The Influence of Yoga and Karma on the Spiritual Awakening of a Person
As part of the interview, we will introduce you to philologist and Brahmin in yoga, Nandi Arabuli, who has been searching for her path both creatively and spiritually for years. At different stages of her life, she was inspired by both her work in a monastery and Eastern philosophy, as well as the process of studying yoga. Now, she shares her knowledge and experience with her students.
First of all, tell us about your profession and activities.
I was born and raised in a writer’s family, which influenced my desire to become a writer and poet. Since my mother was a doctor, I was also very interested in her profession, which made it difficult for me to make a choice. Eventually, I enrolled in philology, and after finishing my studies, I went to a monastery, where I worked in my profession for two years. I had a great desire to develop my artistic abilities (a serious process of self-discovery for me), and this led to my interest in yoga, which began with my familiarization with Eastern philosophy. In 2002, I left the monastery and chose Krishnaism, which I had previously read about.
How can yoga affect a person’s life both physically and spiritually?
Yoga has many unique characteristics, and people can achieve serious self-realization even with limited exposure to it. It facilitates a deep mystical and intuitive engagement with the essence of life. Yoga belongs to the so-called Vedic culture. It can have a positive effect on a person who is genuinely interested in it. However, there is a danger that improperly studied yoga, or an unqualified teacher, may negatively affect a person’s energy, outlook, choices, and so on.
How do you think yoga relates to spiritual awakening?
Yoga is directly related to spiritual awakening. Of course, over time, yoga has lost certain components and has become somewhat more difficult physical-materialistic techniques and methods. However, the essence of yoga is a connecting force, and perfect universal yoga activates and reminds us everything that is the eternal connection between the individual soul and the Supersoul.
Are karma and the process of awakening connected?
The impulse and commitment to awakening begin with karma. As soon as various bodies are accepted in the material world, karma is activated, and this is directly related to awakening. This process is constantly at work, with impulses continuously coming to us as a call of Supersoul to wake us up. In the human body, the environment is already created for us to focus on karma, while simultaneously developing the desire to awaken from conditioned materialistic thinking and bring our consciousness into the eternal present.
What would you recommend to the readers?
I would advise readers to pause and ask themselves the question: Who am I? We must remember that according to the deductive principles of the inductive and deductive law, the Logos descending from above is the only means of salvation for us, without which it is difficult to escape from illusory existence. Therefore, we cannot answer the question “Who am I?” without the Logos. According to Vedic culture, the perfection of the Logos is formulated in the form of mantras, which are spiritual formulas created in the field of pure consciousness to help a person. It is also important to have a healthy diet, in particular vegetarianism, as well as the principle of non-violence, which is the basis of yoga. We must always remember that spiritual life begins with the realization of non-violence.
By Mariam Mtivlishvili