40 Light on Yogame. Thy will be done.' Others pray to have their own desires gratified
or accomplished. In bhakti or true love there is no place for 'I' and
'mine'. When the feeling of 'I' and 'mine' disappears, the individual
soul has reached full growth.
When the mind has been emptied of desires of personal gratifica
tion, it should be filled with thoughts of the Lord. In a mind filled
with thoughts of personal gratification, there is danger of the senses
dragging the mind after the objects of desire. Attempts to practise
bhakti without emptying the mind of desires is like building a fire
with wet fuel. It makes a lot of smoke and brings tears to the eyes of
the person who builds it and of those around him. A mind with desires
does not ignite and glow, nor does it generate light and warmth when
touched with ti�e fire of knowledge.
The name of the Lord is like the Sun, dispelling all darkness. The
moon is full when it faces the sun. The individual soul experiences
fullness (piir�ata) when it faces the Lord. If the shadow of the earth
comes between the full moon and the sun there is an eclipse. If the
feeling of 'I' and 'mine' casts its shadow upon the experience of full
ness, all efforts of the sadhaka to gain peace are futile.
Actions mirror a man's personality better than his words. The yogi
has learnt the art of dedicating all his actions to the Lord and so
they reflect the divinity within him.
A sana
The third limb of yoga is asana or posture. Asana brings steadiness,
health and lightness of limb. A steady and pleasant po�ture produces
mental equilibrium and prevents fickleness of mind. Asanas are not
merely gymnastic exercises; they are postures. To perform them one
needs a clean airy place, a blanket and determination, while for other
systems of physical training one needs large playing fields and costly
equipment. Asanas can be done alone, as the limbs of the body pro
vide the necessary weights and counter-weights. By practising them
on� develops agility, balance, endurance and great vitality.
Asanas have been evolved over the centuries so as to exercise every
muscle, nerve and gland in the body. They secure a fine physique,
which is strong and elastic without being muscle-bound and they keep
the body free from disease. They reduce fatigue and soothe the nerves.
But their real importance lies in the way they train and discipline the
mind.
Many actors, acrobats, athletes, dancers, musicians and sports
men also possess superb physiques and have great control over the
body, but they lack control over the mind, the intellect and the Self.
Hence they are in disharmony with themselves and one rarely comes