There are two essential features of the nature which are the basis or the whole creation. These are Abhyasa and Vairagya. Abhyasa is discipline and Vairagya is non-attachment. Discipline means that which is happening repeatedly at predictable intervals without failure, creating thereby a cycle of events.
For example-every morning sun rises, and every evening sun sets and we can predict that next day the sun would rise. This form of cycles is the cause for the whole creation to take place. We can observe discipline in the plant and the animal/bird kingdom so clearly. If we sit amidst the nature we can observe each and everything around us goes in an order. Nobody is ordering them but they all seem to go with a flow or a pattern. Plants grow with the spring coming, and dress themselves up with fresh leaves, flowers and fruits, and with the onset of winter or autumn, leaves tend to dry up preparing to welcome snow. Birds are ready to go out for food when sun rises and come back home at sunset. This order brings about a routine in the life. The whole cycle is called as discipline. Without this discipline creation would not have been possible.
When it comes to man, he has an ability to bring in some more aspects of discipline in his life to enhance this growth process. If discipline is brought at body level it would help the growth. Then, one can develop mastery over mind which helps at intellect level to enhance wisdom.
An athlete interested in physical fitness and performance will focus on physical discipline as top priority, whereas a student looking for performance at intellectual level would engage in intellectual discipline. A person who does not care for any of these things will have least discipline in his activities.
Indian wisdom added one more important component to it. If this discipline is thrusted from outside source- by any authority like parents, or system, then the change is only cosmetic and it would not bring about change internally. This change is brought upon only by force or it is not done from within but to just satisfy the other person. Would we want to have such kind of discipline where the transformation is not permanent or genuine?
Parents could relate to this as sometimes we do enforce some kind of discipline at home but the moment the child is free and not supervised that discipline is not seen.They want to break free and enjoy breaking this discipline as they have begun to resent this orderliness.
If the same discipline comes from one’s within, then the transformation is total. It is like a bud becoming a flower spreading fragrance; a raw fruit becoming like a ripe one inviting all living beings with it's lovely taste.
When the discipline is coming from within and not preprogrammed then we are willingly subjecting or agreeing for that activity knowing that it is good [shreyas] for us and not taking an easy path [preyas] to escape this.This indeed sharpens, strengthens and enriches our ‘will power’ because in discipline and orderliness there is beauty and strength. When you see people going in all directions in city market it looks like a crowd and when the same people are put in order then that sight looks beautiful. They would represent the strength of the nation.
When the discipline is coming from within , then the body-mind intellect and all organs are in harmony doing that activity. It strengthens the master within you “our will power”. When the discipline is pushed from outside it feels that one part of us is doing out of compulsion and another part within is opposing it. This would make us harsh and rough.
How do we strengthen our will power ?For example: As long as we nourish ourselves, we do not recognize the force of hunger. But when we are hungry and no food is available, we realize the power behind this hunger. During Upavasa/fasting , we do not eat even though we might be hungry and food is available. It shows our inner power called “will power” and it is much more stronger than the force of hunger. If our life is designed with ten such disciplines. our will power is becoming ten fold stronger. This will power saves you from all kinds of temptations and tendencies. A person who suppresses his hunger will become irritable and a person who dissolves his hunger on the other hand becomes peaceful.
How to cultivate the discipline from within?Discipline looks very difficult if we look at very big ones, like fasting for one full day or attempting to walk everyday for five miles or to get up at three and do one and half hour of yoga or meditate. Whereas if we start with small action items like once a week one time meal replace with fruits instead of regular food or every evening allocate time for half hour meditation or good reading. Not only such things are doable but practicing of it will give confidence in self and makes us feel light and positive.
Discipline should be approached like climbing up stairs, take one step at a time so that we can negotiate big heights. Small disciplines to start with will help to gain confidence which can help us take up bigger steps.
In puranic language also Parvati wanted to take up discipline of fasting for sake of attaining her husband’s favour. She started her fasting in the beginning by giving up all solid diet and living only leaves. Once she mastered that, she then gave up leaves also and lived only on water. When she gave up leaves she gets the name of APARNA [ meaning no more parna = leaves ]. Such discipline comes from within and is not thrusted from outside.
