Capítulo 13: Yoga is Nature's way
After a few months, on a mountain path near the Kashi Kingdom, Guru is leading his two disciples and going toward Himalaya.
Many other Sadhus were also following this Guru and disciples group and listening to their discussion. Many people who have taken a path of recluse will go on holy tourism of the land and will meet and listen to the teachings of great ascetic saints before starting their spiritual journey. Very few people are as lucky as Veer to find a great Guru.
Exactly this Guru and disciples group is the group of Guru Gorakh Nath and his two disciples Veer and Bhartrihari. The discussion of these Guru and disciples has attracted a lot of followers consisting of different recluse devotees and Sadhus.
This group will keep moving and questions and answers between disciples and Guru will also continue.
Veer asked while looking at the back of his Guru "Teacher! It has been more than three months but my practice of Yoga has not yet started. I am only just following some rules like Truth, nonviolence, no thieving, keeping away from impure thoughts and actions regarding intimacy and not storing any additional food cloth and money."
This question of Veer got the attention of many followers. Many of the devotees or recluse who are starting their spiritual journey want to know this answer. This answer will help them as well. Many people also know about the immortal saint Gorakh Nath and they also wish to know who is this lucky young person who got a chance to be this saint's disciple.
Guru Gorakh Nath laughed and his voice resonated in the mountain valley "I have never said I will teach you spirituality from some book. I will scold you when you are not on the right path and also tell you to do something sometime. From that you can understand."
This answer made everyone speechless. This guru really likes to talk in riddles. After a few moments Guru laughed and continued "Fine, as you have followed my instructions without questions, I will talk about a few things. First, tell me what is the ultimate goal of practicing Yoga."
Veer said "Practice of Yoga lets us understand the purpose of birth and rebirth, the meaning of life and death. Yoga is a process of being one with the supernatural existence which is called nature or Prakriti."
Guru laughed and said "Correct, you can never understand the nature's elements and functions like soul, life, death, birth, rebirth unless you are in sync with nature. The things which I'm telling you are to bring you in sync with nature. The journey of Yoga has eight steps. Initial four Restrain, Regulate, Asanas and Life Control are used to train your body and mind to bring them in sync with nature. Ask me one by one about the things I have been telling you these days."
Veer understood the intentions of his Guru. It is a rare occasion that his Guru is willing to explain things to him. He asked "Teacher! You said that we should follow truth and stay away from untruth. What is truth and what is untruth?"
Guru laughed and said "Good question, answer to this question is the start of the spiritual journey. All the momentary things of life are untrue. Untruth is something which is driven by emotions like anger, lust, greed, endearment, intoxication etc. Fleeting events or actions resulting from these emotions are untrue. Untruth is an unnatural way of things. Truth can be incorporated into your words, thoughts, and actions. If you get involved in actions resulting from untruth it will only cause you mental and spiritual weakness, so a traveler of spiritual way should leave all these emotions. Remember that the birth, rebirth, life, and death are the only eternal truths."
Veer and his senior brother listened to their Guru and also many followers. Many people from the followers looked earnest but they have to suppress their curiosity lest they are scolded.
Veer asked again "Teacher! Then isn't non-violence, non-stealing, non-hoarding, and sex-morality are all related with following the truth? Why do we have to mention the other four types?"
Guru laughed and said while he continued walking "Great. It is good that you understood. Non-violence is not causing violence to any living being by either thoughts, words or actions. Of course, violence arises from the emotions of anger, hate or greed. Similarly stealing happen due to emotions of lust and greed. People hoard the food, wealth due to the emotions of selfishness, greed or self-conceitedness. Also, the sex-morality or celibacy is to control your impure thoughts, speech, and actions toward it and this also is driven by thoughts of lust, greed and also some other emotions. In other words by these four rules, we try to control and regulate our five senses ears, eyes, nose, tongue, and skin. You have to understand that all the senses are controlled by emotions and for a Yogi, it is important to understand this and not be caught by these momentary distractions and leave the path of truth."
Veer felt like he has suddenly seen the light. One day he took more alms from one household and his guru scolded him and said that he has been too greedy and he did not understand why was this. It was just a bit more food but now he understood that hoarding the things is also a distraction. One day he picked one golden bracelet which has fallen on the road and his Guru said it was stealing and scolded him. He almost thought that his Guru was not a teacher but a person who is fond of scolding. Now he understood it because for a Yogi, all the worldly things are like dirt and he should never differentiate or make any distinction for them.
