Search inward

There is no point in our searching inward when we do an asana. This is needed for medically executing the asana the right way.
We have a more arduous task- to watch our words, action, thoughts & character. This alone in the long run will elevate us. Practice of asanas will not elevate us in the spiritual path.

Baktha of the Lord, not baktha of the asana

Love is essential- love for the lord. Sri Ramakrishna always said- do we weep for the Lord? There is no point in saying we are yoga practitioners and we love asanas or to say that when we practice asana we are bakthas in the asana.
A carpenter loves his /her job, a dancer loves her dance but this does not make for a devotee.
Morever, we cannot and should not proclaim that we are a devotee- that is for the Lord to say. He alone knows our inner selves better than us as He is the indeweller. A true baktha of the Lord takes praise and blame, happiness and sorrow- with equanimity. This is not easy and we must pray to God to bless us with that state of equanimity. .

Love and Islam

The Quran lays down that all beings should cultivate the sense of unity, interdependence, selfless love and the immanence of Divinity. Prayer in a group produces beneficial vibrations. Prayer in Islam is also a congregational activity. Islam promises a greater flow of ecstasy when God is adored by a huge concourse of yearning hearts. All of them bow low at the sight of the Masjid (mosque). They sit in rows on their bended knees and lean forward until their palms and foreheads touch the ground in humble submission to God’s Will. God is One and the teachings in all faiths exalt Him as Love, Compassion, Tolerance and Sympathy. Islam teaches that God's Grace can be won through justice and righteous living; wealth, scholarship and power cannot earn It. Sacred love alone can please the Lord. This is the message of every religion.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba

We hatha yogis need to note this point- God is pleased when our characteristics change- the main point being LOVE. Practising asanas does not matter. Change, change - needed inside
not on the physical body.

Realization

Asana practice cannot lead us to realize the Divine. The Divine can be seen, felt , recognized by a heart that is open, full of love and when we remove our faults in our personality. Change in our mental- emotional- whatever one would like to call it- is needed- not change in the body and its cells.
Neither is asana/pranayama practice necessary to take us to the Divine. If it were so, millions are doomed.

The Lord and Sadhana

The name of the Lord when contemplated with love and sincerity is much superior to any benefit given by any asana or pranayama. The name will protect us like the eyes are protected by the eyelids or like the mother tortoise protects the baby.

In the kali yuga no difficult penance is needed to reach the Lord. A pure heart, melting at other's misery, good deeds and constant contemplation of God and His glory is what we need. By practising asanas only our insides are affected and that too only on a physiological level but when we dwell on the Lord's name and sing his glory by bhajans ( naama sankirtana) the good vibrations are spread to others too. The entire area becomes sanctified.

Awareness and asana

Awareness of how we sit, stand, do our asanas with utmost carefulness is important. But awareness of our thoughts, it's implications, our behaviour, how focused we are on our spiritual goal is far more important.

Asana is not us, nor can we become the asana. Asana is not physical , it's how we are poised internally.

See God in all

See the Lord in every being; be aware of Him every moment of existence and be immersed in the Ananda (bliss) of this awareness. Merged in the relationship born out of profound devotion to Him, surrender your wish and will to act; the attitude, the activity and the fruit of the action as well - offer to the Lord everything from beginning to the end.  That is, perform all actions in a spirit of worshipful non-attachment. This is what the Lord seeks from each and every devotee. Of course, such complete surrender is not easy. But if you make the slightest effort towards it, the Lord Himself will confer the courage to pursue it to the end. He will walk with and help you as a friend and guide; He will guard you from evil and temptations; He will be your staff and support.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba

As yoga practitioners we need to make this kind of effort.