Yogic Acceleration
What & How
Scope
Popular
Many who seek to benefit from the physical postures of “gym” Yoga know that its practice requires a deep level of mindfulness, on the mat and off the mat.
That requirement of mindfulness indicates what actually Yoga is about.
Actual
Many may not know that these mindfulness techniques are based on the deeply empirical Mind Science of Yoga, which details the architecture of the Human Mind and prescriptions for how to cure it of all disease - both body & mind.
Dis-ease, in the sense that we are "not at ease" if the Mind and Body, and in particular the nervous system, are out of balance.
The Avatār of Yoga
Becoming a Yogi is such a vast undertaking, it's sometimes hard to know where even to start, but no matter where we start, eventually, the mystery of Yoga reveals itself, and shifts the psyche of a group of committed individuals to Avatār proportions.
Having said that, Yoga let's us start with even the tiniest of scopes.
Establishing the Mindset
We are presenting Yoga here in a manner that avoids making it formulaic, for in a system that cultivates a spontaneous arousal of Natural Intelligence, there are only formulas for failure. Our model is to mentally acknowledge the Avatār of Yoga as a conscious Being we wish to instill in our Mindscape.
We thus deify Yoga so that it gets a suitable inner terrain in which to come to Life, and then it becomes a symbiotic relationship between us and the Avatār.
If we don’t honor it then it’s not as though it’s going to turn around on us like some spurned creature - it merely slips away to a different host which will give it the Prāna to be properly nourished.
The Inner Guru
The ocean of Yoga is so vast a Guru is traditionally recommended, but in true Yoga fashion it is also possible to hack this on our own and become our own Guru.
Repeat: go deeper into learning, deeper into the Self, and share more.
First, Learn the basics - find a teacher, go to regular class, narrow down a class that fits.
Second, Personalize the practice - a regular home routine, not in a group.
Third, Share - show/teach friends/students cool stuff that has actually worked. Be a role model to a committed froup, for some aspect of a yogic life.
Many would protest that a student should first find a Guru and then follow their path/lineage etc., so as to not get confused.
Do first get a teacher though, but a Guru is different.
A Guru-only route belies our native intelligence to figure out what exactly works for us, and consequently, we could end up getting pigeon-holed into a particular brand of Yoga, getting enslaved to the limitations of Thought.
We caution that this is not the easy path, but surely the most rewarding, for we are attempting the ultimate self-induced evolution with Rishi Sapiens.
Indeed, each of us capable of finding our own internal Guru.
The Practice
When we approach Yoga with intelligence fully turned on, the only type of Yoga that is being practiced is a highly personalized, customized version suited exactly for the Self.
Our own personal Yoga is the only “brand of Yoga” that makes sense - after all this is all about Self-realization!
Belief/Bhakti means to "be-in-love". Don't do Yoga blindly. When the Avatār of Yoga is fully operational within, notice how everything starts to work in life, and there is an automagical rising in love with the Self, with life, with the practice, with whatever god is working for you.
Blindly falling in love, is the trap of religion.
The Self
Remember, the Self is an essential mental construct, but essentially it is but a mental construct for us to consolidate our subjective experiences, like a coat hanger or a closet in which to start the scaffolding of the mind.
We can pick any of these models and work with its particular mental paradigm, as we progress from the most comfortable to the most stark approach, depending on our mental fortitude for the path of Yoga.
Dvaita two-in-Closeness
Vishishta Advaita all-in-Oneness
Advaita only-Oneness
Buddhist no-Thingness
The Prescription
Yoga has a very "simple" (but not simplistic) prescription, which is to:
first still the Body, after an intense physical practice as part of Hatha Yoga, and
then to still the Mind in meditation as part of Rāja Yoga.
This stillness practice is challenging, for when we:
sit still we discover various places in the Body that suddenly itch or become numb, and
when we try to still the Mind it uncovers endless reasons to keep it chattering on inconsequential stuff.
As a precursor to mastering these challenges we can cultivate an ongoing mindfulness practice, to slow down & observe everyday reactive patterns in our interactions with others and everything we come in touch with, including food, media, etc.
Techniques
Yoga-Mind
Coevolution Mantra - an invocation
Yoga-Body
Cold exposure therapy - if you are in a cold climate, try this and never fall sick again.