Author: Janne Kontala, PhD (Jayananda das)
Introduction to Yoga Philosophy online course at Bhaktivedanta College
Yoga helps us to use our freedom in the best
Yoga helps us to use our freedom in the best way so that our freedom can grow. Freedom to choose is there, but it should not be misunderstood. Yoga does not advocate unlimited freedom; we are constrained in our choices by our karma and destiny, which we have created by our past choices. We can exercise our will to choose in the present context, and depending on the choices we make now, we can increase or decrease our future freedom. Yoga is meant to totally set us free from the bondage of material nature.
Exercise our freedom guided by the teachings of yoga
For a yogi, this is essentially the same as becoming free from the bondage of the mind. But we need to exercise our freedom guided by the teachings of yoga and experienced practitioners. That will save us a lot of time, compared to if we were to reinvent the wheel through trial and error. But if we choose otherwise, and let our mind run its course rather than following the teachings of yoga, then our consciousness will be molded and affected by things external to itself.
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The self can rejoice in its own nature, fully satisfied
In advanced meditational practice, it will at one point be useful to psychologically contemplate the self as a passive witness, as opposed to being an active participant in worldly events. That will help the yogi detach from the last attachments that bind the pure consciousness to the mind’s activities. In that last step, the yogi moves from the state of contemplating one object to an objectless state of samadhi. Even this last step, however, involves a conscious choice made by the self, but paradoxically, it is easier to take that step by thinking oneself a passive observer, as opposed to an active meditator. After that final step has been taken, the self can rejoice in its own nature, fully satisfied and feeling no lack of any kind.
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