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YogaSwamiSvatmarama.Hathayogapradipika
YogaSwamiSvatmarama

HATHAYOGAPRADIPIKA
ForewordbyBKSIyengar CommentarybyHansUlrichRiekerTranslatedbyElsyBecherer Aquarian/ThorsonsAnImprintofHarperCollinsPublishers TheAquarianPressAnImprintofHarperCollinsPublishers77-85FulhamPalaceRoad,Hammersmith,LondonW68JB FirstpublishedinGreatBritainbyGeorgeAlien&Unwin1972

ThiseditionpublishedbyTheAquarianPress199213579108642 EnglishtranslationHerderandHerder,Inc.,animprintofCrossroad/Continuum,Inc. IllustrationsbyStephenSturgess AcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary ISBN1855382466 PrintedinGreatBritainbyHarperCollinsManufacturingGlasgow CONTENTS ForewordbyBKSIyengar Translator'sNote Introduction I.TheFundamentalPrinciples 1.Prerequisites 2.YogaandtheArtofHealing 3.TheAsanas 4.TheWayofLifeofaYogi II.TheRiverofLife 5.ThePurificationoftheNadis 6.Kumbhaka III.ActiveYoga 7.TheMudras 8.TheNectar 9.TheBandhas 10.TheShakti

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IV.PassiveYoga 11.Samadhi 12.MindandBreath 13.TheDissolution 14.TheShambhaviMudraandtheInnerLight 15.Nada,theInnerSound Epilogue RecommendedforFurtherReading FOREWORDbyBKSIyengar TheHathayogapradipikaofSvatmaramaisoneofthemostimportantyogatexts,andHans-UlrichRieker'stranslationandcommentaryhavelongbeenvaluable Hathayoga,orhathavidya(thescienceofhathayoga)iscommonlymisunderstoodandmisrepresentedasbeingsimplyaphysicalculture,divorcedfromspirit Wearecaughtupinemotionslikelust(kama),anger(krodha),greed(lobha),infatuation(moha),pride(ynadha)andmalice(matsarya).Hathayogahelpsus Mind Manisknownasmanava(human),asheisdescendedfromManu,thefatherofmankindwhoissaidtobethesonofBrahma,theCreatoroftheworld.Theword Manasmeansmind,intellect,thought,design,purposeandwill.Itistheinternalorganiserofthesensesofperceptionandtheorgansofaction,andthee Self.Manisgracedwiththisspecialsensesothathecanen)oythepleasuresoftheworld,orseekemancipationandfreedom(moksa)fromworldlyobjects. Knowledge Knowledgemeansacquaintancewithfacts,truthorprinciplesbystudyorinvestigation.Themind,whichisendowedwiththefacultyofdiscrimination,desir Knowledge(jnana)isoftwotypes:laukilfajnana,whichconcernsmattersoftheworld,andvaidikajnana,theknowledgeoftheSelf(relatingtotheVedas, AimsofLife Thesagesofolddiscoveredthemeansforthebettermentoflifeandcalledthemaimsorpurusarthas.Theyareduty{dharma),theacquisitionofwealth Dharma,arthaandkamaareimportantinmattersofworldlylife.DharmaandmoksashouldbefollowedjudiciouslyiftheyaretoleadtoSelf-realisation. Patanjli,attheendoftheYogaSutras,concludesthatthepracticeofyogafreesayogifromtheaimsoflifeandthequalitiesofnature(gunas), HealthandHarmony Toacquireknowledge--whethermundaneorspiritual--bodilyhealth,mentalpoise,clarityandmaturityofintelligenceareessential. Healthbegetshappinessandinspiresonetofurtherone'sknowledgeoftheworldandoftheSelf.Healthmeansperfectharmonyinourrespiratory,circulato Afflictions Humanbeingsaresubjecttoafflictionsofthreetypes:physical,mentalandspiritual(adhyatmika,adhidaivikaandadhibhautika).Afflictionsarisingthroug HathaYogaorHathaVidya Hathameanstostickfast,tobedevotedandtoholdcloselyorfirmly.Yogameanstounite,toassociate,toyokeandtojoin.Italsomeanszeal,endeavou TheGoddessParvati,thewifeofLordSiva,approachedherLord--theseedofallknowledge--forguidancetoeasethesufferingofhumanity.LordSivarevea OnreceivingyogicknowledgefromSiva,ParvatiimpartedittoBrahma,whotaughtittohischildrenbornofhisownwill,thesagessuchasNarada,Sanaka Svatmaramawho,itisthought,livedbetweenthetwelfthandfifteenthcenturies.ThePradipikahasthusbeenreferredtoasanebrivelyrecentadditionto Attheverybeginningofhistreatise,inverses4-9,Svatmaramainvokesthenamesofmanyofthesesageswhocamebeforehimandwhopractisedandpassedo IfPatanjali,intheYogaSutras,codifiedtheeightlimbsofyoga(astangayoga),Svatmaramadidthesameforhathayoga.Iftheformerisascholarlyexpo BecauseSvatmarama'streatiseincorporatedideasfromtheYogaSutras,theYogaUpanisads,thePuranas,theBhagavadGitaandotherscriptures,doubtsmaya ItshouldberealisedthattheHathayogapradipikaisamajortreatisewithpracticalguidelines.Ittakesthepractitionerfromthecultureofthebodyto ThefirstSloka(verse)ofthebookreads:"ReverencetoSiva,theLordofYoga,whotaughtParvatihathawisdomasthefirststeptothepinnacleofrajay Hathameanswillpower,resolutenessandperseverance;andHathayogaisthepaththatdevelopsthesequalitiesandleadsone,towardsemancipation.Theword withprakrti,consciousnesswiththesoul,thesunwiththemoon,andpranawithapana. TheHathaYogaPradipika ThePradipikaisdividedintofourparts.Thefirstexplainsyamas(restraintsonbehaviour),niyamas(observances),asanas(posture)andfood.Thesecondd Inall,thetextcontains390verses(floras).Outofthese,aboutfortydealwithasanas,approximatelyonehundredandtenwithpranayama,onehundredand Asanas Thetextbeginswithasanasasthefirststepinhathayoga.Forthisreasonithasbeenreferredtoassix-limbedyoga(sadangayoga)asopposedtotheeig Hedoesspeakofnon-violence,truthfulness,non-covetousness,continence,forbearance,fortitude,compassion,straightforwardness,moderationinfoodandc Itissaidthatthereareasmanyasanasastherearelivingspecies:840,000.Thatmeansthemusclesandjointscanflex,extead-androtateinseveralthous Yogiswereinconstantcontactwithnatureandtheyweresearchingfornaturalremediestocombatafflictions.Intheirsearch,theydiscoveredhundredsof Asanasarenotjustphysicalexercises:theyhavebiochemical,psycho-physiologicalandpsycho-spiritualeffects.Thecellsofthebodyhavetheirownintell ThecommentaryJyotsna1ofSriBrahmanandaclearlyandbeautifullysumsuptheeffectofasanas.Hesays:"thebodyisfullofinertia(tamasic),

