Ishvara Pranidhana : Keep God in Mind

Surrender to God means making god your top priority. Most people surrender their minds to their jobs or their relationships or their TV set. Patanjali says focus on inner truth. And

Antidoes to Bad Behaviour

Patanjali was quite aware that listing a code of ethical conduct and getting people to actually follow it are two different undertakings. So he offered some practical advice on how to turn your personality around if it wasn't already heading in the right direction

In Hinduism, it's not enough that you don't harm anyone else if in your heart you'd still really like to smack them. Thoughts are things, and negative thoughts may hurt the person you hate if they're strong enough. And they certainly hurt you! The increased pressure, churning stomach, and grinding can't be doing you any good.

Patanjali advises that when you're in the throes of a destructive emotional complex or feel trapped by a bad habit, you "cultivate the opposite". If you hate your brother-in law's guts, sit down for set a time every day and focus intently on sending him your good wishes. If his personality aggravates you so much you can't visualize his face without starting to froth at the mouth, then beam your best wishes to his inner-most soul, which is free from the personality characteristics that irritate you so much.

Patanjali suggests that rather than wrestling with a bad habit that undermines your spiritual progress, work on developing a good habit. One that counterbalances the unhealthy one. For example, if you're having trouble cutting back your unrestrained indulgence in oily carries and Indian sweets, then go out and get some exercise every day.

Ishvara Pranidhana : Keep God in Mind

Surrender to God means making God your top priority. Most people surrender their minds to their jobs or their relationships or their TV set. Patanjali says focus on inner truth. And don't worry so much. Do your level best, then surrender to God's will and let things flow. The universe is going to flow its own way anyway, no matter how much you resist! 

Self Study : Svadhyaya

Svadhyaya means study that leads to self realization. Patanjali is encouraging Hindus to study the sacred scriptures. They should study the wisdom the sages embedded in the great myths of Hinduism. And no doubt also study classic works like Patanjali's own yoga Sutras. These books generate enthusiasm for spiritual practice and help dispel doubts.

But svadhyaya has a second meaning. Ultimately self-study is more important than scriptural study. One can read holy books for lifetimes without getting enlightened Ramana Maharshi lay down on the floor and studied himself for just a couple of minutes and achieved enlightenment. It's in the direct living experience of divine being that moksha, the fourth and final goal of life, is achieved. It can only come from divine within one's own self to make the actual connection with divine being. Then the circuit is closed, and the electricity of inner illumination starts to flow. 

Discipline yourself : Tapas

Tapas actually means heat but is used in the Hindu tradition to signify the red-hot focus of concentrated attention. The Veda says God created the universe through tapas trough the force of concentrated will. Hindus practice focusing the will through self-discipline and austerity. A well-disciplined body and mind, like a lovingly cared for yet carefully trained horse, can carry us to the goal. 

Give up the Greed : Aparigraha

Patanjali took a dim view of greedy, possessive people. In Hinduism the emphasis has always been on acquiring things of lasting value. In a religion that believes in reincarnation , this means collecting things you can take with you. Everything you own is lost at death. What you can carry with you into the next life is generosity of spirit, devotion to God and Goddess, fearlessness, and all the good karma you've acquired through your loving and selfless acts. Greedy behaviour can't benefit you for more than one lifetime. Generosity benefits you forever. 

Constant Craving : Santosha

" Be content. But not satisfied!" the late Swami Rama Bharati used to tell me. He was reiterating the old truism that the wealthiest person is the one who's content with what he or she has. Constant craving for more things, more success, more sex, and more premium grade ice cream transports us out of the present into a continual uneasy relationship with a fantasy future in which we hope things will be better. But God-in the form of the deepest states of consciousness-can be experienced only in the present moment. When the mind stops being distracted by what it hasn't got, it can start attending to what it does have-living presence of divine being within itself.

Yet complacency is also a spiritual pitfall. So the swami warned against feeling smug or self-satisfied, feeling that you'd gotten as far spiritually as you need to go until you've actually reached the final goal. Enlightenment is an attainable goal to those who sincerely strive and connect with divine grace, according to Hinduism.

"You can do it! You will do it! Do it now!" Swami Rama would shout.