The Yogic Culture of Enlightenment

In time we envisage the re-emergence of a yogic culture which will influence future generations just as the technological culture has influenced our generation today."


- Paramahamsa Satyananda Saraswati



Paramhamsaji envisioned a new world culture that would be based on the inner technologies of yoga; a culture based in the values of spiritual consciousness. This burgeoning orientation need not be opposed to material technological development, especially in terms of modern medical treatments, or developments that lead to a better standard of living for people. However, it does offer a set of values which are quite different from those of modern Western civilization. Our culture tends to promote self-centered, materialist, consumerist values. We tend to rate ourselves based on material power, looks, possessions, social status, etc. The dark side of our culture is evident in violent crime, domestic violence, addictions, poverty and pollution. We have been led to believe that the pursuit of happiness involves seeking personal gratification without regard to others or to the environment. We have also been taught to look outside of ourselves for the sources of happiness rather than to look within.

Yoga, as it has filtered into our society, is generally equated in the public mind with difficult physical postures, plastic foam mats (what are they made of?) and slender, beautiful people in some Westernized idea of yoga attire. In other words, it tends to be based in ego and almost exclusive attention to outward forms. Although this may seem lamentable in terms of the depth of the yoga tradition as a whole, it actually represents an opening through which true spiritual transformation may occur. Despite our tendency towards “spiritual materialism,” yoga when properly taught is more than a physical discipline. It is training in mindful awareness. Furthermore it has measurable transformational effects in terms of neurobiology. A recent study conducted by the Boston University School of Medicine demonstrated that hatha yoga is more effective than simple exercise (i.e. walking) in increasing levels of GABA. GABA, or g-Aminobutyric acid, is associated with improvement in levels of anxiety and depression.

Yoga, if you remember, is the discipline or science of union; body, mind and spirit. There are four main components of yogic discipline: meditational (of which the physical practices are a preliminary,) devotional, philosophical and practical. True yogic discipline relates to every area of our lives and our beings. Whichever path or practices we take up yoga initiates the unfolding of a developmental process culminating in awakening, enlightenment, Self-realization, spiritual liberation . . . All of these terms represent a transcendence of ego consciousness and an opening to non-dual awareness. Our true nature as infinite spirit doesn’t change but we go through a process of shedding our limited identity.

Although this process has generally been considered to be on a spiritual level there is growing evidence that contemplative practices have definite physical effects. Our brains grow and develop through a process called neuroplasticity depending on where and how we focus our awareness. If we focus on developing positive emotions those areas of the brain are strengthened. If we dwell on anger, fear, resentment, etc. we cause the neurons in those areas to wire together. “What flows through your mind sculpts your brain.” writes Rick Hanson, Ph.D. in Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom. As we have noted earlier, our habitual moods and emotions affect our entire bodies as well, either contributing to illness or helping to build immune response. Meditation has been shown to increase the flow of positive emotions, empathy, compassion, love, and to decrease stress, anger, greed, etc. This is the neurobiology of enlightenment.

The process of enlightenment can be considered as an evolutionary step beyond our inherited instinctual tendencies. In a sense we have two minds or brains within us. One is primarily oriented towards personal survival through “fight or flight.” It is primitive and reactive contributing to stress, hostility and anxiety. The other is able to regulate affect, make conscious choices, experience compassion and empathy. Depending on where we focus attention we can strengthen the activity of one or the other. The development of enlightenment means overcoming the dominance of the primitive level of mind and opening the capacities of the higher evolutionary level. In a sense, we could say that we move from brain to mind; from unconscious neurochemical responses to conscious control of our nervous systems. Enlightenment traditions, such as yoga, suggest that we can transcend the physical altogether.

One of the most important values to cultivate in terms of spiritual development is ahimsa, non-violence. Aggression is a response from the primitive level of our brain/minds. It has dominated the history of our species on the planet through war, enslavement of peoples, interpersonal conflicts, i.e. politics in general. The spiritual path according to yoga, Buddha, Jesus, etc. begins with adopting the practice of non-violence. It is a step forward on the path of evolution into oneness. “Seeing the “other” separate from oneself is a subtle form of violence.” writes Harsh K. Luthar. (http://luthar.com/ahimsa-the-antidote-to-fear/) Ultimately non-violence is enlightenment. It is absolute inner peace.

The first step in the practice of ahimsa begins with non-violence towards oneself. Yoga is to be practiced in a peaceful setting without undue force. Meditation helps to weed out our negative self-talk. Being nonviolent with ourselves means getting rid of any sense of inferiority, unworthiness, guilt, etc., but it also means forgiving ourselves when these thoughts arise. Perfectionism is a form of self-violence. The habit of judging ourselves and others is violent activity. When you practice witnessing your thoughts you might be surprised how many of them contain seeds of violence and aggression, or their flip-side as fear. We can even use the concept of “enlightenment” to beat up on ourselves and others! (I know this, of course, because I am more enlightened than you.)

Because we are alive, it ultimately impossible to be completely outwardly nonviolent. We have to kill to eat, even if we are strict vegetarians. However, our modern culture is extremely violent on many levels. Pollution is violence against our ecosystem, poverty reflects violence built into our economic systems. Ahimsa means committing to reduce violence as much as possible. Ultimately any violence or aggression is self-directed. We are all one interconnected being. A yogic culture of enlightenment means bringing nonviolence into our politics, our personal lives, financial affairs, treatment of animals, treatment of children, treatment of ourselves. Now more than ever it is essential to our survival as a whole.