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Patanjali,too,statesthatperfectioninasanasbringsconcordbetweenbody,mindandsoul.Whenasanasareperformedwiththeinterpenetrationofallthre 1TheHathayogapradipikaofSvatmaratma(withthecommentaryJyotsnaofBrahma-nanda)AdyarlibraryandResearchCentre,TheTheosophicalSociety,Madras, Pranayama PartTwoisdevotedmainlytopranayamaanditstechniques.Pranayamameanspranavrttinirodhaorrestraintofthebreath,whichisbynatureunsteady.Acc Pranayamaflushesawaythetoxinsandrectifiesdisturbancesofthehumours,wind(vata),bile(pitta)andphlegm(kapha). Alltheyogatexts,includingPatanjali's,areemphaticintheirviewthatonemustgainperfectioninasanasbeforepractisingpranayama.Thispointisove Asanas,importantthoughtheyareforthehealthandbalanceofthebody,haveadeeperpurpose:todiffusetheconsciousnessuniformlythroughoutthebody, Prana Pranaisanauto-energisingforce.Theinbreathfansandfusesthetwoopposingelementsofnature--fireandwater--sothatanew,bioelectricalenergy,cal Pranayamastorespranainthesevenenergychambers,orchakras,ofthespine,soitcanbedischargedasandwhennecessarytodealwiththeupheavalsofl Patan)alistatesthat"masteryinpranayamaremovestheveilthatcoversthelampofintelligenceandheraldsthedawnofwisdom." Svatmaramaexplainsvarioustypesofpranayamasandtheireffects,butcautionsthatjustasatraineroflions,tigersorelephantsstudiestheirhabitsan BandhasandMadras BandhasandmudrasaredealtwithinPartThree.Bandhameanslockandmudrameansseal.Thehumansystemhasmanyaperturesoroutlets.Bylockingandseal Mudrasandbandhasactassafetyvalvesinthehumansystem.Asanasactinasimilarway.Allthreehelptosuspendthefluctuationsofthemind,intellect Samadhi Samadhi,thesubjectofPartFour,isthesubjectivescienceofliberation,theexperienceofunalloyedbliss.BeforediscussingSamadhi,weneedtolookat ConsciousnessisasproutfromtheSelf,likeaseedlingfromaseed.Asabranchofatreeiscoveredbybark,sotheconsciousnessisenvelopedbythemin hasbeensteadied,flowsrhythmicallyinandoutinasinglechannel.Svatmarama,afterwatchfulstudyofthemindandbreath,saysthatwhetherthemindis Justaswatermixedwithmilkappearsasmilk,energy(prana)unitedwithconsciousnessbecomesconsciousness.Sohathayogatextsemphasisetherestrainto Svatmaramasaysthatthroughsamadhi,theminddissolvesintheconsciousness;theconsciousnessincosmicintelligence;cosmicintelligenceinnatureandn Themomenttheconsciousness,theego,theintelligenceandthemindarequietened,theSelf,whichisthekingofthese,surfacesandreflectsonitsown. Caution Hathayogapracticesbringcertainpowers(suchasclairvoyanceandclairaudience)calledsiddhis,aboutwhichSvatmaramacautionstheaspirant,Ifhedoes Svatmaramasaysthatpracticehastobedonewithoutthinkingofitsfruits,butwithsteadfastattention,livingachastelifeandmoderationoffood.One Hans-UlrichRiekerpresentsIndianthoughtsinWesterntermssothatpeoplecanunderstandthemwithlessdifficulty.Iamgladtonotethatheaskshisrea Hans-UlrichRieker'sexplanationofthemysticaltermsnada,binduandkalaispraiseworthy.Nadameansvibrationorsound,binduisadotoraseedandkal Hans-UlrichRiekeristobecommendedfortheaccuracyofhisrepresentationoftheoriginaltextaswellasthehelpfulnessandclarityofhiscommentary. BKSlyengarDecember1991 TRANSLATOR'SNOTE inIndianphilosophyitisgenerallyunderstoodthathathayogaisonedistinctpathtoliberationandrajayogaanother.HathaYogaPradipika Theslokasofthisancientclassicaltextarepresentedinanextremelyterseandoftenhighlysymboliclanguage,whichmakesthempracticallyunintelligibl ThisisafaithfultranslationoftheoriginalGermantext,dasklassischeYoga-LehrbuchIndiens.Itiscompletewithallthevaluableandelucidatingcomme QuestionswillnodoubtariseaboutthepresentationoftheslokasinaretranslationoftheSanskritfromtheGermanintoEnglish.Thisobjectionispartly IwishtothankDavidandDebby,whoseenthusiasmandvaluablesuggestionsconstantlysustainedmyefforts. E.B. INTRODUCTION Isitreallyworthwhilefortheaveragereadertoreadascholarlyclassic,abookthathasbeenpulledoffadustyshelfandtranslatedintoamodernWest Ourendeavorhereisnotsomuchtoenrichscienceastoenrichourselves;andhewhoenricheshisself,hisinnerSelf,doeshenotalsoenrichthescience Heresciencehasmadeamysterioustextavailabletous:theHathaYogaPradipika,byYogaSwamiSvatmarama.Andweshalltrytogethertofindhiddeninthe Inordertoachievethis,itisnecessarythatwepretendtoknowaslittleaboutourselvesasanewbornbabe.Ofcourse,modernsciencehasprovideduswit reallydidhavenoproblems.Unfortunately,wedohavethem,bothwithoursurroundingsandwithourselves.Whenoneoftheseproblemsbecomesseriouswere Itisencouragingthatthisnaturalattitudeisnotaspresumptuousasitmayseem.Wereallydonothavetoadoptthewisdomofothers;wehaveourownat Butsinceevidentlynothingismoreattractivethantoconfoundthewordsofgreatmastersandpresentthemaccordingtoone'sowntaste,wholelibrariesha Well,wemightask,werethesepeoplecompletelyblind?Letuslookatthedictionariesandcompare.Philologically,bothareright--theoldtranslatorasw

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Nowletusimaginewhatwouldhappen--andithappensconstantly--insuchlanguagesasChineseorSanskrit,whereonewordmayhavetwentydifferentmeanings Howdoesitstandwithourtext?Themanwhowroteitwasanauthority,ayogiofthehighestachievements,ascanbesurmisedbyhisname;theworkitself Neumann:Isthepresenttranslationauthentic?ThistranslationofHathaYogaPradipikaandmycommentaryonitwerenotdoneatadesk,butwere,sotospe Butweshouldnotbetemptedtoknowbetter,tojudge,ortoassumethatitisnonsense.Nothingismoredamagingthanprejudice.Itisathousandtimeswor However,hewhowantstoreadthisbookwithprofit,yetwithoutstartingtopracticeafterthefirstfewpages,shouldconstantlytrytobearinmindthat SomewillnowsaythatIseemtothinkthatIamthefirstoneevertospeakaboutyoga,whiletheyhaveknownforsometimehowtoevaluatethediscipline. IimaginethatIknowalittleaboutyoga,butwhenIstandbeforeamasterinIndiaIbecomeveryquietandhumble.ForgettingthatIknowalittle,Ilist Hereanewproblemarises:thequestforaguru,whichhasnowalmostbecomeafad.Andsimultaneouslyanotherquestion,essentialforWesternstudents:Can Butweshouldtalkaboutrealgurus.Everyhumanbeingyearnsforthefulfillmentofhismostsecretdesires.Some,inordertobehappy,seeknothingfurth Inrealitythingsareabitdifferent,however.Ourmainproblematfirstisnottofindthegurutoleadtheignorantstudentonaspiritualapron Toprepareourselvesforagurumeansself-discipline.Inthissense,everysentence,evenfromthesimplestbook,haspowertoteach,ifithappens(inak Thosewhoexpectanopendoorthattheycanenterwithoutknockingmaylearnagreatdeal,buttheywillneverreachthedecisiveknowledge.Onlyhewhohas Itisnotforthesakeofmysterymongeringthatthehighestteachingsareassecretnowastheyhaveeverbeen.Weretheytobegivenoutindiscriminately Whatdoesthegurureallydo?Onereadilyimaginesthestudentsittingdayandnightatthefeetoftheguru,beingshoweredwithsecretteachingsasarewa Whatactuallydoeshappen?Letustakeaseekerwhodoesnotyetquiteknowwhatinthedeepestsenseisatstake,norhasheanyideahowtoshapehisspi Wereitnowaswewouldliketoimagine,thenbychancehewouldfallintothehandsofayogateacher.Thoughchancehasnoplaceinyoga,it Usually,however,ithappensthatthestudent"accidentally"hearsthatsomewherethereisagreatsaint.Histeacherconfirmsthisrumor.Thestudentgets isthefaultoftheteacher.Hewantstoleave.Histeacherhasnoobjection,sohegoes.Thesaintdoesnotdeigneventolookathim.Impressedbythedee Whathashappenedhere?Whydoesitseemsostrange?Firstofall,letusdiscardthenotionthatthemasterdidnotheedtheimportunatestudent.Nothingd Andthesentence?Itcontains--mostlyintheformofacategoricalimperative---thedecisivewisdomwhichistobethestudent'sabsoluteleitmotivforanu Whenwelookatsomeofthesesentenceswearelikelytobealittleshockedbytheirapparentmeaningless""simplicityandexclaim:"What?Suchagreatsai Inaneasyandsimplesentencewecantesttheeffectivenessofsuchanapproach.Foroneweekaskyourselfaftereverythingyouhavedone:"Wasthisnecess Theguruknowsintuitivelywhatwemosturgentlyneed.Butthenhedoesnottellusdirectly.Heletsusfindoutforourselves,foronlythenarewereally themostdevotedstudentrebellious.NomatterhowprofoundmaybetheteachingsofaBuddha,aChrist,aLao-tzu,aMohammed,onlywhatwediscoverforour Myguruinkundaliniyogaisalsoamanofgreatlearningintheshastras.OnedayIaskedhimforthemeaningofcertainsymbolswhichseemedtomeofgrea Whenthetimecame,immediatelyafterinitiationIagainaskedthesamequestion."MeditateasIhavetoldyoubefore.Thenyouwillexperience."Iwasterr Whenthefirstguruhasfulfilledhispsychologicalaimandhis"magicformula"hasachieveditseffect,thenextguru,theyogamaster(whoisusuallymore Butheretooitisnotquitesosimple.Noteverythinghasequalvalueforeverybodywhohears.Forexample,apersonwantstolearnhowtodrive,sohebuy Aswewillseefromourtext,whattheWestunderstandsasyogaissimplyatechniquetokeepthemotoringoodcondition.Thisiseminentlyimportant,but SoletusbegintoreadHathaYogaPradipikabyYogaSwamiSvatmarama.PutasideallyourWesternknowledgeandyourprejudice,anddowhatyogastudentsha PARTONE

THEFUNDAMENTALPRINCIPLES

CHAPTERI THEPREREQUISITES (1)ReverencetoSivatheLordofYoga,whotaught[hiswife]Parvatihathawisdomasthefirststeptothepinnacleofrajayoga. Itisagoodpracticetoevokeadivinepowerbeforebeginningseriouswork.WemaycallitSiva(theBenevolent)orGodorGanesa(gana==legions; (2)Havingthussolemnlysalutedhismaster.YogiSvatmaramanowpresentshathavidya[vidya=wisdom]solelyandexclusivelyfortheattainmentofrajayog Nowitcanbegin--anditbeginswithanadmonition.Theclassicalcommentary,attimessotediouslywordy,herehasanimportantmessage:"solelyfortheat Theupperdelimitationneedsalittlemoreelucidation.Aswewillsoonandoftenhear,therealgoalofayogiistobecomeasiddha.Asiddha,apersonin IfinIndia,evenwithgreatmasters,onesoseldomhasachancetowitnessthemiraclesthatthesesiddhashavethepowerstoperform,itissimplybecause Onedoesnotnecessarilyhavetobelievesuchthings.YoumayputthisdowntothefabulousimaginationoftheEast,andsayso.Theyogidoesnotresentyo Thedeeperpurposeofthesiddhisissomethingelse.Throughthedevelopingforcesthestudentrecognizeswhatstageofevolutionhehasreached.Certainph "Siddhis,"mygurutoldme,"arenottheaimofourwork.Wewanttobecomesiddhasinordertoenjoytherealizationandperfectionofasiddha,nottogai (3)Forthosewhowanderinthedarknessofconflictingcreeds[andphilosophies],unabletoreachtotheheightsofrajayoga[self-knowledgeandcosmicco Rajayoga,theroyalyoga1isagoalthatmanystrivetoreachwithoutevenbeingawareofit,withouthavingtheslightestinklingofyoga.WhatelseisFa ForthestudentofIndianwisdomthisreferencetoFaustpresentsanespeciallyinterestingparallel.Goethespeakshereofcreativepowerandofseed,inS (4-9)GorafkshaandMatsyendraweremastersofhathavidya,andbytheirgraceYogiSvatmaramalearnedit.Siva,Matsyendra,Shabara,Anandabhairava,Chaura Adaringstatement:aftertheenumerationof33mastersofhathavidyawhohaveilluminatedtheages,toclaimthattheyarestillroamingthroughtheworld