Veer felt gratified for his Guru's teaching and felt that it was embarrassing that he did not understand them by himself. It seemed Guru felt his feelings and he laughed and said "Are you feeling ashamed now that you did not understand before? Ho Ho Ho." Suddenly his angry voice came "I feel like scolding you again. Stupid, what did I just tell you? A Yogi should leave all the emotions. Why do you feel ashamed? What about pride, shame for a Yogi? If it is like this, then be it. If it is like that, then be it. I will beat you with the stick if If you made this type of face again."
All the people following suddenly gawked. This Guru is really always changing like nature. Sometimes it is spring, then suddenly summer or winter. Everyone felt like it has suddenly become thunderstorm now. He was just teaching his disciple so well just now and suddenly scolded him and called him stupid and threatened to beat him with a stick.
But for Veer, it is nothing new. He smiled and the said "I am thankful for teacher's teachings. Please beat the disciple if he doesn't understand next time. Teacher just taught not to get caught in emotions. So, I can't be shy or afraid of teacher's scolding and beating."
Listening to Veer's words many people in the following crowd smiled and many almost laughed. "I have just wasted a lot of my emotions on a wood head like you" Guru sighed and said. Group continued silently through the mountain path going through a valley.
After sometime Guru said again "Remember the things we just discussed are related with our thoughts, speech, and action. You should restrain emotions, think of good thoughts about God, well-being of living, study good literature, do good acts which gets the blessings and respect of people, maintain the purity of body, mind, and soul. These include the initial two steps of Yoga which are restrain and regulate. These steps are for living a life in a natural way. Next comes Asanas. Asanas are different body postures we use to sit, stand, sleep, eat, do things or do exercise. We always sit in Padmasan while meditating and that is also an asana. We sit in Sukhasan while eating. We sit in Vajrasan after eating for some time which helps in good digestion. We do different asanas in the morning to keep our body healthy."
Guru stopped at this point. Veer who was listening attentively at this point could not stop but ask "Teacher! These are the steps of Yoga but we are doing everything together. We also meditate which is the sixth or seventh step of Yoga. Shouldn't we do them stepwise and not do all of them together."
Guru laughed and said "I really do not wish to waste my energy in scolding you again so soon. You do asanas but you can not get the full benefit of asanas if you have not perfected the initial stages of restrain and regulate. You practice life-control by breathing procedures like Anulom-Vilom Pranayam and Bhramaree Pranayam but it's full benefit you can only get when you have perfected the initial stages of Restrain, Regulate and Asanas."
Guru stopped his explanation at this point. His senior discipline Bhartrihari who was silent till now said "Teacher! I think young brother will still find it difficult to understand. I think it is much better when teacher gives some example. I have benefited a lot in past this way."
Guru got angry again and scolded "You two idiots want to make me a bull and direct me to the plow the field whichever direction you want. Senior brother is so considerate of the younger one. Why don't you explain it for him." Everyone felt amused and even Veer almost smiled and then he looked at his senior.
Bhratrihari explained "Younger brother! When we prepare food, while food is cooking on the stove, we simultaneously go and clean the serving pot and if possible we also inform the people to come and sit so that the hot and delicious food can be served to them. You see, cleaning the serving pot can be done in advance but there won't be any food to serve. Serving pot can also be cleaned after food is prepared but it will take some time and food might turn cold in meantime and won't remain that appetizing. Also if we don't invite the people to sit in advance, that also be time-consuming and it will make food turn cold. Do you understand?"
This explanation was really good for most of the people listening and it made them enlightened. And Veer also felt like he understood the things clearly but suddenly he felt some doubts again and asked "Senior brother! In this analogy, can we not simply clean the pot before we start preparing the food?"
All the people following who thought they understood the concept, suddenly got dumbstruck with this question of Veer. Veer's senior brother felt speechless on Veer's question. Guru suddenly laughed with ho ho ho sound and berated his senior disciple "You idiot. You stole my example I gave you last time and you are trying to prove yourself very smart. Now you answer his question."
Bhartrihari felt speechless again. Is it necessary for their guru to berate him so openly? Is he not insulting himself by showing that he is holding a grudge against his disciple for copying him. He felt speechless and said "Teacher! As it was analogy given by you, I thought it was the best one. I did not know that there was a flaw in this analogy."
