PURE & NA TUR AL NATUR TURAL Paul Dallaghan
THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMETHING CLEAN AND something pure. If you hold out both hands and have a flower placed in each hand, one plastic and totally clean, the other real but with some dirt on it, could you tell the difference? You can tell just by feeling. Automatically you know which is artificial and which is natural. You know instinctively because it is your essential nature. This is the difference between pure and clean. This is the heart of shaucha. Don’t be artificial, be natural. Cleanliness is part of shaucha. But to think only of cleansing the body as part of shaucha is ignorant, according to the Darshanopanishad. It states since the Self is pure, the knowledge “I am the Self ” is said to be the true shaucha, purity itself. Many other sources consider an internal and external shaucha. According to the Shandilyopanishad, cleansing the body with earth and water is external shaucha whereas purification of the mind is internal shaucha, attainable only by training the mind. The Vashishta Samhita states something similar - mental purity is achieved through right action and spiritual knowledge.
Clean water is critical to physical purification
Patanjali introduces shaucha as the first niyama in the second chapter of the Yoga Sutra (II.32). Vyasa, the primary commentator of the Yoga Sutra also emphasizes here the difference between external and internal cleanliness – “for cleansing the body a purifcatory wash is needed and pure food should be consumed.” This introduces two key principles in the practice and living of yoga. One is the basis for the Shat Karma Kriyas, or simply kriyas, meaning the six cleansing acts recommended by Hatha Yoga. Two is the fifth Buddhist principle, not consuming any intoxicants. Everyday we wash our outer body – showering and brushing our teeth, but the inner (physical) body is rarely cleaned, despite with the onslaught of pollutants. Excess mucus is produced, circulation deteriorates, lymph movement reduces, acidity rises, bowels slow down, constipation arises – all primarily due to poor lifestyle habits. We are so obsessed with our physical body yet when we see what comes out of it, we are completely repulsed. Hatha yoga says for energy to flow, our internal structure needs to be kept very clean. In so doing energy (prana) flows appropriately and activities of mind and heart flow more harmoniously, an important element in one’s refinement and growth.
body and purifying the mind. Eating a healthy plant-based diet with regular physical exercise is best for cleaning and detoxifying the physical body. Heavy, oily, spicy foods should be avoided. Pure diet allows the mind to be alert, cheerful, clear and fit for concentration. If the body is not healthy, and one of our internal organs is out of balance, meditation is not possible. Buddhism and Yoga both refer to six poisons that negatively affect our spiritual heart. These poisons afflict our mind and create suffering and negative karma. Sri K. Pattabhi Jois lists these six poisons in his book Yoga Mala as: kama (lust), krodha (anger), moha (delision), lobha (greed),
matsarya (jealousy) and mada (laziness). These afflictions can be minimized by practicing for a long time with dedication and non-attachment to results. Ultimately they can be removed from one’s personal field of cause-and-effect only by deep and skillful meditation.
To be honest and kind, to care – this is purity in action upekshanam (equanimity / indifference) and generosity. These qualities allow us to break the chain of negativity that persists here on planet Earth. Be the change. Cleanse and purify, rise and shine Clayton is director of Greenpath Yoga www.greenpathyoga.org
These six poisons can be symbolized as dirt that surrounds the spiritual or causal heart. As spiritual practice deepens and evolves, this dirt is slowly washed away and the light of our true eternal Self shines forth. Fruit of successful yogic practice are qualities such as maitri (friendliness), karuna (compassion), sukkha (happiness) 15