From Chapter 1: Yoga and Personal Reintegration

Why Yoga for Personal Reintegration?
All of us have experienced times when it felt as though everything was coming apart, disintegrating around us into so many pieces, and we were without a way of holding them together. Yet often what is most fragmented and chaotic about the situation is not the events themselves, but the state of our own minds. On the other hand, we have also had occasions—albeit temporary—when we have experienced a state of integration. This is a state in which our minds perceive things clearly, when an underlying sense of order seems to prevail, and we feel full of a sense of love for everything around us. In short, we feel free.

We all wish to experience that state again. We even hope to find some way to actually live that way, instead of repeatedly falling into the clutches of our desire, anger, greed, frustration, sorrow, and despair. The fact that everyone around us would like the same thing is small consolation, and certainly no substitute for that deep sense of freedom.

Reintegration is the process of bringing us back to that state. It is the process of changing a wandering mind into a centered one, a wanting mind into a contented one, a self-indulging mind into a self-fulfilling one. It is a process called yoga.

There are various ways of describing what reintegration means, but they all stem from the same basis—that of a clear, unimpeded mind that sees clearly. As a result of seeing the people, things, and events in our lives as they truly are, we make decisions and take actions that lead in a positive direction.

We can also use the word samadhi, or "unity," to describe this state of integration. It is a state in which we are entirely absorbed or joined with the object of perception. No separation exists. In short, the state of integration is yoga.

This state of integration, or unity, is not something we create from scratch by diligent study or practice. At our center we are already integrated. We are all inherently capable of clear perception. The deepest state within us is always one of integration. Our minds are what mask that clarity, causing distortion and errors in action and judgment that lead to distress. An unintegrated mind leads to disease and bondage; the state of integration is one of radiant health and freedom. The reintegration of ourselves into that unified being which exists within us is unquestionably the highest of human goals.

All the means by which we see and experience the world are influenced by the contents of the mind. Because each of us is an individual, the means for reaching a clarity of vision will necessarily vary. Because we refine our perceptions by removing the obstacles that result from our personal character and experience, we must be clear about the specific nature of these impurities before we can decide upon the appropriate means for their removal. In order to be effective, any method of refinement must be shaped for the individual. That is, it must be personal.

In addition, only you can reintegrate yourself. Hence, the word "personal." Each of us might wish that we—or, better yet, somebody else—could simply remove the mind, wash it, and put it back so that suddenly we would have clear perception, but this is clearly not possible. Reintegration is a process of cleansing and removal that takes time, that must be personally relevant, and that can only be carried out by oneself.

The Yogic Approach to Personal Reintegration
True personal reintegration encompasses all elements in our lives. Accordingly, the yogic approach is an integrated one, in which all aspects of one's being will be touched. In fact, the very root meaning of the word yoga is "to integrate." These aspects include the body, breath, mind, food, the behavior of the senses, habits, society, and environment of the individual.

In order to reintegrate our minds we need to understand not only their relationship to these factors, but also the interconnection between them.

Integration is a matter of balance. Presently, many approaches exist for integration. Some consider the human system as a structure, while others consider it as a functional organism. These approaches use different methods for structural and functional integration. Some attempt psychological integration through mind work, while others use behavior modification programs to bring about social integration. Used in isolation, these methods must ultimately be found lacking, simply because there is an interconnection between all the elements in the human system.

To work towards the state of integration, the path itself must be an integrated one. The practice of yoga is such an approach. It both uses and affects the structural, functional, psychological, and social aspects of the person. Yoga takes into account the present state of all areas of one's being and seeks to affect them all in whatever manner is most personally appropriate. Social integration comes about as a result of yoga practice and reintegration in other areas. When one's structural, functional, and psychological states are in order, social integration is assured.