditation and Spiritual Reflection. They are respectively termed: Karma, Bhakti, Dhyana and Jnana Yogas.

For a beginner, it is important to set apart half an hour for the practice of Meditation. During this time, you may repeat the Divine Name or a prayer, and allow mind to be focused on God (according to your religions concept).

You may also learn Yoga exercises in order to keep fit physically and mentally. How much more time you must devote will depend upon your choice. Maintain a rhythmic balance--not going to extremes but in moderation. When you perform your daily duties with a relaxed mind, with an attitude of serving God through your actions, you are practicing Karma Yoga, and for that you do not have to set a time limit.

By practicing a little of each aspect of yoga day by day, you will find a great change occurring within your personality. Guaranteed.

 
  Question: have read that while meditating, only one single personal God, and that too, only one single form of the Lord should be meditated upon. But whenever I close my eyes, no single form of the Lord (Vishnu) stays for more than a few moments. The forms of the Lord keep changing. If I stick to a particular form, I feel as if I am 'neglecting' other forms. Then I stop whatever crude form of meditation or concentration I know. Kindly illuminate me on this.  
 

Answer: Any form of meditation is helpful in spiritual advancement. Sometimes, the same type of meditation is differently described by different schools of thought.

If one were to detach from one's mind and allow the mind to be devoid of all thoughts, then there would be an experience of expansion in consciousness. The Yogic method of meditation includes the mindfulness of Buddhism, and at the same time gives different methods for achieving the same. In general, different methods of meditation taught by different schools of thought are not contradictory. They may supplement and compliment each other. You should follow that which seems effective and helpful for you.

 
  Question: Many religions have similar "codes of conduct" (i.e. the ten commandments, the 42 negative confessions of the kemetic religion). Within these codes are a few that do not concur with the modern age/western "belief system," particularly dealing with the subject of sexuality. What's your opinion on this friction (if any) between Western society in regards to these "codes of conduct"; specifically in regard to the code of conduct -- Do not commit fornication?   
 

Answer: The Western system tends to create a standard of "code of conduct" which is supposed to be applicable to one and all. Vedanta philosophy sees the codes from a relative point of view. Using a simple illustration: Standard statement is -- "Smoking is bad." Applying this to a person who has been a chain smoker, and who has now reduced smoking to a minimum, the Vedantic view says -- "He is following the righteous path. He is doing wonderfully."

The same applies to truthfulness, violence, fornication, falsehood, etc. The Mahabharata gives an illustration: An ascetic speaks the truth about a person who had taken shelter from murderers who were after him. As a result he goes to hell. Another ascetic in a similar situation tells a lie to save the person, and he goes to heaven. Relativity of righteousness is important when studying applicability of ethical values. This is true with relation to one's own self as well as with relation to society. Degree of evolution, situation and circumstances -- all these are to be considered in determining the ethical value of a conduct.

 
  Question: If god is perfect and god is everywhere, how come we are not perfect and the world is full of sorrow? Where does this imperfection comes from if everything is Brahma?  
 

Answer: Experience of perfection and imperfection is related to the mind. When the mind is enlightened, one sees perfection; without enlightenment, one experiences imperfection.

As long as you dream, you are not identified with your normal self, therefore, you experience the limited conditions of your dream. When you wake up, you recover your normal identity and realize that dream did not exist as reality.

In the same way, as long as the mind is afflicted with the sleep of ignorance, you experience a world of time and space based on your karmas, but when you attain enlightenment, you are no longer identified with a conditioned mind; therefore, you experience the fullness or perfection of God.

There is no imperfection beyond the ego, mind and senses. As you continue to discover your mastery over the senses by the mind, mastery over the mind by the purified intellect, you become increasingly aware of the Divine Perfection that surges in this world like the Ocean!

 
  Question: How can I remove my defects?  
  Answer: Discover the positive qualities that are hidden in you through Yoga. Your defects are like darkness that cannot stay when the positive light is discovered within you.  
  Question: What should I do about restless thoughts?  
  Answer: The beginners on the path of Yoga should learn to remain a witness to the restless thoughts. When the mind has gained strength, you can will the destructive thoughts away from your mind or you can substitute constructive thoughts instead. You can substitute love for anger, humility for pride, patience for annoyance, generosity for greed and courage for fear.  
  Question: Why should pain follow the spiritual path?   
  Answer: Pain is an indispensable requisite for evolution. Suffering, sacrifice and struggle help to broaden the capacity of the human heart so that it may hold more and more of pure bliss. A heart that is not tempered by suffering, not deepened by pain, not purified by misery, cannot hold the pure overflowing eternal stream of wisdom.   
  Question: Although I have read a number of Yoga books, I am not certain of the difference between self-effort and destiny. And, how would Divine Grace intervene in spiritual unfoldment?  
 

Answer: Self-effort is any effort of man to realize his goal of life. Every effort and action creates an impression or potential which fashions the future of a man. Destiny is the result of one's past efforts. An aspirant should not be deluded by the idea of destiny. If destiny were the supreme ruler of human life, there would be no possibility of any teaching by any teacher in the world. But all great teachers of mankind have repeatedly called upon man to wake up from the slumber of inertia and to endeavor to attain perfection in life.

One who, in the name of destiny, does not try to improve his conditions for evolution, success and perfection, is deluded. There are some who do not perform any self-effort in the name of Divine Grace. This too, is delusion. There is a common saying that God helps whose who help themselves. Self-effort draws Divine Grace. Divine Grace completes self-effort. Therefore, self-effort and Grace are interdependent.

 
  Question: What is meant by Self-realization?   
  Answer: Self-realization is the intuitional knowledge of the Self. The Self is beyond body, mind and senses, beyond waking, dream and deep sleep states of consciousness, and is the reality beyond the conscious, subconscious and unconscious states of mind. The deepest urge in a human being is to know, "Who am I?" This knowledge does not arise by the senses or by the mind, but by intuition. When the mind is integrated by the practice of concentration and meditation, and by the practice of deep inquiry, there arises intuition which reveals the nature of the Self. The attainment of Self-realization bestows in us peace and bliss, and ends all misery. Self-realization is the goal of life; without it all achievements of man are mere vanities.  
  Question: What is the meaning in the Last Supper of Lord Jesus when he asks his disciples to eat the bread (his body) and drink the wine (his blood)?  
  Answer: Lord Jesus identifies himself with God; His body is Wisdom - His blood is spiritual Bliss. To receive bread and wine is to assimilate the Divine Spirit (Wisdom and Bliss) within one's consciousness.  
   
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