Yogashastra

tasmad yogirbhavaarjunaa|

   Yoga is the contemplative state of mind. Manava jiva has evolved from the state of annam, prana and manas. Mind or manas rules the life of man. man is aproduct of mind and moods, prompted by desire. Thus, mind is full of desires, thoughts, ideas, dreams and gets excited. it is chanchala chitta and vikshipta manah that rule the daily life. life is full of anxiety, tension and often loses track, sense of judgment, discrimination and gets confused. So through Arjuna, the Blessed Lord advises us to take to yoga and teaches us simple means of attaining equanimity, sthitaprajnya state. 

   The Bhagavad-Gita as yogashastra aims at unifying ('yuj') the body, mind, and the soul.  yoga is defined as state of equilibrium, samatvam.  samatvam yogamuchyate |[2.48].  Yoga is also a satte of mind where there is discrimination. Mind set on the Self is yoga. Yoga arises from discrimination, right judgment about things to be followed (shastra sammata) and those to be avoided (nishiddha) arising out of right knowledge, samyak jnyan. This discrimination will not come easily unless there is a guide. There are simple methods of practicing yoga in Chapter 6. there are details about the nature of the Mind (manas) and methods of control of mind. It is explicitly stated here that it is very important to control the mind. The Mind is the storehouse of energy, power, and this power and force have to be channelized. a healthy mind only can keep the body healthy. Since mind and the body are intricately entwined it is essential to regulate the mind to regulate the health of the body. The health and smooth functioning of the body depends on smooth blood flow, proper blood pressure that are closely linked to smooth normal breathing! However, the tense mind, emotional and unstable mind creates clouded thinking, confusion leading to wrong decisions. Hence, Bhagavan advises to regulate the mind and get established in a state of equanimity.

    The state of equanimity attained through yoga will take the troubled jiva to the shore of samsara sagara like the boat caught in a whirl wind in a rough sea brought safely to shore! The relevant verses of yoga are many and scattered in the Gita and will take more space here. Hence the readers are advised to take to study of the Gita and get a deeper understanding with the help of an attained soul. However, it suffices to state here the need for yoga at a very early stage in life.

 One should make a determined effort to sit in a secluded place at least for 40 minutes twice a day regularly and observe breathing. One need not even bother to regulate it since the supreme Lord only breathes in us! Any effort to regulate the mind and breathing will not be successful in the beginning. The methods of asana (sitting postures) and pranayama (control of breathing) come only after a successful practice of the four preliminary exercises such as yama, niyama, pratyahara and Ishvara pranidana. One should not jump to the fifth without passing the test of the first four principles. Ultimately, one should reach the state of samadhi. Samadhi is sama dheeh meaning equanimity. This state is the ultimate in yoga. It is the state of a jnyani, a yogi, Therefore one must strive to become a yogi.