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Wehavealreadyspokenofthesiddhis,andhereitisspecificallystatedthatthesemastersweresiddhas.Theyreachedwhatsomanycovet,"eternalyouth." 1.Thetranslationoftheterm"rajayoga"as"royalyoga"isexoteric.Esotericallyitis"theyogaofradiatinglight,"for"raja"canalsomean"toshine yogihasnobirthcertificate,anditseemsstrangethatonecanstatethatheisexactly250yearsold,whilehisyoungercolleaguesdonotknowwhetherth Forustimeisinseparablefromtheclock,butnoonehaseversucceededinreallydefiningtime.Itisimpossible--becausetimedoesnotexistoutsideofo (10)[Therefore]hathayogaisarefugeforallthosewhoarescorchedbythethreefires.Tothosewhopracticeyoga,hathayogaislikethetortoisethat Thesethreefiresarewellknowntous;theyarethefireofself-createdsuffering;thefireofsufferingthroughhigherpowers;andthefireofsuffering Nobodycaneliminatefromthisworldtheinfluencesthatcreatesuchsufferings.Whatwecanandshoulddoistopreparethephysical-mental Sufferingsareunfulfilleddesires.Therealizationofthesedesiresdependsnotonlyonourselves,butissubjectprimarilytoexternalinfluences.IfIwa ForthisIamdependentonmyownpowerasagainsttheopposingforces.Andwealwaysdesiresomething,evenifitisthedesireforthehappinessofadesi Nowweareonthetrackofouridea:tobedesirelesslyhappymeanstowantnothing,tohavenoneeds,tobehappywithoneselfandthegivenconditions.Bu Thisisbynomeansastateofapathy,devoidofthedynamicsofnaturalactivities.Onthecontrary,ourendeavorswillnolongerbewhippedbypassionsto Astothesymbolismofthetortoise,thisisameaningfullegendwhichwewillencounterlaterandwhichwillaccompanyusthroughoutthewholebook. (11)Ayogiwhoisdesirousofdevelopingsiddhisshouldkeepthehathayogastrictlysecret,foronlythenwillhehavesuccess.Allhiseffortswillbein Physicalexercisesarenothingshameful,andtheyarefun;butpracticedonahighwaytheybecomeinsanity."Whenyoupray,gointoaroombyyourself."Or, (12)Thestudentofhathayogashouldpracticeinasolitaryplace,inatempleorahermitage,anarrowshotawayfromrocks,water,andfire.Thelandsho Herewehavethefirstgreatproblem,largerperhapsthanthatofthesiddhis:tofindaquietspot,undisturbedandsafe.Predatoryanimals,earthquakes,a However,itisnotentirelyimpossibletocreateahermitageundermodernconditions.Perhapsthereisaquietattic,awayfromtheattractionsofmovies,r (13)Thehermitageshouldhaveasmalldoorandnowindows.Itshouldbelevelwiththegroundandhavenoholesinthewall.[Itshouldbe]neithertoohig Donotdespair!Ihaveseenmanyhemitagesthatconformedinonlyafewpointstotheideal.Somehadholesinthewallsandmostofthemwerelackingthec (14)Seatedinsuchaplace,theyogishouldfreehismindfromalldistractingthoughtsandpracticeyogaasinstructedbyhisguru. Ourkeenestweapon,andoftenouronlysalvation,isourthoughtpower.Ifyourthoughtisopen,soisthechanceofsuccess;ifitisslowandlimited,you Mustmenbelikethis?Evidently,iftheywishtosucceed.Butwhatissuccess?Nothingagainstsuccess--which,afterall,isthefoundationofa"happylif Thereisadifferentway.Oneofthemostremarkablemenofourtime,andbynomeansapiousman,swearsbyyoga.EverymorningPanditNehru,thecoolestt Harmony:thekeyword,theall-important.Thereisnoobjectiontothesearchforsuccessaslongastheharmonyoflifeisnotdisturbed.Noneedtorelinq Howdoesharmonycomeabout?Theveryquestionprovesthatthisfundamentallawoflifeisbecomingmoreandmoreamythasweareturnedmoreandmoreinto (15)Theyogaforcesaredissipatedbytoomucheating,heavyphysicallabor,toomuchtalk,theobservancesof[ascetic]vows,[promiscuous] Herewehavethedisharmoniesofeverydaylife,andnoteventhegreatones.Notdistrust,notrudeness,notlackofconsideration,notangeranddespair.J Theyogineverquitefillshisstomach;theexecutivealwaysdoes.Theyogiishealthy;theexecutivehasailments.Harmonyversusdisharmony. (16)Successdependsonacheerfuldisposition,perseverance,courage,self-knowledge,unshakablefaithinthewordoftheguru,andtheavoidanceofall[s Againthemagicwordofourtime:success.Andwithitevenaformula.Nothingaboutovertime,ornightwork,and"youmust..."Notevenawordaboutthi Acheerfuldispositionisincompatiblewithexecutiveulcers.Perseverance!Thatsoundspromising.Butthekeynoteisharmony,andtheperseverancereferred Butdon'tforgetthatyogahasnotyetbegun.Weareslatinghereonlytheminimalprerequisiteswithoutwhichanyattemptatpracticewouldbesenseless.T Yogapractice,regardlessofthesystemwefollow,hasapsychologicaldeptheffect.Oneexercisegoesinthisdirection,anotherinthat.Oftentheyhavea Westernsciencetooisawareoftheinseparableinterrelationbetweenbody,soul,andmind.Abitofiodine,adrenaline,orcortisonewillchangeourwhole Ifacertainpracticehitssomethingunhealthy(anasanacantouchonanorganicillness,adeepmeditationonsomementalsuffering),thentheresultisno Onethingiscertain:thesepreliminarychaptersarethemostimportantpartofthebook.Hewhodisregardsthemshouldcertainlyconsideryogadangerous. (17a)Nottocausesufferingtoanylivingbeing;tospeakthetruth;nottotakewhatbelongstoothers;topracticecontinence;todevelopcompassionand Thusequippedonecanventuretotakethefirststepintothewonderlandofone'sownself.Youdonothavetotakealltherulesliterally,butyouhaveto CHAPTER2 YOGAANDTHEARTOFHEALING inJapantherearephysicianswhokickthepatientintheback,twisthisneck,orsimplygivehimaheavyslapontheshoulder,andthepatientfeelslike Thesearenotmedicinemenatwork.Herewehavefull-fledgedphysicianswhomasteranart--thatnobodyintheWestcanunderstand?Thesetimeshavepassed. Thustooitiswithacupuncture.Wenowhavethesesonthesubject,aswellaspracticingWesternphysicians.Thethirdexample(Ceylon)toowillnodoubts Wewanttostudythefollowingchaptersonasanasandtheirpsycho-physicalbackgroundwiththisinmind. "Whysomanywords?"somewillask."Asanasarephysicalexercises."Andinasenseheisright. "Nonsense,"anotherwillsay,"allthesesenselesscontortions."Andinasensehetooisright. Athirdwillconsiderasanasapracticethatnobodycanquiteunderstand.Righttoo. Afourthonestandsthoughtfullyinacorner."Iwilllearntounderstandtheinnerconnections.Ihavestudiedmedicineandwillsoonfindoutwhatbodily Eachofthefirstthreecriticsacknowledgedacertainpositiveaspectofthepractice.Thefirstspeaksofgymnasticsandexpectsnomorethanthesuccess Norshouldhewhospeaksofmeaninglesscontortionsbecondemned.Perhapsheisright.Forwhoiscapableofexplainingtheinternalrelationships?Whygive

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Thefourthisthedangerousone,forheswearsbyhisintellectualknowledgealone.Hehasstudied,heisperfect,hecannoterr.(Andimaginehimasastud Nobodywillclaimthatourknowledgeacquiredthroughthecenturiesiswrong.No,itiscompletelyright,bututterlyincompletebecauseitissoone "Well,"hewillsayifheisjudicious,"Iadmitthis,butwemusthaveacertainframeofreference.Itisquiteclearthatchakrasarenervecentersandn Thisphrasehasdiscreditedyogawiththeintellectuals.Butletuslookatourlives.Islifealwayslogical?Whereisthelogicofthescientistwhoanaly WhenweseemtodetectananalogybetweenacertainconceptinyogaandaWesternscientifictermwemustatoncedenyourselvesallfurtherinvestigations Althoughweknowverylittleaboutthecentralnervoussystemandtheglands,wedoknowenoughtogaugetheireffects.Butwhatwecanlearnaboutchakras ItischaracteristicthatthetantricBuddhismofTibetteachesthattheyogihastocreatethechakrasattherelevantplacesinhisbody.Theyaresotos Butwehavenotyetcometothesestrangethings.Firstnowtothe"gymnastics"ofhathayoga.Evenhereweshoulddenyourselvesanyprofoundspeculations.

