15/05/2017
Question: Whenever I plan to do yoga, my mind says, 'Later, later…' and I am not able to do it. What is the solution?
: I want to tell you about this popular superstition in some villages in Karnataka. As soon as the sun sets, the villagers fear that ghosts and demons will come to their homes. So, in order to save themselves, they have a sign painted in red at the door that reads -- Naale Baa, meaning 'Come Tomorrow'. The idea is that on seeing the message, the ghosts and demons will know that they are supposed to visit this house the next day. But, as tomorrow never comes, neither do the demons! Isn't that wonderful?
But, in your life, for all those things that are essential, you have put up a 'come tomorrow' sign for them too! So, it's 'come tomorrow' for blissfulness, peace and yoga itself! This 'tomorrow' is a deep trick of your mind. Your mind says, 'I won't do yoga'. Your ego says, 'How can you not do it, man! You must do it'. If you say, 'I won't do', a feeling of guilt sets in. So, the mind (very cleverly) will never say, 'I won't do', but instead 'let's do it tomorrow'. Tomorrow is always a good day, isn't it? Today, there is some problem. But, when you say 'tomorrow', everything is over as tomorrow will never come for us to experience.
If you wish to do anything, whether it's concerned with your internal or external well-being, creating the necessary atmosphere is a must. Whether you want to run a business, or lead a peaceful family life, or maintain perfect health, or a healthy mind, if you don't create the necessary atmosphere, there is no prospect of things happening well.
There were these four friends, who tried to run a business in partnership. But, no matter what they did, their business ended up as a failure. One after the other, they tried their hand at several businesses, but nothing worked and soon they lost all their money. Then one of them suggested that they buy a car and start a taxi service in Chennai. So, they somehow managed to buy an old Ambassador. They parked it at the Chennai central railway station, but no customer came. They moved to the bus-stand, still no customer. They drove all over the city, yet couldn't find a single customer. Do you know why? Simply because all the four were sitting in the car!
They had the desire to run a business, they wished for their business to be successful too. But if this is the way they went about it, would they ever be successful? In the same way, whatever you want in life, if you don't understand what's needed and try to do something about it, some work might happen at the end of it, but there's no chance of reaping any fruit from such work. If you want to do yoga, you have to understand what kind of atmosphere is needed for it. If you eat 20 dosas at 10 pm and plan to do yoga at 7 the next morning, your body will say, 'Hey, rest now, do it tomorrow'. If you eat a little less, it will be awake at 4 am. If you just take a cold water bath, your body will say, 'You can do yoga'.
You have to create the necessary ambience. If you create the resolve in your mind, and necessary settings for the body, you will be eager to do yoga. If you continue doing it for a few days and start reaping the benefits, then there will be no need for anyone to remind you to do it. You will do it all by yourself.
Love & Grace,
Sadhguru.