Guru rebuked "Now I feel like beating you as well. If there is a question it does not mean analogy has a flaw. The path of Yoga is such that you do not know what food will be prepared at the end of cooking. You just keep adding ingredients and cook it well. You clean the pots as long as the food is cooking. You clean the pot and also keep looking at the food which is cooking. You also make sure that no ingredient used for cooking is left out. You observe the state of food and clean the suitable pot to serve it. So, don't think that the process of cooking food is the same as walking on the path of Yoga. It's almost same as per analogy but it is not if you wish to find fault."
Suddenly Guru laughed and continued "You are the senior brother but you are too naive. You understood and believed my analogy and did not criticize it or think too much on it. This is also good because your mind does not have any other thought. Your younger brother thinks too deep because he has just started on the path of Yoga and he has many questions. Veer! Has your question been answered? Don't tell that you are feeling ashamed of asking such question otherwise I will scold you again. Just think of the things as they are told by me or your senior brother and practice them accordingly. After you have perfected the initial four steps of Yoga, you will get all the freedom to perceive the things as per your attainment."
Guru has stopped and after a few moments nodded and said: "Yes teacher!"
This group walked ahead silently afterward. After some time mountainous region came to an end and group reached a small town of Kashi Kingdom. Many people from followers started leaving one by one or in groups as they have different destinations.
Many people who knew who this Guru is, felt grateful by listening to the words of this great saint and bowed to him from behind before leaving. Guru laughed and said "Really people care a lot about rituals. Take it if it is of use and owner is giving to you, don't think of something if it is not yours. Everything is momentary in this world, so never get attached and be content with what you have. This is a Yogi's way."
Suddenly Guru and his two disciples noticed a group of people blocking his way from a distance. There was a person in lead standing beside his chariot with a crown on head. It seems he is the king of some kingdom. A women is also standing beside him. A group of soldiers are standing some distance behind them. The expression of this King and his women look respectful and they are looking at the incoming group with reverent gazes. There was also a group of servants and maids carrying gifts which included silk cloths and plates of fruits and sweets.
The expression of Guru changed when he saw these many people on his way and he looked annoyed. Senior disciple felt amused and he smiled when his eyes met his junior. Veer also felt curious to know how his Guru interacts with the people who pester him because he is a well known saint. This is the first time in last three months his Guru has entered a place where so many people are there. He wants to see how his Guru interacts with them.
Guru and his disciples moved and came near the waiting group and stopped. The King who is standing moved forward and greeted and bowed his head and said "I am the King of Kashi. Heard from the people that your holiness is passing through the lands of Kashi, So I came to show my respect." King mentioned toward the servants bearing gifts and said "Please accept some humble gifts from our people of Kashi and give your blessings to them."
Guru Gorakh Nath rebuked "Don't talk about people of Kashi and all this talk of respect. Tell me, what problem you have. We are in a hurry and really do not wish to be entangled with anything on the way."
Soldiers of the King lowered their head because they do not wish to be seen watching their King being scolded. And also they can not do anything to the person their king is too respectful to. So, they can only lower their heads.
Guru looked at the King and then his women standing beside him and maybe he understood their intention and mentioned a maid who was carrying fruit plate to come toward him and then said while picking a mango fruit "I understand your problem. I don't blame you for being selfish and greedy for such thing in front of me." Then he looked to the king's women and said "Take this fruit and divide it with your other sister and eat and both of you will be able to bear the child when time comes." The King's consort moved and accepted the fruit in both hands.
King and consort both paid their respect on knees and said their thanks to the saint. All the soldiers and servants also bowed to the Guru on their knees. How can they remain standing when their King is on the knees.
Guru said annoyed "This is a small thing. But never offer this type of gifts to a Yogi. This is insulting. These things does not make difference. Only your thoughts matter." And after saying that Guru and his two disciples passed the kneeling group from the side and continued their journey forward.
Veer looked at his Guru and felt his faith toward his Guru and his own self-determination rising. He mused that his Guru can never miss scolding people. But he also felt that listening words of his Guru is same as receiving his blessings.
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
Kritdeo
Kritdeo Hope you didn't feel this chapter was too boring. I felt so, actually.
Anyways it was needed to introduce the concept of Yoga. I promise, there won't be this much boring chapter again.
Please do provide your ratings and feedback. I would love to hear your suggestions.
Don't worry baseline has been set and interesting stories are going to come.
Let us continue together the journey of love and spirituality
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