The topic for the Hindi Satsang on Sunday, 31st March, 2013 was ‘True Knowledge is Imperative.’
Following is the transcript of the Q & A between the audience and Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra and Smt. Hansaji Yogendra.
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Dr. J: The answer is simple but the practice is very very difficult. Why work long hours? Why expand your needs so that you have to struggle so much? Even an ordinary clerk, he does his team work and lives nicely.
Smt H: As Dr. Jayadeva said, is it necessary to work long hours? You may want to earn a lot, but even our health and relationships should be right. There are many duties – duties to ourself, near and dear ones, society, nation, etc. Being busy does not mean having no time for food, sleep, etc. In fact, I have found that a busy person can always find time for some good things in life. A lazy man has no time. Bring in some awareness. Even when busy, removing 5 minutes to eat your food is not a difficult thing to do. We should try to gain some knowledge about our health and philosophy and apply it into our lives. Work, but do not forget yourself.Q. Who is superior, Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva?
Dr. J: These are all mythological things. I am not good in that.
Smt. H: If right understanding is there, all of this refers to one thing. Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva are one and the same. They represent our inner personalities. Krishna represents Karma Yoga – eat on time, sleep on time, do your duty. Shiva represents destruction of all negative things, weakness, because no matter what work we do, we will tend to make mistakes, so we should correct them and improve. So both these things have to be given attention. There is nothing like superior or inferior.
Q. We know the philosophy, then why can we not follow the same?
Dr. J: This is the big question. All of us talk. When we know the right thing, why can’t we follow it?
Smt. H: The mind tends to forget the good things. So it is necessary to train the mind. Constant repetition is needed. Repeat those good things in life, the basic philosophy in life. Instead of watching TV in the night, sit a little and contemplate. Think good things and see how you can apply them in life.
Q. I have a habit of working in a hurry all the time. Is this right?
Dr. J: If you understand this, you can correct it. Since you have asked the question, inspite of knowing this, if you will knowingly start working in a hurry after returning home, it will be wrong.
Smt. H: Philosophy says that you should always give time pressure to yourself. You can take either 30 minutes or 5 minutes to bathe. So bathe in 5 minutes. Then you will have time on your hands. So this time pressure is important otherwise you will be stuck doing only routine work. In some families, women cook food in the morning, then sit to eat, get 2 minutes to rest and then start cooking again in the afternoon. Then life comprises of only food and sleep. You can then remove time for good things.
Q. How to put the theory of ‘True Knowledge’ (Tattva Jnana) into practice?
Dr. J: If the mind is peaceful, we will be able to understand things and apply them. If mind is not peaceful, we may think and say and take up many things but knowledge does not come.
Sm. H: Try to keep yourself in the right state of mind and true knowledge will come on its own.
Q. What kind of challenges should one expect to face or encounter while practicing the knowledge of yoga?
Dr. J: I think the best treatment is material disease. If you get admitted into a big hospital and the bill comes to a lakh of Rupees, you will never repeat those things.
Smt. H: So firstly, health is wealth. Follow the routines that are necessary for remaining healthy. Then with the healthy body, do the right Karmas. One may exercise for two hours a day, do meditation and is healthy, but what is the use of that unless there is right use of the body and mind? Remain happy and do your duties well.
Satsang is an open meeting held every Sunday from 9:30 to 10:30 am at The Yoga Institute, Santacruz East, Mumbai. It involves an interesting presentation to the public, made by the students of the Teacher Training Course. Each week, a new presentation of a Yogic concept is made in a simple way through skits and decoration for the general public, followed by a short speech from our Gurus, Dr. Jayadeva and Smt. Hansaji Yogendra.