THE YOGA OF SYNTHESIS

A holistic life is imbibed by self-control of sense organs and sense perceptions to realise moksha, or liberation, the ultimate goal of life. The development and well-being of beings must be in harmony to adapt to the thought, reasoning and action emanating from the complex body-mind-intellect.

Body represents the physical aspects that include the organs, senses, and motor functions. It has birth, existence, growth, modification, decay, and death. Coordination with the body necessitates maintaining physical health, practicing regular exercise, and nurturing bodily awareness.

The mind encompasses thoughts, emotions, the senses, and the subconscious. Emotions can impact cognitive processes, decision-making, and behavior. Harmony with the mind requires harmonious relationship with the Atman (inner spirit or self) by way of cultivating emotional intelligence, understanding and managing emotions in a healthy way, and fostering a positive mindset. A trained, controlled and balanced mind can positively influence the functioning of the body and the intellect mechanism.

The Intellect is the higher cognitive power of reasoning, problem-solving, memory, and learning. It entails discrimination through the identification of what is real and what is unreal. Coordination with the intellect involves stimulating intellectual growth through learning, engaging in challenging mental activities, and nurturing curiosity and open-mindedness in tandem with Atman.

The goal of all the pathways is to become conscious of the Supreme Bliss, or Consciousness, in a conscious way. The pursuit of truth calls for discovering the true nature of Atman (inner spirit or self) in a state of equanimity by detaching from the results of action. All the paths are in fact one, in which the different temperaments emphasise one or other of their inseparable constituents, says Swami Sivananda. Yoga supplies the method by which the Self can be seen, loved, and served.

1. Outline

The Yoga of Synthesis, espoused by Swami Sivananda, places stress on the integration of different yoga practices and philosophies mentioned in ancient sriptures of Sanatan Dharmic (eternal order or eternal righteousness) tradition to create a holistic approach to the coordination of the body-mind-intellect complex for higher elevation to realise the Atman, or inner self. It synthesises various elements of yoga, such as asanas, or physical postures, pranayama, or breathing exercises; dhyana, or meditation, and Bhakti, or devotion, to realise the Self in a state of equanimity and detachment. Its goal is to harmonise the body-mind-intellect mechanism with Atman, or the inner spirit or self, leading to bliss, purity, and wisdom.

Bliss is everlasting and beyond the transient joy, happiness, and realisation of the consciousness of divinity within oneself. It is the eternal peace and enlightenment of atman (inner spirit and self), spiritual enlightenment, inner peace, and a deep connection with Brahman (Supreme Being). It is a state of detachment, solitude, tranquility, and profound realisation of atman as pure consciousness beyond the body-mind-intellect mechanism.

Purity is interrelated with the virtues of righteousness, goodness, rectitude, prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance, faith, hope, and charity. It is an uncontaminated and untainted life of virtuosity. It stands for ethical, moral, and spiritual integrity. Purity is the state of being free from contamination or anything that taints one's character, mind, or soul.

Wisdom is about being conscious of the Atman, or inner spirit, and realising the self. It means the ability of the intellect to discern and identify what is real and unreal. It involves the application of knowledge and understanding in a thoughtful and insightful manner.

 2. Elements

Being is a constituent of varied temperaments and emotions. All the temperaments and emotions can be coordinated holistically and integrally through the yoga of synthesis to realise the Self or true nature of Being.

Control over the senses, driven by the mind, is an essential prerequisite in yoga. Control starts with continual practice, detachment, and equanimity from the external objects towards the internal subject. It is to elevate the power of consciousness that remains idle within the subject of self-consciousness, or atman. The mind remains unsteady as long as it is attached to Samsara (birth and death). The cause of Samsara is Klesha-karmas (impurities) that are mixed with Vasanas (subtle desire). Self-realisation is the removal of attachment and klesha karmas. Attachment intensifies due to duality, multitudeness, imperfect attachment outwardly with the object of sensation, and lack of knowledge. Further, when the Gunas (tendencies, qualities, and attributes), or modes of existence, remain full of motive, and become manifest in the world of objects.

Concentration and meditation are the royal roads to perfection, says Swami Sivananda.

Yoga removes the impurities in the mind. Swami Sivananda says that in the mind there are three defects: mala, or impurity; vikshepa, or tossing; and avarana, or veil. The impurity should be removed through the practice of Karma Yoga. The tossing should be removed by worship or Upasana. The veil should be torn down through the practice of Jnana Yoga. Only then is Self-realisation possible.

Yoga should start with Om. OM is the Pranava or the Omkar, which is a blend of three syllables, the letters ― A, U, M. A-U-M becomes OM, says Swami Krishnananda. He says that From Akara, Ukara, and Makara, Prajapati is supposed to have extracted the Rig Veda , Yajur Veda, and Sama Veda. The three Padas of the Gayatri Mantra are supposed to be extractions of the three Vedas , and are also supposed to be embedded in A-U-M , so that all the Vedas is inside OM.

3. Remarks

The destination of atman is consciousness of the Brahman, or Supreme Being, affirms the Srimad Bhagavad Gita. It reiterates that a person is elevated in the science of yoga when he is neither attached to sense objects nor to sense-derived desires for the fruits of actions.

A trained mind is the best friend; an untrained mind can be the worst enemy for a spiritual aspirant. Sri Krishna cautions Arjuna that by merely engaging in severe austerities, one cannot progress on the spiritual path. Therefore, moderation must be maintained, even in basic necessities like food, sleep, work, recreation, etc.

The Yoga of Synthesis is explained as the path of correctly discerning the tattva, essence, or principles, of existence. It is to go beyond the gross physical manifestation, beyond the perceivability of the sense organs. The yoga of synthesis goes beyond the manifest dimension to realise the unperceivable reality, the Atman, consciously.

-Asutosh Satpathy

 

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