PATANJALI'S RAJAYOGA APHORISMS
CHAPTER III
POWERS OF THE MIND
The chapter in which the powers of the mind developed through great discipline, meditation and purity are described .
We are back in the Class of Raja Yoga at the Vedanta society of Toronto Canada..over the last few weeks we have been reading and talking about the "Powers of the Mind" that can be developed by meditation and spiritual discipline. The book is the Complete works of Swami Vivekananda / in Raja Yoga Swami Vivekananda discusses the ancient Indian science of Meditation and Yoga by the seer Patanjali. Our Teacher The reverend Swami Kripamayananda Maharaj ( Swami K) who is also head of the Vedanta society of Toronto. We also refer to the treatise on the complete works by the late revered Swami Sarvagathananda Maharaj who was the head of the Vedanta society Boston USA and a very senior monk and spiritual master. Here is sharing the immortal words of the rishis...and a brief synopsis of the discussions we have in our class..
Note : The word ' Yoga' is usually associated mostly with the physical disciplines of " Hatya Yoga" which is popular the world over and is more a tool for physical fitness. However Here the Yoga we are studying is the serious meditative methods and their Science . The spiritual truths of the Vedas ( Ancient Indian scriptures date back thousands of years. ) The compilation and commentaries by Patanjali are believed to date back to 322–185 BCE according to Wikipedia. The teachings and our discussion is noted below.
Note : The word ' Yoga' is usually associated mostly with the physical disciplines of " Hatya Yoga" which is popular the world over and is more a tool for physical fitness. However Here the Yoga we are studying is the serious meditative methods and their Science . The spiritual truths of the Vedas ( Ancient Indian scriptures date back thousands of years. ) The compilation and commentaries by Patanjali are believed to date back to 322–185 BCE according to Wikipedia. The teachings and our discussion is noted below.
तत्र प्रत्ययैकतानता ध्यानम् ॥२॥. An unbroken flow of knowledge in that object is Dhyâna. : By the conquest of the gross comes light of knowledge.
When one has succeeded in making this `Samyama,' ( absolute focus and concentration in meditation for long periods of time and regularly : Concentration, continuation and culmination..) All powers come under his control. This is the great instrument of the Yogi. The objects of knowledge are infinite, and they are divided into the gross, grosser, grossest and the fine, finer, finest and so on. This Samyama should be first applied to gross things, and when you begin to get knowledge of this gross, slowly, by stages, it should be brought to finer things : Here are some examples of the powers of the mind ....but a note of caution here...
ते समाधावुपसर्गा व्युत्थाने सिद्धयः ॥३८॥These great powers are obstacles to Samadhi ( ultimate realisation of God ); but they are powers in the worldly state.
After each reading Swami K reminded students that in the spiritual path of Vedanta which we follow..Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa on whose teachings our centres are based had a great distaste for miraculous and supernaturual powers and abilities which many so called spiritual aspirants run behind. He always stated that these super natural powers were the greatest impediment to the real love for God and true spirituality. True devotees shun and reject any power..and those who want them are actually seeking name and fame for themselves and not God.
Some of the powers which come from the Mind are described below . The extracts have been taken from the Book Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda which we are studying ( Chapter 3 Powers of the Mind) where he explains the four Yogas by Patanjali.. The discussion and comments are in Blue.
In the verses on powers of the mind one power in particular has often thrown is much debate.This is the power of bi location or Transportal according to Patanjali.
कायरूपसंयमात्तद्ग्राह्यशक्ति-स्तम्भे चक्षुःप्रकाशासंप्रयोगेऽन्तर्धानम् ॥२१॥
. By making Samyama on the form of the body, the perceptibility of the form being obstructed and the power of manifestation in the eye being separated, the Yogi's body becomes unseen or seen in different places :This is the power of vanishing and being present at two different places at the same time.
Discussion :Can a person be in two places at once? There are many intriguing accounts throughout history of people who claim to have either encountered apparitions of themselves - their doppelgangers - or have experienced the phenomenon of bilocation, being in two separate locations at the very same time. The ancient Indians texts such as Patanjali and Raja Yoga which we are studying says that it is possible for those who are masters of Yoga ( Meditation and spiritual practices ). Sri Ramakrishna was seen by an ardent devotee of his in far away Dakha ( East Bengal) though he never left Dakshineshwar.This devotee talked with him and even touched him.
. By making Samyama on the form of the body, the perceptibility of the form being obstructed and the power of manifestation in the eye being separated, the Yogi's body becomes unseen or seen in different places :This is the power of vanishing and being present at two different places at the same time.
