DO NOT MISTAKE TECHNIQUE FOR THE GOAL!

VARNA-THE BASIS OF THE CASTE SYSTEM

Most of us are somewhat familiar with the Caste system of India and efforts to either modify it or destroy it in various ways or also to enforce it. The merits of this system, like that of the European Feudal System, have been debated and extolled and discussed by a great many scholars, psychologists, human rights advocates and experts, and politicians as well as historian and anthropologists and while all this is important, we can just touch on what the original intentions of such actually were perhaps. Varna means "COLOR' and this was a way to differentiate and classify and control people on the basis of skin color or, as some claim, RACE. The original classification of the CASTE SYSTEM WAS: BRAHMINS(scholars and priests),KSHATRIYAS(RULERS & WARRIORS),VAISHYAS(FARMERS & MERCHANTS), SHUDRAS(FARMERS & PEASANTS), while a 5th group existed called PANCHAMA-'outsiders' or those outside the caste system.

YOGA IN INDIA

I read an article by Ilana D. Arazie for the Associated Press in my local morning paper about her trip to India which was subtitled: CULTURAL IMMERSION,SELF KNOWLEDGE which is a rather heady topic for most persons to digest. Nevertheless, many others are taking, partly as a result of various yoga classes now found in most major and minor US cities and even small towns and villages, as well as in various media sources that suggest such trips, excursions to MOTHER INDIA and other Asian destinations, like Thailand,etc. this particular group, which follows the popular Alan Finger who founded ISHTA YOGA , went to Samonde a village in northern India,and the experiences described and the comments made by the writer remind me of the trips of the late P.D. Ouspenksy took to India and other places of 'spiritual' knowledge in the last century. These are described in his books, IN SEARCH OF THE MIRACULOUS and somewhat in THE FOURTH WAY. For most people who have never been to India or any other Asian or African or South American country, culture shock is often overwhelming and few people, even in such groups, are well prepared for such. Complete ignorance of all the languages and dialects, the customs, religions,and geography,especially of India, and no opportunity except to step right into them can be most enlightening and will tell more about the traveler than about India, its people or its culture, or for that matter, yoga. the writer did,however, co9me away realizing, or I hope so, that yoga is not merely the series of poses and postures and exercises she does in modern,comfortable NYC studio once or twice a week or whatever. The bewildering array of street experiences, the ordinary life of Daily India, offers a most unique chance for 'self-transformation' and 'self-knowing' that tends to elude most tourists. One practice the writer encountered and describes is that of 'resonating metal bowls' placed on certain centers of the body and tapped or struck with a mallet' is worth mentioning. It was performed by a Sikh and this can be found also among Tibetan yogas as well. Another highlight for her was a visit to GANDHI'S MEMORIAL. She also availed herself of rickshaws, those marvelous conveyances invented by a Westerner actually, which do not produce gas fumes and contribute to 'green house gases' and 'global warming' but give employment as well as 'exercise' to many who otherwise would have no source of income.

THE SERPENT POWER

Those who look at the WAY OF THE MONK will notice that the topic of 'THE SERPENT IN THE GARDEN' has been mentioned and it relates somewhat to the topic here,since the SERPENT POWER is associated with certain yoga practices, namely what is termed 'KUNDALINI' which has become a special branch or study of yoga, and can also be found in certain 'tantric' practices also in yoga and in Buddhism, and esoteric areas. Some schools of Western Occultism and MAGIC make use of this power. Dire warnings about arousing this power are often to be found among the more ardent practitioners of yoga, and so forth. Experimentation is frowned upon by many schools and the need for a teacher is stressed,of course, or the 'guru'. A number of accounts of people who have undergone training are interesting to read but one has to use one's intelligence in assessing all such experiences, no matter how sublime or disastrous they may turn out to be.

THE WAY OF THE YOGI

The Way of the Yogi is one of three 'traditonal' or 'classical' ways that people can follow if they know about such and this also,in most cases, requires a guide, a teacher, a mentor, or someone who has been on the Path. Unfortunately, the many well-intentioned instructors found in contemporary society and especially in 'Western' Cultures have no grounding in the Tradtional-Classical writers and literature of Yoga and do not know Sanskrit or other Asian languages necessary for reading things. Of course, many excellent translations in various languages do exist,but trying to learn from writings alone has many pitfalls,though no one should be discouraged in attempting to learn and experiment but a certain caution is necessary and motivations of people who try such on their own often lags and fades and nothing is accomplished, despite the notion that 'SOME YOGA IS BETTER THAN NO YOGA".