Yoga Darshan is one of the six streams of Vedic philosophies that developed in the ancient India. Yoga is a powerful means of introspection through which we explore our inner self deeply. Thus, it is a unique philosophy that has both hypothetical and practical aspects. Hence, it has more importance and relevance than the mere spiritual means.

In other words, we may say that Yoga has a unique confluence of wisdom, devotion, action as well as a means to attain salvation. Everyone accepts its utility. Not only in India, but also in the whole world, philosophers have used Patanajali Yoga to achieve physical as well as spiritual perfection. Yoga even today shows the way for the human society to get rid of sorrow, disputes, miseries etc. Yoga believes in the philosophy of benefit of all and comforts for all. It is far above the boundaries of region, time, caste, creed, poverty, richness, lower and upper etc.

In the modern age, human society has totally neglected spirituality. A human being today thinks that only the physical achievements are all that our society requires. At the same time he is also afflicted by physical and mental disturbances. Attainment of peace is a far cry for him. Stability of mind is what is known as comfort. Physical comforts provide momentary stability to mind; and we mistake it with the real comfort. But in fact it is not comfort; it is only a short-lived feeling of comfort, a mirage. When mind attains contemplation for a bit longer period of time; it experiences a strange kind of divine joy. It experiences the existence of soul in the ephemeral body. This is the ultimate truth that mind cannot concentrate anywhere other than the soul. Soul is the ultimate recluse of mind. Therefore, all those who wish to have joy have to take shelter in Yoga.

It is unfortunate to see that now a days that Yoga is being used in a very narrow range of meaning. More than often, its use is seen in totally contradictory context. More and more people are taking Yoga as a means to remain healthy and enjoy carnal pleasures. Thus, their ultimate objective is to attain physical pleasure and not the spiritual upliftment.

It is the greatest irony for the Indian Yoga is that in the hands of western trainers, it has assumed a title of 'Yogaa' and thus has lost sight of its original meaning, purpose, and results. Most of the people believe that Yoga is a set of certain physical postures and exercises that help attain healthy and sound body. This is a misconception. In fact, Yoga is an infallible way to get rid of all the earthly hurdles.

Yoga is principally famous for refraining the otherwise unstable impulses of the mind. Thus, Yoga is powerful means to practice reconciliation. Contemplation of mind is the supreme state of Yoga.

PAROHI YOGOMANSAH SAMADHIH |
YOGASHCHIT VRITI NIRODHAH

Yogasutra of Patanjali says that although it is highly difficult to control the mind that drifts like air, still with continuous practice and taking refuge at indifference, it becomes possible. Practice is the thing that trains the mind to concentrate. Thus, practicing for a long time faithfully, the unstable mind can be trained to concentrate. Indifference is the thing that refrains the practitioner to be drawn by physical as well as heavenly comforts. As long as the mind is inclined towards comforts, a person is unable to pay his attention to religious preaching and practice of Yoga. Hence, apparently, faithful practice of Yoga and indifference to physical comforts, both are necessary and important for a person. But unfortunately, these two things seem to be absent from the so-called Yoga centers of today and the miseries of the people are increasing instead of decreasing.

Unshakable faith is the first and foremost thing for the practice of Yoga. Without faith, even practice of Yoga leads to nowhere. In the words of Patanjali, four feelings- friendship, mercy, happiness and negligence are also necessary for the practitioner of Yoga. He should be friendly with his fellow practitioner. He should be merciful for creatures inflicted with sorrow. He should be happy with well to do people and negligent to those who are envious to him. With these feelings, a Yogi feels light-hearted and peaceful. A Yogi must not give up the practice of Yoga even after achieving perfection. Yogasutra says -

STHAANYUPNIMANTRANE SANGASYAAKARANAMPUNARNISHTAPRASANGAAT|

Meaning - After achieving certain perfection, a Yogi must not be lured by comforts nor should he allow slightest ego to enter his mind. Such tendencies drag a Yogi into mundane cycles again. For such a Yogi, hell is the only refuge ultimately. Hence, a Yogi must keep himself engaged in the practice of Yoga until he achieves reconciliation. This is the ultimate goal for a Yogi.

Yoga is an art of introspection. Through the practice of Yoga, a Yogi can separately and distinctly experience Prakriti and Purush, the two highly creative forces. The ephemeral body of Yogi, which is composed of by five major elements, has one and only one purpose that through it, a Yogi recognizes the holy existence of supreme spirit within his body. But the modern concept of Yogaa has only one target:

"How to enjoy the earthly comforts through a healthy body?"