Yoga Practice Continuum

Srila Yogeshwarananda mentioned to me about the continuum of yoga practice. His idea is that no matter what happens, the student should resume practice. This is because, he said, there are problems and interruptions with fate. For instance, he said if you are a yogi. You are meditating somewhere on planet earth. Then suddenly there is a screeching sound. He resume external consciousness and realize that everything is being scalded with heat which will kill your body, then you know that your practice sessions on the physical side of existence is done.

What should you do?

He said that you should simply continue your practice focusing on whatever you know to be the subtle side of your presence in this universe.

Continuation of practice, he said, is essential.

The same applies to day to day affairs, where we find that an ascetic may be plagued by interruptions or by imposed duties or by inconveniences all brought on by inscrutable and exacting fate. Many of these may be against yoga progress where they definite deter yoga and yet the ascetic may find that he is unable to stop these for one reason or the other.

For instance something happens like he is in a car accident. His body is damaged in such a way that continuation of practice becomes impossible in that body. Then again he should shift his focus to the subtle side and continue practice.

Someone might say that he should not have travelled on that day. In fact many Hindus call the astrologer to find out if it is safe to travel. Hence someone might say, the ascetic was stupid to travel on that day, especially if he was advised not to by someone.

These criticisms are of course of no consequence because just as one astrologer may say not to travel, another well-known one may say that it’s okay to travel. The ascetic, irrespective of what happens should focus on shifting the practice to the subtle side. Those who feel that the ascetic should never be in an unfortunate circumstance are stupid people. Those who feel that the ascetic should never be assailed by non-yogic or yogically-nonproductive influences are idiots. But those who know that the ascetic is not absolute and that he or she will be subject to reverses, but who look to see if the ascetic has the momentum energy to continue practice after dire situations are resolved, these are the wise people.

This universe, that universe, this earth planet, that other place, whatever, the ascetic should have that continuum of practice to keep developing yoga proficiency.