However, this particular dominion of yoga which comes under Raja yoga and Hatha yoga and deals with postures and pranayamic breathing, is only the tip of the iceberg of the vastly explicatory and extensive empire that yoga is. Dharmadas Ajay’s book ‘Essence of yoga’ comes as a breath of relief in such a scenario by covering the many faculties which ‘yoga’ consists of.[break]
The book has introduced ‘mantra yoga’, ‘laya yoga’, and many other mystical and esoteric branches of yoga. Any of these, if practiced in a proper fashion, can bring one to the ultimate state of Samadhi which the Sufis call fanna and the Buddhists Nirvana. ‘The essence of yoga’ flows in a stream-like fashion. Often quoting modern and non-orthodox spiritual personalities like Carl Sagan, Osho Rajneesh and Jiddu Krishnamurti, the book has dusted off the layers of orthodox rust that time has deposited upon traditional religious and spiritual movements.
However, Ajay’s desire of covering multiple areas in a limited space has made the book too basic. The author’s insightful plunge into mystical realms is undoubtedly profound, and his modern approach that links yoga with modern logy-s ranging from psychology to quantum mechanics certainly deserves a thumbs-up. But his abilities have been paralyzed by chapters that rush to finish as soon as they begin. And because of this, the book has ended up being just an introductory log when it could have been way better than that. Readers who already have some preliminary knowledge in the related subject thus would find the book a waste of time. However, the book would come handy to those who would want to have a ‘jack of all’ sort of info into spirituality. In the chapter discussing psychology, Carl Gustav Jung’s mystical psychology, and in the chapter discussing Tantra Yoga, Vigyan Bhairav Tantra being missed, has made these chapters incomplete.
Whenever necessary, Ajay has made ample use of illustrative diagrams in the book which help make the concepts more vivid. For instance, colorful depiction of Chakras in the chapter discussing chakras has made the chapter more interesting. But at places, he leaves the reader wondering why he chose to use bland sketches of people like Jiddu Krishnamurti and Sigmund Freud when their actual pictures are freely available all over the Internet. This wouldn’t be much of an issue, but at places he has provided links to various Internet sites and also has quoted some. Also, he has used actual pictures when it comes to his guru at the beginning of the book, and himself at the end of the book.
Witnessing consciousness (saakshi bhaav) or ‘choiceless awareness’ is the epitome of spiritual attainment. The rest of the spiritual jargons are mere metaphors to bring one to that non-dual state which the Upanishads and the Avadhuta Geeta explain as the state of ‘neti neti’—neither this, nor that. All religions and spiritual movements, in one way or other, in one language or another, talk of bringing one to witnessing, and give methods for the same.
Dharmadas Ajay’s insights are undoubtedly authentic and credible since, while discussing every idea and every faculty of yoga, he plays around the central theme of ‘witnessing consciousnesses’. At a certain place in the book, he beautifully fuses the concept of seven chakras with Abraham Maslo’s concept of the hierarchy of needs, and thus, point towards the fact that rather than some tangible spinning wheels, chakras are metaphorical interpretations of the hierarchy of psychological stages. It certainly requires a level of clarity to be able to come to this understanding which Ajay has.
The book, at many places, has made use of insights contained in scriptures belonging to different religions. Be it verses of the Bible or Sura al Rehman of The Quran, just as a bird in flight makes use of the sky unbound, Ajay makes use of everything without restricting himself to certain religion.
The book would be useful to the ones who want a curious sneak peek into yoga. They’ll come out with the understanding that ‘yoga’ is that oceanic immenseness towards which there are multiple paths. An ancient Sufi proverb should never be forgotten – “Even with a sack load of books, a donkey is still a donkey.” For those who get through the book and get confused over which particular path to follow, a few translated lines from Haribansh Rai Bachchhan’s poem “Madhusala” would be of some help.
Seeking wine, the drinker leaves home for the tavern.
Perplexed, he asks, “Which path will take me there?”
People show him different ways, but this is what I have to say,
“Pick a path and keep walking. You will find the tavern.”
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