133. White ain’t right!!

Welcome to My Daily Thread! In today's episode, we'll explore a snippet of wisdom from the yoga and meditation masters, with a focus on the teachings of Patanjali. Through the lens of the Yoga Sutras, we aim to uncover profound insights that can be applied to our everyday lives, helping us navigate the challenges we face mentally and physically.

Today, we’ll specifically examine Yoga Sutra 1:30, which introduces us to the concept of obstacles, or antarayas, that hinder our progress on the path of yoga. In Sanskrit, Patanjali refers to these obstacles as:

व्याधिस्त्यानसंशयप्रमादालस्याविरतिभ्रान्तिदर्शनालब्धभूमिकत्वानवस्थितत्वानि चित्तविक्षेपास्तेऽन्तरायाः

(vyādhi-styāna-saṃśaya-pramādālasya-avirati-bhrānti-darśana-alabdha-bhūmikatva-anavasthitatvāni cittavikṣepās te'ntarāyāḥ)

This translates to nine distinct impediments: disease (vyādhi), lethargy (styāna), doubt (saṃśaya), carelessness (pramāda), laziness (ālasya), sensual attachment (avirati), mistaken perception (bhrānti-darśana), failure to attain stability (alabdha-bhūmikatva), and instability after progress (anavasthitatva). All of these obstacles disturb the mind and block spiritual growth.

Patanjali tells us that mastering the fluctuations of the mind, or चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः (citta vṛtti nirodhah), is the key to transcending suffering. This mastery is essential to move beyond these obstacles and regain our peace. As we continue our exploration, let's dive deeper into the first obstacle, व्याधि (vyādhi), or disease. According to Swami Harihariananda, vyādhi manifests "when the body ails." This ailment isn't just limited to physical illness; it can also include imbalances that disrupt our practice and well-being.

Swami Harihariananda further advises that disease can be alleviated with a "wholesome and measured diet." This echoes the wisdom of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Sage Svatmarama, where a similar concept is explored under the term मिताहार (mitāhāra), which refers to a moderate, sattvic (pure and balanced) diet. A sattvic diet nourishes body and mind, enabling us to stay grounded in our practice.

In today's world, however, we're often caught in the grip of modern dietary habits—fast food, white sugar, refined flour, and excessive salt. We've trained our taste buds to crave these substances, which may taste good but contribute to imbalance and disease. But the good news is, we have the power to shift this. We can significantly improve our overall health and mental clarity by removing the "white" ingredients from our diet—white sugar, white flour, and excessive salt.

So, from this episode, let's start by becoming more aware of these cravings. Notice how they show up in your daily life and your diet. Awareness is the first step toward change; simply recognizing these tendencies will pave the way for healthier habits.