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Integral Yoga : Its Nature and Significance
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INTEGRAL YOGA : ITS NATURE & SIGNIFICANCE
Dr. G. N. JOSHI, M. A., Ph. D.
Fergusson College, Pune
Misconceptions about Yoga The word "Yoga' is characteristically Indian in its origin and practice. In general 'Yoga' has
a repulsive meaning for the people who are interested in the pleasures of the world. By long association the word "Yoga' is associated with the practice of severe self-control, aversion for the pleasures of the senses, body and mind, an attitude of withdrawal from the world, denial of worldly life and apathy for striving for the prosperity of the material life, love for seclusion, desire for the attainment of supernatural and occult powers, exercising severe and harsh control over the working of the sense-organs, practising certain physical postures and breath-control etc. Such a popular impression about the Yoga is found very commonly, and it is further believed that the life of Yoga is not meant for young men and women who naturally desire to enjoy a full and healthy life of senses, body, mind and intellect. Youths are naturally interested in enjoying the life of senses and sex, and wish to attain wealth, fame, power and all worldly goods. To such a great majority of people, it is no wonder, Yoga becomes repulsive and detestable. If the real meaning of Yoga is not explained to the young people they are bound to be misled by wrong prevailing ideas about Yoga, and they need not also be blamed for their apathy and antipathy for Yoga. It is traditionally believed that Yoga is meant only for exceptionally few religiously-minded individuals, and for the mature and aged persons who have experienced the worldly life in all its aspects, and have realised the futility, hollowness and worthlessness of the life of material and worldly enjoyment after a good deal of experience and struggle through which they may have passed during their long career.
It is true that many of the prevalent ideas about Yoga are really misleading, wrong, distorted and perverted. A large number of hypocrites, pseudo-sadhus, Hathayogins and dishonest Yogic practitioners have created wrong, repulsive, detestable and ridiculous ideas about Yoga. Unfortunately, it has become an instrument in the hands of many ignorant, hypocrite, dishonest and quack persons, and hence Yoga is unnecessarily criticised adversely by the some well-intentioned and educated people also on account of its large-scale misuse and wrong interpretations put on it by half-educated people and by people of malafide intentions, to suit their conveniences and interests. It is a misfortune that this great ancient invention of Indian wisdom has fallen into great disrepute and has become a subject for ridicule and blashphemy on account of its great misuse and perverted interpretations.
Yoga for All There is also a long-standing impression in the minds of several people that Yoga is essentially a part of Hindu religion, and only Hindus are entitled to its use and practice. This is not a fact. Yoga is not and need not at all be confined to the Hindu religion. Yoga is practised very seriously by the followers of Buddhism and Jainism also. Yoga is a technique of changing the consciousness and inner attitude of man, and it is not necessarily connected with
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