When we talk about purification, oftentimes people think first of purifying of the body. This is helpful – for we live in the body, it is our vehicle and if it is clogged up with junk, pollution, we certainly will be plagued with problems.

But there is also the mind – there is no harmony in a healthy body if there is pollution in the mind. Yes, purifying the body will support purification of the mind as they are intimately connected, but purifying the body alone will not purify the mind. So any system of purification aimed at recovering one’s natural state of being, must include purification of the mind.

And what about the heart? The peace, joy, and harmony of our true nature cannot be experienced when the heart is filled with miseries and misgivings, with selfishness, greed, and envy. In yoga philosophy these hardnesses of the heart are known as “anarthas” and are very difficult to remove. To live naturally, we must certainly address all these areas, however anarthas of the heart – which affect both our mind and body health – are the root cause of the suffering condition. Removing these anarthas must be the central focus of an effective purification process, as our heart is the center of our consciousness and we will not be free to experience the natural joy of our being without this level of purification.

Fortunately, there are methods accessible to everyone and freely available that address all these areas. In fact, one such purification system, the Vedic yoga system, has existed since time immemorial and has assisted countless hundreds of thousands of people throughout the ages to realize their natural state of harmony, joy, and peace. The yoga system is far more expansive and comprehensive than most people are aware of. Yoga is not simply a system of physical exercise (asana). Yoga is, in fact, a complete system for realizing and living one’s true natural state of being. Because the yoga system was designed to be applicable to people throughout vast spans of time, called “yugas,” different applications of it were recommended for specific ages. The current age we are living in is called “Kali Yuga.” In the next few articles, we will begin to discuss the yogic process recommended for the Age of Kali and why it is so appropriate and accessible to people of this day and age.