JMVRI Issue Number 4
JMVRI Issue Number Four has three articles that separately cover topics from Yog, education, and management. The leading paper, referring to the Bhagavad-Gītā, discusses Maharishi’s teaching on Yoga—distinguishing Yoga as a practice and Yoga as the experience of higher states of consciousness. The following paper considers the concept of ‘support of nature’ as a management tool. Finally, the last article looks at the contribution of consciousness-based education in addressing the wicked problems of sustainability.
JMVRI Paper 4.1
State of Yoga Versus Path of Yoga in Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s Commentary on the Bhagavad-Gītā
Author: William F. Sands
Citation: Sands, W.F. (2017). State of Yoga versus path of Yoga in Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s commentary on the Bhagavad-Gītā. Journal of Maharishi Vedic Research Institute, 4, 9-44.
Summary
A recurrent theme throughout Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s commentary on the Bhagavad-Gītā is the distinction he makes between Yoga as a practice and Yoga as the experience of higher states of consciousness. In Maharishi’s view, modern commentators and Yoga teachers habitually mistake descriptions of the state of Yoga for the path of Yoga, leading to a variety of practices, attitudes, and philosophies that have been detrimental to the pursuit of enlightenment.
Maharishi’s point is more than philosophical, for he has demonstrated that the experience of Yoga, termed Samādhi in the language of Yoga philosophy, can be simply and effortlessly attained through his Transcendental Meditation program, whereas practices requiring effort, concentration, attitude changes, etc.—prevalent today under the name of Yoga—are based on mistaken interpretations of the Bhagavad-Gītā, and often inhibit the progress of aspirants to higher states of consciousness.
Such interpretations have arisen because philosophers and scholars in recent centuries have derived their commentaries from textual exegesis and philosophical argument, whereas Maharishi’s is based upon the direct experience of Samadhi, the inner Self. The experience of Samādhi through Transcendental Meditation practice has led to scientifically verifiable improvements in individual and collective life that confirm Maharishi’s interpretation.
This paper highlights passages from the Bhagavad-Gītā and contrasts Maharishi’s interpretation of them with several representative commentaries, to illustrate how Maharishi’s analysis corrects fundamental misunderstandings that have arisen in modern Yoga philosophy and practice, and how his teaching brings to light the practicality of the Bhagavad-Gītā.