A Chapter from author’s book “Homeopathy through Harmony and Totality” Vol I.
“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” – The Bhagavad Gita
INTRODUCTION
The stress and strain of modern life in the midst of aggressive materialism and insatiable consumerism drive many people, especially from the educated middle class, to seek solace and mental peace in the proximity of yoga, meditation and other psycho-spiritual techniques.
These techniques are looked upon by many as sceptical by many individuals due to a prevailing tendency amongst the educated mass to regard age-old concepts as useless and primitive. In ancient days, yoga, meditation and pranayama were practiced as a vital part of daily living. During those days, these practices were a necessity of life and they are still a necessity.
YOGA AND ITS AIMS
Yoga is basically a way of thinking and acting, rationally. It is a way towards understanding own self, “I-ness,” the search for infinity and consciousness seeking an inward path. It provides a powerful feedback to look at the life and living; the motives, the attitudes, the desires, the lusts, the strengths and weaknesses, yoga touches every facet, thus developing awareness.
In order to strive for the search of intricate, yoga basically questions “Who are we?” “Where do we come from?” “Why are we living in this world?” “What is the purpose of birth and death cycle?”
YOGA AS A SCIENCE
The development of material science within the span of 100 years has dominated the life to such an extent that to look at anything nonmaterial or spiritual is regarded as unscientific, rather ridiculous! Today’s science demands systemic study (of objects), rational analysis, in-depth investigation, experimentation, verification, uniformity, factual basis and standardization. Yoga accords a scientist propounds to all these processes. The question often erupts, “Is the material science adequate enough to investigate yoga and whether the rules of physical/material science should be applied to spiritual science?”
As far as the material science is concerned, the scientists have studied everything systematically right from the anatomy of the human body to the celestial bodies.
The supreme science has answers for all the basic, perturbing questions and puzzling phenomenon of life is the science of Yoga, the science of self-realization, the highest of all the sciences. This science deals with the creator while the science of objects deals with the creation. Like all other faculties, the science of Yoga is subject to every criterion and test of judgment. All the rules and regulations, philosophy and practice should be followed from yogic perspective. The parameter of material science ‘only’ should not be applied, as everything can’t be demonstrated in the laboratory.
For example, Einstein once fell in love with a lady (Farah) about which he disclosed to one of his friends. Grabbing the opportunity, the friend insisted that Einstein should prove his love in the laboratory itself as there used to be constant fights among them over Einstein’s insistence that everything must be demonstrated in the laboratory. Einstein knew that love existed but in no way, it could be proved in the laboratory.
While correlating science and Yoga, Einstein’s contribution in the field of energy needs to be mentioned. Pre-Einstein era was characterized by the notion that matter and energy are two separate entities. The invention of the equation, E = mc2 by Einstein proved that every object in the world is actually a form of energy. But energy cannot work by itself unless there is a driving factor (i.e. consciousness) behind it. The whole energy is consciousness which further ends in the unified field of consciousness. The science of yoga deals primarily with this supreme consciousness.
YOGA AS A THERAPY
The maintenance and restoration of health is one of the fundamental rights of every organism. Although yoga aims to attain the divine state, it becomes one of the powerful healing therapies as health is one of the by-products of its benefits.
Yoga therapy is a holistic way of healing which focusses on the trinity of health i.e. physical, mental (emotional) and spiritual. It actually centers on a healing journey that brings balance to the body and mind through an experiential understanding of self. The self, the “I’ is not outside the treatment modality. Yoga therapy is not a one-way approach towards the patient. It demands compliance, active participation of the patient in the healing process and not merely prescribing drugs or chemicals.
YOGA AND CONCEPTS ABOUT HEALTH, DISEASE AND CURE
Yoga has described life and health as a series of levels within an overall framework of the evolution of consciousness. Hence, it completely coincides with the holistic assessment of health. Yoga has defined health in a wider perspective incorporating peace, within and without, and not merely an absence of disease. Yoga denotes the activity of harmony and equilibrium, accelerating the creativity as well. Practising of Yoga nourishes the blossoming where awareness is achieved through adaptation with the cosmos of which a human being is an integral part.
Disease, to a yogi therapist, is a state of dynamic, unstable equilibrium, imbalance and disharmony involving the patient as a whole. Yoga therapy regards man as a unit, as a body-mind-spirit co-ordinate system, which is diseased and not the part or organ or tissue.
Cure is a wide and comprehensive connotation which also relates to the patient as a whole. It indicates true perception of the meaning of illness and change in the level of consciousness.
In other words, Yoga therapy laid its foundation on two facets of unity and consciousness. *
* Refer to Concepts of Health, Disease and Cure in the article “Homeopathy-An Integrated System”.