Inanyevent,whetherornotcertainpranayamas(breathingexercises)regulatetheoxygencontentofourbloodisnoneofourconcern.Whatisimportantfor Therefore,Westernscience,despiteitsundisputedmerits,willbeneglectedinthefollowingchapters,infavorofthatancientsciencewhichisthefounda 2."Attheborderlineoflogicsciencestops,butnotnature,whichblossomstherewherenotheoryhasasyetpenetrated"(C.G.Jung,ThePsychologyofTra onlyinrelationtoyoga,butalsoinrelationtothepresuppositionsofyoga. Theartofhealing,likeallelsetrulyIndian,isbasedontheVedas,theoldestbookofhumanity.EverythingthatconcernsmedicaltheoryintheRig Althoughitisnotpossibletosummarizethisgiganticwork,whichisstillinpracticaluseinIndiatoday,muchlessgiveasurveyofthewealthofitspr Theteachingstatesthattherearethreedominantforcesinman.andaccordinglythreemainsourcesofillness:vata,pitta,andkapha.Theusualtranslatio Thethreetermsencompassallphysiologicalfunctionsofthehumanbody,andtheirimbalancecausesnotonlyillnessbutalsosusceptibilitytocontagiousd Vata

Itistruethatthiswordmeans"wind"literally.Butmoreimportantistherootva,movement.ToquotetheCharakaSamhita:"Vataisthesourceofbothstr Someoftheillnessesduetotheinfluenceofvataare:rheumatism,dislocations,lameness,cramps,stitfnessoflimbs,peristalticirregularities,tremblin Pitta

Thiscanbetranslatedas"gall,"buthereitimpliesratherthatwhichisalsoexpressedbythewordgall:temperament.Butthisagainonlyinalimitedse Kapha

Thiswordiscomposedoftworoots:ka=="water,"andpha,whichreferstotheprocessofbiologicalevolution.Andsinceweknowthatthebodyislargelyc "Kaphaisthenectar[soma].Itisthefertilewaterfortheplayoflife;itislivingfluid,theprotoplasmthatsustainsalllifeprocesses;itisindeed "Nopainwithoutvata(thestreamoflife),noinflammationwithoutpitta(thefireoflife),noswellingswithoutkapha(thefluidoflife)"Thisdearlysh NaturallytheancientIndianartofhealingisnotexhaustedbythesethreemainterms.Onthecontrary,thisisonlythebeginning.Forus,however,thiss Wemustnotforgetthatthesethree"doshas"haveamaterial-bodily,aswellasanetherealandanabstract-spiritualaspect.Thuswhenlateronwedealext FortheIndianthereisonestraightpaththroughtheuniverseandsituatedonthispathareallthecitiesoftheworld:medicine,philosophy,mathematics, Soletusstartbylookingatyogawithanewphysiologicalunderstanding.Notsomuchtorelearn,buttounderstandthatthereiswisdominthingsthatsee CHAPTER3 THEASANAS (l7b)Asanasarespokenoffirst,beingthefirststageofhathayoga.Sooneshouldpracticetheasanas,whichgive[theyogi]strength,keephimingoodh Ourconcernisnotyetwithrajayogaanditsmysteries.Letusfirstconcentrateonstrength,health,andlithencssofbody.Muchofthiswillbeofdirect (18)IshallnowproceedtoimpartsomeoftheasanasthatwereadoptedbysuchwisemenasVasishtha,andpracticedbyyogislikeMatsyendra. (19)Sittingstraightonlevelground,squeezebothfeetbetweencalvesandthighs[oftheoppositelegs].Thisissvastikasana.[See

Figure1.] (20)Placetherightfootnexttotheleftbuttockandtheleftfootnexttotherightbuttock.Thisisgomukhasana,andlookslikethemouthofacow.[See

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Figure2.] (21)Placeonefootupontheotherthighandtheotherfootbelowtheoppositethigh.Thisisvirasana.[See

Figure3.] InthelastthreephraseswesimplyhavevariationsofsittingcrossleggedashasbeencustomaryinIndiaforthousandsofyears.Theseasanasinthemselves (22)Presstheanusfirmlywithcrossedfeetandsitthus.Butdoitwithcare.Thisiskurmasana. Herewemightlookforadeepermeaning,sincetheposturedoesnotreallybearanycharacteristicsofgymnastics.Wecannotyetunderstandthesignificance (23)Assumingthelotusposture,insertthehandsbetweenthethighsandcalves.Putthehandsfirmlyonthegroundandraisethebodyup.Thisiskukutasan

Figure4.] Thelotusposturehasnotyetbeenmentioned:thefeetareplacedcrosswiseontheoppositethighs,asclosetothebodyaspossible.Pushthehandsthrough Herewehavewhatclearlyseemsagymnasticexercise.Yetwhatisinvolvedissomethingquitedifferent.Muchlaterwewilllearnthatto"raisethekundali (24)Assumingthe[above-mentioned]kukkutasanaposture,putbotharmsaroundyourneckandremainraisedlikeatortoise[withthebacktouchingtheground Herethegymnasticcharacterisevident;infactitseemssoexaggeratedlyacrobaticthatwewonderwhetherthisislessthangymnastics--ormore?Whatisb

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Sofarwehaveencounteredthetortoisethreetimes.FirstinNo.10:"Tothosewhopracticeyoga,hathayogaislikethetortoisethatcarriestheworld." "Makepeacewiththedemons,"heurgedthem,"andchurnwiththeirhelpthenectarofimmortality.Thedivinealoneisaspowerlessastheearthlyalone.To SotogethertheswornenemiestookthemountainMandara,thebackboneoftheuniverse,woundaroundittheserpentVasukiinthreeandone-halfturns,anda Butsoonthemountainbecametooheavyforthediligentones,andslowlyitsanklowerandlower.ThenVishnutransformedhimselfintoatortoise,dovetot Practicallyeverywordinthislegendistheexpressionofadeepsymbolism,muchofwhichwillbeclarifiedinthecourseofourstudyandpractice.Forno Uponthis"axisofthe[human]universe"weexertpressureinkurmasana,sothatthecombinedforcesofthedivine(subconscious)andtheearthly(conscious (25)Graspbothtoeswiththehands[leftwithleft,rightwithright],keeponelegstraightanddrawtheothertotheearasyouwouldthestringofabow

Figure5.) Thespinalcordhastwoends:theearth(below)andheaven(above),asisfittingfora"holymountaininthecenteroftheworld."And--asitshouldbe Wecouldcompareourselveswithatreethathasitsrootsintheearthandthecrownwithitsfruitinthesky.Justaswehavetosatisfytheneedsofthe (26)Placeyourrightfootontheoutsideofthelefthipjointandtheleftfootoutsidetherightknee[whichisflatonthefloor].Grasptheleftfootw [See

Figure6.] Inthemorecurrentvariationsofthisasanatherightfootisnotgraspedbythelefthand;instead,thehandisplacedonthebackasfaroveraspossible (27)Thismatsyendrasanaincreasestheappetitebyfanningthegastricfire[pitta],anddestroysphysicalailments.Kundaliniisawakenedandthemoonmade Forthefirsttimethetextmentionskundalini,alatentforceofhighestpotential,saidtolieinthreeandone-halfcoils,likethesnakeinthechurning Thewholebodytrembles.Adoorseemstohavebeenpushedopenthroughwhichafloodoflightflowsfromsomeunknownworld,alightofincomparableradianc Thisflashoflightisnotreallythekundalini,however.Itismerelyasignofitsawakening.Thekundaliniitselfdoesnotshootup,butwilllaterrise Whetherthekundalinicanreallybeawakenedthroughthisparticularasanaaloneisquestionable.Buttheasanawillsurelybehelpfulintheprocess.Andt Asmentionedabove,the"mountaininthecenteroftheworld"hastheearthatitsfootandtheskyatitspeak.Betweenearthandskyarethesun(thecent Inthecenterofthetriangleformedbythenavelandthetwonipplesisthe"sun"[solarplexus];attheupperendofthespinalcolumn,atthemedullaobl Throughthisasanathe"moon"sphereis"massaged,"whichisallthemoreimportantasitispresumablyherethatwefindthesourceofthefluidoflife(k

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(28)Stretchoutbothlegsand,taxingholdofthetoes,layyourheadupontheknees.Thisispaccimasana[pashimottanasana]. (29)Thismostexcellentofallasanascausesthebreathtoflowthroughthesushumna,fansthefireofappetite[pitta],makestheloinssupple[vata]and Themostessentialphraseofthisslokaneedselucidation.Sushumnaisthenameforthehair-thinchannelthattraversesthespinalcolumnlengthwise.Itis morethanoxygenandnitrogen,evenmorethananychemistcouldanalyze.Breathisthecarrierofanespeciallyefficaciouslifeforce,ofastreamwhichno Enoughaboutpranafornow.(Therewillbeagreatdealmoreaboutitinlaterchapters.)Hereagaininthisasanaweseewhatseemstobeapurelyphysical (30)Pressyourhandsfirmlyuponthegroundandbalanceyourbodybypressingtheelbowsagainstyourloins.Raiseyourlegsstraightintheairtillyour

