Yogic Philosophy - Svadhyaya: Yoga And The Quest For Knowledge

Svadhyaya - Study Of Self

Knowledge is a powerful tool. Is it, however, the case?

This famous adage, in my opinion, is terribly inaccurate.

Nonetheless, information that leads to self-understanding is priceless, since it is self-understanding that allows us to live a life free of the unconscious's dictates.

And this is ultimately what Yoga and other spiritual traditions are about.

As a result, study is seen as an essential method of self-knowledge in the Yoga tradition.

Svadhyaya is the Sanskrit term for study, and it literally means "one's own (sva) entering into (adhyaya)."

It denotes a careful and methodical examination of the Yoga tradition as well as one's own self.

Both traditional knowledge and self-knowledge are intertwined.

Traditional scriptures contain the distilled wisdom of sages who have reached the peak of self-knowledge, and therefore these writings may help us get a better understanding of ourselves.

Study is always a journey of self-discovery, self-understanding, and self-transcendence in the yogic sense.

It has been a part of the yogic path from the beginning of time.

Patanjali mentions it as one of the component practices of self-restraint (niyama), the second "limb" of his eightfold path, in his Yoga-Sutra (2.32).

Study is an important component of Yoga's pragmatic approach.

Although yoga does not advocate blind faith, it does emphasize the supreme necessity of true, profound faith (shraddhd), or trust.

Belief alone will not assist us in realizing what exists beyond the conditioned or egoic self.

Instead, Yoga has always been a very experimental and experiential practice, with research being one part of this sound methodology.

From study, one should move to practice (yoga), and from practice to study, according to the Vishnu-Purana (6.6.2), an ancient encyclopedic Sanskrit book.

Perfection in study and practice leads to the revelation of the ultimate Self.

"Whoever neglects learning in his youth loses the past and is dead for the future."

- Euripedes

Many Western Yoga practitioners, particularly those with a dominant right brain, avoid research.

They'd much prefer improve their performance in one of the two postures.

However, it seems that they often miss the target because they are unaware of the appropriate environment in which these methods should be developed.

Frequently, they do not have a thorough understanding of the methods.

They may attempt to compensate for their lack of understanding by attempting to re-invent the wheel and create their own yoga practices.

While innovation is admirable—after all, our whole civilization is built on it—in the case of Yoga, we would be well to be humble; after all, the Yo ga tradition can boast of at least 5,000 years of rigorous experimentation.

A solely left-brained (thought-driven) approach to Yoga is similarly risky, if not entirely useless, just as a mainly right-brained (action-driven) approach to Yoga has its drawbacks.

"Armchair Yoga" isn't a substitute for hands-on experience.

"It is better to learn late than never."

- Shakespeare

Our accomplishments will be little if our exercise is simply nominal.

Both theory and practice, like space-time, constitute a continuum in Yoga.

It necessitates our entire participation, as the Buddhists describe it: with body, voice, and mind.

The Bhagavad-Gita (2.48) reminds us that yoga is about finding equilibrium (samatva).

As a result, when we devote ourselves to the yogic path, we should activate both brain hemispheres.

Let us not forget that "integration" is one of the definitions of the term yoga.

Study is a source of pleasure for diligent students, according to the Shata-Patha-Brahmana ( 1 1.5. 7.1), an ancient text.

It concentrates the student's mind and allows him or her to sleep well. It also provides wisdom and the ability to master life.

What more could a person want?

An Exercise In Self-Reflection.

1. What is your relationship with knowledge?

Do you gather knowledge in the same way that some people collect trinkets?

Do you consider knowledge to be a path to wisdom?
Or do you think wisdom is a whole different animal than knowledge?

2. What piece of information has had the most profound impact on you, and how has it shaped you?

3. Do you believe in the concept of "objective" knowledge?

Can we ever get out of our shell and see things for what they are?

4. According to Alexander Pope, the appropriate topic of study should be humanity itself. What would you say to him if you were in his shoes?

5. What is the difference between information and knowledge?

The terms "information overflow" and "knowledge explosion" are often used. How do you feel about both of them?

6. Sometimes we mean "I suppose" when we say "I know." Examine some of your basic "knowledges" to see whether you are really knowledgeable or simply making assumptions.