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PERFECTIONS OF YOGA
A practitioner of Yoga spontaneously acquires certain perfections. Though these perfections are more like hurdles in the way to salvation, nor are they the goal of the practitioner, yet he acquires them spontaneously. Moreover, perfections have more prestige in the society. Lord Himself is a treasure of all the perfections; hence He is worshipped by all. But, a practitioner of Yoga must see that no ego or superiority complex should ever enter his mind. He should not use his perfections to show miraculous tricks. Such practices cause deviation of the practitioner from the path to reconciliation and salvation. He, if ever, should use his perfections for the benefit of humanity only and for no other purpose. It would be better however for a practitioner to keep his perfections secret.
Perfection is nothing but extraordinary changes in the body, sense organs and conscience of the practitioner. Perfection has different kinds as per its origin. Perfection present from the birth is congenital perfection.
As for example, flying in the air is congenital perfection of the birds. Some perfections arise due to the effect of previous births. Specific use of certain medicinal compounds can also give rise to perfection. Mantras also have power to give rise to perfection. Penance and postures are other means to acquire perfection in reconciliation state.
HURDLES IN THE PATH OF YOGA
In reconciliation state, many kinds of hurdles forcibly arise in the mind of the practitioner. It is advisable that, the practitioner should ignore and slowly abandon these hurdles. Maharshi Patanjali has recognised nine hurdles. These are- diseases, inability of mind, doubt, procrastination, laziness, over-indulgence in comforts, confusion, non-attainment of reconciliation and amazement.
- DISEASE :
Presence of even slightest form of diseases puts great hurdles in the path of Yoga. Most of the diseases arise due to imbalance between cough, bile and wind in the body. When a disease is present in the body, the body puts its whole strength fighting against the disease. Mind also assists the body in combating the disease and hence cannot be inclined towards Yoga.
- INABILITY OF MIND :
Despite having a desire of training Yoga, a practitioner finds himself unable to concentrate on the practice of Yoga. It is because of inability of the practitioner's mind that thinks more about the adversities than concentrating on Yoga.
- DOUBT :
Disbelief in the competence of a discipline is doubt. A doubt in the whole discipline of Yoga keeps a practitioner away from its practice.
- PROCRASTINATION :
Not making efforts to practice Yoga or putting it off to take it up on some fine day or at some fine moment keeps the practitioner from starting the practice of Yoga.
- LAZINESS :
An imbalance in the three major elements- Vaata (wind), Pitha (bile) and Kapha (cough) results in lethargy. Lethargy in turn disinclines the practitioner from the practice of Yoga.
- OVER-INDULGENCE IN COMFORTS :
If someone tries to practice Yoga surrounded by scores of comforts, he is prone to be drawn by them. Such a temptation for comforts has always been a main hurdle in the path of Yoga. It prevents the conscience of the practitioner from introspecting. Even if, with great efforts, he manages to achieve some retrospection, comforts stimulate him and make him seek for comforts. Even perfection achieved through Yoga is not totally immune from the attraction of comforts. Hence, as far as possible, a practitioner of Yoga must not even imagine about the comforts.
- CONFUSION :
Sometimes, a practitioner comes to believe in some kind of prejudiced thought and is not ready to change it even when he faces the truth. Such a kind of belief always tends to disincline the practitioner from the path of Yoga. Yoga therefore demands unconditional faith in its philosophy before someone begins to practice it.
- NON-ATTAINMENT OF RECONCILIATION :
More than often, despite continuous practice, a practitioner fails to attain reconciliation. Such failure causes dissatisfaction in the mind of the practitioner. And a dissatisfied practitioner can never be able to introspect.
- AMAZEMENT :
Occasionally, a practitioner finds himself amazing on the attainment of perfection through continuous practice of Yoga. Such a condition also leads to an unstable mind of the practitioner. Such a practitioner is not able to concentrate further on his efforts to practice Yoga and achieve more perfection.
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