(^2626) YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • February 2018YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • February 2018
The earlier Sutra explained nine obstacles which come in our way of progress.
These nine obstacles or distractions lead to five other accompanying distractions -
pain, despair, trembling, fast inhalation and exhalation. This Sutra discusses these
five distractions.
Pain is a universal phenomenon which is manifested in the body in the form of
disease. Despair is the result of non-fulfilment of desires. A lack of body equilibrium
or steadiness is also common and leads to trembling of the body. The ordinary
process of breathing is closely associated with a distracted state of mind as well.
Unfortunately these are present all the time with us and are very difficult to
control. They seemingly appear physical and so our focus is only on such physical
‘symptoms’. But this approach is faulty. We fail to understand and appreciate that
these factors are in fact psychosomatic in nature, viz. they appear at the physical
level but are rooted at the mental level.
So the real solution lies in working at a deeper (mental) level. All these factors
need to be controlled as they don’t allow for steadiness of the mind. And yoga
is concerned with steadiness of the mind. Yoga techniques help to achieve this.
Pranayama I, for instance, is practiced to regulate and even out our breathing.
With religious practice and perseverance, such a steady state is achieved. Then
there are no disturbances and progress becomes possible.
Chapter 1.31
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Dukha Daurmanasya Angamejayatva Svasapravasah Viksepa
Sahabhuvah
he Yoga Sutras
T
Samar Chauhan
- A Perspective
of Patanjali