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Yogacharya
Dr. ANANDA BALAYOGI BHAVANANI
MBBS, ADY, PGDFH, PGDY, FIAY, MD (Alt.Med), C-IAYT, DSc (Yoga)
• Director CYTER (Professor Yoga Therapy), Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth.
• Chairman ICYER at Ananda Ashram & Yoganjali Natyalayam
• Son and successor of Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri &
Ammaji, Yogacharini Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani.
• 19 DVDs, 23 books, 31 compilations, 9 copyrights. > 250 papers &
abstracts. 1970+ citations, h-index 22 and i10-index 39
• Gold Medalist in Medical Studies (MBBS) with postgraduate diplomas in Family Health
(PGDFH), Yoga (PGDY) and Advanced Diploma in Yoga.
• Classical Indian Vocalist, Percussionist, Composer and Choreographer
• Travelled abroad 20x – UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, S Africa, Italy,
Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic etc.
• Consultant Yoga Expert WHO; Honorary Advisor International Association of Yoga
Therapists, USA; World Yoga Foundation, & Australasian Association of Yoga Therapists.
• Member National Board for Promotion & Development of Yoga & Naturopathy,
Standing Finance Committee of CCRYN, Technical Committee of Yoga Certification
Board, International Yoga Day & National DM Programs, Ministry of AYUSH, GOI.
• EC member and Director Publications and PR Committee of Indian Yoga Association
Developing a Yogic
understanding of the
“Matrix of Suffering”
Yogacharya
Dr. ANANDA BALAYOGI BHAVANANI
MBBS, ADY, PGDFH, PGDY, MD (Alt Med), FIAY, C-IAYT, DSc (Yoga)
Director and Professor Yoga Therapy
Centre for Yoga Education, Therapy and Research (CYTER),
Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pondicherry. www.sbvu.ac.in/cyter
www.icyer.com
SRI BALAJI VIDYAPEETH
(Deemed University Accredited with “A” Grade by NAAC)
Ranked 72 in NIRF 2018
Centre for Yoga Therapy, Education
and Research (CYTER)
Salutogenesis, our focus!
DUHKHA
state of suffering & pain
SUKHA
state of ease & wellness
Tapatraya: The three-fold suffering
• Adhidaivika: Due to higher powers.
• Adhibauthika : Due to place of birth/residence.
• Adhyatmika : Due to one’s own self.
Wisdom from the Yogasutra
• Duhkha-daurmanasya-angamejayatva-
svasaprasvasah-viksepa-sahabhuvah—
Yogasutra I.31
• Manifest accompaniments of the obstacles are
suffering, depression, tremors and irregular
respiration.
Wisdom from the Yogasutra
• Pariṇāmatāpa-saṁskāra-duḥkhaiḥ guṇavṛtti-
virodhāt-ca duḥkhameva sarvaṁ vivekinaḥ—
Yogasutra II.15
• The discerning one realizes that all life is
suffering and that one must go against the
very qualities of nature and bake in the heat
of transformation to overcome sorrow of the
world.
Prevent un-manifest suffering
• Heyaṁ duḥkham-anāgatam —Yogasutra II.16
• Prevent the suffering that is yet to manifest.
Causation of Suffering
• Draṣṭṛ-dṛśyayoḥ saṁyogaḥ heya-hetuḥ—
Yogasutra II.17
Suffering is caused by mal-union between the
observer and the observed.
• Tasya hetuḥ-avidyā—Yogasutra II.24
This union is caused by ignorance.
anitya asuci duhkha anatmasu
nitya suci sukha atmakhyatih avidya
- Yogasutra II.5.
Pancha Klesha
• Avidya asmita raga
dvesha abhinivesha
pancha klesha-
Yogasutra II:3
These in born
psychological afflictions
are ignorance, false
identity, attraction,
repulsion and survival
instinct.
Why claim ownership of suffering?
• Often you hear people say, “MY problem”
• Patients often say, “MY disease” as in “MY
diabetes”, or “MY hypertension”
• They often identify with it so much that they
say, “I am a diabetic”, or “ I am a cancer
patient”.
• Once we claim our suffering as our property,
do you think it can be alleviated?
You don’t have problems,
“you” ARE the problem!
- Yogamaharishi Dr Swami Gitananda Giri
Alleviation of Suffering
• Tad-abhāvāt-saṁyoga-abhāvaḥ hānaṁ tad-
dṛśeḥ kaivalyam—Yogasutra II.25
Dissolution of ignorance breaks this union and
enables emancipation
• Viveka-khyātiḥ-aviplavā hāna-upāyaḥ—
Yogasutra II.26
Constant and conscious discerning intellect is the
tool that dissolves such ignorance.
Goal of the Limbs of Yoga
• Yoga-aṅga-anuṣthānāt-aśuddhi-kṣaye jñana-
dīptiḥ-āviveka-khyāteḥ —Yogasutra II.28
Through dedicated living of the limbs of yoga,
the impurities are eliminated, luminous
higher wisdom glows, and profound
discernment and clarity manifests.
This is the real purpose of Yoga.
“upadhi dukkhassa
mūlanti“
Ordinary life often
makes mountains
out of molehills;
Yogic perspective enables us to convert our
mountainous problems into molehills.
The Key is
Vairagya
The cultivation of a
dispassionate,
non-attached,
objective,
meta-cognitive
perspective.
Wisdom from Bhagavad Gita
• Taṁ vidyād duḥkha-sanyoga-viyogaṁ
yogasaṅjñitam sa niśhchayena yoktavyo yogo
’nirviṇṇa-chetasā- Bhagavad Gita: VI:23
– Yoga is the dynamic state of conscious
disentanglement from the tendency to identify
with suffering.
– This should be practiced wisely in a determined
manner with dedication and a clear mind.
Thiruvalluvar on suffering
• It is interesting to note that traditional Indian
thought views the very occurrence of birth as a
disease and a source of suffering!
• Thiruvalluvar reiterates this when he says, “It is
knowledge of the ultimate truth that removes the
folly of birth.”
பிறப்பபன்னும் பபதைதை நீங்கச்
சிறப்பபன்னும் பசம்பபொருள் கொண்பது அறிவு.
pirappu ennum pedaimai neenga chirappu ennum chem porul
kaanbadhu arivu—Thirukkural 358
• Yoga Vasistha describes
psychosomatic (adhija vyadhi) as
well as non-psychosomatic ailments
(anadhija vyadhi).
• Samanya adhija vyadhi are those
arising from day-to-day causes while
sara adhija vyadhi is the essential
disease of birth–rebirth cycle.
• The former can be remedied by medicines and
surgery whereas sara adhija vyadhi doesn’t cease
until knowledge of the Self (atma jnana) is
attained.
Guru Stotra from the Vishvasaaraatantra says the
ultimate “wisdom of the self” gained through the
Guru destroys karmic bondages from many births.
“anekajanma
samprapta
karma bandha
vidhahine
atmajnana
pradanena
tasmai srigurave
namah”
—Guru Stotra,
verse 9
• Today will be the past tomorrow so make use
of the present moment and change the
future.
• Your “free choice” yesterday has caused
today’s destiny, but your “free choice” now
can make a better destiny tomorrow!
• The ultimate choice is ours and ours alone.
Gratitude
is the
highest
attitude.
SRI BALAJI VIDYAPEETH
(Deemed University Accredited with
“A” Grade by NAAC and Ranked 72 in NIRF 2018 )
www.sbvu.ac.in/cyter