What is Spiritual?

Is Yoga a Spiritual Practice and if so Why?

What is Spiritual?

There are many different definitions of the word spiritual - does it mean religious, moral, ethical, transcendental, non-material, non-materialistic...? Or, as many would contend, is it simply a meaningless idea, there being only this material plane and no evidence of any kind of "spirit world"? In which case, perhaps, the word could also be associated with artistic, sublime, sensual, edifying...

Even within spiritual traditions, there are vastly different ideas about what is spiritual. In some traditions, a human being is thought to have a spiritual core, in others, this would be considered a heresy. In one, a particular moral code would be considered a virtue while in another it would be considered a sin.

There are two broad ways in which the word is being used - in the first place it is used as a qualification of ethical or moral behavior and on the other hand as a definition or explanation of a field of "reality" that is non-material. In other words, certain types of behavior (or practice) can be considered spiritual and on the other hand there is an attempt to define a non-material sphere or spiritual dimension.

Putting aside arguments about whether there is anything beyond the concrete material universe for the moment, is moral or ethical action necessarily spiritual?

Evidently not. The legal system is designed with the intention of restricting people's behavior within ethical or moral boundaries that are designed to be for the social good. Unethical behavior causes injury and harm and in order to keep society happy and at peace, there are laws designed to protect everyone from harm.

So, just being a good person does not make you a spiritual person. Perhaps there are particular behaviors that make you spiritual - behavior that goes above and beyond generally accepted moral codes - such as going to church or temple, praying, asking for forgiveness, charity, active compassion etc.?

The target of goodness is not necessarily a transcendental reality or state - some are simply naturally moved to be of service to others. This also does not necessarily make their actions spiritual - although they could easily be labeled as such.

So, rather than being types of moral behavior, what is called spiritual practice is, perhaps, a collection of actions that are designed to put you in touch with a particular sphere of experience - something beyond the material - if that were possible.

The notion "spiritual" only has meaning to distinguish it from something that is purely material or materialistic. The word spirit only has a purpose or meaning as a counterpart to something deemed to be material or concrete.

What about the enjoyment of the arts? Or even, simply, enjoyment itself? Is pleasure or happiness a material thing? Are there gradations of pleasure that range from the visceral to the sublime, from the sensual to a realm beyond the senses?

What is happiness itself? Is it a collection of sensations or an absence of sensation? What is peace? What is the pleasure of knowing, the appreciation of harmony? Are these material pleasures or are they transcendental? Do the physical pleasures, the sensual appreciation of harmony, lead us to an experience of consciousness beyond matter?

The Yogic Paradigm

Western philosophers are searching for consciousness in the mind and are struggling desperately to find it. The conclusion that many are coming to is that consciousness does not exist!

One of the problems we are facing in this Western debate is a lack of proper definition of the word consciousness. Is consciousness merely the opposite of being unconscious? This seems to be the general idea put forward.

The yogic perspective suggests that consciousness is a non-material phenomenon independent of the mind, which is housed in the material nexus of brain, nervous system, endocrine system etc.. According to yoga, the universe is split in two: there is the material plane (prakriti) and there is the dimension of consciousness (purusha).

If we were to liken the human system to a computer, we have hardware (physical structures/body) and software (programing/mind) but in order for the computer to function, one has to supply an electrical current. Until you turn on the computer it is just an inert collection of mineral objects, but once you supply the current, the system comes to "life".

In the yogic paradigm - consciousness is electricity. Electrical current passes through the physical structures and animates life. The electrical current is not modified in character, but the structures it passes through are. In the same way, consciousness animates the mind but is not modified by the mind. It is a universal principle that has a specific character that is not changed by proximity to material structures.

The purpose of yoga is to access an intimate connection with consciousness. This is achieved by modifying the physical structures of the body and mind. According to yoga, consciousness, or perhaps the unalloyed experience of consciousness in the mind produces or is experienced as deep peace and bliss.

Our fundamental nature is consciousness, is deep peace and bliss. The clothes that we wear (body), the work that we do, the suffering that we experience is the physical nature of body and mind. When body and mind are unhealthy, we experience nothing but affliction, but when they are wholesomely attuned to nature, they do not provide obstacles to experiencing the deep inner peace and pleasure of the essential nature.

We think that the attainment of pleasure produces peace and happiness - but the yogis say - no, your true nature is bliss, the afflictions of the mind and body obscure this truth. When you enjoy the fruits of your labor, the relaxation of your stress in achieving your desire, it simply reveals the true inner nature which is peace and happiness itself. It is only ill health and stress that cover it up.

Yoga practices are designed to bring us to this place. There are eight such practices in Ashtanga Yoga. The reason they are called spiritual practices is that they bring us towards an experience of the spirit. While asana and pranayama can produce temporary release of stress, without the psychological changes wrought by following the principles of the Yama and Niyama, very little progress can be made on the path of yoga. Without adherence to these principles, practice should not be called yoga, let alone spiritual. More often, physical practice is a wholly materialistic endeavor.

The first principle of Ashtanga Yoga is Ahimsa - that means non-harm. Self-harm is the primary cause of misery. Self-harm is produced by virtually every action, though not necessarily directly. It seems that to live in a physical body is to suffer. Even asana practice brings suffering much of the time.

In order for practice to be considered "spiritual" it needs to be targeted at bringing us to experience the non-material element. This is achieved through following the Yama and Niyama.

Yama and Niyama are what makes yoga into a spiritual practice. These practices are designed to help us access real pleasure, happiness and peace along with deep self knowledge.

In the Yoga Sutra, Patanajali lists 5 yama and 5 niyamas but other texts have different lists, for instance, the Hatha Pradipika and the Yogayajnavalkya Samhita list 10 yamas and 10 niyamas.

In our third Sunday workshop of the series: Yoga as a Spiritual Practice, on Sunday November 1, we explore the theme:

The Ten Commandments of Yoga - How is Moral Development Related to Spiritual Practice and Meditation?

All are welcome: https://www.ashtangayoga.nyc/workshops