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THERAPEUTIC ASPECTS OF THE YOGIC SCRIPTURES
Dr. G.S. Sahay
Whenever there is a discussion on yoga, it is mandatory to discuss Patanjali. Without Maharishi Patanjali, any discussion on yoga would be incomplete. Yet as I will be discussing the therapeutic aspects of the science of yoga, it may seem to many that Maharishi Patanjali has nothing to do with my subject. However, today I will discuss the therapeutic aspects of the yogic scriptures.
There are many yoga therapists and they have treated many diseases. Many have claimed the ability to cure a list of various ailments. I was inspired to search the ancient authoritative literatures of yoga and to enumerate the instances which actually discuss ailments and cures. When I began my research, I came across startling revelations which I would like to unveil before you.
First, let us talk of Patanjali. If we look closely we shall find that he has discussed the disintegrated personality and the fact that this disintegrated personality occurs for two main reasons. One is inborn and the second is acquired. The inborn causes are avidyaa ignorance, asmitaa the sense of I-ness, raaga, attachment, dvesha, aversion and abhiniveshaa, fear of death. These five sufferings, particularly avidya, are the main cause of a child's birth. The intense desire to live, plus these factors, break up his personality.
When a child is born, he is very pure and simple, but as he grows up and becomes conditioned by the environment, various faults and imperfections are acquired by him. These we call acquired faults. What the child picks up from the environment around him are obstacles of which there are nine types: vyaadhi (disease), styaana (dullness), samsaya (doubt), pramaada (procrastination), aalasya (laziness), avirati (craving for enjoyment), bhraantidarshana (erroneous perception), alabdha- bhuinikatra (inability to achieve a finer state), and anavasthitatvaa (instability).
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