To read earlier posts, read the Adhiyoga Book.

Daily Adhiyoga Post 201!
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Sutra 13.3: Chitta also obtains information from Smriti when needed.

It is important to know that Chitta obtains information not only from the world external to your body, but also from the world internal including Smriti. Since we are always used to think of ourselves as Body, we are generally making great mistakes. Then, we start thinking that Asana will give us everything. No, Asana does not give everything, but it does give a lot.

Om ShantiH. 

Daily Adhiyoga Post 202!
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Sutra 13.4: Meditation consists of three steps Relaxation, Preparation and Proper.

This is a systematic approach to Meditation. One needs to learn it from an Adhiyoga Teacher (preferably) or from the Adhiyoga Book.

OM ShantiH.

Daily Adhiyoga Post 203!
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Sutra 13.5: Proper Meditation consists of 3 steps: Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.

Proper here means Actual Meditation after all the preparation such as sitting, diet, discipline, choosing object, etc are done. In Proper Meditation, you are NOT using Body at all, such as any consideration of Asana or Breathing or Emptying the Mind, Thinking of Who I Am, etc. In Proper Meditation you focus on the already chosen object, then develop continuity in that focus till you forget your identity and you become with the object.

OM ShantiH.

Daily Adhiyoga Post 204!
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Sutra 13.7: Due to Self Realization, a Yogi becomes interested in resolving any past issues stored in the mind that bind him to the external world. This finally results in the detachment of the individual's  soul (Purusha) from the external world (Prakruti), a state called Kaivalya. This is the ultimate purpose of the Yogic Practice and the ultimate goal of a human life.

When a person goes through financial turmoils, he/she learns about never taking loans. In the same way, the Yogi does not want to be bound to the external world. So, like paying off previous loans, the Self Realized Yogi never creates new loans. When all the loans are totally paid off, the Yogi is liberated. The final purpose of the Yogic Practice should be known even if you are not interested in it currently.

OM ShantiH.

Daily Adhiyoga Post 205!
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Sutra 13.8: In Adhiyoga, there are two types of meditations. One is Applied Meditation, where one meditates to get personal goals that can be not fully spiritual, such as Stress Relief, Better Study, Better Efficiency in Mental work, De-addiction, etc. The other one is Classical Meditation, meant for Self Realization. Generally, the first one is done prior to the second one if at all.

One should stick to one's real goal and meditate accordingly. Do not mix spirituality with materialism. And, do not called Materialism as Spirituality and Vice a Versa.

OM ShantiH.

Daily Adhiyoga Post 206!
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Sutra 13.9: During the Meditation Practice, whether the Applied Meditation of Adhiyoga or the Classical Yoga Meditaiton, one is focussing on a chosen object and interacting with the object using the sense, and optionally body. The object itself can be real or imaginary.

You must choose your object properly based on your situation. And, also the interaction. These are the keys to the success of your meditation.

OM ShantiH

Daily Adhiyoga Post 207!
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Sutra 13.10: Only with the Classical Yoga Meditation, can the Yoga Practice be called Spiritual.

If you are not doing Meditation of Classical Type, meaning having an object of Spiritual Nature, whether devotional or heavenly, etc., and trying to reach egoless state of mind and getting to Samadhi state (Absorption) whether intentionally or unintentionally, the Yoga Practice. is not Spiritual.

OM ShantiH.

Daily Adhiyoga Post 208!
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Sutra 14.1: Regardless of life circumstances, each person encounters sorrow and incomplete satisfaction. Despite obtaining Heaven (Swarga) where there is positive enjoyment without any sorrow, there is a return to the human life after exhaustion of the good deeds (Punya).

Incomplete Satisfaction? Have not you experienced it? What is Heaven? Heaven is a place where you get entry when you perform large number of good deeds. In Heaven, you can enjoy things without any need, such as you can eat without being hungry. But, when the good deeds are resolved, you return to the Human life containing Incomplete Satisfaction! 

