Press Interview in Bogotá
with Swami Satyananda Saraswati
Q. This festival is about yoga and health. Does yoga really help to bring
about a state of good health?
A. Although people were very sceptical about yoga in the beginning, now
the whole picture has completely changed. In recent years scientific studies
have revealed that yoga does work. The effects of yoga have been studied
and tests have shown the influence of the practices on the human mind
and body. Besides this, the number of yoga schools opening every day throughout
the world is a positive indication that everywhere people are improving
their physical and mental health through yoga.
Q. Do the practices of yoga affect the body directly or do they influence
the body through the mind?
A. The science of yoga works from both ends. For example, the practices
of hatha yoga improve the physical health and this influence is transferred
to the mental body. The practices of raja yoga improve the mind and this
influence is transferred to the physical body. Therefore, the processes
of yoga, in general, are somo-psychic and psychosomatic both.
Q. What do you recommend to a person who is suffering from mental and
physical illness?
A. For those people, my personal advice is to devote a few minutes every
day to the practice of yoga postures and a little time to yogic relaxation.
Q. According to yoga, what is the human race suffering from?
A. The main illness today is mental disturbance, which simultaneously
affects man's physical condition. Human beings have no control over the
behaviour of their own minds. As such, the mind guides them to very unhappy
experiences such as worry, anxiety, fear, neurosis, anger, greed, frustration
and depression.
Q. Can you say when this sickness started?
A. Well, sickness has always been with man, but in the last few centuries
it has accelerated and become much more acute.
Q. Do you think that human beings are born good or bad?
A. The essential nature of every human being is sacred and positive. But
as he is exposed to various environments and situations in life, he forgets
his nature for the time being and acts in a negative way.
Q. When we are dealing with the outside world, should we face it straight
on, or try to escape from it by going inside? What is the yogic approach?
A. The external circumstances of life have to be faced through a mind
that has been made more capable by the practices of yoga and meditation.
The path of meditation is not a path of escape. It is a method of processing
the mind and giving it precision and quality. With this transformed quality
of mind, you can face any difficult situation in life, not only with peace
and tranquility, but with greater humility and possibilities.
Q. What does yoga say about higher forces?
A. Yoga is a science which believes in the eternal existence of two forces,
matter and energy. When these forces interact, the whole creation comes
into being, not only on this planet, but everywhere in the universe.
Q. What do you think the world is heading towards now, with so much talk
of impending wars, violence and disaster?
A. You have read history and you know there have always been wars and
there will be wars in the future as well. But at the same time, the consciousness
of man is heading towards higher life. Throughout the whole world, man
is becoming more and more aware of his spiritual nature. As such, in spite
of the wars, conflicts, death and destruction that are taking place and
shall take place in the future, the horizon of man has silver linings.
Q. What do you think about psychic healing?
A. Psychic healing is one of the powers of the mind. A mind which has
been purified by yogic practices is capable of sending positive healing
forces for the curing of oneself and others.
Q. Does yoga agree with parapsychology?
A. Yes, parapsychology is one of the faculties of yoga.
Q. In ancient times yogis always travelled by foot. Why is it that nowadays
they go by car, train and plane all over the world?
A. The saints and sages have always moved amongst the people on foot.
That is the tradition. In India this is called parivrajaka. For a certain
period, the renunciates lead a homeless life, wandering from place to
place. I have also done this from 1956 to 1963. During that period I visited
practically every part of India, Burma, Ceylon, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh
and Afghanistan, mostly on foot. But since 1968 I have been carrying the
message of yoga to all parts of India and the world. Now I have to reach
a greater number of people, so I travel by car, train and plane.
Q. Are there ever any objections to yoga by the people of different countries?
A. In all the countries we have been to, there has been no objection to
our entry, to our moving in this way, to our teaching yoga, to our giving
mantra or sannyasa diksha to the citizens, as long as we don't talk politics.
We can speak in socialist countries on how yoga should be practised by
politicians, and they don't object to that. But discussion of political
conflicts and differences in other countries creates a real problem.
Q. Do you think if politicians practised yoga, they would eventually
leave politics, or would they begin to improve the political situation?
A. When a politician, businessman, housewife, school teacher, or a factory
worker practises yoga, it is not necessary to leave his profession. In
the course of time, as he develops a better frame of mind, a greater insight
into life, the quality of his work improves. He will become a superior
politician with greater insight, a more efficient businessman capable
of making intuitive decisions, a teacher or professor with direct and
powerful expression, a housewife able to manage the affairs of the family
and the children.
Q. Can you give an example of such people who are practising yoga in
the world today?
A. Yehudi Menuhin, the great violinist, practises yoga. Mrs. Indira Gandhi,
the most powerful Prime Minister of India, practises yoga. The Duke Of
Windsor practises yoga. The Queen of England practises yoga, and George
Harrison, father of the pop tradition, practises yoga. In fact, there
are many great people who are practising yoga in the world today.
