Suffering, in fact, every event, is due to three causes. The first is the immediate cause, that is to say, the immediate event or circumstance that triggered the suffering. Most often, people address it by taking care of it through whatever physical or psychological means that are available. It is like stamping out the fire or treating the symptoms and the physical cause. Obviously, it is not enough as the suffering and its outer cause returns.
Then there is the intermediate cause, which includes a whole play of occult forces that stand behind the event. We hardly understand, let alone address these forces.
Finally, there is the ultimate cause, the original cause of all suffering. It is the spiritual cause that is rooted in ignorance of our true self and the higher possibilities of Nature.
A person practicing yoga contributes to all these three levels to alleviate suffering. As to the immediate cause, the very presence of a person sincerely practicing yoga brings calm and peace, instills faith and courage, opens the doors to the intervention of the Grace which moves outer situations and circumstances in incalculable but palpable ways to change destiny. It is what is normally called as a miracle, so that things take a different turn for the better. Naturally, a yogi can exercise such influence generally within the field of his influence or else upon those inwardly connected to him. He becomes a hub to connect the outer world with the Divine Grace and its forces.
At the intermediate level, a yogi’s thoughts and feelings circulate in the world to bring positivity, decrease the negative forces in the environment and charge the atmosphere with helpful, benevolent forces.
Finally, a yogi, through his life and teachings, holds the lamp of light before men, dispels ignorance and by helping inculcate the right attitude, empowers others to be even as him and thereby find and activate the ultimate Power and Wisdom in his life and circumstances.
In short, the yogi, the spiritual person, by his mere presence, fills the world with beautiful divine energies. Though they are generally felt by those immediately near him but these divine forces released in the world atmosphere help whoever is receptive and increase the balance of benevolent energies in the world with evident helpful consequences.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
