Microsoft Word - Taimni - The Science of Yoga.doc

only to consider the tremendous bias which it gives to our life. The tendency to accu-
mulate worldly goods is so strong that it may be considered almost a basic instinct in
human life. Of course, as long as we live in the physical world we have to have a few
things which are essential for the maintenance of the body, although essential and non-
essential are relative terms nd there seems to be no limit to the cutting down of even
what are considered the necessities of life. But we are not satisfied with the necessities
of life. We must have things which may be classed as luxuries. These are not necessary
for keeping body and soul together but are meant to increase our comforts and enjoy-
ments. We do not, however, stop even at luxuries. When we have at our disposal all
the means that can ensure all possible comforts and enjoyments for the rest of our life
we are still not satisfied and continue to amass wealth and things. One would think
that a palace should suffice for the real needs of a human being but one who has a pal-
ace is not satisfied and wants to build a few more. Of course, these extra things do not
serve any purpose except that of satisfying our childish vanity and desire to appear
superior to our fellow men. There is no limit to our desire for wealth and the material
things which we like to have around us and obviously, therefore, we are dealing here
with an instinct which has no relation with reason or commonsense.
Apart from the complications which this human instinct causes in the world
in the social and economic fields which we need not discuss here, its effect on the life
of the individual is of a nature which makes its elimination for the would-be Yogi an
absolute necessity. Let us consider a few of the factors which are involved. First, you
have to spend time and energy in the accumulation of things which you do not really
need. Then you have to spend time and energy in maintaining and guarding the things
which you have accumulated, the worries and anxieties of life increasing proportion-
ately with the increase in the accumulations. Then consider the constant fear of losing
the things, the pain and anguish of actually losing some of them every now and then
and the regret of leaving them behind when you ultimately bid goodbye to this world.
Now add up all these things and see what a colossal waste of time, energy and mental
force all this involves. No one who is at all serious about the solution of the deeper
problems of life can afford to squander his limited resources in this manner. So the
would-be Yogi cuts down his possessions and requirements to the minimum and elimi-
nates from his life all these unnecessary accumulations and activities which fritter
away his energies and are a source of constant disturbance to the mind. He remains