Discussion :Can a person be in two places at once? There are many intriguing accounts throughout history of people who claim to have either encountered apparitions of themselves - their doppelgangers - or have experienced the phenomenon of bilocation, being in two separate locations at the very same time. The ancient Indians texts such as Patanjali and Raja Yoga which we are studying says that it is possible for those who are masters of Yoga ( Meditation and spiritual practices ). Sri Ramakrishna was seen by an ardent devotee of his in far away Dakha ( East Bengal) though he never left Dakshineshwar.This devotee talked with him and even touched him.
In another incident that happened in the district of Dhaund near Pune in India in1950 an amazing incident was witnessed by a large number of people including senior police officers. A squadron leader named officer Shinde at the SRPF (Special Reserve Police Forces) HQ who was attracted to the spiritual and mystique..was seen to have led the police parade and received the guard of honour during a very important function presided over by the I.G ( Inspector General) of the state. These were the early days after India had just become independent from British rule.
The program was attended by senior officers and police personnel from all over the district.
Meanwhile
even as the parade was taking place the same squadron leader who was leading
his group at the ceremony was found lying in a state of
unconsciousness in his bed in the residential quarters. ( Barracks) His room partner
and domestic staff found him there and were extremely confused. The
news spread like wild fire. This was a state of Bi- location or the rare
phenomena of being at two places at the same time...that too in a police
academy ! The Squardon leader was at first confused , he then realised that a great spiritual power had manifested and though he felt he had fallen asleep from exhaustion his `astral self' or mirror image had led the parade. He spent that night meditating alone under a `Neem tree' and dilapitated temple that stood just outisde the SRPF campus. In his heart and through his soul came the searing call..A call heard by those rare and wonderful souls from age to age..a call that makes kings give up their thrones and walk alone into the vast unknown..A call which the sages and seers through thousands of ages have heard and continue to hear until today..The call of God that knows no power or wealth or treasure on earth .. The next day which is recorded as March 18th 1954 the squadron leader left the force and became a wandering monk..in search of his spiritual mission in life..Years later he built a
beautiful hermitage in the outskirts of Pune city. That hermitage is
Ramdara and the monk was 1008 Devi Puri Maharaj or Sri Dhundi Baba as he
was known to thousands. He passed away in July 2002 and was revered
and loved by thousands of people.The story of his life with the detailed
account of many such incidents and his travels from the plains of the
Indian sub continent to the Himalayan mountains...His spiritual journey
and the extraordinary spiritual experiences he had in many of the
temples and holy places in India as a wandering monk has been published
in the Marathi language and translated into English too. His
hermitage Ramdara ( Loni Kalbhor) stands to this day as a beautiful monumental place of peace and harmony and the peaceful vibrations
continue to attract hundreds of people who seek solace and peace in the journey of their lives..A Photograph of Ramdara temple which was built by Sri 1008 Devi Puri Maharaj ( Dhundi Baba ) near the city of Pune, India.
For further
reading on the western view point of the phenomena of Bi location /
trans portal which is being at two places at the same time :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilocation
For further reading on the ancient Indian Vedic explanation complete works of Swami Vivekananda: Raja Yoga.
Some of the other powers of the mind are described below..
Some of the other powers of the mind are described below..
बलेषु हस्तिबलादीनि ॥२५॥: By making Samyama on the strength of the elephant and other strong beings, their respective strength comes to the Yogi
प्रवृत्त्यालोकन्यासात् सूक्ष्म-व्यवहित-विप्रकृष्टज्ञानम् ॥२६॥:. By making Samyama on the Effulgent Light (I. 36 ), comes the knowledge of the fine, the obstructed, and the remote. ( the power of clairvoyance and prophesy)
प्रातिभाद्वा सर्वम् ॥३४॥: Or by the power of Prâtibha, all knowledge
All these can come without any Samyama to the man who has the power of Pratibha (spontaneous enlightenment from purity). When a man has risen to a high state of Pratibha, he has that great light. All things are apparent to him. Everything comes to him naturally without making Samyama.
ह्रदये चित्त-संवित् ॥३५॥:In the heart, knowledge of minds.World leaders who can understand the minds and hearts of the masses...spiritual masters who can look into the heart and soul of all people..
On a closing note two of our favorite `class mates' are moving away by the end of January to the USA. With both sadness and pride in our hearts we say farewell but not goodbye to Dr Neeladhdri and his really sweet and friendly wife Soumya..Dr Neeladhri C has been selected for a Post doctorate research position at the University of Stanford in California USA in the field of Pharmaceutical Science. A point to note is that both Neel and his wife Soumya ( who is also a scientist) have always been friendly, humble, sweet and encouraging to everyone in the class. When I asked permission to mention them in my blog..they said that they were honoured..but actually the honour dear Neel and Soumya is mine..there is a saying that "Great people make others feel great and small people try to make others feel small". They are truly great in every way.
