Inertia’s Influence on Yoga Practice

Inertial is listed under the Sanskrit term of tamas in the Bhagavad Gita. It is a real power in the material world, named as one of the three essential influences. The other two are clarification energy (sattva) and enthusiasm energy (rajas).

The lower two which are tamas (inertia force) and rajas (enthusiasm to act) are down rated by Krishna. One, the clarification energy (sattva), was recommended by him. Still even that one was listed as flawed by him.

These three feature influences of the psychic material nature, are ever present. For instance just before doing breath infusion with asana postures every day, I usually have a little talk with the inertial force. Its influence is that I should not practice because it will be strenuous and will involve effort and some pain. Simultaneously there is the enthusiasm energy in another part of the psyche but that waits to see if I can abolish the inertia force. There is also the clarifying energy which sends a memory of a previous successful meditation to encourage me to bash in the inertia force.

For its part the inertia force applies itself as best as it can to stop me from practicing. If I am to practice with some other person and if that person procrastinates, then the inertia from that person’s psyche tries to reach over and invade my psyche. If I am alert and prevent this, it will resume itself in the other person with full force. Then that person will say something to stop me from practice, so that the inertia force in that person’s mind expressed itself using the verbal tool of that person’s body.

Have you ever experienced anything like this?