Acharya Prashant explains that the popular perception of Yoga, which involves people seeking the limelight by displaying physical poses, is not at all Yoga. He clarifies that such activities are merely stretching or strength-building exercises, comparable to gym workouts that use body weight instead of external weights. While he acknowledges the importance of having a flexible, well-toned, and strong body, he emphasizes that these physical practices should not be confused with the true concept of Yoga, as doing so corrupts its very essence. The speaker delves into the psychological reasons behind this misconception, stating that the ego has a vested interest in limiting Yoga to the physical realm. If Yoga is not confined within the bodily walls of physicality, it will inevitably attack the ego, which the ego resists. To protect itself, the ego plays a clever trick: it praises Yoga as wonderful and great but simultaneously defines it as something purely physical. This allows the ego to engage in physical practices under the guise of Yoga, which helps in doing whatever one wants to do. The speaker highlights the evil inherent in the phrase "whatever we want to do," contrasting it with the true purpose of Yoga, which is to do what is right, not whatever one desires. When Yoga is liberated from these artificial physical constraints, it becomes a powerful force for life transformation. This requires a deeper understanding of what sages like Patanjali and Shri Krishna truly meant. The speaker warns against gurus who claim Yoga will help one do "whatever you want to do" better, as this is antithetical to the real purpose of Yoga. He explains that life should be a relentless, unending pursuit of perfection, which can be called Shiv, Krishna, or Truth. The pursuit itself, even if the goal is unattainable, is what makes life worth living. The mind is born discontented and is in a state of constant agitation and darkness. Therefore, the only real option for anyone with self-love and sense is to pursue the light, which is spirituality. Spirituality is not something one gets into; it is the only way of life for someone not adamant about self-destruction.
