Yoga and meditation have now become an integral part of our society. They have steadily been growing in popularity since the 1960’s when they were brought to the public attention by such public figures as the Beatles and others. But the teachings of yoga had been encountered by western civilisation many centuries before.
The earliest record of people of the west encountering and appreciating yoga is in the writings of the ancient Greek historian, Plutarch. He writes of the meeting of Alexander the Great with 10 Indian yogis who were renowned for their wisdom and who had been instrumental in persuading a certain Sabbas to revolt against him. Alexander captured them and had them brought before him, he then put difficult questions to them declaring that he would put to death the first one to make an incorrect answer.
The first one he asked, “Who are more numerous, the living or the dead?” to which the yogi answered that the living were more numerous because the dead no longer count.
The second, upon being asked whether the earth or the sea produced larger animals said the earth did, since the sea was but a part of the earth.
The third, being asked what animal was the most cunning, said: “That which up to this time man has not discovered.”
The fourth, when asked why he had induced Sabbas to revolt, replied, “Because I wished him to either live nobly or die nobly.”
The fifth being asked which, in his opinion, was older, day or night, replied, “Day, by one day,” and he added, upon the king expressing amazement, that silly questions must have silly answers.
Passing on, then, to the sixth, Alexander asked how a man could be most loved; "If," said the philosopher, "he is most powerful, and yet does not inspire fear."
Of the three remaining, he who was asked how one might become a god instead of man, replied: "By doing something which a man cannot do"; the one who was asked which was the stronger, life or death, answered: "Life, since it supports so many ills." And the last, asked how long it were well for a man to live, answered: “Until it seems better to die.”
So, then, turning to the judge, Alexander bade him give his opinion. The judge declared that each one had answered worse than the other. "Well, then," said Alexander, "you shall die first for giving such a verdict."
"That cannot be, O King," said the judge, "Unless you falsely said that you would put to death first him who answered worst."
Alexander reputedly was so appreciative of the yogis’ answers that he set them all free and asked the one who had been the judge to accompany him in his travels.
