Essay name: The Nervous System in Yoga and Tantra (Study)
Author:
Ashok Majumdar
Affiliation: Banaras Hindu University / Department of Kayachikitsa
This study deals with the presentation of the Nervous System in Yoga, Tantra and Ayurveda. Yoga and Ayurveda are allied sciences dealing with science of man in depth. This study has revealed a number of hither to unknown facts about concept of nervous system and thought science of Hindus.
Chapter 2 - The Eight Components of Yoga
3 (of 85)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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5
yoga in other Shastras and Puranas. The Mahabharata also
gives various definitions of yogas.
YOGASCHITTAVRITTI NI RODHA (Y.S.1:2)
Yoga is restraining the mind-Stuff (Chitta) from
taking the various forms (Vrittis).
Swami Vivekananda explains Chitta and Vrittis in
his book Raja yoga (pp. 115-20) in the following words,
"I have eyes. Eves do not see. Take away the brain centre
which is in the head, the eyes will still be there, the
retinae complete, as also the pictures of objects on them,
and yet the eyes will not see. So the eyes are only a
secondary instrument, not the organ of vision. The organ
of vision is in a nerve centre of the brain. The two eyes
will not be sufficient. Sometimes a man is asleep with
his eyes open. The light is there and the picture is there,
but a third thing is necessary
the mind must be joined
-
to the organ. The eye is the external instrument, we need
also the brain centre and the agency of the mind.
Carriages roll down a street, and you do not hear
them. Why? Because your mind has not attached itself to
the organ of hearing.
First there is the instrument, then there is the
organ, and third the mind attached to these two.
The mind takes the impression further in, and
presents it to the determinative faculty
-
Budd hi
-
which
reacts. Alongwith this reaction flashes the idea of egoism.
