Yoga of Synthesis

Yoga of Synthesis

Yoga of Synthesis is suitable for the vast majority of persons. It is a unique Yoga.

Man is a strange complex mixture of will, feeling and thought. He is a triune being. He is like a tricycle or a three-wheeled chariot. He wills to possess the objects of his desires. He has emotion; and so he feels. He has reason and so he thinks and ratiocinates. In some the emotional element may preponderate, while in some others the rational element may dominate. Just as will, feelings and thought are not distinct and separate, so also, work, devotion and knowledge are not exclusive of one another. He must, therefore develop his heart, intellect and hand. Then alone can he attain perfection. Many aspirants have lop-sided development. They do not possess an integral development, as they neglect one or the other of these aspects of their personality.

One-sided development is not commendable. Religion and Yoga must educate and develop the whole man – his heart, intellect and hand. Then only he will have integral development.

In the mind there are three defects, viz., Mala or impurity, Vikshepa or tossing, and Avarana or veil. The impurities of the mind should be removed by the practice of Karma Yoga, by selfless service. The tossing should be removed by worship or Upasana, by Japa and devotion. The veil should be torn down by the practice of Jnana Yoga, i.e., by study of Vedantic literature, enquiry, self-analysis, service to the Guru, and deep meditation. Only then Self-realization is possible.

If you want to see your face clearly in a mirror, you must remove the dirt in the mirror, keep it steady, and remove the covering also. You can see your face clearly in the bottom of a lake only if the turbidity is removed, if the water that is agitated by the wind is rendered still, and if the moss that is lying on the surface is removed. Even so is the case with Self-realization.

Action, emotion and intelligence are the three horses that are linked to this body-chariot. They should work in perfect harmony or unison. Then only the chariot will run smoothly. There must be integral development. You must have the head of Sankara, the heart of Buddha, and the hand of Janaka.

The Yoga of Synthesis alone will develop the head, heart and hand, and lead one to perfection. To become harmoniously balanced in all directions is the ideal of religion and of Yoga. This can be achieved by the practice of the Yoga of Synthesis.

To behold the one Self in all beings is Jnana, wisdom; to love the Self is Bhakti, devotion; to serve the Self is Karma, action. When the Jnana Yogi attains wisdom, he is endowed with devotion and self less activity. Karma Yoga is for him a spontaneous expression of his spiritual nature, as he sees the one Self in all. When the devotee attains perfection in devotion, he is possessed of wisdom and activity. For him also, Karma Yoga is a spontaneous expression of his divine nature, as he beholds the one Lord everywhere. The Karma Yogi attains wisdom and devotion when his actions are wholly selfless. The three paths are, in fact, one in which the three different temperaments emphasize one or the other of its inseparable constituents. Yoga supplies the method by which the Self can be seen, loved and served.

Hence everyone should have one Yoga as the basic Yoga and combine other Yogas. You can combine Nishkama Karma Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Sankirtan Yoga, etc., with Jnana Yoga as the basis. This is my Yoga of Synthesis, which will ensure rapid spiritual progress.

A little practice of Hatha Yoga (Asanas and Pranayamas) will give you good health. Raja Yoga will steady your mind. Upasana and Karma Yoga will purify your heart and prepare you for the practice of Vedanta. Sankirtan will relax your mind and inspire you. Meditation will take you to liberation.

Such a Yogi has all-round development. The Yoga of Synthesis will help you to attain God-realization quickly. Upanishads, Gita and all other scriptures speak of this Yoga. Therefore, O Mokshapriya, practice this unique Yoga of Synthesis and attain Self-realization quickly.

Here is my little song of the Yoga of Synthesis, for your daily practice:

Eat a little, drink a little
Talk a little, sleep a little
Mix a little, move a little
Serve a little, rest a little
Work a little, relax a little
Study a little, worship a little
Do Asana a little, Pranayama a little
Reflect a little, meditate a little
Do Japa a little, do Kirtan a little
Write Mantra a little, have Satsang a little
Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realize
Be good, Do good; Be kind, Be compassionate
Enquire ‘Who am I ?’, Know the Self and be Free

Yoga of Synthesis – Harmony of Action, Devotion, Meditation, and Knowledge

Yoga of Synthesis is the balanced spiritual path that combines different methods of yoga into one complete way of life. Human nature is not one-sided. A person has hands to work, a heart to love, a mind to meditate, and an intellect to enquire. Therefore, a complete spiritual path should purify action, emotion, thought, and understanding. Yoga of Synthesis brings Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, and Jnana Yoga together in a practical and harmonious way.

