Purna Swasthya Ke Liye Yogabhyasa - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary in English of the provided Jain text, "Purna Swasthya ke Liye Yogabhyasa" by Swami Niranjananand Saraswati:

Purna Swasthya ke Liye Yogabhyasa (Yoga Practice for Complete Health)

This book, authored by Swami Niranjananand Saraswati, emphasizes the profound and enduring role of Yoga in facilitating the holistic development of humanity – encompassing physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. The author posits that modern civilization, particularly in the last 200 years, has witnessed a significant increase in stress. This pervasive stress has led individuals to lose their capacity for introspection, analysis, and self-understanding. Caught in a materialistic mindset, people are compelled to focus solely on external events, neglecting their inner experiences and the well-being of their mind and body. This neglect has resulted in the disregard of essential principles for maintaining physical and mental health.

However, the text highlights a growing awareness over the past 50 years regarding the internal workings of the human being and the search for a scientific approach that can foster health, happiness, and lasting peace.

Yoga: An Ancient Science for Modern Times

The book asserts that Yoga is not a new discipline but an ancient wisdom that has been intertwined with human existence for millennia. At one point, this knowledge was largely forgotten, with Yoga being misconstrued as irrelevant to daily life, leading to an era of suffering. The author states that in the current century, Yoga has been revitalized in India to alleviate human suffering.

Crucially, the text clarifies that Yoga is not exclusively an Indian science but a universal one. However, it acknowledges India's unique role in preserving Yoga's spiritual essence during periods when the rest of the world was steeped in ignorance. India's dedicated practitioners and spiritual leaders have safeguarded this profound knowledge, which otherwise would have been lost to the world's ignorance and neglect. Consequently, while the rest of the world grapples with the complexities of the machine age, India continues to produce Yoga masters whose teachings have re-popularized Yoga globally, benefiting all of humanity, not just a specific creed or nationality. The book strongly advocates for understanding Yoga as the true path to living life correctly.

The Various Paths of Yoga and Their Impact:

The text outlines several branches of Yoga, including Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Laya Yoga, Kriya Yoga, and Dhyana Yoga, all of which exert a significant influence on the human mind, intellect, and body.

Hatha Yoga: Energizing the Nervous System: Hatha Yoga is described as a rediscovered miraculous science. The word "Yoga" signifies union, while "Hatha" refers to the solar and lunar energies within the body. These energies form the basis of our life force (prana), which governs our thoughts and experiences. An imbalance between these energies leads to illness, restlessness, and distress. Hatha Yoga's practices help balance these energies, purifying the body and fostering harmony and peace. The book explains the subtle energetic channels within the spine, known as Ida and Pingala nadis, which carry mental and vital energy respectively. These nadis originate from the Muladhara chakra and intertwine at various plexuses (Swadhisthana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddhi) before merging at the Ajna chakra. Blockages or weaknesses in these nadis are identified as the root cause of physical and mental ailments, whether psychosomatic or somatopsychic. Asanas in Hatha Yoga are not mere physical exercises but postures that influence the body's subtle electrical circuits, bringing about positive changes. Before practicing asanas, purification through Shatkarma (six cleansing techniques) is recommended.
Pranayama: The Science of Breath: Pranayama is presented as a science of breath that awakens dormant prana, rectifying irregularities in the body's cells. It is to be practiced after the body is purified by Shatkarma and proficiency in asanas is achieved. Pranayama recharges the body with energy, which then flows through Ida and Pingala nadis to all parts of the body, including the brain.
Mantra and Yantra: Relieving Mental Burden: The text emphasizes the importance of Mantra and Yantra for complete health. Mantra science is the science of sound, and sound waves affect both physical and subtle bodies. Modern science is leveraging sound's power, but mantras, through their repetitive and specific sonic frequencies, possess a potent ability to revitalize weakened cells and restore them to functionality. The human brain is a repository of archetypes representing experiences from past and present lives. These ingrained "samskaras" manifest as actions. Yantra, the science of geometric symbols, helps release these deeply embedded samskaras, thereby lightening the mental burden and unleashing inner potential.
Yoganidra: Stress Relief for the Mind: Yoganidra is introduced as a technique for releasing the accumulated stress on the mind, body, and emotions. It facilitates Pratyahara, the withdrawal of the senses from their objects, leading to a profound relaxation and transformation of the mind, brain, and consciousness. This process effectively alleviates mental, physical, and emotional stress.
Kriya Yoga: Amplifying Inner Strength: The book discusses the different psychological tendencies in individuals – sattvic (balanced), rajasic (conflicted), and tamasic (unaware of conflict). Dhyana Yoga (meditation) is suitable for those with minimal internal conflict, while Kriya Yoga is recommended for individuals facing significant inner turmoil and struggling with focus. Kriya Yoga's simple practices are vital for awakening dormant inner strength in the modern era, where most individuals are unable to concentrate due to the influence of rajasic tendencies and negative habits. Kriya Yoga is seen as an essential practice for propelling human consciousness and accelerating its evolutionary process, enabling individuals to experience their highest mental state on Earth.

Happiness and Health: A Holistic Perspective

The text challenges the conventional definition of health, stating that physical well-being alone does not constitute health. A person suffering from anxiety, worry, or restlessness cannot be considered truly healthy. True health, according to Yoga, encompasses a peaceful, undisturbed, and joyful state of mind. Ignorance is identified as the root cause of all human suffering. Yoga posits that humans exist on multiple levels simultaneously, including physical, mental, energetic, causal, and spiritual. Practices like Kriya Yoga, Raja Yoga, Hatha Yoga, and Yoganidra allow individuals to inhabit and balance these levels concurrently.

Yoga's Contribution to Humanity:

The book concludes by highlighting Yoga's immense contribution to humanity. Thousands are practicing Yoga worldwide, overcoming challenging and incurable diseases and undergoing mental evolution. Yoga offers renewed hope for personal growth, transforming individuals who had lost life's joys due to physical ailments into healthy and happy beings. While thousands of Yoga institutions, teachers, and students exist globally, Yoga's true gift to humanity is not a new religion or sect, but a science that enables profound transformation of the mind. This is and will remain Yoga's most significant contribution to humankind.