Deterioration of Yoga
In an astral discussion with Yogeshwarananda during a session of bhastrika breath infusion, he mentioned the incidence of sexual indulgence as being one main reason for the failure of yoga practice. It was tagged for this in many of the Vedic literatures, and it is suspect even in other cultures where there were attempts to focus fully on spiritual development of the individual person.
Mostly the ascetic attempts were done with males in the majority with a speckling of females making the effort as well. I told Yogesh that the proposal about sexual indulgence may have caused an increase in failure at spiritual attempts because it caused many ascetics to regard it as the only means of deterioration of yoga or of other spiritual processes which surfaced in human history.
I said, “Suppose a man is condemned to death and is given a choice of method from a list of the killing processes used by the government. Which one should he select? Here is a list:
- hanging
- guillotine
- strangulation
- food poisoning
- gas chamber
- lethal injection
- medieval rack stretching
- starvation
- firing squad
- electrocution
- blunt blows until death
- stabbed through the heart
- exposure to freezing weather
Which of these is the best? Which is the most honorable?
For an ascetic, which is the best method for him to gradually or abruptly fail in his yoga efforts?
- sexual indulgence?
- over eating?
- misusing donations?
- accepting more honor than he should?
- breaching celibacy vows on the astral level?
- becoming careless with the spiritual disciplines?
- misusing authority over disciples?
- masturbation?
- mistaking membership in a lineage as the guarantee for advancement?
- mistaking seniority in a lineage for spiritual advancement?
The list goes on!
