Ratha Yoga

There must be something good about driving around in a vehicle in India. And It is called Ratha Yoga. Ratha means 'chariot' or 'vehicle' and Yoga is a way of life. After years of painful practice, these are my observations. Ratha Yoga is about extracting the most out of your driving that can benefit you in your life. You may follow it directly from here or learn it the hard way by practice. You wont get it from any driving school (they don't even teach you the colour of a signal, let alone the colour of life while driving). There are different categories of Ratha Yoga - such as Dwichakra, TriChakra, Chaturchakra, AthichaturChakra, Asura and AtiAsura. The last one is not so common in India on local roads but they come out at night on highways. In addition one has to deal with the Dwipada and Chaturpadas, which are important parameters in your Yogic endeavour. This document mainly deals with the SaamanyaChaturChakra ratha Yoga.

There are only two ways to do things in life - for Bhukti (pleasure) or Mukti (Liberation). In India, driving Bhukti for some drivers can literally mean Mukti (Deha Mukti) for some others. My objective is to attain Classical Yogic Mukti (Atma Mukti) without its physical implications - true liberation from the influence of other worldly forces. Some of the practical action points are given below:

a) If you are a ChaturChakra Yogic, Keep you windows open and Do not roll down the windows despite all temptations, if you are in a crowded traffic - Open your senses to the world around, above and below you. See all the sights around you. Hear everything. Smell the faintest whiff, Inhale deep and be your environment.

b) Stay in your determined path with utmost concentration despite urging from all evil forces to do various things that you may not want to do. This is heavily inspired from Buddhism. Most Indian Ratha Yogis follow the Middle path advocated by Buddhism. They do not subscribe to the left wing policies of the Commonwealth or the Right flank policy of Europe and the US. You can follow all, any or none of it. But be focussed and determined.

c) Do not make eye contact with any other competing Yogic practitioner for any reason (unless they are goodlooking). This is especially true for those in the Asurarathas. Any attempts to make eye contact may lead to dehamukti.

c) Refrain from raising your hands or fingers in any formation while driving to communicate with other yogic practitioners.

d) Exercise your facial muscles to stretch at all times by forcing a smile while you practice the yoga.

e) Do not raise your voice - for legal or illegal word formations - even if it is to yourself.

f) At any cost, do not compete with other practising yogis or non-yogis for expeditiousness. Time is Maaya and it does not matter. You can extend time if you practice Ratha Yoga diligently along with other techniques such as Vakrakaala Yoga.

A true practitioner may see the following benefits:

a) Immunity from diseases such as arthritis, respiratory ailments and high blood pressure.
b) You can work in a very high stress environment such as a kindergarden school or metal foundry with relative ease.
c) You will have less problems with impudent children or spouses who place unreasonable demands on you. You can deal with greater insouciance.
d) You will feel less irritated with people chattering around you or Indian movies in a theater since you are immune to noise.
e) You will not be involved in any fights on the roads and people will not spit on you from a passing or stationary vehicles. You will not be a receipient of any virtual blow signs that may cause mental trauma. This will cause extension of life.
f) You will not embarass yourself in front of family and friends by opening their ears to unprecedented verbal violence from you.
g) Your image will always be good even if you are photographed at an inopportune and ungainly moment while you are practicing Ratha Yoga.
h) If you dont reach your destination in time and are fired from your job, you can then stay home and not worry about the woes of your roadtime and dedicate to the other yogas.
i) You may land up the job of Gautama in Ashutosh Gowarikar's upcoming movie - Buddha.

Note: All practitioners are encouraged to add their views to the doctrine and practice of Ratha Yoga.