We all have the false illusion that one who wears a saffron dress or performs asana and pranayama is a yogi. Many of our Vedas and scriptures state that one who has the Bala (strength) can live a yogic life or become a real yogi. It could be a physical, mental, or spiritual strength. But many of our Vedas and scriptures says that one who has Bala(strength) can achieve yogic life or he is a real yogi. This strength could be physical, mental or spiritual strength.

Body and mind are inseparable. Pain and pleasure are also experienced by the mind as they are experienced by the body. A happy and peaceful mind develops strength in the body. Our physical bodies become weak and lusterless if our minds are in pain.

The yogi is the only one capable of synchronizing them correctly. Indian core culture is the only place where you can learn about yoga and how it forms the basis for other sciences.

The word “yoga” has larger horizon: some refer it as union, knowledge or matter and some other refer as relations or means. The core definition of the word can be concluded as ‘upaya’ which means path or way through which we can attain something. Here something refers to “Supreme Self” which is a translation of the word ATMA as described in Vedanta. Atma is a soul of a man, and all souls are part of an infinite and surrounded by indwelling Spirit. The essential aspects of a person’s individuality including body, mind, and personality which are all subject to birth decay and death and are therefore not eternal in nature. Thus, the way of establishing the mind in the Self should be known as Yoga.

The great sage and founder of Yogic Science Maharshi Patanjali states that

योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः ॥२॥

yogaś-citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ — Yoga Sutras 1.2

Process of Dealing with the inner consciousness. It is important to keep in align our sense organs with mind to grasp anything. It is easy to concentrate the mind on external things; the mind naturally goes outwards but not inward. The power of the mind is like rays of light dissipated; when they are concentrated, they illumine. When it is properly guided and directed towards internal power the eternal bliss can be achieved. The hymn of Katha Upanishad affirms:

तां योगमिति मन्यन्ते स्थिरामिन्द्रियधारणाम् ।

tāṃ yogamiti manyante sthirāmindriyadhāraṇām .

Yoga prevents our mind from going toward external objects. Per example if any junk food or anything which are harmful to our health is not tempting you then you gained the control over the mind. The finer is always the cause, the grosser the effect. So, the external world is the effect, and the internal is the cause. The man who has discovered and learned how to manipulate the internal force will get the whole universe’s bliss.

Now we have to put forward a question that by the mere grasp of yoga’s meaning or by a mere discussion of the pros and cons of this intellectual grasp one cannot truly experience the Yogic life. For, as a good knowledge of culinary science does not satisfy hunger, same way one cannot achieve Supreme Self just by understanding the word’s definition. Thus, Scriptures show us only the right path. Finally, it is left to us to understand them and to put them into practice. So as an aspirant we need to find the best Guru and by his grace and with the constant practice of yoga we can achieve nature of supreme peace and eternal bliss.