How To Practice Self-study (Svadhyay)

Self-study (svadhyay) is the fourth discipline of Niyama. Everybody understands what self-study is. Wise men of all societies and religions talk about self-study. However very rarely do people think or study about their Self and have confidence on Self. Most religious people think, learn and study about their imaginary and external Gods and Goddesses. Patanjali writes that through self-study one meets one's beloved God. Let us define and explore self-study and how one meets one' beloved God.

1. What is self-study? Every being has a Self. This Self is called soul (atman) in spiritual language. It is nothing but consciousness of a being. It has life-power (pranashakti) as well as will-power (ichhashakti). Self creates the body, moves the body from birth till death and, at death, when Self departs, the body remains behind as dead matter. The will-power of Self is so powerful that man has created atom bombs and sent spacecrafts to distant planets. Again within this powerful Self there lies the most peaceful and blissful state of a being. This is the true and real state or nature of a being. So to know and study all these aspects of Self is self-study. To know or learn about external and imaginary Gods is not self-study.
2. Self is the dearest thing. Self is dearest to all. Nobody loves nobody but everybody loves his Self. Love stories appear good and heart touching only in mythology, novels and films. Whatever man does, he does it for himself. He earns, builds a house, keeps family, prays to Gods for his own happiness, prosperity and liberation.
3. Who is beloved God? Naturally through self-study one shall realize one's own Self. Upanishads describe that this Self (atman) is Brahman, the ultimate reality. Atman is smaller than the smallest and bigger than the biggest. It is unborn, indestructible and eternal. It is created from nothing and nothing is created out of it. Creation is an illusion (maya). Everything appears to exist, for Atman exists. So this Self is our beloved God and everybody should pray and try to see Him.

Hence in order to get the full benefit of Yoga, one should understand and practice self-study. To read those books which depict the greatness of Self is also self-study. When such books are read repeatedly, one's self-confidence touches great height.