Figure7.] (31)Thisasanahealsvariousdiseasesofthespleenanddropsy,andremovesallillnessescausedbyexcessofvata,pitta,orkapha.Itdigestsanoverabun Theasanalookslikeourwell-knowngymnasticexerciseontheparallelbars.Andgymnasticsitis.Atthispointoftrainingtheplanistoperfectthebody Asthegodsandthedemonswerediligentlychurningtheoceanofmilkandtheoceangraduallybegantochange,thedemonssampledtheliquidanddoubledove Atthisstageofdevelopmentthestudentdoesnotunderstandthedeepermeaningofthestory,anddoesnotyetknowthatitisaromanticallegoryofhisow Hereagainthequestionariseshowthissingleasanacanhavesuchfar-reachingconsequencesthatitrendersthepoisonharmless.Inordertojudgewemust WeshalldiscussthisquestiontogivetheWesternstudentadeeperinsight,althoughitdoesnotreallybelonghere. Asmentionedbefore,thewholeIndianmythologyhasadirectrelationtoyoga.Whentheuniverse(macrocosm)ismentioned,itisalsoareferencetoman(mi Thusthechurningoftheoceanis,generallyspeaking,aprocessinyoga.Thismilkoceansymbolizesthebrain.Inthecourseofyogatrainingthereoccurs ofincompleteevolutionliesthegreatestdanger,i.c'prematureactionresultingfromerroneous,ill-informedjudgment.Thestudentassumeshepossessesce Inmayurasanathepressureofbothelbowssealsoffthe"pranachannels"ofthetwonadisandthusforcesanincreasedbloodsupplyintothosepartsofthe Itseemsclearthatthebloodsuffusionofthebrainmusthaveaninfluenceonourconsciousness,butblooditselfislessimportantthanthestreamofpran (32)Lyingfulllengthonthebacklikeacorpseiscalledsava-sana.Withthisasanatirednesscausedbyotherasanasiseliminated;italsopromotescalmn Hownicethatrelaxationispartofthescheme.Anditispleasanttofindthatnomysteryisinvolved.Simplystretchoutonthefloor. Butthisrelaxationisalsonecessary,asthatwhichfollowsismorethorough,hasgreaterdepth.Weareabouttotakeanimportantstepinthedirectionof (33-34)TheasanastaughtbySivaare84innumber.OftheseIwilldescribefourofthemostimportantones.Theyaresiddha-sana,padmasana,simhasana,an (35)Pressoneheelintotheplacebelowthesexorgans[theperineum]andputtheotherheeljustabovethisregion[closetotheabdomen].Pressthechin

Figure8.] Itisquiteclearthatmoreisatplayherethanmeregymnasticexercise,especiallysincethereisnolongeranymentionofhealingornimblelimbs. Butwhatdotheseunusualdetailsmean?Eachheelpressesacertainpoint,theloweronethemuladharachakra,theupperonethesvadhistanachakra.Thenec Themanipurachakrainthediaphragmregionandtheanahatachakraintheheartregionseemtoremainunnoticed.Inreality itisjustthecontrary.Theheartchakrahasauniquepositioninmanyways;itwouldnotrespondtophysicalpressureinanyevent.Inthispositionitca Themanipurachakraisalsodealtwithinanunusualmannerhere,forinstructionsarestaticinnature.Alatersloka(41)willaddadynamicelementthatw (36)Placetherightheelabovethesexorganandtheleftheelovertheright.Thistooissiddhasana. [See

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Figure9.] (37)Somecallthissiddhasana;otherssayitisvajrasana,ormuk-tasana,orguptasana. Why?Isthereadifferenceofopinion?No,therearegoodreasons.Thisasanacanserveseveralpurposes,andeachnameindicatesadifferentemphasis.But (38)Thesiddhassay:Justasamongtheyamasthemostimportantistodonoharmtoanyone,andthatamongtheniyamasmoderation,soissiddhasanathechi Weshouldnottakethisasaqualitativecharacteristic.Ratheroneshouldsay:justasnonviolenceistheleitmotivofallotherprinciples,andmoderation (39)Ofthe84asanasoneshouldalwayspracticesiddhasana[aboveall],itpurifiesthe72,000nadis. Nadisarethosepathsthroughwhichthebodyreceivesitssupplyofprana.Weshouldnotthinkoftheseasnervestrands,andwhetherornotthereare72,000 Theybegininthenostriloftheirrespectivesides,windoncearoundtheajnachakralikethreadaroundaspindle,andendallthewaydownwherethemain (40)Theyogiwhomeditatesontheatmanandeatsmoderatelyachievestheyogasiddhisafterhehaspracticedsiddhasanafor12years. Atmanmeditationisreflectionuponourownmysteriousself;itsthewaytoself-knowledge.God(Brahman)andatmanhavefromtimeimmemorialbeenthegreat (41)Ifsiddhasanaisperfectedandthebreathiscarefullyrestrainedinkevalakumbhaka,whatneedforalltheotherasanas? Againanewterm,kumbhaka.Thisisasimplematter:kum-bhakaisthemomentbetweeninhalationandexhalation,orviceversa,whenthebreathisretainedf Anyonecanobservethedevelopmentofprana:afterafewdeepandfastinhalationsandexhalationsconcentrateonthefingertips.Whatyoufeelthenisthe Thevarietiesofkumbhaka,ofwhichkevalakumbhakaisonlyone,willbediscussedlateron. (42)Whensiddhasanaisaccomplished,wecanenjoytheecstasyofthemeditativestate(unmaniavastha),themoonandthethreebandhasfollowwithouteffor Thisslokaisnotforthestudentbutfortheteacher.Thethreebandhasarestillunknown,theunmaniavasthastateisafondhope,andhowthemooncan"fo (43)Thereisnoasanalikesiddhasana,nokumbhakalikekevala,nomudralikekhecari,andnolayaequalsnada[anahatnada]. Aslokathattheteacheratthispointcanonlyunderline,whilethestudenthopefullyawaitsthedaywhenhecanconvincehimselfofitsefficacy.Whether (44)Placetherightheeluponthebaseoftheleftthighandtheleftupontherightthigh.Crossthearmsbehindthebackandgraspthetoes,therighton

Figure10.] Firstofall,itappearsthatwehaveherewithoutadoubtagymnasticexerciseofenormousvalue,butonethatdemandsahighdegreeofskill.Theribcage Tothisareaddeddeeperresultswhichareimmediatelymanifestwhenwemeditateinthisposture.Firstofallthereiscompletelynewawarenessofthebody *"Thesecretteachingisthatthereshouldbeaspaceoffourinchesbetweenthechinandthebreast"SriNivasalyangar.TheHathaYogaPradipikaofYoga

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reshaped:itbecomesstraight,whereasusuallyitisslightlyS-shaped;the"kundalinipath"isrelievedofitscurvesandthusbecomesmorereadilytravers Importantinthisconnectionisthenextasanawiththesamename,whichcontainsallthebenefitsthatarereferredtoassecondaryintheaboveasana.The (45-47)Placeyourfeetfirmlyontheoppositethighsandplaceyourhandsfirmlyinthemiddle,oneupontheother[inyourlap],fastenyoureyesonthet Thisisthefirststeptorajayoga.Inthepreviouspadmasanawecreatedtheessentialphysicalconditions.Thespinalcolumnwasstraightenedandthe"bow Thissectionintroducesapartoftheanatomythathasnotyetbeenmentioned,asindeeditisnotoftenmentioned:thesphinctermuscleoftheanus.Wesho Ifwecan"tic"thesetwostreamstogether,onecontinuousflowreachesfromthenostrilstotheendofthespinalcord,thusconstitutingasingleunitabl Heretheconditionhasbeencreatedthatwillbeutilizedpracticallyinthenextstep. (48)Havingassumedthepadmasanaposture,withthehandsoneupontheother,andthechinfirmlypresseduponthechest,meditateonBrahma,frequentlycon (49)Whentheyogiremainsinpadmasanaandthusretainsthebreathdrawninthroughthenadigates[nostrils]hereachesliberation.Thereisnodoubtabou Ifeverythinghasbeenunderstoodthusfar,onehasaninklingofwhatisatstake.Onlyonepointisnotquiteasclearasitmaysound:thattheyogireac Heisliberatedwhoseesthisworldforwhatitreallyis,afigmentofourownimagination.Thenonliberatedbelievedthatheisapartofthistangiblewo Theliberatedoneknowsandseesallproblemswithinhimself.Itisnotthathehaspersuadedhimselfofthisbyphilosophical logic.No,heexperiencesinmeditationtheforcesandthecontentofhisownpersonalityandcanobjectivelyopposethemtosenseimpressions.Oncehereal (50)Placeyouranglesintheregionofthesexorgans[betweenanusandscrotum]:therightankletotherightandthelefttotheleftside. Thismeanskneelwithkneesslightlyapart,feetcrossed.(Compare

Fig.2.) (51)Placethepalmsuponthekneeswithfingersspreadoutandeyesuponthetipofthenose[andbreathe]withopenmouthandconcentratedmind, (52)Thisissimhasana,heldingreatesteembythehighestyogis,Thisasanafacilitatesthethreebandhas. Ifthestudentdoesnotknowsomethingaboutthebandhasthisasanahaslittlemeaning.Bandhacomesfrom"tobind."Thatthereissomethingtobindwehave Ifwetrythisasanawerealizethatthechestexpandswhenweinhaleandtheabdomenrecedes.Thisisthefirststeptothebandhas. (53-55)Placetheanglesunderthebuttocks,rightbelowright,leftbelowleft,oneithersideoftheperineum.Pressthesolesofthefeettogetherandho

Figure11.] Nothingmuchisgainedforrajayogathroughthisasana.Itdoescontrolunwanteddesires.

