Kriya Blog #2 - Sanskrit Origins & Its Place in Yogic Text, Classical Yoga & Ayurveda

Kriya Blog #2 - Sanskrit Origins & Its Place in Yogic Text, Classical Yoga & Ayurveda 

Section 2 - Kriyā & Shastra

What is Shastra?

The teachings of Yoga, Hinduism, Buddhism, Ayurveda, and all of the Vedic schools have an in-depth tradition of scriptures or text.  Shastra is the word in Sanskrit that translates as scriptures.  Yogic Shastra or Yogic Scriptures are loaded with amazing information about Yoga.  For some, the word scripture might bring up unpleasant memories of Bible school.   Yogic Shastra is based out of profound realizations.  Shastra is an attempt to point towards the enlightened state in writing, which can not be expressed in any words or language.  Yogic texts offer us a view into Self Revlead Knowledge of higher states of consciousness.  This is different than ordinary dogmatic religions.

Cultural Misappropriation - Why Shastra is Needed in the Yoga Marketplace

Is Yoga a form of cultural misappropriation?  This is a complex topic.  I could say a lot about it, but for now, I will simply say, no, it's not.  It was brought to the West by Indians to share their Heritage and spiritual culture.  Yoga is cultural sharing.  

On the other hand, if we are leaving Yogic Shastra out of Yoga we are much more likely to be part of unauthentic Yoga practices that are misappropriating Yoga.  Shastra helps us keep Yoga connected to its tradition.  Why is Yoga being removed from its powerful root that is grounded in ancient texts?  Ask the Marketplace.  It seems to have an answer for everything.  The Yoga Marketplace doesn't seem to mind striping Yoga of its rich cultural tradition that goes back thousands of years.  Some say they don't need to study Yogic texts or learn about Yoga history, Yogic culture, or Yogic philosophy, and that's fine! It's 2020, we are in the Aquarian age and Yoga can be completely devoid of Yoga's rich cultural teaching if we want it to!  Why, do you say? Because the practice works for me! The most important thing is my experience.  Oh, and I look great in Yoga bling.  And of course, I have built a business around selling Yoga devoid of the tradition.  So, of course, Yogic texts are for people who are stuck in there head.  The people who study that stuff all have closed heart centers anyways.  Don’t read those texts they were writing so long ago it doesn’t have anything to do with Yoga today  

I’m being facetious    

Sound familiar?  Most likely it does, and if it doesn't I envy you. 

I hope my dramatic language helps you understand the importance of Shastra.  Shastra is Self Revealed Knowledge of non-dual unity consciousness. It is the opposite of Market-driven Yoga and the Market-driven world.  

Many yoga schools have discouraged the study of these great texts as a useless academic pursuit and a sign of being stuck in our heads. At the same time, lip service is often given to scriptures without actually sourcing them or representing them accurately. This is a dangerous mindset that holds us back from understanding full system Yoga and it’s methods of Self-Realization.

"But the Practice Works For Me" - Why Learn About Shastra?

In today's Yoga Marketplace the idea that we can validate the quality of a Yoga practice by our own personal experience is prevalent.  Often this idea is used to empower the individual, for better or worse.  While this idea is not completely incorrect it is completely overused.  If Shastra and Jnana Yoga were taught in deeper forms the power of Market-driven Yoga would be reduced and what Yoga we considered to be working or not would greatly shift. With an understanding of Shastra we can make informed choices about the quality of practices and yogic methods. 

Yogic Shastra points us towards the heart of Yoga.  Yoga has been taught for thousands of years based out of texts and master level teacher's experience of non-experience.  What is non-experience? This is called Turiya or pure consciousness, the fourth state as explained in the Mandukya Upanishad. Doing without doing, being without being, seeing the dual in the unity, and the unity in the dual.

Shastra validates what is a distraction on the path of Yoga and what is useful for deepening our Yogic states of pure consciousness.  Yoga Shastra points us towards something deeper.  Yogic Shastra points us towards a reality where the "I",  that validates if a practice is "working" for me or not "disappears". 

The neophyte says - "I like this practice, it works for me". 

The ripe Yogis says - "Who is the 'I' that is practicing?"