OM ShantiH

Daily Adhiyoga Post 209!
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Sutra 14.2: Therefore, one gets interested in permanent sorrow-less-state. To obtain this one has to train the Mind to live in and be satisfied in a non-material world that is not Prakruti. This is Spiritual Yoga.

To live in a non material world is equivalent to achieving the Samadhi State. Note, this state belongs to the Mind. So, physically one may be in the material world, but not mentally. One may even be doing apparently material things, but mentally he/she are somewhere else. Physical Yoga Practices only help you to get there, they are not the main or final.

OM ShantiH

Daily Adhiyoga Post 210!
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Sutra 14.3: Spiritual Yoga Practice is, by nature, based upon Belief System (Agama) and Extended Deduction (Anumana). Though not perceived directly (Pratyaksha), the Spiritual Practice has shown Positive Results historically. Therefore, the Spirituality exists in some form or the other.

In Philosophy, anything to be accepted needs to be proven by the Pramanas, which are Pratyaksha (eyewitness), Anumana (Deduction) and Agama (Belief in Reliable Source). Spirit can never be perceived by Body and Mind. Therefore, Spiritual Practice has to be believed only, it should not be proven by any Material Science Arguments such as done now.a days.! But, why the hell then are so many people are inclined to Spirituality? Because, such a Blind Belief or even weird looking deductions give Positive Results which the Material Science is not giving, as proven by the Wars, Stock Market, Economy, Hunger, Destruction of the Environment, etc.

OM ShantiH.

Daily Adhiyoga Post 211!
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Sutra 14.4: During the Spiritual Yoga Practice, a mental state called Samadhi can be achieved and mastered. This state is independent of the External World.

When you are independent of the External World, you are in your True Self. That is when the True Bliss ensues. That is the first Goal of the Classical Yoga Practice.

Om ShantiH.

Daily Adhiyoga Post 212!
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Sutra 14.5: In the Spiritual Sense, the Samadhi State unites the Individual Soul (Purusha) with the Universal Soul (Ishwara).

Note the Spiritual Sense, it is not a physical mixing. So, do not bring Physics, Chemistry and such material sciences into picture. Do not try to connect Indian Spirituality with Material Science! 

OM ShantiH.

Daily Adhiyoga Post 213!
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Sutra 14.6: Yoga is a state of Permanent Joy. Spiritual Yoga Practice is any and each action that leads to this state.

Do you have to stand on the Head for the Permanent Joy? Do you have to close one nostril and breath through the other one for the Permanent Joy? Just think. You will find, you have to directly train the Mind!

OM ShantiH. 

Daily Adhiyoga Post 214!
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Sutra 14. 7: Spiritual Yoga Practice consists of any combination of Karmayoga, Bhaktiyoga, Jnanayoga, and Dhyanayoga. Hathayoga makes all these practices easier and effective. All the Spiritual Practices ultimately end in the surrender to the Will of Ishwara.

Everyone choses a practice based on their pre-disposition, but it is always a mixture of various practices. However, ultimately, the Surrender to Will of Ishwara must result.

OM ShantiH.

Daily Adhiyoga Post 215!
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Sutra 14. 8: As a matter of fact, all of us are already practicing Yoga, as each one of us is trying to obtain joy each moment. However, we need to take up effective practices that efficiently lead to the state of Permanent Joy!

Searching for Joy is common. That is what Adhiyoga states the purpose of Yoga. But, what we need to do is to learn the effective practice that gives the state of permanent joy, in an efficient manner. These constitutes Yoga in Practice.

OM ShantiH.

Daily Adhiyoga Post 216!
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Sutra 14. 9: When the effective practices of Yoga are discarded, the result is a lack of joy, a state called Viyoga. Viyoga is also a kind of Yoga, but in a negative sense. Viyoga points to the need of real yoga.

Everybody wants a joy only and always. But, this is possible only when correct practices as given in Adhiyoga are followed. When they are discarded, the Viyoga happens. But, since Viyoga gives pain, it points to Yoga practices that will give permanent joy.

