Every person has three intrinsic tendencies: SÄttavic (pure, light), Rajasic (passionate) and Tamasic (dull, inert). These tendencies determine not only the person’s overall mental makeup, outlook on life and actions, but also his dietary preferences or the choice of food and drinks he/she will consume. Regular practice of GSY facilitates the dominance of the SÄttavic over RÄjasic and TÄmasic tendencies, leading to a change in the traits associated with the latter two tendencies. The dominance of the Sattvic quality in transforms the person’s inner tendencies toward positive, conscious, intelligent and pure thinking and actions. This in turn also changes his preferences of food and drinks. The overall result of this change is that whatever that is negative and detrimental to the person’s physical and mental wellbeing and spiritual evolution leaves him of its own accord — without the person’s conscious efforts to make this happen. Thus, if the person is afflicted with addiction to drugs, alcohol or smoking, the addiction will leave him involuntarily. If the practitioner is attached to food that is harmful to his health, he will gradually develop a natural dislike for it and turn to healthy options because of the change in his inner qualities and tendencies brought on by the chanting of the mantra and meditation.
Below, Guru Siyag explains the yogic process of de-addiction in his own words:
“The intoxicating joy brought on by chanting of the mantra gives freedom from stress and psychological disorders.
“One finds freedom from addiction as well. One does not have to quit the substance (drug); the substance will quit the abuser… So how does one become free from addictions? This happens because the practitioner’s Vrittis (tendencies) change. The universe was created out of the interplay of the three qualities of the illusory power called Māyā. These tendencies are: Rajas (passionate and energetic), Tamas (dark, dull, inert) and Sattva (Pure, enlightened, positive and wise).
The tendency that is dominant in the body will demand certain foods and you will have to fulfil this demand.
“If the Tāmasic tendency is dominant, then it will demand meat, alcohol because it sustains itself on these types of food. If you don’t satisfy these demands then you have to face a lot of problems. If someone has been addicted to opium for 20 years and suddenly stops consuming, he will die in five to seven days. But if he practices Siddha Yoga, he becomes addiction-free and does not die because his Vrittis undergo a change. Tamasic tendencies are the first to feel the impact of Siddha Yoga. Their demands come to an end.
“This subject (of Vrittis) is one of demand and supply. Once, Swami Vivekananda was delivering a speech in USA. A man in the audience said to him, “Swamiji you are wasting your time. We will never be able to do Yoga. The primary principle of Hindu philosophy is vegetarianism. We consume meat and alcohol. How will we be able to practice Yoga?” Swamiji answered, “You need not give up the things. The things will give you up.” This means you don’t have to quit consuming a substance, the substance will leave you of its own accord.
“I challenge you! Those among you, who are addicted, try consuming drugs from today onward. Try consuming this evening itself. You won’t be able to do it because the addiction will have left you. You won’t be able to consume drugs even if you want to.
“Thousands of people in Barmer are addicted to opium; it has the highest number of addicts. The opium comes across the border from Pakistan. That’s why people in Barmer consume opium. I tell them, “Don’t quit opium but do Siddha Yoga.” After this, thousands were freed from addiction. They say opium gives off a bad stink now. They can’t swallow it. Because of this change, these people have come today from Barmer.
“I never preach, “Quit using the drug.” I say, “Don’t quit.” Lots of Gurus preach, “This is right, that is wrong” and “Don’t do this, do that.” But who really follows this? People listen from one ear and throw the information out of the other. That is why I don’t preach.
What is important for you to know is that you don’t have to quit the substance. Many people force their relatives, who are addicts, to attend the program. They tell them that they will become addiction-free. The addicts are worried that they will have to quit using. I assure them that they don’t have to quit a substance. This makes them happy because they find no harm in listening to me speak for an hour.
“However, even when they don’t intend to quit the substance, the addiction leaves them in a few days. You too can become free from addiction. You will know now itself, during meditation, how it will happen. So, this is how Vrittis (tendencies) change. The desire that springs from a particular Vritti will leave you. If there is no demand then that means there is no need for supply. Only when there is demand, it has to be supplied. When the Vritti stops demanding, the supply stops too. This in turn means that you won’t be troubled by the addiction anymore. The desire that was forcing one to consume these substances disappears completely.”
