Yoga Ek Jivan Paddhati

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text from "Yoga Ek Jivan Paddhati" by K. V. Sahastrabuddhe:

The author, K. V. Sahastrabuddhe, addresses a common misconception that practicing yoga requires renouncing worldly life and retreating to secluded places like forests or Himalayan caves. He refutes the belief that yoga distorts the mind or is exclusively for ascetics and renunciates, excluding householders.

Sahastrabuddhe asserts that one does not need to leave their household to practice yoga. Far from corrupting the mind, yoga, through practices like Yama and Niyama, purifies the mind and sharpens intellect and creativity. It doesn't ruin family life; instead, regular practice leads to a disciplined life and the true joy of domesticity.

He highlights the growing recognition of yoga in the West, citing the work of two physicians at Herbert University who successfully treated patients with "Transcendental Meditation" (or Shavasana), normalizing blood pressure in two thousand individuals. He also mentions that fifty-one universities in Western countries are actively researching yoga, and numerous high-quality English-language journals feature articles on yoga by Western scholars, based on serious study.

In contrast, Sahastrabuddhe laments the neglect of yoga in India, its birthplace. He believes that Indians suffer from a false sense of pride, thinking yoga is inherently integrated into their culture and civilization, while in reality, they know very little about its practice due to its absence. While some research centers exist in India, such as Kaivalyadham in Lonavala, and centers in Sagar, Roorkee, and Uttar Pradesh, this effort is minuscule in a country as vast as India.

He stresses the urgent need for greater effort in promoting yoga in India, warning that if this neglect continues, future generations of Indian scholars will have to go to Western countries to learn yoga.

Crucially, Sahastrabuddhe emphasizes that yoga cannot be learned solely through reading books, watching television, or listening to lectures. True yoga practice can only be achieved under the guidance of a guru. Without a guru, the deeper secrets of yoga remain elusive. A guru reveals the path of yoga after assessing the aspirant's readiness, explaining profound secrets in a simple and accessible manner for easy comprehension.

The author concludes by stating that yoga is meant for practice, not just for knowing. The true joy of yoga can only be experienced through consistent practice. Expecting immediate benefits after a single day of practice is impossible; it requires immense patience and regular daily effort. Yoga is presented as a way of life, essential, and even compulsory for physical and mental well-being and happiness. It teaches the art of living, enabling one to live joyfully and with a smile, rather than with sorrow and distress.