$JES 904 Compendium of Jainism (Jain Academic Bowl Manual 3rd Edition)

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 183

CONDUCT
C09 - Jain Yoga
The Benefits of Practicing Yama and Niyama Yama and Niyama help in managing our energy in a constructive manner, complementing our outer life to our inner development. They help us view ourselves with compassion and awareness. They aid us in respecting the values of this life and in balancing our inner growth with outer restraint. In short, they help us lead a conscious life. Yama and Niyama are not about right and wrong. They are about being honest with the true self. Living according to these principles make it is possible to connect with the Divine and improve the quality of our lives. The first two stages are meant for moral purification. Without these, no spiritual progress is possible. 3. Asana (Physical Exercise): In the third stage, a person should do physical exercise (Hatha yoga) to keep the body healthy and the spinal cord straight in preparation for long periods of meditation. Yogasana is a posture in harmony with one's inner consciousness. It aims at the attainment of a sustained and comfortable sitting posture to facilitate meditation. Asanas also help in balancing and harmonizing the basic structure of the human body, which is why they have a range of therapeutic uses too. Asanas basically perform five functions:
conative, cognitive,
mental, • intellectual
• spiritual Conative action is the voluntary exercise of organs. Since Asanas are the main yogic instrument of balancing the body, they consist of various physical postures, which are designed to release tension, improve flexibility, and maximize the flow of vital energy. The purpose of the Asanas is to create a flow of positive energy so that our concentration is directed within ourselves and the mind is able to perceive the effects of our objective action, the cognitive action. When the former two actions are fused, our mind guides organs to perform the Asanas more correctly. The resulting energy flow and awareness leads to a mental state of pure joy. Physical postures, therefore, end up affecting the various interrelated channels of the mind-body complex. Ultimately, the performance of a perfect Yogasana leads to the intellectual absorption of the mind on a single task (Dharanä), which in turn leads to the fusion of the individual spirit with the Divine Self (Dhyana). Benefits of Yogasana The regular practice of Yogasana has an immense amount of therapeutic value. In addition to various physiological benefits, it positively affects our minds, our energies, and our creative intelligence. Regular practice helps to keep our body fit, controls cholesterol levels, reduces weight, stabilizes blood pressure, and improves heart performance. Greater physical fitness leads to reduction of physical stress and greater vitality. Asanas harmonize our vitality and mental energy flow by clearing any blockages in the subtle body leading to mental equilibrium and tranquility. They make the mind strong, thus enabling our human body to endure pain and unhappiness stoically and with fortitude. In the western world, "Yoga" has lost its true meaning and became a practice only for physical fitness and external happiness. In reality, it is a tool for spiritual development. 4. Pränäyama (Rhythmic Breathing):
Compendium of Jainism - 2015
Page 183 of 398