YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED: F.A.Q. 14

Who is a Yogi? QUESTION: What is the correct definition of a Yogi? ANSWER: The Sanskrit word "Yoga" means "Unity with the Supreme Being". A Yogi, therefore, is one who either has attained, or is striving to attain, the state of Unity with the Supreme. However, in order for a course of action to lead to the desired result, it must be based on certain facts. In practice, therefore, in his quest for Unity with the Supreme, a Yogi must embrace, and act on, the following Spiritual facts: 1. There is One Supreme Being (Shiva or God) Whose Essence is Pure Goodness. Explanation: Yoga believes in a Supreme God Who is called Shiva (Good, Auspicious, Beneficent) because He embodies everything that is Good (Shivam): Truth, Beauty, Goodness, Love, Justice and Compassion. 2. Though being Eternally One, the Supreme Being manifests Himself in many ways. Explanation: Life has many different aspects or facets, like a crystal that reflects light in many different colours. Similarly, Shiva Who is the Lord of Life, manifests Himself in many different ways. The whole Universe, from the Gods down to a blade of grass, is a manifestation of God's Supreme Majesty and Glory. 3. All things are created by the Supreme Being out of Himself and to Him they ultimately return. Explanation: As the World is a Manifestation of God's Glory, it cannot be made out of nothing. Nor can it be made from a substance other than God. For, firstly, there is no reality apart from God and, secondly, even if such reality existed, it couldn't match the Glory of God. The World therefore is made of God's Own Luminous Essence in the same way as the day is made of the Sun's own radiance. Furthermore, because God is the Ground of all things, all things come into being in, and return to, the All-supporting and All-encompassing Ground, just as stars appear and disappear in the same Sky. 4. All things have an Inner Soul who is essentially identical with the Supreme. Explanation: Because all created things are a Manifestation of God's Own Glory, they all carry a spark of Divine Light within themselves. This spark is called Soul (Atma) who is the True Man as opposed to mind, body and physical possessions. 5. The Universe is governed by the Creator through His Supreme Eternal Law (Sanatana Dharma). Explanation: Everybody can see that there is a certain Order in the World. What not everybody can see, however, is that this World Order is upheld by certain principles or laws which philosophers, religious authorities and scientists have been studying for millennia. In Yoga, the sum total of universal principles or laws whereby everything is held together and governed by the Supreme Being, is called the Supreme Eternal Law. 6. Salvation, Freedom from Suffering and True Happiness are attained by adhering to Divine Law (Dharma). Explanation: In the same way as the Universe is held together and kept in order by the Eternal Law of the Universe so also, man's life can become a source of happiness and fulfilment by following the same Law. Disregarding this Law, on the other hand, leads to pain and suffering. 7. Supreme Salvation is attained when a Soul becomes God-like (Shiva-sama) and experiences Unity with the Supreme. Explanation: Human beings suffer due to the fact that they perceive themselves as different and separate from God. This erroneous perception causes them to act in ways that are contrary to Divine Law, thus reinforcing this experience of division and the resultant feelings of isolation, confusion, fear, etc. All this suffering comes to an end the moment man realises that he is made of the same essence as God and begins to act like a Divine Being. It is essential to understand at this point that there are various degrees of Salvation, Enlightenment, or Freedom from Suffering. In general, Yoga recognises five such stages known as: Salokya, Sannidya, Sarupya, Sayujya and Sarshti. In the first type of Salvation (Salokya-Moksha), the Soul takes up residence in Heaven, in the presence of God. This stage is described in the Quran, the Holy Book of Islam, where it is said that those who go to Heaven enjoy themselves in the presence of a great King (presumably God). It is the reward of those who led a righteous life while on Earth. In the second stage (Sannidya-Moksha), the Soul draws nearer to God and lives close to Him. It is enjoyed by Souls who lived their lives in close Unity with God, without experiencing Identity with Him, such as Prophets and Saints. This is described in the Christian Bible where it is said that Jesus sits at the right hand of God. In the third stage (Sarupya-Moksha), the Souls who realise their Divine Nature, acquire the form of Divine Beings such as Angels or Gods. This stage is described in the Scriptures of Ancient Egypt. In the fourth stage (Sayujya-Moksha), the Souls merge into the Supreme Being, as described in the Holy Scriptures of