PATANJALI
YOGA SUTRAS
Verse.2.46
sthira
sukham aasanam
- sthira = stable
- sukham = comfortable
- aasanam = Posture
Aasanam can mean both –
(i) the Body Posture of sitting and the (ii) seat / place on/at which the Sadhaka sits.
Patanjali does not prescribe difficult, unstable methods of sitting. The need and use of aasanam is - to ensure that the Sadhaka is able to sit comfortably and in a stable manner – for the length of his meditation.
Patanjali does not prescribe difficult, unstable methods of sitting. The need and use of aasanam is - to ensure that the Sadhaka is able to sit comfortably and in a stable manner – for the length of his meditation.
Such an aasanam can differ
from person to person – depending on his age, flexibility of the body, health
conditions and so on.
There is no rigid rule on
how to sit for meditation. Ensure that you are able to sit in comfort and with
stability. Comfortable posture of sitting implies that – body must not pose any
pains and obstructions for meditation. You must be able to forget the body –
once you sit for meditation.
The ability to sit
comfortably and in stability for the period of meditation – is usually called aasana siddhi.
It just means – the ability or skill to sit in comfort and stability for the
period of meditation – without any restlessness and fidgeting.
If you have started your
Yoga practices at a reasonably early age, you can sit in padmasana, vajrasana
and so on. But, if you have started at a later age when your bones and muscles
are rigid, you can improvise in any posture of sitting – but sit in stability
and comfort for a reasonable period of meditation.
If you practice Soorya Namaskaar in early morning hours for a few days – and continue it thereafter – slowly, your bones and muscles will allow you to sit stably and comfortably for sufficient time. Never force your body into painful exercises. It is not advocated by Patanjali. Body is an implement. It is unique for each Individual. Each Individual can therefore choose that aasanam which is suitable and satisfies the twin conditions of stability and comfort.
If you practice Soorya Namaskaar in early morning hours for a few days – and continue it thereafter – slowly, your bones and muscles will allow you to sit stably and comfortably for sufficient time. Never force your body into painful exercises. It is not advocated by Patanjali. Body is an implement. It is unique for each Individual. Each Individual can therefore choose that aasanam which is suitable and satisfies the twin conditions of stability and comfort.
The place of sitting is
also called aasanam. Lord Krishna has given some guidelines in the Dhyana Yoga
Chapter of Bhagavad Gita for the Purpose. Choose a slightly raised pedestal, but
not too high, so that you are not disturbed by insects etc. Choose a reasonably
calm, cool, silent and pleasant environment for your yoga Practices. On the Pedestal,
place a blanket or some thick, soft cloth, so that the sitting place is not
rough. Lord Krishna prescribes Kusa Grass, deer skin and cloth one on top of
the other. In modern days, we can improvise with a thick, soft blanket – or some
specially made Yoga Mats.
"Stable" also means – that the
upper body must be reasonably erect (while being comfortable) with the backbone
reasonably straight. Aasanam – also implies that one must be seated. Standing
or walking or Seershasanam (head resting on earth and feet pointing up) type of
aasanas are not suitable for Yoga. Also, no Yoga practices can be done in a lying down posture.Aasana implies a sitting posture only.
Is it permissible to sit
in a chair for meditation? In modern days, this question too arises.
All that can be said is – wherever possible, sit on the floor – on which you can erect a slightly raised, firm platform / pedestal, for sitting. If sitting on floor or pedestal is not at all possible for you – choose a comfortable chair. The back of the chair must however be erect. The back bone needs to be erect, stable and comfortable for meditation. But, do not keep backbone also stiff and rigid.
All that can be said is – wherever possible, sit on the floor – on which you can erect a slightly raised, firm platform / pedestal, for sitting. If sitting on floor or pedestal is not at all possible for you – choose a comfortable chair. The back of the chair must however be erect. The back bone needs to be erect, stable and comfortable for meditation. But, do not keep backbone also stiff and rigid.
Some people place too much
emphasis on aasana siddhi – in sitting in particular Postures for very long
durations. Patanjali never meant any such rigidities in aasanam. Neither
did Lord Krishna. It is possible to
achieve deep meditation in short durations
also – if your aasanam is stable and comfortable. If not – the ability to sit
for long durations – with some part of you seeking your attention and you
ignoring it – is of no use. That will never result in meditation.
There are also some highly supportive environmental supports for aasanam and meditation practices. If the Sadhaka can arrange such environmental support, he can perform the aasanam and meditation near a river bank, or in a beautiful garden under a tree, or in one's own house in an exclusive room reserved for such meditation pactices.
The room should be clean, bland, but may have pictures of one's ishtadevata, which can be decorated in a simple manner with flowers, and can have mild fragrance. Those who are accustomed to performance of Pooja or Prayer - can also complete the same, and start asanam - after that for meditation.
If a slightly raised platform / pedestal is used, the platform / pedestal must be sufficiently wide to cover your sitting are, must be of small height (of just a few inches) to prevent any insects from reaching your body, and must not make you dizzy because of the excessive heights.
One must not be taken in by some movies showing meditations being performed at the end of a cliff of a mountain and in other risky places. These are not at all desirable for Sadhakas of Ashtanga Yoga. Aasanam must be STABLE and COMFORTABLE. It is the simplest prescription from Patanjali.
There are also some highly supportive environmental supports for aasanam and meditation practices. If the Sadhaka can arrange such environmental support, he can perform the aasanam and meditation near a river bank, or in a beautiful garden under a tree, or in one's own house in an exclusive room reserved for such meditation pactices.
The room should be clean, bland, but may have pictures of one's ishtadevata, which can be decorated in a simple manner with flowers, and can have mild fragrance. Those who are accustomed to performance of Pooja or Prayer - can also complete the same, and start asanam - after that for meditation.
If a slightly raised platform / pedestal is used, the platform / pedestal must be sufficiently wide to cover your sitting are, must be of small height (of just a few inches) to prevent any insects from reaching your body, and must not make you dizzy because of the excessive heights.
One must not be taken in by some movies showing meditations being performed at the end of a cliff of a mountain and in other risky places. These are not at all desirable for Sadhakas of Ashtanga Yoga. Aasanam must be STABLE and COMFORTABLE. It is the simplest prescription from Patanjali.
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