Yoga as 'Middle Path'

Of all the concepts that are fundamental to the way we live now, moderation may be the least valued and the most misunderstood. We're bombarded with axioms that stress intense effort: "Work hard and you will go far." "You can change your destiny by dint of hard work and will power." "Failure is not an option."

No football coach tells us to be moderate in our efforts; few parents encourage their kids to work with equanimity and without seeking rewards. I have to confess that I too urge my kids to try harder, to seek success, to give their all and be nothing but the best, all of which show how far I have strayed from my Hindu roots.

Hinduism values many things--compassion, generosity, truth, charity, daily puja (prayer), visiting temples, chanting, doing your duty, and meditating on the name of the Lord. But above all, Hinduism values balance and equanimity. The Bhagavad Gita, one of the great Hindu texts, is a treatise on yoga (among other things). In the Gita, Lord Krishna describes yoga in many ways--as self-discipline, as detachment, as a daily practice, as nirvana from the sorrows of material life, as a path to higher consciousness. But in the end, he pronounces, "Sammatwam yoga uchathe," which means, "The goal of yoga is balance."

"Sammatwam" in this context means balance, but it also means moderation and equanimity. Yoga should bring the body and mind to an even keel; it should balance our body, mind, psyche and soul. It should help us be moderate in our habits. In simple terms, it is the antithesis of working hard and then playing hard. Rather than indulging in feasts and then fasting or engaging in crash diets; rather than working through the night and day and then drinking yourself to sleep; rather than stressing yourself into a nervous breakdown and then taking medication to bring yourself back on track, this particular aspect of yoga advises you strive for moderation in everything that you do.

My father-in-law practices this in daily life. Dosa is a delicacy in our family. These thin flour crepes and the accompanying chutneys are a spicy dinner favorite. I usually eat eight to ten dosas and then complain of bloating. Even though I don't need to, I can't stop myself.

My father-in-law eats two! When he is tired, he takes a nap. When his stomach gives him trouble, he skips a meal or eats just fruits. He listens to his body and lives a moderate life.

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