Psychologists say that the cultures where the discipline comes from within, in those cultures people have less psychological aberrations. In addition, when there is internal discipline, one will be healthy and with greater stamina against any types of onslaughts.
For example-every morning sun rises, and every evening sun sets and we can predict that next day the sun would rise. This form of cycles is the cause for the whole creation to take place. We can observe discipline in the plant and the animal/bird kingdom so clearly. If we sit amidst the nature we can observe each and everything around us goes in an order. Nobody is ordering them but they all seem to go with a flow or a pattern. Plants grow with the spring coming, and dress themselves up with fresh leaves, flowers and fruits, and with the onset of winter or autumn, leaves tend to dry up preparing to welcome snow. Birds are ready to go out for food when sun rises and come back home at sunset. This order brings about a routine in the life. The whole cycle is called as discipline. Without this discipline creation would not have been possible.
When it comes to man, he has an ability to bring in some more aspects of discipline in his life to enhance this growth process. If discipline is brought at body level it would help the growth. Then, one can develop mastery over mind which helps at intellect level to enhance wisdom.
An athlete interested in physical fitness and performance will focus on physical discipline as top priority, whereas a student looking for performance at intellectual level would engage in intellectual discipline. A person who does not care for any of these things will have least discipline in his activities.
Indian wisdom added one more important component to it. If this discipline is thrusted from outside source- by any authority like parents, or system, then the change is only cosmetic and it would not bring about change internally. This change is brought upon only by force or it is not done from within but to just satisfy the other person. Would we want to have such kind of discipline where the transformation is not permanent or genuine?
Parents could relate to this as sometimes we do enforce some kind of discipline at home but the moment the child is free and not supervised that discipline is not seen.They want to break free and enjoy breaking this discipline as they have begun to resent this orderliness.
If the same discipline comes from one’s within, then the transformation is total. It is like a bud becoming a flower spreading fragrance; a raw fruit becoming like a ripe one inviting all living beings with it's lovely taste.
When the discipline is coming from within and not preprogrammed then we are willingly subjecting or agreeing for that activity knowing that it is good [shreyas] for us and not taking an easy path [preyas] to escape this.This indeed sharpens, strengthens and enriches our ‘will power’ because in discipline and orderliness there is beauty and strength. When you see people going in all directions in city market it looks like a crowd and when the same people are put in order then that sight looks beautiful. They would represent the strength of the nation.
When the discipline is coming from within , then the body-mind intellect and all organs are in harmony doing that activity. It strengthens the master within you “our will power”. When the discipline is pushed from outside it feels that one part of us is doing out of compulsion and another part within is opposing it. This would make us harsh and rough.
How do we strengthen our will power ?For example: As long as we nourish ourselves, we do not recognize the force of hunger. But when we are hungry and no food is available, we realize the power behind this hunger. During Upavasa/fasting , we do not eat even though we might be hungry and food is available. It shows our inner power called “will power” and it is much more stronger than the force of hunger. If our life is designed with ten such disciplines. our will power is becoming ten fold stronger. This will power saves you from all kinds of temptations and tendencies. A person who suppresses his hunger will become irritable and a person who dissolves his hunger on the other hand becomes peaceful.
How to cultivate the discipline from within?Discipline looks very difficult if we look at very big ones, like fasting for one full day or attempting to walk everyday for five miles or to get up at three and do one and half hour of yoga or meditate. Whereas if we start with small action items like once a week one time meal replace with fruits instead of regular food or every evening allocate time for half hour meditation or good reading. Not only such things are doable but practicing of it will give confidence in self and makes us feel light and positive.
Discipline should be approached like climbing up stairs, take one step at a time so that we can negotiate big heights. Small disciplines to start with will help to gain confidence which can help us take up bigger steps.
In puranic language also Parvati wanted to take up discipline of fasting for sake of attaining her husband’s favour. She started her fasting in the beginning by giving up all solid diet and living only leaves. Once she mastered that, she then gave up leaves also and lived only on water. When she gave up leaves she gets the name of APARNA [ meaning no more parna = leaves ]. Such discipline comes from within and is not thrusted from outside.
Psychologists say that the cultures where the discipline comes from within, in those cultures people have less psychological aberrations. In addition, when there is internal discipline, one will be healthy and with greater stamina against any types of onslaughts.