Taking a Good Look at Ourselves

“We hardly introspect. Swadhyaya is a powerful technique that will put us on the right path.” From a Parisamvada by Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra

- Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra

In yoga, there is a technique called ISwadhyaya, i.e., self-study. Generally, we don’t do such kind of an introspection correctly and improve ourselves. We are thinking all the time, but our thinking is directed towards money, pleasure, some responsibility, etc. It is not directed at self-improvement. To continuously recognize some of our defects and set up certain healthy habits to improve them, and pursue them, like an exercise, is something we hardly do. We do it as far as material things are concerned. We think of how to make money. We do remember and record such things as some dinners to attend, pictures to see, and so on. If I am personally given to anger, how I systematically eradicate it, is something I don’t work on.