Yoga

What is actually meant by Yoga?

"Yoga" means "union." This union is between man and God. Yoga tells us how far we have progressed in relation to God-realization. It also tells us about our destined role in God's Cosmic Drama. The final word of Yoga is that each human soul is a divine representative of God on earth.

Now let us focus our attention on the practical aspect of Yoga. There are various kinds of Yoga. Karma Yoga, the path of action; Bhakti Yoga, the path of love and devotion; and Jnana Yoga, the path of knowledge. These three serve as the three main gates to God's palace. If we want to see and feel God in the sweetest and the most intimate way, then we have to practice Bhakti Yoga. If we want to realize God in humanity through our selfless service, then we have to practice Karma Yoga. If we want to realize wisdom and the glories of God's transcendental Self, then we have to practice Jnana Yoga.

Can anybody practice Yoga?

Yes, anybody can practice Yoga and it can be practiced irrespective of age. But we must understand what Yoga really involves. Unfortunately, there are many people who think that Yoga means physical postures and breathing exercises. This is a deplorable mistake. These postures and exercises are preliminary and preparatory states, leading towards concentration and meditation, which alone can take us to a deeper, higher and fuller life.

Yoga is not something unnatural, abnormal or unearthly. It is something practical, natural and spontaneous. Right now, we do not know where God is and what God looks like. But by practicing Yoga, we see Him first hand. As in the material world we achieve success in our chosen activity by constant practice, so also in the spiritual world, by practicing Yoga, we achieve the Goal of goals - God-realization.

Can Yoga help us in our everyday life?

Certainly. Yoga helps us in our everyday life. As a matter of fact, it is Yoga that can serve as the supreme help in our daily lives. Our human life is full of doubt, fear and frustration. Yoga helps us to replace fear with indomitable courage, doubt with absolute certainty and frustration with golden achievements.