Karma Yoga is the path of selfless action. It teaches the seeker to perform duties without selfish attachment to results. Work becomes worship when it is done with sincerity, humility, and dedication. A person may serve family, society, the sick, the poor, students, elders, or any being in need. When action is free from ego and expectation, it purifies the heart and reduces selfishness.

Bhakti Yoga is the path of devotion and love. The heart needs softness, surrender, and divine remembrance. Through prayer, chanting, worship, mantra, and love for God, the seeker becomes humble and pure. Devotion removes dryness from spiritual life. It teaches the seeker to offer worries, desires, actions, and results to the Divine. Love becomes a bridge between the individual and the supreme reality.

Yoga of Synthesis also includes Raja Yoga, the path of mind-control and meditation. The mind is usually restless, moving toward desires, fears, memories, and distractions. Through posture, breath awareness, concentration, moral discipline, and meditation, the mind becomes calm and steady. A steady mind can reflect truth clearly. Without mental discipline, both devotion and knowledge may remain unstable.

Jnana Yoga is the path of wisdom and self-inquiry. It asks the seeker to discriminate between the real and the unreal, the permanent and the temporary, the self and the non-self. The seeker reflects, “I am not the body, not the mind, not the ego. I am the witness, pure consciousness.” This enquiry removes ignorance and leads toward the realization of Atman as one with Brahman.

Yoga of Synthesis is important because different seekers have different temperaments. Some are active, some emotional, some contemplative, and some intellectual. If a person follows only one path while neglecting the rest, imbalance may arise. Action without devotion may become dry duty. Devotion without discrimination may become blind emotion. Meditation without purity may become difficult. Knowledge without humility may become pride. Synthesis prevents these dangers.

In this path, daily life itself becomes spiritual practice. Work is not separate from worship. Study is not separate from meditation. Devotion is not separate from self-knowledge. A seeker can begin the day with prayer, perform duties as service, remember God during activity, meditate regularly, study scripture, and reflect on the self. In this way, the whole day becomes sadhana.

Yoga of Synthesis teaches that spirituality should be practical. It is not meant only for forests, caves, temples, or monasteries. A student, householder, worker, parent, teacher, leader, or monk can practice it. Every situation becomes an opportunity. Success teaches humility. Failure teaches patience. Relationships teach love. Work teaches service. Silence teaches meditation. Study teaches discrimination.

Selfless service is a strong foundation of this yoga. Service removes ego and expands the heart. When the seeker serves without expecting praise, the mind becomes pure. The feeling of separation becomes weaker. Serving others becomes a way of seeing the Divine in all beings. This prepares the seeker for devotion and knowledge.

Devotion gives warmth to the path. The seeker may repeat the Divine Name, sing kirtan, offer food, light a lamp, pray sincerely, or remember God silently. These simple practices bring sweetness to life. Devotion also gives strength in difficulty. When ego feels weak or confused, surrender brings courage and peace.

Meditation gives depth to the path. Without meditation, the mind remains scattered. Even noble thoughts may not become steady. Regular meditation helps the seeker observe thoughts, control reactions, and rest in inner silence. This silence becomes the ground for deeper self-knowledge.

Knowledge gives final clarity to the path. Vedanta teaches that the true self is pure consciousness, ever free and complete. The body, mind, senses, and ego are changing instruments. Through discrimination and enquiry, the seeker recognizes the witness behind all experiences. This knowledge gives freedom from fear, attachment, and sorrow.

Yoga of Synthesis also demands purity of character. Truthfulness, compassion, self-control, humility, forgiveness, moderation, and simplicity are necessary. Without purity, spiritual practice becomes weak. A person may chant, meditate, and study, but if conduct is selfish and impure, progress remains limited. Character is the foundation of realization.

This yoga is especially useful in modern life. People today are busy, distracted, and often mentally restless. They may not be able to spend long hours in one form of practice. Yoga of Synthesis gives a complete and flexible method. One can serve through work, love through devotion, calm the mind through meditation, and grow in wisdom through study and enquiry.

The spirit of synthesis also removes narrowness. It teaches respect for all sincere paths. No single temperament should look down on another. The worker, devotee, meditator, and philosopher are all moving toward the same truth when their practice is pure. The aim is not argument, but transformation and realization.

In the end, Yoga of Synthesis is a complete path for the whole human personality. It combines action, devotion, meditation, and knowledge into one harmonious spiritual life. Through Karma Yoga the heart is purified, through Bhakti Yoga it is softened, through Raja Yoga the mind is steadied, and through Jnana Yoga ignorance is removed. When practiced sincerely, Yoga of Synthesis leads the seeker toward balance, peace, wisdom, and realization of the eternal self.

Atman is Distinct from the Three Bodies