By Elizabeth Herman | Posted: September 13, 2018
Did you notice a sense of wonder and amazement when you first discovered yoga and meditation?
You may have asked, “Why do I feel so good?” after your first few sessions. You may have started to develop an abiding feeling of surprise about a newly awakened spirit of rejuvenation that you experienced.
In the following passages, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar reflects on the feelings of awe that come up at the beginning of a yogic journey.
The spiritual journey begins with ‘wow!’
Q: Guruji, can spirituality be explained by science? Sometimes I get amused by this creation which is yet to be explained by science. Do the Vedas have a solution?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, amusement is the preface for yoga. When you are amused then you start enquiring into the nature of truth and then your journey begins. So, it’s perfect. ‘Vismayo Yoga Bhumika,’ spirituality begins with amusement and then it’s like being in an amusement park all the time. You get surprised: Wow! What is this? What is this world? So many different varieties of trees, plants, flowers, leaves, vegetables, fruits, people, what is all of this? When such thoughts arise, then knowledge begins.
Amazing mechanisms connecting yoga and health
Even though you’re thousands of miles away, your words get into this cell phone right here, without any connection to a wire. Usually when a wire ties something in, we take it for granted because we see a physical link, but here there isn’t even any solid bond. A cell phone is in your hand, you speak and that gets transmitted in empty space and reaches somewhere so far away. If you just put your mind on this phenomenon, you’ll feel amazed. We take this for granted and speak on the cell phone and don't even notice the mechanism behind it.
If you look into the mechanism you’ll be in awe. This awe awakens the spirit inside. It takes you into the state of meditation. 'Vismaya Yoga Bhumika': ASTONISHMENT is the preface for yoga.
If you’re astonished/stunned, that’s when yoga, your spiritual journey, and meditation all begin. So you must be astonished in order to get into yoga, and whenever you sense that 'wow,’ that feeling of astonishment in you, know that you’re connected with the spirit that you are. You’re in that state of spiritual elevation. Isn't it amazing? Isn't it beautiful!!
How could someone think that the 'Oh, wow' experience could create such elevation of spirit? All present day crises and problems can be solved by this change in attitude, don't you think so?
Blossoming intelligence and intuition
Meditation is the journey from movement to stillness; from sound to silence. Meditation enhances your intuition and innovative ability. It increases your energy level and makes you more intelligent. Got it? No one here would say, 'I do not want to be intelligent,’ or 'I do not want to be intuitive or innovative,’ right? So, all these qualities blossom within you when you meditate. Even the latest scientific findings agree with these facts. Actually they aren’t the latest.
One year ago, scientists in New York declared that if someone meditates for 20 minutes a day for eight weeks regularly, the very structure of the brain changes. The grey matter in the brain increases. This is really something phenomenal. We knew this and have experienced this over the ages. We have seen that by meditation, people’s mind-set changes. They feel very fresh at any time of the day. Now science too has approved this.
It’s said, “Vismaya Yoga Bhumika.” The preface for yoga is vismaya or wonderment. When we get into a state of wonder by looking at things around us, then that’s when yoga begins to unfold.