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(56)Thenheshouldcleansethenadisbypracticingpranayama,asweltasmudrasandkumbhakasofvariouskinds. Thesewillbelearnedatthenextlevel.63 CHAPTER4 THEWAYOFLIFEOFAYOGI Afewusefulhintsbeforeweattemptthehighergoalsofthesecondpart.Theymaynotbeasdramaticastheslowlyclarifyingbackgroundofasanas,butthe (57a)Thenfollowstheconcentrationontheinnersound[nada]. Thisslokabelongstothehighestformofrajayoga(tobediscussedinPartFour),andisratherprematurehere;itmaybeaninterpolationbyanimpatient (57b)Thebrahmacharinwho,observingmoderatediet,renouncingthefruitsofhisactions,practices[hatha]yogawillbecomeasiddhainthespanofoneye Abrahmacharinisayogiwhoobservescompletecelibacy.Herethequestionofcelibacybecomesacute.Howcompulsoryisitforayogi?AtthispointIcanno potency.Celibacywithouttransformationofthepreservedpotenciesonlyforcesthemtofindtheirownoutlet,mostlywhereitisleastdesired,attheweak "Yoga,"saysmyguru,"iseconomyofforces,notrepressionofnature."Thisstatementmayseemverycomfortingtosomestudents,but"economy"needscloser The"deedinthought"isoftenunderestimated.Oneimaginescontrolofactionisthechiefaccomplishment,andforgetsthatfrequentlylackofopportunityo Anotherinterestingproblemarisesfromthephrase,"renouncingthefruitsofhisactions."Thisispurekarmayoga. Adeedisofvalueonlywhenitisdoneforitsownsake.Thisisaplatitudewhichhastheremarkabledistinctionofcontainingoneofthedeepestwisdoms Thecarefulobserverwillnotethatthespiritualbackgroundoftheabstinenceofthebrahmacharinandtherenunciationofthekarmayogihavethesamesour (58)Moderatedietmeanspleasant,sweetfood,leavingfreeonefourthofthestomach.TheactofeatingisdedicatedtoSiva. Theclassicalcommentarysays:"He[theyogi]shouldfilltwopartsofhisstomachwithfood,andthethirdpartwithwater,leavingthefourthfreeforair (59-61)Thefollowingareconsideredasnotbeingsalutary:sour,pungent,andhotfood;mustard,alcohol,fish,meat,curds,butter-milk,*chiclepeas,fru garlic.Itisalsoadvisabletoavoid:reheatedfood,anexcessofsaltoracid,foodsthatarehardtodigestorarewoody.Gorakshateachesthatinthebe *Thisdoesnotrefertothecommerciallyculturedmilkwecall"buttermilk."--Train. Thesestrictdisciplinesareimposedonthestudent,butdonotnecessarilyapplytothemaster. "Proximitytofire":thetemperatureofayogichangesconsiderablyduringspecificpractices,especiallyinthemeditativestate.Theterm"burningascetic (62)Thefollowingitemscanbeusedwithouthesitation:wheatproducts[bread,etc.]rice,milk,fats,rockcandy,honey,driedginger,cucumbers,vegetabl (63)Theyogishouldeatnourishing,sweetfoodsmixedwithmilk.Theyshouldbenefitthesensesandstimulatethefunctions. (64)Anyonewhoactivelypracticesyoga,beheyoung,old,orevenveryold,sicklyorweak,canbecomeasiddha. (65)Anyonewhopracticescanacquiresiddhis,butnothewhoislazy.Yogasiddhilarenotobtainedbymerelyreadingtextbooks. (66)Noraretheyreachedbywearingyogagarmentsorbyconversationaboutyoga,butonlythroughtirelesspractice.Thisisthesecretofsuccess.Therei (67)Thevariousasanas,kumbhakas,andmudrasofhathayogashouldbepracticedaslongasrajayogahasnotbeenattained. Andwhenwillthathavebeenattained?Whenhumanexistencenolongerholdsanyproblems. PARTTWO

THERIVEROFLIFE
CHAPTER5

THEPURIFICATIONOFTHENADIS afterthebroadoutlineoftheevolutionofthewholeorganismthroughasanasgiveninPartOne,wecometothevataelementinallitsaspects.Onlyhecan (1)Whentheyogihasperfectedhisasanasheshouldpracticepranayamaaccordingtotheinstructionsofhismaster.Withcontrolledsensesheshouldnouri Atahigherlevelofinstructionthingsbegintochangeinmanyways.Theguruisnotaslenientasinthebeginning.Hegiveshigherinitiationandanewm (2)Whenthebreath"wanders"[i.e.,isirregular]themindalsoisunsteady.Butwhenthebreathiscalmed,themindtoowillbestill,andtheyogiachiev Haveyouevernoticedhowthebreathbecomesirregularoncertainoccasions?Certainly,ifyoutrytocatchabusyoubreatheirregularlyafterwardsandare Takeforexampletwootheroccasions:inthetheater,andatanimportantinterview.Howwasyourbreathinginthefirstinstanceandhowinthesecond?Whe Certainlywemayknowthisorthataboutourthoughts--forinstance,whatwehavebeenthinkingof--butdoweknowwhywethoughtjustaboutthisandnotab Stillthequestionoftherelationshipofmindwithbreathremainsunresolved.Herewecouldmarshalmanyformulaswhichhavephysiologicalfoundations,suc

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simplymentionthemhere.Laterslokaswillleadusclosertoasolution,atleastascloseasitisnecessaryforayogiatthesecondstageoftraining.S (3)Manlivesonlyaslongashehasbreathinhisbody.Ifhelacksbreath[prana]hedies.Thereforeweshouldpracticeprana-yama. Weknow,ofcourse,thatbreathislife;weevenknowthechemicalprocessthatprovesit.Buthowisitthatwecannotkeepadyingmanalivebyattaching (4)Whenthenadisareimpure,breathcannotpenetrateintothesushumna.Thentheyogiachievesnothing,norcanhereachthestateofdeepconcentration[ Weknowthat72,000nadisinourbodyaretheconveyorsofthelifecurrent,andthatweliveoureverydaylivesbythiscurrent.Thehigherlifeofayogii (5)Onlywhenallthenadiswhicharestillimpurearepurifiedcantheyogipracticepranayamasuccessfully. (6)Thereforeoneshouldpracticepranayamawiththemindinsattvicconditionuntilthesushumnaisfreefromimpurities. Therearetwomethodsofpurificationofthenadis.Herewedescribethepsychologicalmethodwhichisfarmorepleasantthantheother,althoughthesecond Oneshouldpractice"withthemindinasattvicstate."Weshalltrytounderstandthiswithoutburdeningthemindwiththeintricaciesofthegunatheory. Sattvaisthepositivepropensityforpurity.Gooddeeds,kindwords,noblethoughts,apleasingpersonality,interestinloftypursuitsarethedistinguish Wecanreadilyimaginehowthiscanhappen:weperceivesomething;itiscarriedonthelifestreamtothebrain,asalivereflex.Sofarwecancallit"t Theseseeminglytrivialimpuritiesarestillcoarseenoughtoblockthepsychicpathwayofthenadis.Thisstatementwouldbeabsurdifthenadiswerewhat Ifwenowbecomeawarethateverybreathwetakeisinasensepranayama,wecanreadilyrealizehowfrequentlywedamageourdelicatepsychewithanimpure (7)Assumingthepadmasanaposture,theyogishallguidethepranathroughtheleftnostril[chandra==moon]totheidanadi,and,afterhavingretainedth (8)Thenheshouldinhalethroughtherightnostril,dokum-bhakaaccordingtotherule,andexhalethroughtheleftnostril. (9)Inhalationis[always]throughthesamenostrilasthepreviousexhalation.Afterthebreathhasbeenretainedtotheutmostpossiblelimit[untilpersp (10)Takeinpranathroughtheidanadiandexhaleitthroughthepingala.Thentakein[newprana]throughpingalaandreleaseitthroughida,afterhaving Thisisthetechniqueofpranayama.Justasallthemultitudeofasanasaimatthespinalcolumn,sotheessenceofpranaiscenteredinkumbhaka,theperio Justastheplungingwatersinapowerplantareonlythemeansofreleasingtheenergythroughwhichthebrushesofthestationaryturbinsareactivated,s Thecurrentnecessarytosustainourlifeisautomaticallyregulatedthroughthevaryingstrengthofourinhalationandexhalation.Sighingandyawningarep Weshould,therefore,notbesurprisedattheyogis'contentionthattheheartisnotthemostimportantorganofman.Itisthepowercenters,thoughthey (II)Fourtimesadayweshouldpracticekumbhaka:earlymorning,midday,evening,andmidnight,untilwecando80rounds[atatime]. Acommentaryspeaksofthreephases;atthebeginningthebreathshouldbeheldfor30seconds,atthesecondstagefor60seconds,andatthethirdfor90 (12)Atthefirststageperspirationbreaksout,atthesecondstagethebodytrembles,andatthethirdstagepranareachesthecenteroftheheadbywayo Thismaysoundratherviolent,butdonotforgetthatthemaincharacteristicofyogaisnotviolencebutperseverance,notcompulsionbutpatience.However Thehalf-trainedyogipaysattentionprimarilytothebodywhendoingtheasanas,i.c.,tothevariouspositionsofthelimbsthathewantstoplaceintoth Inordertoshowyouthatasanasaremorethanconsciouslycreatedgymnasticexercises,letmedescribeamysteriousmanifestationthatisusuallywitnessed Theyogisitsindeepmeditation.Breathissuspended,thebodyiscoldandstiff.Onlythetopmostcenterofhisskullisfeverishlyhot. Thenhestartsmovinghislimbs.Aninnermechanismseemstobeatwork.Slowly,steadily,withunencumberedeasehisarmsintertwine,thelegsgointocont Theyogidoesnotperformtheseasanasinwakingconsciousness."It"performstheasanasinhim,whilehiswakingstatehasyieldedcompletelyloastatebe Inthisstatetheyogiiscapableofsuperhumanphysicalachievements.ThuswefindinTibetthelunggompas,yogiswhoinameditativestatecoverhundreds Inthisstatethereisnotrembling,noperspiring.Thisisoneofthehigherformsofyoga;wearestillworkingonaconsiderablylowerlevel.Theidealw compulsiontopersist)restsinitself,inthe"asanaassuch."Thisistheessentialdifference. Sowhenhereonthefirstlevelperspirationbreaksout,this'sasignofcompulsiononlyifconsciousnessoccupiesitselfwiththisfact.Ifthemindrema (13)Massagetheperspiringbody.Thisimpartslightnessandstrengthtothewholeconstitution. (14)Atthebeginningofpracticetheyogishouldnourishhimselfwithmilkandghee[clarifiedbutter].Whenheisadvancedsuchrestrictionsarenolonger (15)fustaslions,elephants,andtigersaretamed[littlebylittle,withpatienceandenergy],sothepranashouldbekeptundercontrol.Otherwiseitca (16)Bythepracticeofpranayamawedeliverourselvesfromalldiseases.Byfaultypracticetheyogiinvitesallkindsofailments. (17)Thenbreathtakesawrongcourseandpracticeresultsincoughs,asthma,headaches,eyeandearpain,aswellasothersicknesses. TheclassicalexampleofwrongpracticeistoldofRamakrishna,thefamousnineteenth-centurysaint.Inhisyouthhispracticeinvariablyendedinablackou (18)Slowlyoneshouldinhaleandexhale,andproceedgraduallyalsowithkumbhaka.Thusonewillattainthesiddhis. (19)Whenthenadisarepurified,certainsignsquitenaturallymanifest:thebodybecomeslightandbright. (20)Assoonasthenadisarepurifiedtheyogiisabletoretainthebreathlonger,thegastricfireisactivated,nada[theinnersound]becomesaudiblea Perfecthealthaloneisreasonenoughtoconcernourselveswithnadipurification.Aboutthegastricfireandthenadasoundwewilllearnmorelater.Buti Howisitthatthepowertoholdthebreathforaconsiderablelengthoftimeshoulddependonthepurityofthenadisratherthanonthecapacityofthelu Breathgetsshortwhentheairheldinthelungshaslostitsprana.Ifthenadisareimpure(asiscommon),thentheflowofpranaisimpededandissoonun Ayogiwhocansubsistononebreathfordays--ashasbeendemonstrated--causestheriverofpranatocirculateinthebodyanddoesnotallowthepranato (21)Hewhoisofweakconstitutionandphlegmatic,subjecttokaphadisorders,shouldfirstpracticeshatkarma.Thosenotsuffering[constitutionally]from Thenadisofallstudents,eventhehealthiest,needpurifying.Themanofperfecthealth,thesportsman,themasterofasanaswhosephysicaltrainingisne (22)Shatkarmaisdhauti,vasti,neti,trataka.nauli,andkapa-labhati.