OM ShantiH.

Daily Adhiyoga Post 217!
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Sutra 14.10: When absolute independence from the Prakruti  is reached, one has reached a state called Kaivalya or Moksha 

Kaivalya or Moksha means you are not dependent on the material wold at all. 

OM ShantiH

Daily Adhiyoga Post 218!
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Sutra 14.11: Kaivalya or Moksha is the ultimate purpose of Human Life.

Before a human may attain Kaivalya, he/she is trying for something or the other. When Kaivalya is reached, there is nothing to be done, the mind and body are absorbed into the material primordial nature. And, the spirit is liberated from the body mind complex. Thus, it is the ultimate purpose.

OM ShantiH.

DAILY ADHIYOGA POST 219!
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Sutra 15.1: Chanting is an essential element of Yoga Practice. Without Chanting, Yoga Practice is not complete.

It will impossible to stress this statement enough, as it is kind of new Anga (Limb) to Eight Limbs, according to a world famous Sanskrit Scholar, Dr. Thite. As you will see from the next few Daily Posts, Chanting gives you almost all the benefits of Yoga in one single practice.

OM ShantiH.

DAILY ADHIYOGA POST 220!
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Sutra 15.2: Chanting provides a single means of addressing a variety of Physical, Mental and Spiritual aspects of the Yogic Practice.

It is like an all encompassing tool that can repair all problems!

OM ShantiH.

DAILY ADHIYOGA POST 221!
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Sutra 15.3: Chanting can be effectively used for a variety of goals. But, it is the most effective and easiest tool for the Meditation.

Remember Meditation is the Real Core Yoga Practice! And, therefore Chanting becomes the Essential Practice due to its effectiveness and easiness.

OM ShantiH.

DAILY ADHIYOGA POST 222!
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Sutra 15.4: It is almost impossible to find a Spiritually Realised Yogi who did not do some kind of Chanting.

Show me anyone who does not meet this criteria. No one! This statement is very profound, because each known spiritually realised Yogi does Chanting. And, there is no one who is spiritually realised, but does not do chanting. 

OM ShantiH.

DAILY ADHIYOGA POST 223!
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Sutra 15.5: Chanting includes breathing patterns, melodies, intonations, rhythms, focussing on body parts or external objects, mantras, maha mantras, beeja mantras, stotras, philosophical contemplation, memorisation, visualisation, music, peace of mind, etc.

While Chanting, you will notice all the above are included, thus proving the profundity of it.

OM ShantiH.

DAILY ADHIYOGA POST 224!
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Sutra 15.6: Interestingly, Chanting provides Pranayama, Chitta Prasadana, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi, and Kaivalya. Moreover, it stays after the Kaivalya.

Chanting is All In One Formula for a Spiritual Aspirant.

OM Shantih.

DAILY ADHIYOGA POST 225!
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Sutra 16.1: Yoga Exercise is best learnt from an Experienced Yoga Teacher and next to that, from the woks of an Experienced Yoga Teacher.

Here Experienced means a Well Experienced Teacher, not just with some degree  or Yoga Teacher Certifications  or Designations, or reader in yoga. This is very very important indeed. Even the Certification should be obtained from a very Well experienced Teacher and not from a Certified Agency. Alas, this concept is not currently followed and therefore, a low quality or even wrong Yoga Teachers are produced today!

OM ShantiH.

DAILY ADHIYOGA POST 226!
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Sutra 16.2: Yoga Exercise must not be learnt from an inexperienced source, however good it may be.

When you learn Yoga Exercise, take time to find out how much does the Teacher do or has done. It must be a lot if you want to study with him. Do not go by the informative understanding or certifications of the Teacher, if you are going to learn Yoga Exercises.

OM ShantiH.

DAILY ADHIYOGA POST 227!
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Sutra 16.3: There is a difference between a Yoga Teacher and a Spiritual Master.

