Anavasthitatva
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Anavasthitatva literally means ‘instability’.
Patañjali, in his famous work, the Yogasutras[1], describes nine antarāyas or obstacles to perform yoga. Anavasthitatva is the last in the list and also the most formidable one to overcome. With assiduous practice, a yogi can succeed in raising his mind to certain higher states but very soon it slides back to lower ones or reverts into the old rut.
Deep-rooted evil tendencies like inordinate lust and love of lucre or mercurial irritability or crass selfishness are often responsible for this fall. By dispassionate and deep introspection, consultation with the guru and prayer to God, one can discover the root-cause and eliminate it.
References[edit]
- ↑ Yogasutras 1.30
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore