Three Yogas

At mention of the word yoga, conventional wisdom here in the West, gives rise to the image of a person engaged in a physical posture -often one seemingly awkward. In more correct terms this form of yoga is called hatha.

However, this term yoga comes from a Sanskrit root meaning union or linking. The English word yoke shares the same root. Yoga then, has a broader more inclusive scope, and definition than the postures or not-movements of hatha yoga. Included in this broader scope are three more or less coequal forms of yoga. Their names are karma yoga, bhakti-yoga, and janna-yoga; in English this trio are commonly known as the yoga of work, the yoga of devotion, and the yoga of understanding, respectively. My view holds these three to be linked, not just in theory, but in actual practice.

As usual my view on these things is very simple and even practical. Let's take an example and see if we can explore this notion a little further; let's make it something simple that everyone has experience with, like washing a dish. Okay, I'm past the learning curve, and I'm washing a dish. I take it from the soapy water, and run a sponge or my fingers over it and then allow rinse water to splash over it. This is action, this is work, this is karma. Now the rule for karma-yoga is very simple. Each thing is done for its own sake, in its own time with no thought of reward. So I'm just washing.

But while so doing, if I just consider for a moment and get a feel for why dishes are washed, it's because of care, care of and for the other. The other that may eat off this plate, and if it's not clean, they could get sick. My care, my concern my devotion for them, helps focus my attention on washing the dish properly.

Devoted now to my task, something else is taking place; my view is broadening, it’s more inclusive now. I understand that the simple act of washing a dish is more than just washing a dish. That understanding grows; I come to a place where I see that I can’t parse out these three strands. The three yogas seem to be inextricably linked.

But now here's where it gets interesting. What happens if I drop the dish and break it? Well I have to get very honest and very attentive and go back and check and see where I was at in my head when the dish dropped! I was probably somewhere else, maybe indulging myself in some sort of negativity or whatever. Wow, could this really be true; that there's a link between my miscreant behavior, and my self-indulgent thought? If so the logical conclusion is that work, once seen as karma-yoga, turns out to be a barometer of consciousness.

In view of this modest little scene its no wonder my favorite yogi, Sri Aurobindo said. "All life is yoga."

And finally, what of the truism that holds that all forms of human contentment come from these three; work, the giving and receiving of affection, and understanding; also known as the good, the beautiful, and the true.

Karmayoga

Each thing for its own
Sake and time, without reward.
Obvious. Unseen!