Well, if you do not know that they are different, you have not yet met the Spiritual Master. No worries, continue with learning from  Yoga Teacher or Yoga Teachers, and with your practices.

OM ShantiH.

DAILY ADHIYOGA POST 228!
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Sutra 16.4: In general, a Yoga Student should absorb knowledge from any Experiential Source. But, only in the case of very deep serious Yoga Practice, the student may stick to only one Spiritual Teacher.

Except the very deep spiritual practice, where the student is practice for the goals associated with the material gains, the student should accept knowledge from any and all sources which are backed by an Experience. Because, the material knowledge is multifold and unlimited, and no one person or a teacher can have it all.

Whereas in case of Spiritual Knowledge, there can be no difference for two students. Spiritual knowledge is identical and though methods are different the Spiritual Knowledge is the same. There, the student should continue with one single teacher, called Guru. The Guru uses an appropriate method for a given student. Therefor, Real Spiritual Guru should be ONE only or at least, from one lineage.

OM ShantiH.

DAILY ADHIYOGA POST 229!
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Sutra 16.5: A Yoga Student should accept any knowledge based upon logic, proof, experience, etc. without being fanatic about a particular practice in the name of dedication.

Of course, in the case of Spiritual Goal, this is hard as the proof becomes hard. In the case of all other goals, one should not be fanatic to any source if it goes against one's logic and the real experience. For example, if someone tells you that you should practice Jalaneti (nasal water irrigation) to remove your cold and cough problems, and you get a proof that the problem is not removed, but only suppressed, or this process may lead to other dangerous results, etc., then you should accept this fact.

OM ShantiH.

DAILY ADHIYOGA POST 230!
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Sutra 16.6: The fastest way to progress in Yoga is the company of Sincere Yoga Students and Experienced Yoga Teachers.

Note that the company is of Sincere Yoga Students. Sincere means they are really trying to learn and also they sincerely practice. Experienced Yoga Teachers make you understand Yoga in the easiest way but most efficiently.

OM ShantiH.

DAILY ADHIYOGA POST 231!
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Sutra 17.1: In general, Yoga Practice should be designed for an Individual Goal and should be continued until the intended goal is achieved. After that the goal may be modified, along with the Yoga Practice.

General Yoga Practice is for Individual Goal. Only very very rare and strongly spiritual student shall have the Goal of Spiritual Liberation. For Spiritual Liberation, the practice is more rigidly defined.

Discontinuation of the designed practice before attaining the goal causes demoralisation and loss of time, effort and confidence. Whereas, the attainment of goal does the opposite.

OM ShantiH.

DAILY ADHIYOGA POST 232!
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Sutra 17.2: One interesting fact about the Yoga Practice is that very few people actually practice Yoga even after knowing the Theory, Practices and the benefits of Yoga. This is mainly because of lack of Mental Focus and Discipline, which are integral part of Yoga Practice.

In a way Mental Focus is what makes anything Yoga Practice. And, in a way, Discipline is what makes it Practice.

OM ShantiH

DAILY ADHIYOGA POST 233!
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Sutra 17.3: In the Spiritual Yoga Practice, attachment to the Material World inhibits the practice. Sticking to the practice is called Abhyasa. Detachment from the Material World is called Vairagya.

Abhyasa and Vairgya are almost must for a Spiritual Aspirant. They are mentioned in the Classical Yoga Literature such as Shrimad Bhagavadgita and Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. But, even for material gains, Adhiyoga advises considering these two as sticking to one's practice for one's goal and detaching from things that inhibit one's practice. 

Om ShantiH. 

DAILY ADHIYOGA POST 234!
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Sutra 17.4: For a Spiritual Yoga Practitioner, the three highest obstacles in the Yoga Practice are Sex, Money and desire for Name and Fame, and in the increasing order.

Sex is no doubt very appealing. But, Money is more compelling. And above all, Name and Fame more Revealing whether you are a Real Spiritual Yogi or not.

OM Shantih

DAILY ADHIYOGA POST 235!
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Sutra 17.5: Yoga Practice should be designed judiciously.

