ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 279

INTERNATION
SCHOOL
OF
31
SELF STUDY IS THE
SUPREME AUSTERITY
साध्याय परम
3. It is an exercise of consciousness on consciousness itself and attempts to find keys to
peep into the recesses of the consciousness too. Yoga heightens consciousness and tries to get rid of Avidya (ignorance).
4. Yoga unfolds human psyche, enlivens it, expands it, strengthens it, makes it dynamic and thereby transforms it completely by means of meditation, spiritual ethics and special inner processes.
5. It provides the highest goal of life and prepares the sadhaka for its quickest achievement. Yoga is not satisfied with a smaller goal nor is it content with higher siddhi in the form of spiritual powers. It rests content only with the achievement of the highest of the high, the supreme goal of self-realisation or God-Realisation.
6. Yoga provides the shortest cut to reach this goal but this is possible only for the sadhaka with very intense efforts. But even a sadhaka with mild efforts uplifts his life. Every effort in yoga is comparatively speedier in enabling the upliftment of the sädhaka's life.
7. Such potency of Yoga is due to its empirical and operational character. Its operation is more psychic than physical.
8. Yoga is an art as well as a science. It is an art because it teaches the art of living on higher levels of consciousness. It is a science as it teaches ways to research the truths of life and how consciously practice by experiencing them.
9. Yoga is a spiritual science of human psyche and human life and reality itself.
10. Yoga-works and processes need a constant approach of synthesis, as general human tendency is to fragment everything. Yoga requires a holistic approach as needed in the present times.31
Haribhadra's Yoga Works and Psycho synthesis by S.M. Desai, pp-18-19
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0