Podcast details
Gyana Yoga: simple life and high thinking
The practice of Śama and Dama is the foundation for controlling the mind and senses. Śama is the withdrawal of the senses from external objects, not through hatred or escape, but through careful avoidance, like skillfully passing another car. The world itself holds no inherent bondage; you must learn to refuse experiences wisely. This introversion is an aware withdrawal, not a dull or depressed state of incoordination. Dama is the sustained observation and maintenance of that control, like holding a dog's leash to prevent it from running. Those who master this achieve happiness. This leads to Sāyamīt, the daily practice of careful self-observation. Be Simit, meaning to establish borders for your feelings and senses so they do not go out of control. Be Shemit, limiting speech to conserve energy. Speak less, eat less, but let your thoughts be endless in contemplation. This is simple living and higher thinking, remaining above worldly conflict.
"Śama truly means to withdraw yourself with awareness."
"Let your thoughts be endless. This is called simple living and higher thinking."
Filming location: Vép, Hungary
This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.
The text contains hyperlinks in bold to three authoritative books on yoga, written by humans, to clarify the context of the lecture:
- Yoga in Daily Life - The System
Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda. Ibera Verlag, Vienna, 2000. ISBN 978-3-85052-000-3 - The Hidden Power in Humans - Chakras and Kundalini
Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda. Ibera Verlag, Vienna, 2004. ISBN 978-3-85052-197-0 - Lila Amrit - The Divine Life of Sri Mahaprabhuji
Paramhans Swami Madhavananda. Int. Sri Deep Madhavananda Ashram Fellowship, Vienna, 1998. ISBN 3-85052-104-4
