THE NAKED TRUTH

Yoga is a simple science. It is neither theistic nor atheistic. Patanjali really is superb, a miracle of a man. He never talks about God. And even if he mentions God once, then too he says it is just one of the methods to reach the ultimate; there is no God. To believe in God is just a technique, because through your believing in God prayer becomes possible; through your believing in God surrender becomes possible. The significance is of surrender and prayer, not of God.

Patanjali is really unbelievable! He said God – the belief of God, the concept of God – is also one of the methods, in many methods, to reach the truth. Ishwara pranidhan: to believe in God is just a path. But it is not a necessity; you can choose something else. Buddha reaches that ultimate reality without believing in God. He chooses a different path where God is not needed.

You have come to my house and you have passed through a certain street. That street was not the goal; it was just instrumental. You could have reached the same house through some other street; others have reached through other streets. On your street there may be green trees, big trees; on other streets there are not. So God is just one path. Remember the distinction: God is not the goal, God is just one of the paths. 

Patanjali never denies; he never assumes. He is absolutely scientific. It is difficult for Christians to think how Buddha could attain the ultimate truth because he never believed in God. It is difficult for Hindus to believe how Mahavira could attain liberation; he never believed in God. 

Before the western thinkers became alert about eastern religions, they always defined religion as God-centered. When they came upon eastern thinking, and then they became aware that there has been a traditional path, godless path reaching toward truth, they were shocked: it was impossible! 

H. G. Wells has written about Buddha that Buddha is the most godless man and yet the most godly. He never believed and he will never tell anybody to believe in any God, but he himself is the supreme-most phenomenon of the happening of divine being. Mahavira too travelled a path where God is not needed.

Patanjali is absolutely scientific. He says we are not related with means; there are a thousand and one means. The goal is the truth. Some have achieved it through God, so it is okay – believe in God and achieve the goal, because when the goal is achieved you will throw your belief. So belief is just instrumental. If you don’t believe, it is okay; don’t believe, travel the path of belief-lessness, and reach the goal. 

He is neither theist nor atheist. He is not creating a religion, he is simply showing you all the paths that are possible and all the laws that work in your transformation. God is one of those paths; it is not a must. If you are godless, there is no need to be non-religious. Patanjali says you can also reach – be godless; don’t bother about God. These are the laws and these are the experiments; this is the meditation – pass through it.