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Iyengar Certified |
"Drsta anusravika visaya vitrsnasya vasikarasamjna vairagym". Non-attachment and detachment are learned through willpower. They consist of learning to be free from cravings both physical and emotional. Mind (citta) is taught to be unmoved by thoughts of desire and passion and to remain in a state of pure consciousness, devoid of objects and free from the energetic qualities of sattva, rajas and tamas.* The mind is considered to be the eleventh sense, following the five senses of perception (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin) and the five organs of action (arms, legs, mouth, generative and excretory organ). The first ten are external senses while the mind is an internal organ. There are five stages in renunciation (vairagya): 1. Disengaging the senses from the enjoyment of their objects and controlling them one by one is called yatamana. 2. By thoughtful control, the desires which obstruct the minds movement toward the soul is stilled. This is vyatireka. 3. After the five senses of perception and five organs of action have been weaned away from their objects of desire, there is still a feeble desire remaining in a causal state in the mind (ekendriya) At this point the mind wants to play a dual role by fulfilling the desires of the senses and also to experience Self-Realization. Once all the senses have been silenced, the mind can move with a one-pointed effort toward soul and Self-Realization. 4. Vasidara is attained when one has overcome all longings and developed indifference to all types of attachment, non-attachment and detachment. All eleven senses have been subjugated.
5. Paravairagya, the highest form of renunciation now develops. It is free from
the energetic qualities of sattva, raja, and tamas. When in this state the
practitioner/seeker (sadhaka) ceases to be concerned with himself or with others
who remain caught in the web of pleasure.
To reach the highest spiritual goal both abhyasa (practice, repetition) and
vairagya (renunciation ) are essential.
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