Mahatma Gandhi

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi,:slight_smile:

I am new to this forum. I try to follow Mahatma Gandhi’s advice with respect to yoga. He says a person must do some kind of physical activity for at least 8 hours every day. Or, the mind will go off in many directions and that’s not good for us. Idle mind is a devil’s workshop and all that.

My question is, what sort of physical activity must a person do if he has too much time on his hands? Let’s say a person has no job (or any other responsibility) and he has been provided everything. Is there any physical activity that he can do (as a form of yogic practice the way Gandhi has recommended)?

I hope I am making sense. Hope to hear from some of you.:slight_smile:

Regards,
Khan

#2

Gandhi liked to walk, and weave. Have you tried either?
Just because we don’t need to work doesn’t mean that there isn’t some interesting work to do. A few years ago I used to have bouts of boredom and grab one of those big woody brooms and go brush off the sidewalk where i was living. Now I enjoy making mosaic work, quilting, but more in line with Gandhiji’s take of serving each other, perhaps you could spend some hours of the day volunteering at a local temple, orphanage, NGO, or other service organization. People are always looking for help and I have found it to be very rewarding in many ways.

#3

Mahatma Gandhi was initiated in Kriya Yoga by Paramhansa Yoganand himself. It appears unlikely that Gandhi would recommend “some kind” of 8-hour activity a day, and one should keenly study the context, if this was ‘his advice with respect to Yoga.’

Since Gandhi was a leader of the masses, he might have recommended physical activity for those who prefer to twist Indian philosophy and use it as a convenient logic for not doing anything. There are any number of such unfortunate adages on the lines of “if there is god, he will provide for my needs and I don’t need to worry about it” that I have heard from childhood. I was always amazed by the conviction with which some people would say these things and how shamelessly idle they were.

Gandhi must have directed this to a majority who talk a lot and do very little, politicians leading the pack. He was a great seer and must have quickly realized that a mass movement (against a foreigh rule) was impossible with non-active people and would fail with leaders who don’t ‘walk the talk’.

Suryadaya has suggested a good line of thinking. A walk may be for the legs but it is more for the organs of compassion and thinking situated up north.

#4

If you really want to get engaged in work then join some orphanage or old age home. They need volunteers and helpers. You can achieve two things by doing that , first your mind will not get ruled by devil :slight_smile: and second, you will get inner peace by helping others in their need.

Also walk as much as possible. Don’t sit idle for long time.

Hope this helps.