Book Title: Essence and Substance of Yoga
Author(s): S M Jain
Publisher: S M Jain

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Page 60
________________ electrons, protons, neutron and even quarks behave in response to environment which is collective whole. The latest theory of 'Quarkentanglement under experimentation also supports zen point of view. However, zen yoga practices prescribe passivity. It advises to simply sit idle or lie down, doing nothing. This is contrary to its own concept that everything is pulsating and acting. Passivity is negation of life itself. But unfortunately passivity is not practised in Zen yoga only but in all other forms of yoga. Sitting idly, concentrating on breath or non-existent or real object, reciting, repeating hymns (mantras) and even devotional songs is all idling and waste of lime. Sufi Yoga: This is Islamic form of yoga, though orthodox clerics decry yoga as unislamic. Firoz Bakht Ahmed in his article "Yoga Beyond Religion" (The Times of India, February 8, 2003) asserts that there is no such thing as Yoga being 'haram' (disallowed) in Islam. According to him Islamic yoga is a reality, there is no conflict and actually Islam and yoga together make a mutually beneficial holistic synergy. Asharf F. Nizami in his book "Namaz, the Yoga of Islam" (published by D.B. Taraporevela, Mumbai, 1977) writes that in "namaz" various constituents like "sijdak" is like "shirshasana", "quayam" is "vajrasan" and "Ruku" is "paschimothanasana". Maintaining a healthy and fit body is a requirement in Islam as body is considered a gift from Allah. According to Badrul Islam "Salat" - the five times prayer a day resembles physical exercises of yoga asanas. Hakim G.M. Chishti in his book "Book of Sufi Healing" writes that life from its beginning to end, is one continuous set of breathing practices and that the holy "Quaran" in addition to all else it is a set of breathing practices. Abdul a Quari Basit of Egypt (who melodiously recite Quaran whose recitation of Quaran is considered the best till date), practised breathing exercise exactly similar to pranayam and was able to recite surah by holding his breath for such a long duration that even medical experts were amazed. The purpose of "Yoga" and sufi life style (Tariqat-e-Naqshbandi) are similar since both aim at achieving mystical union with the ultimate reality "Brahma" (Vedic) or "Allah' (Islamic). Interestingly Firoz Bakhat explains that the word "Ohm" according to Urdu or Arabic alphabet is formed from three alphabets Alif, Wo and Meam, Abbreviations of which i.e. "Alif" means "Allha", "Wao or Wa" means "and" while "Meam" means "Mohammad". Sufism is from Arabic word "tsawwuf" i.e. "Suf" which means wool as Sufis wear woolen clothes and wool is the garb of animals, signifying that a sufi has to become as innocent as an animal. Another interpretation of word "Sufa" is purification and cleanliness. The third interpretation is that it is from the Hebrew root "ains of" which means absolute, infinite and a sufi's search for it, Sufi is absent minded and only in flesh in the world. Sufi believes that supreme or God 58

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