The distractions and obstacles which hinder the aspirant’s practice of
Yoga are :
I. Vyadhi -sickness which disturbs the physical equilibrium
- Styana -languor or lack of mental disposition for work
3· Sarilsaya-doubt or indecision
4· Pramada- indifference or insensibility - Alasya -laziness
- A virati-sensuality, the rousing of desire when sensory objects
possess the mind
1· Bhranti Darsana- false or invalid knowledge, or illusion - Alabdha Bhumikatva-failure to attain continuity of thought or concentration so that reality cannot be seen
9· Anavasthitattva-instability in holding on to concentration which has
been attained after long practice.
There are, however, four more distractions: (I) dul:tkha-pain or
misery, (2) daurmansya- despair, (3) ailgamejayatva- unsteadiness of
the body and (4) svasa-prasvasa -unsteady respiration.
To win a battle, a general surveys the terrain and the enemy and plans
counter-measures. In a similar way the Yogi plans the conquest of the
Self.
Vyadhi: It will be noticed that the very first obstacle is ill-health or
sickness. To the yogi his body is the prime instrument of attainment.
If his vehicle breaks down, the traveller cannot go far. If the body is
broken by ill-health, the aspirant can achieve little. Physical health is
important for mental development, as normally the mind functions
through the nervous system. When the body is sick or the nervous
system is affected, the mind becomes restless or dull and inert and concentration or meditation become impossible.
Styiina: A person suffering from languor has no goal, no path to follow
and no enthusiasm. His mind and intellect become dull due to inactivity
and their faculties rust. Constant flow keeps a mountain stream pure,
but water in a ditch stagnates and nothing good can flourish in it. A
listless person is like a living corpse for he can concentrate on nothing.
Samsaya: The unwise, the faithless and the doubter destroy themselves.
How can they enjoy this world or the next or have any happiness? The
seeker should have faith in himself and his master. He should have faith
that God is ever by his side and that no evil can touch him. As faith
springs up in the heart it dries out lust, ill-will, mental sloth, spiritual
pride and doubt, and the heart free from these hindrances becomes
serene and untroubled.
Pramada: A person suffering from pramada is full of self-importance,
lacks any humility and believes that he alone is wise. No doubt he knows
what is right or wrong, but he persists in his indifference to the right
and chooses what is pleasant. To gratify his selfish passions and dreams
of personal glory, he will deliberately and without scruple sacrifice
everyone who stands in his way. Such a person is blind to God’s glory
and deaf to His words.
Alasya: To remove the obstacle of laziness, unflagging enthusiasm
(virya) is needed. The attitude of the aspirant is like that of a lover ever
yearning to meet the beloved but never giving way to despair. Hope
should be his shield and courage his sword. He should be free from
hate and sorrow. With faith and enthusiasm he should overcome the
inertia of the body and the mind.
Avirati: This is the tremendous craving for sensory objects after they
have been consciously abandoned, which is so hard to restrain. Without being attached to the objects of sense, the yogi learns to enjoy them
with the aid of the senses which are completely under his control. By
the practice of pratyahara he wins freedom from attachment and
emancipation from desire and becomes content and tranquil.
Bhranti Dar5ana: A person afflicted by false knowledge suffers from
delusion and believes that he alone has seen the true Light. He has a
powerful intellect but lacks humility and makes a show of wisdom. By
remaining in the company of great souls and through their guidance he
sets his foot firmly on the right path and overcomes his weakness.
Alabdha Bhumikatva: As a mountain climber falls to-reach the summit
for lack of stamina, so also a person who cannot overcome the inability
to concentrate is unable to seek reality. He might have had glimpses of
reality but he cannot see dearly. He is like a musician who has heard
divine music in a dream, but who is unable to recall it in his waking
moments and cannot repeat the dream.
Anavasthitattva: A person affected with anavasthitattva has by hard
work come within sight of reality. Happy and proud of his achievements
he becomes slack in his practice (sadhana). He has purity and great
power of concentration and has come to the final cross-roads of his quest.
Even at this last stage continuous endeavour is essential and he has to
pursue the path with infinite patience and determined perseverance and
must never sho� slackness which hampers progress on the path of God
realization.