130. What is yoga?

Patanjali, the father of the ancient science of yoga, says at the very start of the Patanjali Yoga Sutras, which is the foundational scripture of Yoga:

Yogaha chitta vritti nirodhaha

He says, 'Yoga is the cessation of the mind.' Understand, it doesn't mean that yoga ends with the cessation of mind, rather that yoga begins where the mind ends.

Actually, yoga never ends, it can only start. It is a continuous happening.

To understand how yoga is a continuous happening, we need to understand the important truth that whatever is happening is auspicious.

Be very clear, every experience raises your consciousness and makes you more mature. Even losing your wealth gives you some maturity. Losing your health gives you some understanding. When you are able Yoga begins where the mind ends.

suddenly see life as a wonderful happening every moment.

A small story:

to internalize this truth, you

There was once a ship sailing in the ocean. Suddenly, the captain of the ship saw bright lights ahead and rushed back to warn that ship to move out of the way. He quickly announced, 'Please divert your course 15 degrees north to avoid a collision.'

A voice spoke back, 'We recommend that you divert your course 15 degrees south to avoid a collision.'

Now the captain of the ship got angry and replied in a proud and threatening way, 'This is the largest ship in the country. We are accompanied by three destroyers, defense equipment and many support ships. I demand that you change your course 15 degrees north or counter-measures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.'

The voice replied in a straight tone, 'We are a lighthouse!'

Understand, Existence is happening continuously and guiding you also so that whatever happens to you does so in the best possible way. Just fall in tune with it – that is the best course! Yoga is a path to fall in tune, just like tuning a radio to a Yoga is not even

a goal, it is a	higher freq
continuous	uency!
happening.	Most people

think yoga is

about physical postures – how to bend the body and move it.

The other day I read a joke:

A group of bats were hanging on the ceiling of a cave. They saw a single bat standing straight on the floor of the cave.

The bats were surprised and asked, 'What are you doing down there?'

The bat shouted back, 'Yoga!'

People think yoga is about twisting the body and working towards physical health or some goal. Please understand, yoga is not even a goal, it is a continuous happening.

The word 'yoga' literally means 'uniting'.