Some thoughts on peace, nonviolence and power

Pack a Punch With Spiritual Energy

(Published in The Times of India on 18 January 2008)

by

Swami Veda Bharati

We often hear phrases like ‘power yoga’, ‘power breathing,’ and perhaps even ‘power meditation’. These phrases convey images of a heavy punch delivered by a wrestler or a country beefing up its armed forces. However, this is not the kind of power a practitioner of meditation pursues.

The Upanishads do state that atman is not to be found by one devoid of bala or power. Here, power refers to spiritual energy. The yoga sutras of Patanjali mention virya as one of the five ways of attaining samadhi and Brahmacharya or practice of celibacy confers virya. However, this virya arises out of shraddha or reverent conviction and is synonymous with the power to grant diksha or initiation which means shakti-pata, the power to transfer a higher state of consciousness to the disciple. This is the true meaning of power yoga.

The power in yoga means the power to extinguish one’s anger like that of taming a wild tiger, for instance. It means the will to overcome temptation and thereby altering the mental state of one who may approach a yogi with passionate thought. It is the power of Buddha whereby he converts Angulimala, the dreaded robber who cut off his victims’ fingers and wore them as a necklace round his neck. The Buddha walks into the robber’s lair and says “Come along, monk!” and helps transform the marauder into a monk instantly. The latter follows him like a tiger that has been tamed. That is true power.

The power of yoga is that of ahimsa whereby one abandons in all possible manner, at all possible times, towards all beings, any inclination to hurt or harm. With that power one may approach two combating armies, stand between them and through sheer power of presence, make them lay down their arms. Alexander had massacred many in battle during his conquests. Yet, he gave up violence after meeting with monks who advocated ahimsa.

Chengiz Khan established a large empire by sheer force of violence. When he reached what is now called Afghanistan , he began to have doubts; he questioned the meaning of his life. He invited a Taoist master to talk to him. The Taoist master’s spiritual energy convinced Chengiz Khan to stop his conquests and instead, set about consolidating what he had, peacefully. There is a painting depicting this in a Taoist temple in Beijing .

While the energy received from meditation may help one to win a long race, a true yogi uses the power to sit. Sitting still requires greater shakti or power than does running. True power is the power to stabilize yourself.

In the yoga sutras certain meditative practices are termed ‘sthiti-nibandhana’, establishing stability. Abhyasa or spiritual practice involves stable posture and undiluted relaxed concentration. During Abhyasa your breathing becomes calmer, deeper and lighter. Coupled with manasa japa or mental chanting, there is an even flow.

The ever-flowing mind-stream generates awakening of kundalini whereby one may conquer all intangible worlds and states within oneself. For a self-conqueror of the interior worlds the exterior conquests are mere pursuit of mirages, a wastage of power. He puts a stop to this. This vi-rama or ceasing is true power. We need to attain to this power of purity.