Yoga is a scientific system for purifying the body and the mind, for making each of us the master of our senses so that we may develop our emotions and intellect to a level at which we function healthfully and in perfect harmony.
Yoga controls the vibrations in the mind forming stillness, and union with the Devine and is a constant process of purification of the higher emotions.
The nature of the mind is to be jumping all the time from thought to thought instead of calm, peaceful, present. All types of yoga is trying to gain control of the mind, by lifting the veil of maya, developing focus and concentration.
What is the Veil?
Maya is the illusion that we see with the veil on, the material world of duality. The senses, mind and intellect are all veils keeping us from seeing reality and seeing our higher self. The veil is all the impurities of the mind that prevent us from seeing clearly.
Parts of the veil are:
o Mala is the dirt, impurities of the mind and the lower emotions (lust, anger, greed, hatred, jealousy, envy, fear) which cause suffering.
o The effects of Mala is called Vikshepa, it is the vacillating nature of the mind that creates constant distraction. Fluctuations and agitations needs to be purified of the Mala or lower emotions. Past scars or Samskaras that we have accumulated through Karma (actions) also binds us to the veil. To get rid of Mala one must cultivate the opposite virtues of Love, Tolerance, Compassion, Mercy, Generosity, Forgiveness but it can only occur with some purification of the mind.
o Avarna is the power of the veil that makes us identify with the body and mind or outer shell and not who we really are. The ego can be considered the Avarna of the veil or Ahamkar part of the mind’s functions.
o The mind also has the Manas which is the recording function and the Buddhi which is the intellect function which categorizes things as good or bad etc
o Once some purification has been achieved the veil will begin to lift and a state of absolute calmness reached and the Self is experienced. This state is called Samadhi. It is like an atomic bomb that destroys the samskaras (past scars) Once all the seeds of Samskaras have been destroyed through repeated experiences of Samadhai, the state of Liberation or Enlightenment is reached. (Hari)
Experiencing the world externally with ego, mind and senses is a limited way of seeing the world. The ego is identification with form which primarily means thought forms. Complete identification with forms such as physical forms, thought forms, emotional forms. This results in a total unawareness of connectedness with the whole, the intrinsic oneness with every “other” as well as with the source. This forgetfulness is original sin, suffering delusion or the veil.