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1-Page Summary of Inner Engineering
Overview
Author Sadhguru explores the path to spiritual enlightenment in his book, Inner Engineering. In order to experience joy constantly, people must master their own minds and bodies as they do machines. To harness the intelligence of their own life force, people should tap into the wisdom of yoga and its time-tested principles. Yoga is a reliable method that can help people get in touch with their transcendent and divine natures.
Sadhguru’s philosophy is based on his personal experiences. He began practicing yoga at the age of 12 and noticed significant changes in how he lived life. For example, he started waking up early every morning when before that he was tired in the mornings. Soon after, yoga became a cornerstone of his life.
Sadhguru, an expert in yoga and meditation, sat on the top of a hill. He wanted to reflect on his life. However, he felt at one with everything around him. This experience was similar to losing his five senses because it blurred the boundary between himself and nature. It made him feel like time had stopped passing by quickly; however, Sadhguru felt as if he’d only been there for moments.
The author has experienced a higher level of consciousness. He is trying to teach others the principles that led him there. Readers can learn from his insights, but they should also try it for themselves and not just memorize what he says.
In order to solve society’s problems, people must first find their own personal joy. If more people can do this, they will be happier and help create a better world.
Key Takeaways
People can experience their limitless nature by practicing yoga. Yoga helps people achieve self-mastery over their minds, bodies and energies.
People seek to experience their infinite nature. Thoughts can be an obstacle to this, but the practice of inner engineering allows for profound joy.
Today’s society overvalues rational thought. Responsible people respond to the universe and their essential nature. Enlightenment means finding truth, not drawing conclusions.
Key Takeaway 1: People can understand their own limitless nature by experiencing it first-hand.
Yoga practitioners can read about the philosophy of yoga, but they will still have to experience it first-hand. Assadi writes that people should not mistake a teacher’s teachings for true spirituality. He explains that at best, teachers’ words are beautiful sticks that allow us to see the moon more clearly. At worst, their words are branches with many heads and confuse us even further. People should realize that they are spiritual beings on their own and what they seek is already inside them.
Key Takeaway 2: Yoga helps people achieve self-mastery of their mind, their body, and their energy.
Yoga is an ancient practice that helps people change their lives. Today, many people focus on the physical and mental benefits of yoga, but this only scratches the surface of what it can do for you. Yoga’s true purpose in its classical sense is to align the five bodies that exist within each person: the physical body, or “annamayakosha”; the energetic body, or “pranamayakosha”; and so on. When these layers are in harmony with one another, life becomes miraculous.
Sally Kempton was 21 years old when she first asked herself, “Who am I?” Kempton began to reflect on her many identities. She wondered if she defined herself by her job or personality. Did opinions and emotions make up who she was? Years later, after learning about yogic philosophy, Kempton realized that the five bodies (sheaths) of which all people are comprised could explain this feeling of confusion. In the Taittiriya Upanishad, an ancient Tantric text, she learned about these five bodies: Annamaya Kosha – physical body Pranamaya Kosha – energy body Manomaya Kosha – mental/emotional body Vijnanamaya Kosha – intellectual/intuitive/spiritual mind Anandamaya Kosha – blissful consciousness These layers make up our identity and should be brought online for us to feel empowered as individuals. However, most people have easy access only to one or two layers at a time; awareness of these bodies makes it easier for us to make wise decisions instead of being reactionary.