YOGA AND ITS INDIVIDUALISTIC APPROACH
Yoga therapy offers a unique perspective on health and healing of an individual. It is unique as it is tailored according to the individual’s needs and characters. According to the age, sex, culture, specific physical and mental problems, a yoga therapist selects, adapts and modifies the practices of yoga.
Yoga therapy is based on the interaction of body and spirit through an experiential connection with the source of life. It addresses numerous questions on the meaning of life and the role of health and healing within it. From the standpoint of Yoga, the entire life journey is a healing process of reunion with oneself, with spirit and with universe.
Homeopathy offers a similar unique approach to treat an individual. Individualization is the central tenet in homeopathy.
THE HEALING PATH
Patanjali enumerated the path through eight stages:
- Yama (universal moral commandments)
- Niyama (self-purification through discipline)
- Asana (posture)
- Pranayama (rhythmic control of breath)
- Pratyahara (withdrawal and emancipation of mind from the domination of senses and exterior objects)
- Dharana (concentration)
- Dhyana (meditation)
- Samadhi (a state of supreme consciousness)
The first three stages are the outward means. The next two are the inner quests, while the last three ones take the sadhaka (a follower) into the innermost recesses of his soul.
Though the path is not easy, even following it to some extent, results in tremendous benefits. The final stage of Samadhi is the last stage when one has undergone through all the earlier stages. This can be considered as the scientific discipline as it constitutes the experience as perceived and narrated by great saints, in conformation to the universal conventionality which the science propagates.
Similarly, in homeopathy, the pathway of cure is an individual journey in numerous stages. Apart from Hering’s suggestions of a curative process, keeping the entropy at minimum and using the immunological resources to the fullest possible extent for the restoration of health are considered as the pathways of truth that are directed towards the goal of cure.
YOGA THERAPY AND RESEARCH
Extensive research papers covering a wide range of diseases such as Somatic, Psychodynamic and Somato-psychic, have already been published that highlight various benefits of yoga therapy. The special syndromes that relate to modern life like Metabolic disorders, Cerebrovascular diseases, Cardiovascular disorders and Musculoskeletal diseases like spondylosis, etc. are found to be improved using yoga therapy. Yet the research modalities need to be coordinated and standardized.
YOGA AND ATTITUDE
Yoga is a holistic and human-centered approach to medicine which is complementary to all the other systems of medicine, especially Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Naturopathy. Neither yoga can take the role of drugs nor drugs can take the role of yoga. But yoga is a basic therapy beyond caste, creed or religion and also beyond medication. It is powerful enough to bind together all the people in the world, creating a kind of spiritual socialism, which is the best therapy for social health. Thus, yoga embraces both the individual and the social health.
Hence, attitude towards Yoga should always be open as it touches the very heart of the living. The search for self can never be unscientific since it is the fundamental right of every human being. Monitoring one’s thoughts and trying to adapt with awareness is everyone’s basic necessity. This is offered by Yoga to those who follow it with perseverance and dedication throughout the healing journey.
YOGA AND HOMEOPATHY
There are remarkable resemblances between yoga and homeopathy. Both approach an individual from the selective and collective approach. In both therapies, the mind has been regarded as the most important destination of relief, succour and tranquillity. Yoga expects huge quality to be possessed and implemented while homeopathy expects the same from the patient and the physician.
Similar to Yoga, Homeopathy also believes in physical, mental and spiritual health, allowing the human being to attain the knowledge of the self, following the path of truth.
Like Yoga, Homeopathy offers a similar unique approach to treat an individual. Individualization is the central tenet in homeopathy as well as in Yoga.
CONCLUSION
To live in harmony with oneself and the environment is the wish of every human. However, greater physical and emotional demands are constantly placed upon many areas of the modern life. More and more people suffer from physical and mental illnesses.
The concept of self is basic to each individual and Yoga and Homeopathy share the same tools of investigating the self and knowledge of the self.
Homeopathy and Yoga, in unison, make a wonderful, salubrious combination to uplift the human beings from the rubbish heap that they are in; trapped: mentally, emotionally, physically and socially.
About Author
Dr AJIT KULKARNI M.D. (Hom.)
- Director, Homeopathic Research Institute, Pune
- A Veteran Homeopath, an Academician and a Famed International Teacher
- Co-Author: Absolute Homeopathic Materia Medica
- Five Regional Repertories: AIDS, DM, Thyroid, HTN and Trauma
- Author: Law of Similars in Medical Science, Homeopathic Posology, Kali Family and Its Relations, Body Language and Homeopathy, Homeopathic Covidoscope (published by Amazon)
- More than 100 publications on various aspects of homeopathy
- Many books translated in several languages
- The wonderful language of the Body in Marathi
- Award of ‘Excellence in Homoeopathy’
- Award of ‘Homoeo-Ratna’
- ‘Life achievement Award’
- Member, Editorial Board, National Journal of Homeopathy, Mumbai