Yogic Shastra helps to understand authentic sings of Yogic consciousness. In short, we can say that Yogic consciousness is  "one without a second." 

Ekam advitîyam Brahman - Chandogya Upanishad 

Yoga Sutras explain a state of complete and total nirodha or mental cessation, where the bliss of our eternal nature is remembered.  This is Samadhi or Supper Conscious Absorption.   Samadhi can also be called Yogic trance.  In this state, there is no "I".   Often Yoga becomes a form of ego enhancement.   "If I do X Kriya, I will get Y result."   "When I do my practice I feel great". This is fine when we start our practice but at some point, we need to drop into the ocean of bliss beyond appearances and goal-oriented approaches to Sadhana.  

Often Yoga teachers talk about going beyond the sense of individual self but without a larger container this can be very difficult to ground.  Beautiful teachings can turn into a twisted mess. The same teaching that points towards the liberated state can be used to manipulate people.  This is why individuals need to study the depth of Yogic Shastra and not simply follow a charismatic leader.  

We need to learn about Yogic Shastra because it helps us understand if we are on the path of Sat Chit Ananda, Truth, Consciousness, and Bliss Absolute, or on the path of confirming our limited ego bassed reality. 

Sadly, Yoga today has been modified and co-opted into an ego enhancement system. Studying and learning about Yogic Shastra can slow this negative trend.

Vedic Schools and Shastra

The Vedas and Primary Upanishads are considered the foundation or most ancient of Yoga and Vedanta Shastra.  The Yoga Upanishads are considered later texts that explore Yoga in various ways.  These relate to many modern expressions of Kriya, Mantra, and physical Yoga practices.  To understand these texts we need expert commentaries and even more ideally a personal teacher we can learn the embodied state of the scriptures from.

The Upanishads, the main text on Jnana Yoga teachings literally means to sit next to the master teacher.  This points towards what we find in all Yogic text.  Profound teachings that can transport us to the feet of a true master.

Ayurveda comes from an in-depth Shastric commentary.  It teaches about health and healing.  The teachings arose from deep observation, interaction, and mediation on nature and how it relates to each individual's ability to gain optimal physical vitality and spiritual wellness. We could say Ayurveda is the Yoga of relating to Nature as it is.  Ayurveda has vast texts.  Vedic astrology also has its own branch of texts.  Both Ayurveda and Vedic astrology are part of Upaveda.  Ayurveda's primary texts are the Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita.

While texts are important to understand Yoga from a larger perspective, they are also not absolute. The individual teacher and student relationship is important as well and considered sacred and highly valuable. The master teacher shares from their experience and experiments.  The master teacher custom tailors practices to the student's individual needs.  The master teacher must be established in the state of Yoga as a state of Samadhi.  Yoga is not a mechanical set of exercises.  Yoga is a state of consciousness.  Yoga is living and breathing beyond techniques.  While all this is true, Shastra is the standard to keep individual teachers in alignment with the larger intention and approaches to Yoga. 

 Yogic Shastra  

Classical Yogas primary Shasta’s are the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali and The Bhagavad Gita.  Hatha Yoga has its own set of Shastra but also includes the above mentioned. Hatha Yoga Pradipika is the primary Shastra, with Shiva Samhita and Ghendra Samhita being relevant as well.  These are Tantric text.   Hatha Yoga is considered to have come from the Tantric time period, where physical practices were empathized to deepen, Raja Yoga of the Yoga Sutras.  Hatha Yoga is a complete teaching on how to awaken Kundalini. Some feel that Hatha Yoga predates the Tantric renaissance but was codified in texts at that time.

 While Yoga has primary texts it is also through out many of the other Vedic philosophies.  For example, the Mahabharata, of which the Bhagavad Gita is a chapter has various Yoga teachings sprinkled throughout it.  The Devi Gita, which is a text from the Shakta tradition is loaded with Kundalini practices.  

Yogic Shastra is based out of lineages and individual's experiences from the inner lab of spiritual practice.  Some focus more on Bhakti, Karam or Jnana Yoga. 