Q. What is the highest guidance a guru can give?
A. Love, and to show you the inner path and explain the realities.
Q. Is it tiresome to be a guru?
A. It is tiresome for many, but for me it is not, because I don't feel
that I am a guru. My relationship with everybody I come across is in the
form of friend, guide and philosopher. This is a very relaxing relationship
which gives me joy and contentment, so that when I die, I can write on
a piece of paper that I died in peace.
Q. What is the reason why yoga is so popular in the west?
A. Technology is very popular in the orient, and yoga is very popular
in the west. This is because western people did not have the spiritual
traditions of yoga and eastern people did not have the technological sciences.
Man needs both. Therefore, the west is adopting yoga and the east is adopting
technology. This is how we are trying to complete our lopsided personalities.
Q. What is the greatest difficulty that you have encountered in bringing
yoga to the western world?
A. No difficulties, it has been very easy. Because western people are
craving for peace and spiritual knowledge, and eastern countries are craving
for technological culture and knowledge. Therefore, the scientific men
of the west have no difficulty in exporting their technological culture
to the east, and I am also having no difficulty in exporting the spiritual
culture to the west.
Q. Does this exportation from east to west allow for distortion of the
facts?
A. When exported to the west, the yogic teachings will be distorted by
a few insincere people. But, in general, the majority who are craving
for spiritual life will definitely realize the distortion in the teachings
very soon, and they will again try to discover the real form of yoga.
Of course, this is already happening here.
Q. Do you think that religious teachings can bring the same advantages
that yoga brings?
A. Religion cannot be practised with a dissipated mind or an infirm body.
Therefore, yoga will have to be practised by people who sincerely want
to follow their own religion. Thereby, they will attain peace of mind,
concentration and a prayerful mood.
Q. What do you think about Christ and his teachings?
A. The same as the Christians think. The teachings of Christ were meant
to bring man face to face with the supreme reality, to bring him closer
to spiritual experience.
Q. What is your religion?
A. Since I became a swami I have had no religion of my own, but I was
born a Hindu. When I took sannyasa, I ceased to belong to any religion
or sect. A swami must have respect and adoration for every faith, rishi,
scripture and religion. Therefore I am a Roman Catholic with the Roman
Catholics, a Muslim with the Muslims and a Hindu with the Hindus, but
unto myself I am nothing.
Q. According to you, what should the purpose of practising a
religion be?
A. The purpose of practising a religion is to open the closed doors of
the mind and realize the higher consciousness.
Q. What are your personal requirements?
A. I have to take care of this body for the time being. However, I have
no family, no bank account, no number.
Q. If you are totally dedicated to spiritual life, how do you maintain
yourself?
A. My material needs are very few. I need something to eat to maintain
the body, and that I get very easily. I only wear two pieces of cloth
and I can manage with them for a few years. When you have minimum needs,
you have minimum dependence.
Q. Do you ever experience that hilarious type of laughter?
A. No, I can only express myself in jubilance. I can laugh with you, but
happiness is something more than that. Happiness is an experience of the
mind, not merely the expression of the emotions. It is an inner experience
or feeling. If you want me to join you in joy and jubilance, I can always
do that. But laughter is not necessarily an indication of jubilance.
Q. Is the love match accepted in yoga? How have you experienced love?
A. You see, I have received so much love from people, and I have given
love to so many people, that I don't really need just one person to give
me love or to take my love. I have very much love in me and I also receive
very much love, but I know that I cannot receive from one person and give
to one person only.
As such, love is not anti-yoga. On the other hand, yoga improves the quality
and the quantity of love so much that you are able to give to many people,
not only your girlfriend or boyfriend. Well, all are my girlfriends and
boyfriends.
Q. Is there any rule that prevents you from getting married if you ever
want to?
A. No, I can marry any time. My religion will not excommunicate me. Man
is born free, and his religion cannot bind him. I became a swami by my
own free will and decision. If I think that married life would be a better
way for me to realize the higher values of life, I can always do it. There
is no religious rule that forbids me.
Q. Does that mean you have never thought that marriage would be the best
thing in life for you?
A. I have thought about which way would bring the best expression to life,
marriage or sannyasa. Ultimately, I came to the decision that I don't
really need marriage as such, because there is no fun in it.
Q. How many hours do you sleep?
A. Whenever I get time I can sleep. But generally I sleep for about 3
to 4 hours.
Q. What is a normal day for you?
A. For me every day is different. The time is also different. Here, it
is 10 o'clock; in Spain it is 1.30. So, if I were in Spain, this would
be my lunchtime. If I were in India, it would be past midnight and I would
be sleeping now.
Q. In yoga, is one meant to practise discipline or sacrifice?
A. Discipline is imposed, and sacrifice is spontaneous from within. Yoga
is a discipline but the disciple practises it as a sacrifice. Discipline
is a social institution, and sacrifice is internal and spontaneous.
Q. Could you explain a little bit about the new psychic race?
A. Today people are practising yoga throughout the world and as a result,
they are becoming more spiritual. Their minds and consciousness are changing.
In time, these people should influence the future generations, so that
they are based on spiritual concepts, rather than materialism. That race,
known as the psychic race, will flourish in the Aquarian age.
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