Hinduism. In the final and highest stage (Sarshti-Moksha), the Soul having become One with God, enjoys the same Divine Powers as God Himself. This is the stage described by the Holy Scriptures of Yoga. Thus the Souls who through a righteous life have gained entrance to Heaven, must turn to higher forms of Spirituality in order to attain the Highest, Eternal Salvation of Shiva (Shiva-Nirvana). Those who adhere to lower forms of religion either are denied entrance to Heaven or, having entered, may still fall to lower planes of existence. This is only natural if we consider that so long as a feeling of difference and separation from God persists, it will provide a gate of entrance for further divisive thoughts and actions, which will eventually bring about the Soul's fall. For this reason, it is written that, "Having had enjoyment in Heaven, they re-enter this World or a lower" (Mundaka Upanishad). 8. The means of attaining Supreme Salvation are Spiritual Practice and the Grace of God. Explanation: Spiritual Practice is the means whereby man allows the Light of God to enter his life that he may see the right path and know the right actions from the wrong ones. However, developing an interest in Spiritual Practice, as well as persevering and attaining success in the same, ultimately depend upon the Grace of God. 9. The journey to Unity with the Supreme requires many lifetimes to complete. Explanation: It is a matter of commonsense experience that an imperfect being like man, cannot become perfect in just one lifetime. In order to become Perfect and fit for life in the Presence of God, man must undergo a long process of life and rebirth. In consequence, the teachings of other faiths, to the effect that adherence to them results in automatic and permanent entrance to Heaven, are wrong. They must be rejected as dangerous and harmful to the Soul's Spiritual welfare. 10. The Practice of Yoga can shorten this Spiritual Journey to just one lifetime. Explanation: The conscious and deliberate effort of a person to become perfect can bring about Perfection (or Godhood, Shivatva) in a much shorter time than in the natural course of ordinary life. This conscious and deliberate, Spiritual effort, is called Yoga (Union) because it brings about Unity and Identity with the Supreme. 11. All living beings are responsible for their own actions and are capable of experiencing pleasure or pain as a result of such actions. Explanation: All religions admit that every man is accountable for his own actions. In Yoga, this accountability is called Karma. Karma is both the action (karma) performed by a person and its effect or reward (karma-phala). Generally speaking, Karma may be said to be of two kinds: good or white (shukla) and bad or black (krishna). Actions done in accordance with Universal Law constitute Good Karma and result in happiness. Actions done in breach of Universal Law constitute Bad Karma and result in suffering. Although man is responsible for his own actions, it is God Who ultimately determines the reward or punishment for all human agency. He also arranges suitable bodies and circumstances necessary for the enjoyment or suffering warranted by human actions. Karma may also be individual or collective. When different people belonging to a unity such as family, religious community or nation experience similar circumstances at the same time, this is an example of collective Karma, even though the actions that attracted or brought about those circumstances may individually differ. Karma may also result through association in thought, word and deed. Thus association with righteous people may result in good or white Karma (shukla karma) whereas association with anti-Spiritual elements may result in bad or black Karma (krishna karma). 12. God shows Mankind the Path to Happiness and Freedom from Pain through Direct Revelation, Sacred Scriptures and the Teachings of Living Gurus. Explanation: God is Truth (Satyam). He is the Eternal Light of Reality. Therefore, as the Sun always shines upon the World, God perpetually shines in all His Glory upon His Creation. Due to variations in the Souls' capacity of perception, the Light of God is perceived differently by different people. While some have a clear perception of Truth, others have to content themselves with a dim, hazy, blurred or obscured vision of the same. While some are granted a direct perception of Truth, others have to rely on secondary sources such as Scriptures and the teachings of Spiritual Leaders. What is important, however, is that the World is never without Divine Guidance. While God fulfils His Duty of Supreme Spiritual Teacher and Guide, man must also make an effort to find a reliable source of Truth according to his abilities. A person who embraces, understands and correctly follows these twelve principles, qualifies as a Yogi. For more information see How to become a Yogi.   <<  Yoga Council Home   ||    Questions & Answers >>