A point about the story of immigrants and immigration in Canada. Most Indian come to Canada as highly educated professionals. This makes them all mutiple times more qualified than most of the people born in Canada. Almost 75 % of new immigrants land in jobs that are not worthy of their qualifications or experience. When the USA and other countries honour the education and the talents of our best..it redeems and enhances all of us..the victory of one is the victory of all.. In the Vedanta Society of Toronto itself there is a higher percentage of members holding doctorate and post doctorate degrees than probably any other place other than a university. However the followers of Vedanta and Sri Ramakrishna come from every walk of life..the humblest of the humble and the greatest of the great.Vedanta belives in equality of all people and all faiths.
Class of Wednesday January 8th 2014.
ततः प्रातिभश्रावणवेदनादर्शास्वादवार्ता जायन्ते
॥३७॥From that arises the knowledge belonging to Pratibha and (supernatural) hearing, touching, seeing, tasting and smelling.
The questions that arose were of whether it is better to meditate on the abstract qualities or on the chosen form of God we like the best. Our Swami K advised that when we meditate on the form of God we like the best then the qualities of Godliness and all the powers come to us naturally..example to the followers of Christ..meditating on Christ the true Christians are merciful, kind, forgiving and Christ like.not dogmatic..Meditating on Hanuman makes the followers of Hanuman steadfast, strong in faith and body..extremely devoted and intelligent..meditation on Laxmi gives one wealth and her qualities of stability and beauty etc and meditating on the individual Istha ( the one God you believe in.the most.gives you all)..
In methods of meditation the discussion arose on whether it was right to meditate as one merged with the deity himself... or as some one outside us..Swami K opined that when one mediates without arrogance or pride as one with God in the depth of his heart..that is the best and quickest way to reach the goal.
A point about the story of immigrants and immigration in Canada. Most Indian come to Canada as highly educated professionals. This makes them all mutiple times more qualified than most of the people born in Canada. Almost 75 % of new immigrants land in jobs that are not worthy of their qualifications or experience. When the USA and other countries honour the education and the talents of our best..it redeems and enhances all of us..the victory of one is the victory of all.. In the Vedanta Society of Toronto itself there is a higher percentage of members holding doctorate and post doctorate degrees than probably any other place other than a university. However the followers of Vedanta and Sri Ramakrishna come from every walk of life..the humblest of the humble and the greatest of the great.Vedanta belives in equality of all people and all faiths.
The late Rev Swami Pramathananda Maharaj who was the first head of the Vedanta society of Toronto and a strong patriot of India was often pained to see many Indian immigrants struggling professionally in Canada. He spoke up very strongly and firmly and took this issue of injustice up with both the Indian and Canadian government. While Canada is a great country..its greatest failure is that it is unable to harvest the sea of talent that has come here and goes unseen and un heard of in the form of highly educated skilled immigrants who work at jobs that do not match their qualifications or skill sets..The skilled and highly educated immigrants who come here under the `professional skilled' cadre are also the group that brings in their hard earned money and wealth created in other lands to invest in Canada . Yet this group is one of the most neglected and sidelined.
Next week we will explore the amazing powers of the mind again in the company of our much revered Swami Kripamayanada Maharaj and all the students as we bid or friends Neel and Soumya a fond goodbye..Class of Wednesday January 8th 2014.
.
ततः प्रातिभश्रावणवेदनादर्शास्वादवार्ता जायन्ते
॥३७॥From that arises the knowledge belonging to Pratibha and (supernatural) hearing, touching, seeing, tasting and smelling.
The questions that arose were of whether it is better to meditate on the abstract qualities or on the chosen form of God we like the best. Our Swami K advised that when we meditate on the form of God we like the best then the qualities of Godliness and all the powers come to us naturally..example to the followers of Christ..meditating on Christ the true Christians are merciful, kind, forgiving and Christ like.not dogmatic..Meditating on Hanuman makes the followers of Hanuman steadfast, strong in faith and body..extremely devoted and intelligent..meditation on Laxmi gives one wealth and her qualities of stability and beauty etc and meditating on the individual Istha ( the one God you believe in.the most.gives you all)..
In methods of meditation the discussion arose on whether it was right to meditate as one merged with the deity himself... or as some one outside us..Swami K opined that when one mediates without arrogance or pride as one with God in the depth of his heart..that is the best and quickest way to reach the goal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_impact_of_immigration_to_Canada
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