S.M. Jain
Most of the canonical scriptures have defined yoga as organising every activity of mind, speech and body in a coordinated, cautious and skilful manner, so that neither self nor others are harmed or annoyed. There should be synchronization of mind and body. Most of the problems arise when mind is not concentrated on the work being performed. For example if mind is wavering somewhere else in office or home affairs while driving, there will be accidents. Similarly while cooking, food will be spoiled or one may suffer burn injury. While walking one may slip and get injured. While talking unmindfully one may speak irrelevant and harsh which may result in conflicts. The lack of awareness in various acts will be harmful to self and others. Acarya Mahapragya has even quantified efficiency in work reduced to as much as 25% on account of lack of awareness. This in common parlance and literally also is “Dhyan”. Thus Yoga and Dhyan are synonymous. Meditation is not an appropriate equivalent for Dhyan. Meditation is generally restricted to certain codified and ritualized practices for a limited period of time ranging from a few minutes to a few hours whereas “Dhyan” is awareness, mindfulness for all time, every movement, every act. Every one is familiar with the word “Dhyan” from childhood hearing instructions from parents, teachers, elders and saints for various activities do this or that cautiously and carefully “Dhyan-se-karna”.
Gautam, principal disciple of tirthankar Mahavira asked –
How to walk, stay, speak, sleep, eat so that sin is not committed?
Mahavira replied –
Walk, stay, speak, sleep, eat carefully and cautiously and sin will not be committed.
Yoga is defined similarly in the Bhagavad Gita also –
Doing any activity (Karma) skilfully is yoga.
It is not sufficient to undertake any activity cautiously and with awareness only but it is also necessary to learn the skill of the work undertaken e.g. one must learn the technique of cooking before doing it. The inclusion of word “kauśalam” (skill) is an important contribution of Gita in defining “Yoga”.
Following quotes also convey the same connotation of yoga and there is only difference in phraseology and not intent:
All proper and skilful conduct is yoga
Haribhadra Suri’s Yoga Satak
All activities, movements be undertaken without haste and with full attentiveness.
Haribhadra Suri’s Yogadrishtisamucchaya
Those born as humans must make appropriate efforts to fulfil the objective.
Shubhchandracharya’s Jnanarnava
The cautious activities of mind, speech and body constitute yoga.
Shubhchandracharya’s Jnanarnava
Yoga is doing every activity with full awareness and concentration on the particular activity being undertaken without distraction in past and future
Yoga is concentration of mind every movement on activity undertaken.
Uttaradhyayan Sutra 29/27
All activities should be undertaken carefully and with restraint and it is yoga.
Acharya Shivmuni’s Jain Yoga
Yoga is three fold i.e. cautiously undertaken activities of mind, speech and body.
Yoga is to be firm and stable in body posture, speech, mind without any sort of misery.
Kayotsarga Sutra
Concentration in every act, every moment is essential in yoga.
Brahma Sutra 4/1/11
Yogashchittavritti nirodhaḥ
Patañjali’s Yogasutra, Samadhipad 2
Here the word “nirodha” should imply unwavering mind i.e. concentration on the activity in hand. It should not be misconstrued as cessation of activity of mind. Cessation is negation of the very essence of life and only in dead the activities cease “Nirodha” should in no way be interpreted as total stoppage, it may at the most mean stopping bad and evil activities or direct and channelizes actions towards good and pious but activities never stop and go on ceaselessly as mentioned in Gita also:
No person can remain without activity for even a single moment.
All the scriptural connotations of the term “Yoga” imply cautious, careful, skilful activities of all types for all time, every moment in all the three modes the mind, speech and body. Yoga should not therefore be interpreted in any way cessation or stoppage of any activity. Activity is a must and yoga means organising activities properly with full awareness and mindfulness.
