Sharath Jois on Honoring Tradition

Source http://www.sonima.com/yoga/honoring-tradition/

Yoga is a method to get higher consciousness, but to understand this method one must follow tradition. Tradition is very important in yoga. In Sanskrit, we say paramparā, which means a succession of teachers and disciples that come from a lineage. Guru shishya paramparā is the knowledge, or teachings, that flow from a master, or guru, to his disciple, a śiṣya. To gain yogic knowledge, guru shishya paramparā is based on a deep and rewarding relationship formed between a master and a disciple.

Many realizations will happen only when you spend time with a master. It takes time to strengthen these spiritual roots. Until then, the whole tree will not be grounded. Only when you spend time with your master—who has many years of experience—will you be properly grounded. Once your foundation is correct and strong, only then will the other limbs of yoga happen. Otherwise, yoga is very superficial. You will never have in-depth knowledge. It will be on the surface that’s all. You won’t go deeper than this.

Many people will talk about āsana and how to adjust this or that posture. Those things are fine for your physical body. But what about your in-depth knowledge of yoga? Where does that come from? Āsanas are just one limb to make your body stable, but we must not stop there. Yoga is not simply āsana. I’ve been saying this for so many years. Training is not yoga. …

Source http://www.sonima.com/yoga/honoring-tradition/

Yoga is a method to get higher consciousness, but to understand this method one must follow tradition. Tradition is very important in yoga. In Sanskrit, we say paramparā, which means a succession of teachers and disciples that come from a lineage. Guru shishya paramparā is the knowledge, or teachings, that flow from a master, or guru, to his disciple, a śiṣya. To gain yogic knowledge, guru shishya paramparā is based on a deep and rewarding relationship formed between a master and a disciple.

Many realizations will happen only when you spend time with a master. It takes time to strengthen these spiritual roots. Until then, the whole tree will not be grounded. Only when you spend time with your master—who has many years of experience—will you be properly grounded. Once your foundation is correct and strong, only then will the other limbs of yoga happen. Otherwise, yoga is very superficial. You will never have in-depth knowledge. It will be on the surface that’s all. You won’t go deeper than this.

Many people will talk about āsana and how to adjust this or that posture. Those things are fine for your physical body. But what about your in-depth knowledge of yoga? Where does that come from? Āsanas are just one limb to make your body stable, but we must not stop there. Yoga is not simply āsana. I’ve been saying this for so many years. Training is not yoga. …

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