I have been working on the translation of one of Masahiro Oki’s books, originally edition published in 1978. Its forthcoming English title is Discovering the Joy of Living through Yoga. In this post, I would like to share three subsections from the book’s final chapter. (Between the two lines of *****).

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Relaxation brings strength

When one relaxes oneself, strength arises; when one strains oneself, strength is lost. It seems that many people misunderstand this point and hold the opposite view. This becomes clear when one considers sleep. The reason a good night’s sleep is the best remedy for recovery from illness is that it allows one to relax. Therefore, when one’s mind-heart is struggling with a serious problem that seems impossible to resolve, it is better to let go of the matter for a while and allow one’s mind and body to relax, rather than remaining fixated on it and continuing to think about it intensely. In this way, good ideas are more likely to arise. When the mind and body are relaxed, the head rests, the nerves settle and grow calm, and the mind-heart gradually becomes settled and peaceful. The more one rushes or frets, the more excitement disturbs the nerves, not only disrupting the functioning of the mind and body, but also causing one to lose the strength one possesses.

Constantly pushing yourself leads to exhaustion

If one continues to strain oneself, even the simplest tasks will begin to feel unpleasant and difficult, and fatigue will arise more quickly. If this state of constant strain continues, it eventually becomes excessive, and this excess disrupts one’s physiological balance. Therefore, the key to sustaining healthy work lies in skilfully repeating the rhythm of rest and activity. Moreover, when dealing with unfamiliar tasks or things that require conscious effort, one tends unconsciously to continue exerting excessive force. In such cases especially, it is important consciously to relax repeatedly. Repeating this alternation between activity and rest as frequently as possible is the secret to maintaining stamina.

The key to keeping one’s stamina in its best condition is to work wholeheartedly while remaining relaxed. In other words, it is to exert the highest degree of concentration while in a state of complete relaxation. Fatigue is a warning that the body is being used in a partial and unbalanced way and is a form of nervous paralysis caused by incomplete rest. Therefore, in order to work without becoming tired, it is essential to devise ways of using and resting the whole body. To use the whole body and to rest the whole body is the natural way of using and resting both mind and body. If one uses the body unevenly and partial fatigue continues for a long time, that part of the body will eventually fall ill. When one becomes aware of this truth of life’s workings, does one not awaken to the love of God—which teaches what is right—precisely through those things that appear to cause suffering? As one gradually awakens to such truth, one cannot help but feel joy. The voice of joy that arises naturally from within life is called the mantra of gratitude.

Do not constrain your mind-heart

Whether at work or studying, if one is too eager for results, one will actually find it harder to get things done. For example, if one says to oneself, “I am going to do a lot”, “I will get this done quickly”, or “I will do this perfectly”, one will unconsciously begin to strain oneself. An unconscious resistance to such straining arises within the mind-heart, and then this resistance acts as a brake, making it actually harder to accomplish the task. For this reason, one’s mind works sluggishly when one is tense, and becomes clear when one is calm.  

In any case, the most important thing is not to restrict oneself. Nature is inherently free and flexible, and all living creatures possess an instinct that rejects constraint and ceaselessly seeks freedom. Therefore, whether to enjoy life or to improve work efficiency, it becomes important to find ways of avoiding constraining both oneself and others.

For example, if one becomes fixated on the success or failure of a particular matter, or becomes attached to a predetermined outcome, one comes to constrain oneself. Giving orders to others or forcing them to do things amounts to restricting them. Needless to say, one cannot make the most of one’s abilities in such a state of restriction.

No matter how good something may be, when it is forced, not only does one lose motivation to do it, but one may even feel like rebelling. This is because resistance to constraint unconsciously arises. We must recognise the fact that what appears to be children’s so-called ‘rebellion without cause’ is often a reaction against the constraints imposed by parents whose desire for their children to do well has become excessive. Therefore, rather than commanding someone to do this or that, the best and most natural way to guide them is to encourage them in such a way that the spontaneous desire to do so arises naturally within them.

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Here are my thoughts:

Although I read in the first subsection that “when one’s mind-heart is struggling with a serious problem that seems impossible to resolve, it is better to let go of the matter for a while”, I feel that the more serious the problem is, the more difficult it becomes to let go. I imagine many people experience the same.

In the second subsection we read, “For example, if one becomes fixated on the success or failure of a particular matter, or becomes attached to a predetermined outcome, one comes to constrain oneself.” Yet, we are naturally drawn towards a successful outcome and often find ourselves carrying excessive tension accumulated before we even realise it, don’t we?

Among the many things I heard from Master Oki when I was young, one brief piece of advice has remained with me and can be applied to everyday daily. Speaking about asana practice, he simply said, “Before starting taking any movement to perform a yoga pose, visualise the completed pose.” Several years later, I began applying this visualisation to situations in daily life whenever I felt stuck, worried or tired. It can be difficult to let go while the mental switch is still on. However, it is not so difficult to sit back in a relaxed position—even in the same chair—and visualise only the completed task—without imagining the concrete details of how it will happen.

Rather than working through the logic, analysing each step, or trying to work out how to get there, I simply touch that completed picture. After resting in that awareness for a while, I return to the task. I have found this practice very helpful.

Another thought relates to the last sentence in the third subsection “… rather than commanding someone to do this or that, the best and most natural way to guide them is to encourage them in such a way that the spontaneous desire to do so arises naturally within them.” 

I think that it is a valuable skill for adults to include themselves within the word ‘them’, without needing to say so explicitly.