You probably already know that teamwork is essential to success. The same is true within an individual organism. To function properly, the different parts of your being need to work in sync.
So, to reach enlightenment, you need to forge a tight-knit cooperation between your body, mind, emotions and energy. This principle is beautifully described in another traditional Indian story.
Four yogis were walking in the forest. One was a firm believer in the power of physical yoga, the second in yoga of the mind, the third in the yoga of prayer and the fourth in the yoga of the chakras, or bodily centers of energy. Each believed that his method was supreme.
Suddenly, it began to rain, and all the yogis sought shelter in an ancient temple. This structure had no walls and was a simple roof on pillars with a deity at its center. As the storm worsened, and the rain began to beat into the temple, the yogis clustered around the deity, finally embracing it together.
At this moment, God appeared to them. But they were puzzled. Why did God appear now when they had spent their lives working for and praying to him? God laughed and said it was because the four of them had finally joined forces.
Exactly the same unity is required of an individual seeking enlightenment; yoga is a tool to achieve this connection by bringing together the body, mind, emotions and energy.
According to yogic philosophy, if the body is in balance but the mind craves food or sex, the body will rapidly fall out of balance. The same is true for the emotions and energy. To achieve true balance, you need to meditate, practice physical yoga, pray and do exercises that affect your energy centers.
