Yoga FAQ | 103 | What is Sraddha? What is its role in Yoga practice?

Transcript

[Music] namaste my dear friends many people ask this question why does yoga techniques not work even though I have been practicing it for a long time a lot of students from around the world have asked me this question now yoga is not only a set of techniques but rather yoga has to follow a combination of parameters for things to actually start to work and that is why many people they become adepts in techniques of yoga but those techniques of yoga does not result in personal and spiritual transformation now this is because the attitudes that are meant to go along with these techniques are often forgotten primary among these attitudes is what is called shraddha which in today's context can translate into what is called as self empowerment or conviction or even a self belief or self faith that we have the capacity to do some things we have the capacity to manifest into our potential potentially presents this as the platform for all practices of yoga - what Patanjali says that if Yoga is not based on Shraddha the techniques of yoga practice will not work that's exactly the difference between a yoga practitioner and a gymnast a gymnast can do many many postures very easily however these performances does not result in personal and spiritual transformation what Patanjali says is that have to practice this with a faith with a self belief that these practices are coming from a very good place in our heart which is the source of light and not necessarily from the mind that is the source of our ego so Patanjali says when we practice the same techniques from an egoistic point of view transformation will not happen but as when we practice the same techniques from our hearts where there is the source of light and the divine great personal and spiritual transformation will happen and that is why he says very strongly that shraddha is the foundation for all yoga practices so unless we have this self empowering faith the self empowering belief in ourselves and in our abilities yogic process will be futile so my suggestion to you my friends is that the next time you start practicing any of the tools of yoga be it asana practice with pranayama practice with mantra practice our meditation practice do it with a great faith from your heart that what you are doing will actually work and do it with a good reason that is for personal and spiritual development do it with the lightness that is in your heart that is led by Shraddha namaste my advice you