International Journal of Yoga - Philosophy, Psychology and Parapsychology

LETTER TO EDITOR
Year
: 2013  |  Volume : 1  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 56-

Yoga as the therapy of roga: In the vision of Sri Ramakrishna, in the words of Swami Ranganathananda


Pallav Sengupta 
 Department of Physiology, Vidyasagar College for Women, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Correspondence Address:
Pallav Sengupta
Department of Physiology, Vidyasagar College for Women, 39, Sankar Ghosh Lane, University of Calcutta, Kolkata - 700 006, West Bengal
India




How to cite this article:
Sengupta P. Yoga as the therapy of roga: In the vision of Sri Ramakrishna, in the words of Swami Ranganathananda.Int J Yoga - Philosop Psychol Parapsychol 2013;1:56-56


How to cite this URL:
Sengupta P. Yoga as the therapy of roga: In the vision of Sri Ramakrishna, in the words of Swami Ranganathananda. Int J Yoga - Philosop Psychol Parapsychol [serial online] 2013 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];1:56-56
Available from: https://www.ijoyppp.org/text.asp?2013/1/1/56/123295


Full Text

Dear Editor,

There are three words in Sáṃskṛta - roga, bhoga and yoga − which have profound implications that help man to understand the flowing situations of his life to analyze and avoid them cautiously. The simple meanings of these three words are, ''physical and mental maladies,'' ''enjoying worldly pleasures and satisfying all desires,'' and ''spiritual development and growth,'' respectively. [1] While the former two present a cause and effect syndrome, the latter opens up higher possibilities at the moral and spiritual levels. In order to explain the significance of these words, Sri Ramakrishna has told us, ''To fulfill the aims of life, man has to uplift him from bhoga to yoga, if he fails to do so, it will bring him from bhoga to roga.'' [1]

By the indriyas (senses) one may attain yoga. But, the misuse of indriyas leads to roga, the biggest hindrance to yoga. Because, yoga starts its journey from the body, taking care of the body is essential. Propensity to and practice of yoga helps us to tide over the evil effects of indulgence and save us from roga. Those who opt for bhoga live life at the animalistic level; satisfaction of organic needs is their sole concern. Like bhoga, yoga is also a real-life experience. Nature has provided humans essential biochemical and biophysical elements to achieve yoga. But, if someone has not revealed any interest to explore the higher humanitarian and spiritual functions, [2] he has to pay for that by suffering with psychological and physiological diseases − that are known as roga. In the midst of today's incredibly developed scientific civilization, this is a pitch dark destiny of man. To help modern human civilization to sustain, it has to be deviated in the direction of spiritual quests. Instead of being a helpless puppet in the hands of Nature (and becoming a slave of his own vasanas), he has to know, feel, and analyze the different colors of life and have to be the master of his own.[1] This is the bottom-line of spiritual science, which has been mentioned in the first sloka of Ishopanishad-''Tena tyaktena bhunjitha'' (i.e., he has to enjoy his life by the way of nonattachment). The aim of spiritual science is to move man from this helpless lifecycle and these endless boundaries to the pure, fearless path of life. [1],[2]

In recent times not only the physical, mental diseases have made an impact in human life, but also widespread corruption, social diseases are impacting on his life. [3],[4] Spiritual power is nothing but the way to overcome the unethical or unsocial attractions. It does not come from intellectual or physical level; even a highly intellectual person knees down before these attractions. But, the intellect which has been enlightened with the flame of inner spiritual soul can boost one to uphold himself against any of such unethical attractions. The waking up of this intellect by one's own effort is the real waking up of human civilization and the jñāna turns to pragya in this very way. [1],[2],[5]

References

1Swami Ranganathananda. Antarvijnan o Bahirvijnan. Udbodhan Karyalaya, Ramakrishna Math, Kolkata. ISBN 81-8040-261-4. p. 21-2.
2Sengupta P. Health Impacts of Yoga and Pranayama: A State-of-the-Art Review. Int J Prev Med 2012;3:444-58.
3Sengupta P, Chaudhuri P, Bhattacharya K. Male reproductive health and yoga. Int J Yoga 2013;6:87-95.
4Sengupta P. Challenge of infertility: How protective the yoga therapy is? Anc Sci Life 2012;32:61-2.
5Sengupta P, Krajewska-Kulak E. Is mind-body relaxation by yoga is effective to combat with lifestyle stress? Ann Med Health Sci Res 2013;3:61-2.