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(23)Thesesixpractices,whichcleansethebody,shouldbecarefullykeptsecretbecausetheyinducenumerouswonderfulresultsandarethereforeheldinh Whythissecretiveness?Whatarethese"wonderfulresults"? Imagineamanwhousesalow-tensionelectricalgadget,whichisattachedbyatransformertohigh-powercurrent.Thecurrentheusesisbarelynoticeablew Exactlysoisithere.Theuncleannadisactasatransformertothelifestreamsothatnothinguntowardcanhappen.Whenthenadisarecleantheeffectiven (24-25)Takeastripofcleancloth,jourfingersbroadand15spanslongandslowlyswallowitasinstructedbytheguru.Thenpullitbackout.Thisisdh (26-28)Sitinatubofwatersoastobesubmergeduptothenavel,incrouchingposition,heelspressedagainstthebuttocks. Introduceathinbamboopipeintotheanus,contracttheanusmuscle[todrawinthewater]andmovethewateraroundinside.Thisisvasliandcurestroubl SomuchadoaboutasimpleencmalIfthissimpleremedyisagoldentreasureintheWest,howmuchgreatermustitsvaluebeinthetropics.Itisacommon practicedit. Allthisofcoursewithoutpranayama.Whenthatisaddedthewholepicturechangesandgreatestcautionisindicated. (29-30)Pullathread,12inchesinlength,throughoneofthenostrilsandletitsendemergethroughthemouth.Thisisneti.Itcleansestheskullandma Itcertainlyisnotanagreeablefeelingtopushawetcordthroughthenostrilsandletitcomeoutinthebackofthethroat,pickingitupwithtwofinge (31-32)Gazewithoutblinking[withconcentratedmind]onasmallobject,untiltearscomeintoyoureyes.Thisiscalledtratakabythegurus.Tratakacure Hereonesensesanulteriormotive.Thepracticemustbekeptsecret,justbecauseittrainstheeyes?Thiscanhardlybetherealreason.Thereactuallyis Hypnosis,self-hypnosis,visions,trancestates,ecstasies,hallucinations--thesearethingsthathavealwaysseemedveryattractive.Everyonewouldliketo (33-34)Withheadbentforwardslowlyrotatetheinnards[intestinesandstomach],likeawhirlpoolinariver,towardtherightandtowardtheleft.Thist Thispracticebelongsnotonlytoshatkarmabutalsotoregularhathayoga,althoughitcannotbecalledanasanasinceasanameans"position,scat,"amoti (35)Inhaleandexhaleli[ethebellowsofablacksmith.Thisiskapalabhatiandremovesallailmentsduetokapha. (36)Onefreesoneselffromobesityandphlegmbythesesixpractices,andissuccessfulifoneaddspranayamaafterthem. Yetitismoreadvisabletofollowthementalmethodofnadipurification,becauseprogressandpurificationthengohandinhand.Besides: (37)Someteacherssaythatallimpuritiescanberemovedthroughpranayamaalone,withnothingelse. Andthoseteacherswhosayitmustknowwhattheyaretalkingabout.Shatkarmaisagrossphysicalmethod,whilepranayamapurification,completelyfounded Thefollowingpracticedoesnotbelongtoshatkarma.True,ithasthecharacteristicsofshatkarma,butsomethingelseisinvolved. (3S)Closingthesphinctermuscleattheanus,drawupapanatowardthethroatandregurgitatewhatisinthestomach,inthiswaythenadichakrasarebrou Ifwerememberthecountercurrenttoprana,apanaintheabdomen,weknowthatthiscurrentcannotmovebeyondthe diaphragm.Itisimpossibletobringittothethroat.Butonecan--andshould,inthiscase--causetheapanacurrenttopressagainsttheudanacurrent,th Aspreviouslymentionedwearenotreallydealingwithapurificationprocesshere,sincedhautihasalreadydoneitswork.Rather,westimulatethenervous Butjustastoday'syogisdonotadvocatethistypeofpracticesowetoowillleaveitalone,asthissutraclearlyseemstobeamuchlaterinterpolation. Afterthesemoreorlessagreeablepurificationpracticeswereturntopranayama. (39)Brahmaandtheothergodswhodevotedthemselvestothepracticeofpranayamadeliveredthemselves[byit]fromfearofdeath.Thisiswhywe[too]sho (40)Whenthebreathiscontrolled,themindfirmandunshakable,theeyesfastenedbetweentheeyebrows;whythenshouldwefeardeath? Evenamanwho--liketheyogi--hastofearnopunishmentatthelastjudgmentapproacheshislastmomentswithatleastsomeapprehension,fortheprocesso Forthemasterofpranayama,thingsaredifferent.Hecontrolsthepowersthatrepresentlife.Hediesconsciously.Inlifeasindeathheadaptshimselfwi TorenderthisUnconsciousconsciousisthegoaloftheyogamaster,forthisistheonlywaytobecomeequaltothegods.Soletustoopayattentiontoth (41)Assoonasthenadishavebeenpurifiedthroughsystematicpranayama,breatheasilyfindsitswaytothesushumnaentrance. (42)Whenbreathflowsthrough thesushumna,mindbecomessteady.Thissteadinessofthemindiscattedunmaniavastha. (43)Toattainthisthesagepracticesavarietyofkumbhakaswherebyheacquiressiddhis. chapter6KUMBHAKA whenwenowspeakofthevariousformsofkumbhakayoushouldnottrytounderstanditallatonceinthefirstfewsentences.Everythingthatfollowsisso (44)Thereareeightkumbhakas:suryabhedana,ufjayi,sit^ari,sitali,bhastrika,bhramari,murcchaandplavini. (45)Attheendofinhalation[puraka]oneshoulddojalan-dharabandha;andattheendofkumbhakaandthebeginningofexhalation[recaka]uddiyanabandh Howdoesthisworkoutinpractice?Theyogisitscross-leggedonthefloor,handsonknees,andinhalesdeeply.Thenheholdshisbreath,withchinpressed Assoonashisbreathisshortheraisestheheadandexhalesasdeeplyaspossible.Whenhehasreachedthelimitheagainholdshisbreath,straightensup (46)Whenatthesametimethethroatiscontractedandmula-bandhapracticed[i.e.,thesphincteroftheanusiscontracted],breathflowsthroughthesush Anyonewhotriesthispracticeandthinkshehassucceededinguidingthebreaththroughthesushumnahadbetterrememberthepurityofthenadis;withthe (47)Bycontractingtheanus[toforceapana]upwardandforcingpranadownfromthethroat,theyogibecomesayouthof16yearsandisforeverfreefromo Or,stalingitmoremodestly:hewhosucceedsinunitingthetwomaincurrentsinthebodywilltherebyeliminatethecausesofprematureoldage.Themost granthi),creatinganaggregatethatgivesyouthfulstrengthtotheagingyogi.Thisisthefirststepinrajayoga. Onceagain,themainpartofpranayamaiskumbhaka,andthiscanbeperformedinvariousways. (48)Sittingdowncomfortablyinagoodasana,theyogishouldinhalethroughtherightnostril.

