The Yoga of Patanjali

56 Lessons on The Yoga of PatanjaliIn the Yogic discipline if you propose to do some­thingphysically, do not do it mentally. A proposal for a split-secondis enough on the mental plane. Thinking is not needed since itis a physical process. Desiring what is seen and what is heardshould disappear. What is heard by us is much, too much. Wehave studied many books, attended many lectures. All this iswhat is heard by us. If you have something to do from it, do it.Do not begin to think and make a sequence of thoughts aboutwhat you have heard. You can read all the books in the world,including the scriptures. While doing so whenever you feel likedoing something, you do it. Otherwise, do not think of it. Thatis what Patanjali advises us by the word Abhyasa, which hedefines as Japa and Arthabhavana. ‘Artha’ means purpose.‘Bhavana’ means proposing the thought. You are expected topropose a thought for a purpose but not for the process ofthinking. If you have something to do, it lives with you forever,and the remaining part should escape without producing thoughts.Suppose you read from the Gospel, “Love thy neighbour asthyself”. There is no use of repeating the sentence in your mind.If you can love your neighbour, do it, otherwise forget everythingabout the sentence. That is what Patanjali means when he speaksof Artha-bhavana. When you are not ready to love thy neighbourthe sentence develops into a big philosophy and waits to causehypertension. Let it be a book of science, art, law, let it be thevaluable advise of a friend, let it be even the very text book ofPatanjali’s Aphorisms, if you mean doing something you do it,otherwise forget about it.A few more words about detachment. Bhagavadgita warnsus that detachment is not the process of making the mind andsenses starve. I will give you an example. Suppose some finemorning there is a Swamiji here by name Dr. Krishnamacharyawho invites you to take a course of Yoga discipline. If he asksyou to come to attend very early in the morning. You ask, “Can