Yoga Practice without design wastes lot of time and effort. Sometimes, it may lead to something great, but once you get there, you have to design the practice anyway. Judiciously includes several factors including background, time, money, etc. etc. and not only the goal and authenticity of the practice.

OM ShantiH.

DAILY ADHIYOGA POST 236!
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Sutra 17.6: One practice should be followed for a sufficiently long time and then only modified for the modified goal.

Hopping from one practice to another, or changing goals frequently means invitation for failure totally!

OM ShantiH.

DAILY ADHIYOGA POST 237!
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Sutra 17.7: Ultimately, a practice is reached that never changes. That is called Path of the Student. Path means the Practice that stays indefinitely.

Path of any student is a never changing practice. However, path of one student is different from the path of another student. Because, their goals and evolution are different. Even when the end of the Classical Yoga is ONE (Self Realisation and Liberation) , the paths that lead to that Goal are different!

OM ShantiH.

DAILY ADHIYOGA POST 238!
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Sutra 17.8: A serious Yoga student should find the path relatively early in life and stick with it.

Serious Yoga Student obviously means the Spiritual Yoga Student! The earlier you find the path, the more chances of reaching the Spiritual Liberation in this very life. And yes, try to stick to the Path. Do not waste time changing the Path. You will reach the Goal and then know the gist of all the paths.

OM ShantiH.

Daily Adhiyoga Post 239!
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Sutra 18.1: In general, it is best for a Yoga Practitioner to do whatever possible Yoga Practice regularly rather than doing lot of practice irregularly with gaps.

You do this and you will know why!

OM ShantiH.

Daily Adhiyoga Post 240!
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Sutra 18.2: Yoga definitely has association with Hindu Religion, but lot of it can be practiced by anyone with positive results.

If you do not believe that Yoga came from India, and is part of what later some non Indians termed as Hindu practice/religion, then think about these a) Self Realization b) Spiritual Liberation and c) Reincarnation. You will get the answer.

Of course, it benefits everyone, because it is a Universal and True Religion. It is Immortal, Sanatana. It is NOT a Religion per say, it is a Philosophical, Logical Way of Life. 

OM ShantiH.

Daily Adhiyoga Post 241!
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Sutra 18.3: Yoga Practitioner should consider leading a married life or an equivalent alternative if possible.

Note the words, "consider", "alternative", and "if possible"! Except the exceptional ones who can lead a true celibate life, others need to understand this and follow. Goofing around will derail you from the Yoga Studies!

OM ShantiH 

Daily Adhiyoga Post 242!
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Sutra 18.4: Yoga is a Spiritual Practice by nature. Therefore, NO laws, government regulations, or certification rules can be made for the Yoga Practice, the Yoga Teachers, or the Yoga Practitioners, except in cases where is a direct harm to the society.

Does this need explaining at all? Or, does it?

OM ShantiH.

Daily Adhiyoga Post 243!
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Sutra 18.5: Yoga Student should have sufficient Time and Money management so that sufficient time can be given to the Yoga Practice needed for the desired goal.

It is true that having Money does not make you a Yogi, but not having a money can be an obstacle in your yoga practice most probably.

OM ShantiH. 

Daily Adhiyoga Post 244!
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Sutra 18.6: In today's world, a serious Yoga Student should become Self-Sufficient in terms of finance and personal needs.

We are talking about a Serious Student, who needs time and money sufficiently to continue the Serious Studies. This does not come easily unless you inherit a fortune. But, even the inheritance might have difficulties such as non permission of Yoga Study, etc.

OM ShantiH

Daily Adhiyoga Post 245!
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Sutra 18.7: May the entire creation be filled with Peace and Joy.

The Adhiyoga Sutras started with stating the nature of each Human Being in terms of Happiness. The Adhiyoga Sutras conclude with the prayer for or the wishes for the Happiness for the entire World. NOT 'GOD BLESS AMERICAL ONLY'!

Om ShantiH.