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ANTITHETIC NEGATIVITY IN
YOGA SCRIPTURES
Yoga is union. It is addition not subtraction, positive not negative, love not hate, mutualism not predation, association not dissociation, cooperation not competition, pleasure not, sorrow, harmony not chaos and compassion not repulsion. The objective of yoga is happiness not only for one-self but for others also. If any effort which is self-confined for good or happiness for self only, it is selfishness not yoga. As such any concept of negativity in yoga is its antithesis. It is therefore imfortunate that even great yoga teachers and scholars have viewed this world, its bounties and beauties and its mutuaity and interdependent interrelations as causes for sorrows, miseries and all sorts of problems for a yogi.
This antithetic concept appears to be the result of medieval history as most of the available literature was written around that period since about 2000 years and after that. During long years of history this country suffered from incessant repeated invasions of barbarians who indulged in rampant loost, arson, rape, cruelty, tortures and all sorts of heinous atrocities. Even recent historical memoirs of Shambhaji, son of Shivaji reveal the scenario. Shambhaji revolted against his father and joined mughal army commander Afzal beg. He has written elaborate memoirs. He has mentioned that whenever, wherever the mughal armies passed through the villages and towns enroute attrocities of loot, arson and rape were committed on inhabitants. It was all so fearful and frightening that people would try to escape and run away for protection of one self, leaving even near and dear ones. It was a situation of psychological urge of self protection as is seen in case of fire in a house when the person as a fist impulse runs out and it is only later that he thinks about a near and dear one to rescue if possible. The attorcities during the invasions were of such a scale that people started viewing the world as miserable and affinities of cooperative interrelations were shattered. People started believing that all relations are selfish. The governance in the country was also fragmented and numerous rulers big and small were fighting among themselves, helping the invaders against each other rather than protecting the people in their areas. The people lost the will even to make any effort to unite and prepare to fight for protection. It was in this scenario of utter helplessness that concept and practice of surrender to one God or one or other deity came and people left everything to God or deity, relinquishing or denying the potential of human responsibilities, endeavour and effort. Devotional yoga is outcome of this
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