The Importance of Real Yoga

- Leo Gura, Actualized.org

"The restraint of the modification of mind-stuff is Yoga." - Patanjali

The advice from this episode is going to transform your life if you
listen to it and apply it.

What is real Yoga?

When we hear the word yoga we think of Hatha Yoga. The yoga we
see in gym. Has little to do with real Yoga.

Here those Schools of Yoga are being talked about that are not
intended for physical exercise but for meditation and Union.
Union = non-duality; union of subject and object.
Real purpose of Yoga is Enlightenment, awakening, liberation,
Moksha.

If your Yoga is not collapsing the boundaries of reality for you, it is

not real Yoga.

What about self-inquiry, meditation?

Yoga is a technical subject.

Yoga is a really powerful tool.

If you have been practicing self-inquiry and various forms of
meditation and you are not making much progress, yoga will help
you.
It's more powerful than zen, self-inquiry, do nothing meditation.
Because it brings your physical body into equation.

Yoga is a more holistic method. Not just focusing on the head but
the whole body.

Purpose of Real Yoga; to still your mind to profound levels. Not just
to relax. But to still it so that you are conscious of Absolute and
merge into it.
To clear your seven chakras. To purify energy channels in your body.
A lot of stuff that holds you back from awakening is because you
have physical and emotional blockages in your body. All your bad
habits, emotional reactions; everything that constitutes your ego...
just self-inquiry may not be able to help you let go of that.
Channeling Kundalini energy from bottom to top chakra leading to
full awakening.
Emotions reside in the body not just mind. Becoming more
conscious of your body is thus important.

Yoga can unlock various powers called Siddhis; powers like

teleporting etc.

If the western yoga is helping you feel better, get more energy, keep
doing it if you want.
People do the western version of yoga for stretching, improving
flexibility, sense of community, instead of cardio.

Primary focus of Real Yoga is not health or energy but metaphysical

understanding, awakening.

Various schools of Yoga

Ashtanga yoga, Raja yoga. Point to same kind of yoga.
Gyan yoga; very similar to self-inquiry.
Bhakti yoga; devoting yourself to a deity; a really serious kind of
devotion; complete surrender until you fuse into the Deity; merge
into the 'Real World.'
Karma yoga; yoga through action. Committing yourself so fully to
your life purpose; that your surrender yourself in the service of
others; quite difficult, rare and indirect.
Kundalini yoga.
Kriya yoga.
Tantra; series of elaborate visualisation exercise; not the western
bastardisation related with sex.

Why is Yoga superior to Self-inquiry, meditation?

It clears the chakras; self-inquiry and meditation don't touch on this.
It's more holistic. More healing on physical and energetic level.
It's more potent. Requires much less time.
It teaches you proper breathing. Don't underestimate how powerful
breath can be. Your physical energy and vitality comes from breath.
The way your mind acts is very much affected by how you breath.
When your breath is deep, diaphragmatic and slow, it helps still your
mind.
It can help you develop Siddhis; paranormal abilities.
Doesn't lead to intellectualization like self-inquiry does.
Westernised version of how to do real yoga.
No need to subscribe to any Guru.
Go for Kriya yoga. Yoga of Yogananda.
But the Self-Realisaiton Fellowship is quite corrupt and watered
down.
There's a way to learn Kriya yoga; not the watered down version,
without being part of any organisation.
Intended to be done solo.
Teachings of Lahiri; directly from him.
A book that describes all his techniques clearly, perfectly, in detail.
You can follow this book and do these techniques. You can get
worksheet and exercise plan.

It's there in the book list. Good reason to purchase the book list. (I
already have it, yaay!)

Purchase the book.

Make a 100% commitment to mastering this yoga.
Commit to practicing it every single day.
Only 30-60 minutes a day.
For at least one year.

You can expect;

Significant quietening of mind.
Deeper breathing.
More consciousness of your spine;
Spine is very important. Like your second brain.
Improvement in health.

After 12 months of practice;

Samadhi states, profound mystical states.
Opening of chakras.

Is this really scientific? All these chakras and kundalini new age
stuff or placebo effect or hallucinations?
What do you mean by science?
When we say science, we are talking about science done by
Universities, institutions.
While it may work for the world but it doesn't work with your inner
self.
Not even psychology.

So when it comes to Yoga; chakras, kundalini energy etc. don't

believe it as a dogma.
Take it as a system, practice it and see for yourself.
You will find that there is enormous wisdom in these systems.
The results are all you want. And these techniques can get you
those.

Dark side of meditation kind of things; spiritual purging may happen.

That's what tells you the technique is working.

Just do the techniques.

No need for Gurus, community, dogma etc.

Don't let Kriya yoga be your only tool.

Combine it with Self-inquiry, Meditation, Self-Inquiry.
Continue studying theory.
Take a multi-path approach, a multi-tool approach.

Three Ultimate components of Yoga.

Sahaj Samadhi; abiding in non-dual state.
Realisation of Absolute Infinity.
Purification of all your karma and your ego.

This one episode can change your life.

A huge diversion can happen at this point.
You may either ignore all this stuff and go watch some other
Youtube videos.
Or you may actually invest your time in reading and doing the Yoga
techniques and 5 years down the line, there will be a huge
difference.

Don't just listen to this theory. Put it into action.