For International Yoga Day — by a Seeker
Starting Point
In my youth, I was healthy and mentally curious. After a certain experience, which I later understood was a transient Savikalpa Samadhi, a shimmering image of meditation stayed in my mind. That image remained alive for years and I used it for deep inner nourishment. With that energy, I studied, experimented, and shared spiritual knowledge with others.
At that time, I now feel, I could have gone into Keval Kumbhak and from there to Nirvikalpa Samadhi, if I had focused completely. The inner image was already guiding me. But I got involved in sharing, not settling.
Later Obstacles
Now at this stage of life, GERD, gastric pressure, and mucus buildup in the throat create interruptions in breath. Even if I don’t try to stop the breath, and just sit silently, the breath starts calming down on its own — but a reflex like engulfing mucus or a throat tickle brings breath back. This keeps disturbing the entry into Keval Kumbhak and the stillness needed for Nirvikalpa Samadhi. Though Kunjal is contraindicated in GERD, regular practice from early life may help prevent GERD from developing.
Similarly, Practicing knee-based asanas like Padmasana and Siddhasana from an early age helps keep the knees strong and healthy, preventing age-related weakness and pain that hinder maintaining prolonged asana as needed for nirvikalp samadhi.
This taught me that Hatha Yoga is not optional. It is necessary.
Misreading the Scriptures
In old texts of Hatha Yoga it is written:
“Hatha Yoga is fruitless without Raja Yoga.”
But that sentence has been misunderstood.
People took this to mean that Hatha Yoga is a separate, lower yoga, and Raja Yoga is a different, higher one.
But this is not true.
I now see that:
Hatha Yoga itself becomes Raja Yoga when it matures.
The so-called Raja Yoga — Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi — arises automatically when the Hatha practices bring breath and body to perfect stillness. They are not two branches, but stages of one path.
Hatha Yoga Leads Honestly
Hatha Yoga is simple and honest.
When you do Shatkarma (cleansing), you can feel the result.
When you do asanas, you know if your spine is straight or not.
When breath slows, it is known directly.
There is no illusion.
There is no imagination.
And if Keval Kumbhak happens even briefly, there is nothing else to believe.
But in many “Raja Yoga” circles, people sit and try to meditate without preparing body and breath. Then they keep thinking they are meditating, but nothing goes on happening. Breath is disturbed. Body is stiff. Samadhi doesn’t happen.
That’s why I now feel:
Even only Hatha Yoga is better than only Raja Yoga.
Because Hatha Yoga eventually gives you real Raja Yoga anyway.
How Karma Yoga Comes First
Before Hatha, Karma Yoga helped me. But I didn’t realize it in words.
I used my own understanding of holographic reality and science based philosophy Sharirvigyan Darshan to approach life nondually.
This gave me a peaceful mind, a natural sense of surrender in action, and a body-breath rhythm that was already inward. I wasn’t reacting too much to success or failure. I stayed calm while doing duties.
Without knowing, this became Karma Yoga.
This helped my posture stay relaxed, and breath stay smooth, even in daily life. It became easier to move into stillness when I sat down for meditation or inner work.
So All These Yogas Are One Ladder
Now I see clearly:
- Karma Yoga comes first — it calms you in action.
- Hatha Yoga comes next — it prepares your body and breath.
- Raja Yoga comes last — it happens on its own when stillness is perfect.
They are not three different paths.
They are one natural unfolding.
Today’s Confusion
Today, Yoga is divided:
- Some do only asana as fitness.
- Some do only meditation without body discipline.
- Some talk only about philosophy.
But all are incomplete alone.
That’s why many people don’t feel any deep transformation, even after years.
But I feel even if one does basic Karma Yoga and regular Hatha Yoga, stillness will come one day. Raja Yoga will not be needed as a separate practice — it will happen.
What I Suggest Now
For those who want real Yoga:
- Don’t label the path.
- Live peacefully with surrender (Karma Yoga will begin).
- Practice weekly or daily Shatkarma, Asana, gentle Pranayama (Hatha will deepen).
- Sit without forcing (Raja Yoga will arise).
Let the shimmering meditation image grow silently.
Let breath slow down naturally.
Let Yoga be one, not many.
Final Line
I no longer believe in separating Karma, Hatha, and Raja Yoga.
I feel now that all are steps of the same inner ladder.
I walked it, without planning, and it showed itself as one path.
If I could give one message on this International Yoga Day, it is:
Yoga is not about variety. Yoga is about unity — of body, breath, and awareness.
Everything else is support.
And lastly, don’t forget:
Yoga is the best job — it gives a salary of peace and bliss for limitless time, not like a physical job that pays only for a few decades, at most a hundred years.
Yoga is also the best family — it offers companionship of the Self for eternity, not just for a short human lifespan like a physical family.
✨ So let us all take an oath on this year’s International Yoga Day — to keep Yoga at the very top of our to-do list.
Not just for a day, but for a lifetime.
Yes, don’t forget – one yoga=one health.
Demystifying Kundalini 