In response to ‘how will this practice, full of power/strength and enthusiasm, make a man respectable in Yoga?’ Maharshi said, ‘Nothing will happen with one practice’, Perfection in practice comes when one continues to practice with sincerity and respect for a long period of time without any interruption.

Abhyasa/practice becomes a firm resting place with a stable foundation only when constantly observed with reverence, endowed with celibacy, devotion, knowledge and faith over a period of time. Even if the meditator has both the power and enthusiasm but interrupted Yoga practice, then this type of practice cannot let him make much headway in Yoga. Therefore, only continuous practice over a long period with devotion, meditation, celibacy and knowledge is fruitful.

Very often we see that people give up hope after some time, break their resolutions and then regret. Many youngsters come to me to admit that they try to observe celibacy but suddenly due to some life situation their power gets destroyed leaving them in regret feeling guilty. The only reason for this is weak foundation of their practice/abhyasa which cannot stand steadfast in the times of inversion.

Abhyasa, observed with reverence, endowed with celibacy, devotion, knowledge and faith, establishes the meditator’s position strongly in disjointed sanskaras. I ask the youth to make a strong foundation by getting up with equal determination even if they fall repeatedly and to organize themselves by trying again to find their real position. This does not hold good only for observing celibacy but in every situation wherever we have taken resolutions.

We have such profound sanskaras of defeat in us that whenever a meditator starts his abhyasa with determination, then the samskaras of previous defeat and anti-resolution habits together try to shake his faith. And if the meditator is not passionate to accomplish his goal, then everything gets blown away with the wind.

‘Satkar’ is a beautiful word that appears in Sutra. You welcome a guest who comes to your house. You will ask him to sit and offer him a good seat, refreshment, arrange for a good vegetarian meal, make appropriate arrangements for his rest and see to it that he is not uncomfortable in your house. To the extent that you will provide your guest with a borrowed luxury that you do not have.

You will not pay much attention to the hospitality to your guest if you are not happy on his arrival. You will show hospitality only if you have respect for the guest and his arrival makes you happy. If your mind is free and guileless, you will wish to entertain the guest at the cost of your own discomfort.

We will give first priority to abhyasa only if we have the same kind of respect for it and we are determined to meditate for its safety. We can protect abhyasa only if we know the importance of its glory. And such meditation observed with reverence can only protect us.

सूत्र: स तु दीर्घकालनैरन्तर्यसत्कारासेवितो दृढभूमिः

कैसा वह अभ्यास तत्त्व हो? परमात्मतत्त्व को पाने का

श्रद्धा, विद्या ब्रह्मचर्य और निरंतरता से आत्म तत्त्व को पाने का।।

योग के मुख्य साधनों में, अभ्यास बड़ा ही गूढ़ तत्त्व है

अशुभ से दूर हटाकर, शुभ में करता आरूढ़ तत्त्व है।