Some Shastras are more philosophical (Yoga Sutra, Vedanta Sutra, Bhakti Sutra) and others are in a story format but are loaded with philosophy (Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavata, Devi Bhagavatam, Devi Mahatmyam just to name a few).  Often they are staged as conversations between teacher and student.    

Physical Yoga has a long list of texts.  Check out the book Thirty Minor Upanishads translated by K. Narayana Swami Aiyar to get a good overview of the topic.  The secondary Upnaishds and Tantric texts are vast and include many details about physical Yoga.  Often trying to understand our modern practices in light of the ancient text can be confusing.  I knowledgeable teacher can help us understand how to bridge the gap.  

Often we find Yoga communities avoiding theses text or talking about them without studying them.  In the case of, talk about texts, but don't study them, we often find dogmatic representations of the texts that often do not relate to the texts themselves. 

Kundalini and Hatha Yoga Texts

The Self-Revealed Knowledge of Kundalini and Kriyā are discussed in the works on Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga as a full system works to opening Kundalini quickly and powerful.  Much of what is taught in Yogi Bhajans system of Kundalini Yoga is directly from the Hatha Yoga system.  This includes various pranayamas, the three bandhas, asanas, and mudras. The idea of awakening Kundalini in forty days comes directly from the Hatha Yoga Pradkipka.  

"One delights in the life of the celibate, and always confirms to a moderate and salutary diet, and who practices Yoga in the form of stimulating Kundalini approaches Siddhi in forty days"

Hatha Yoga Pradipika

Translated by Pancham Singh  

Was Yogi Bhajan influenced by this text? It seems so.  Knowing if Yogi Bhajan drew from Hatha Yoga texts and teachers does little to bring us to Yogic states. Speculating on the past will not open us to higher consciousness.

Kundalini is awakened by various means.  Hatha Yoga uses physical means working with the breath, bandha, mudra, etc to open our channels and let the Kundalini energy flow.  In other Tantric Traditions, we see various mantra, yantras, and deity practices used to awaken Kundalini.  None of these practices are islands unto themselves.  We would find various cultural influences around Bhakti, Karma, and Puja to be wound into the lives of those who wrote the texts.     

Kundalini is usually not referred to as a Yoga as much as an experience or byproduct of practice.  In the non-dual view, the Kundalini movement is considered yet another mental construct that has no real identity of its own.  In the case of some non-dual perspective, the Kundalini movement is looked at as top-shelf spiritual experience blocking us form our higher experience of eternal oneness.  Other schools feel that when Kundalini moves the pure consciousness is contained in the experience.   

The question modern Yogis need to ask ourselves is this.  Does my practice align with the teachings of what Yoga is in the scriptures?  Does it fit with what the major pundits, acharyas, and Swamis teach? Or, are we being lead by commercialized Yoga sold by business people and academics? 

Yogic Shastra is not academic theories based on an outside observer reporting what they found based upon there sensory perception or research.  Shastric knowledge comes from deep inner knowing, where the nature of objects is known directly as they are.  

Western academic systems are not designed to fully grasp Yogic Shastra.  Self-revealed knowledge of Shastra is different than empirical evidence.  Both have their place, but Vedantic teachings can not be fully understood by empirical evidence.  Empirical evidence can also cause much confusion about the nature of enlightenment.  At the same time, fields like quantum physics are coming close to a framework that understands the Indian sciences of personal experiences and the reality that we live in a multiverse. 

In closing, don’t let your lack of study of Yogic Shastra get you down! Many Yoga systems give modern versions of classical practices. Yogananda, Kripalu and Amrit Yoga, Shivananda Yoga, Art of Living, Sadhu Guru, and Isha Yoga, Bihar School, and all of the outstanding Ayurveda teachers like Dr. Lad, Dr. Frawley Dr. Svoboda all give excellent full system teaching based out of the classical text.

It’s not as important that you study the text as you follow teachers who are teaching from them, verse there own versions of what they think Yoga is.  

Now that we have laid out the importance of Shastra as Self Revealed Knowledge and that its servers as an antidote to Market-based Yoga we are ready for the next blog post which will explore Yoga Therapy and Kriya as an introduction to study the Shat Kriyas of Hatha Yoga.

Thanks for reading till the end!  :)

Hari Om Tat Sat Om!