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(49)[Then]heshoulddokumbhakauntilhefeelsthatthewholebodyfromheadtotoesissuffusedbyprana;thenheshouldslowlyexhalethroughtheleftn (50)Thissuryabhedakumbhakashouldbepracticedagainandagainforitcleansesthebrain[forebrainandsinusces],destroysintestinalwormsandallthe Thisisthefirstandthemostcommonlypracticedoftheeightvarietiesofkumbhaka.Weshouldalsonotethatbeforewebeginthispracticeweexhaledeepl (51-52)Withclosedmouthinhaledeeplyuntilthebreathfillsallthespacebetweenthethroatandtheheart(i-e'tothetipsofthelungs).Thiscreates *"Thisistobedonealternatelywithbothnostrils,drawinginthroughtheoneandexpellingthroughtheother."PanchamSinh,HathaYogaPradipika Thenoisementionedisaspecialcharacteristicofthiskumbhaka.Itoccursinaperfectlynaturalway.Weknowthatwithstraightbodyweshouldexhaledee Thiskumbhakaseemstodealwiththebodyonesidedly,forwhileweinhalethroughbothnostrilsatthesametime,weexhalethroughtheleftonly.This,of Whatisthespecialbenefitofthiskumbhaka,apartfromitstherapeuticinfluenceonkapha?Theheartrhythmdoesnotfunctionbyitself.Itisthepacemak (53-55)Withtongueprotrudingalittlebetweenthelips,drawinthebreaththroughthemouthwithahissingsound[afterkumbhaka]:exhalethroughthenos Obviouslyanenticingpractice,andnotevenadangerousoneifonedoesnotoverdoit,asissooftenthecasewithenticements. Weshould,however,notbedisappointedifwedonotactivatealovecharm,butsimplyfanthepitta(the"fireoflife")toheightenedactivity.Wehaveal (56-57)Withtongueprotrudingstiltfurther,inhate.Thenfollowskumbhakaandexhalationthroughthenose.Thiskum-bhalka,calledsitali,removesillness Hereagainthetherapeuticpurposeconcernspitta,butthepracticehasalsoanotherpurpose.Hewhosucceedsininhalingandexhalingdeeplywithprotrudin Werememberthatthecountercurrenttopranaisapanaintheabdomen.Thealertreaderwilllonghavewondered:Ifwemustdosomuchbreathingtoacquiret (58-60)Placethefeetonthe[opposite]thighs.Thisispadma-sanaandremovesalldiseases.Havingassumedthisposture,exhalewithclosedmouthuntila (61-62)Againinhaleandexhaleasindicated,againandagain,asablacksmithworldshisbellows,inthiswaythepranaiskeptillconstantcirculationin Therearetwovariationsofthesamepranayama,oneslow,theotherfast.Itbecomesmosteffectivewhenbothkindsarecombinedinonesitting.Withtooint Inthispracticeofpranayamathebodybecomessaturatedwithprana--infact,itbecomesso"overloaded"thateventheinexperiencedstudentcanfeelthepr (63-64)Whenthebreathflowsthroughthebody,closethenosewiththumb,ringfinger[andlittlefinger--Trans.].Havingthenperformedkumbhakaaccordin Throughthisbhastrikakumbhakaaloneitisnotpossibleforthebreathtopenetratethewholebody.However,whenwecombinetheprotruding (65)Thuskundalinirisesquickly,thenadisarepurified,itispleasant,andofallkumbhakasthemostbeneficial,inthismannerphlegmatthemouthoft Theprocedureisasfollows:Insitalikumbhakathebodyisfilledwithapana.Inbhastrikakumbhakathenecessaryamount ofpranaiscreated,andthenforthefirsttime,thetwocurrentsarebroughttofaceeachother.Throughjalandharabandha,uddiyanabandha,andmulabandh (66)Bhastrikakumbhakashouldbepracticedespecially,foritforcesthebreathtopiercethethreeknotsthatareinthesushumna. Althoughthe"threeknots"(Brahmagranthi,Vishnugranthi,andRudragranthi)areextremelysignificant,weshallgivehereonlyashorttheoreticalsurvey. Thethreestationsofhumanevolution("focusing,unfolding,andchange"[Rousselle],orthe"viapurgativa,viailluminativa,viaunitiva"oftheChristian Wehavenowlearnedtheessentials.Thepropitiousexteriorconditionshavebeenestablished,thenecessaryasanascarefullypracticed;andthroughproperp 1.Byalternateinhalationandexhalation,leftandright(suryabhedakumbhaka),pranawascreated. 2.Thenthemusclesofthethroatandtheanussphincterweretrained(bandhas). 3.Theheartwasthenpreparedfortheheavyworkahead(ujjayikumbhaka). 4.Thevolumeofthelungswasincreased(sitkarikumbhaka). 5.Welearnedtheartofguidingthebreathintotheabdominalcavity(sitalikumbhaka). 6.Therethenfollowedthefirstseriousattempttotestwhathadbeenlearned(bhastrikakumbhaka). Atthispointwehaveaccomplishedagreatdeal,butwearestillfarfromthegoal.Oncetheyogihasexperiencedwhathehaslearnedonthisleveloftrai Afewspecialpranayamasfollowwhichshouldnotbeconfusedwiththeothers. (67)In/talerapidly,producingthesoundofamalebee.Thenexhalewiththesoundofafemalebee.Thisisfollowedbykumbhaka.Thegreatyogis,byconst Astrangekumbhakaforwhichtherearemanyreasons,themostprofoundofwhichwewilllearninPartFour.Whetherornotweimitateabeesuccessfullyis theeyes,thenthatfeelingofhappinessoccurs,afeelingasthoughonehadjustwitnessedanextraordinarynaturalphenomenonwherebyonewasallowedagl Thusthependulumswingsfrombreathtobreath,fromcreationtodissolutionandfromtherebacktocreationagain.Whetherallthiscanhappenwithoutthe Inprinciplewehaveheretheessenceofawholeyogasystem.Hewhohasgraspedthedeepersenseofthiskumbhakaanditsrelatedphenomenahassavedhimse (68)Attheendofinhalationdojalandharabandhaandthenslowlyexhale.Thisismurcchakumbhaka.Itcausesakindofstuporofthemindandisveryagre Thiskumbhakatoohasitspeculiarities,whicheventhetextitselfrecognizes. Werecallthejalandharabandha(PartTwo,45),which--pleasenotethis--comesusuallyattheendofexhalation.Hereitisreversed,andwerecognizethe Thestrangetrancestate(tobediscussedlater)is,ofcourse,notanunconsciousstateintheordinarysense;ratheritisextremelyheightenedconsciousn (69)Havingfilledthelungscompletelywithair,theyogifloatsuponthewaterlikealotusleaf.Thisisplavinikumbhaka. Nothingelseismentioned.Nothingabouthealthorlonglife,onlyaratherextravagant-soundingpromise.Forweallknow,regardlessofhowdeeplyweinhal Sincethiskumbhaka,thoughuseful,isnotinanywaydecisive,weshallonlycommentbriefly:hisbodyhavingbeenemptiedcompletelythroughthemuch Somuchfortheeightvarietiesofpranayama.Afewgeneralremarkswillclosethissubject. (70)Therearethreekindsofpranayamas:Recakapranayama(exhalation),purakapranayama(inhalation)andkumbhakapranayama(retention).Kumbhakaisalso

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Thetypesofpranaaresummarized: 1.Pranathatresultsfromkumbhakaafterexhalation. 2.Pranathatoriginatesfromkumbhakaafterinhalation. 3.Pranathatisdevelopeda.throughholdingthebreathatanytimeandanyplace, withoutforceorexertion(sahita) b.byholdingthebreathwhenthebloodisoveroxygenized(kevala). (71)Aslongasonehasnotyet[fully]masteredkevalakum-bhaka,whichmeansholdingthebreathwithoutinhalationorexhalation,oneshouldpracticesahi (72-71)Whenkevalakumbhakawithoutinhalationandexhalationhasbeenmastered,thereisnothinginthe[inner]worldthatisunattainablefortheyogi.T (74-75)Thushe[gradually]attainsthestageofrajayoga.Throughthiskumbhaka,kundaliniisarousedandthenthesushumnaisfreefromallobstacles;bu (76)Attheendofkumbhakaheshouldwithdrawhismindfromallobjects.Bydoingthisregularlyhereachesrajayoga. (77)Thesignsofperfectioninhathayogaare:alithebody,harmoniousspeech,perceptionoftheinnersound(nada),cleareyes,health,controlledsemina Andthusequippedtheyogicanconfidentlyembarkuponthethirdstageofhistraining,wherenew,greaterandmoredecisivethingsareawaitinghim. PARTTHREE

ACTIVEYOGA

CHAPTER7 THEMUDRAS (1)fustasAnantathelordoftheserpents[the"infiniteone"withsevenheads]supportsthewholeuniversewithitsmountainsandwoods,evensoiskunda Theleitmotivismajesticallyclearhere.Weareenteringintotheinnersanctumofthesecrettemple.Nowthepreparatoryworkiscompleted;thingsarecal (2-3)Whenthekundaliniissleepingitwillbearousedbythegraceoftheguru.Thenallthechakrasandknotsarepierced andpranaflowsthroughtheroyalroadofsushumna.Themindisreleasedfromitsworkandtheyogiconquersdeath. Onethingiscertain:kundaliniismorethanjustasymbolictermforoneofourknownforcesorfaculties.Itisapotentialofwhichnormallyweknownoth Thechakrasareoccasionallyperceptibleineverydaylife.Intimesofdangerthereisusuallyaconvulsivecontractionofthemuladharachakra;inthecase (4)Sushumna,thegreatvoid:brahmarandra,theroyalroad,theburningground;shambhavi,themiddleway--allisone. Howeasilyonegetsconfusedbybigwords.Certainly,thisspiritualbackgroundisunfathomablyprofound.Therearewholephilosophicallibrariesonthe"gr hasnotexperiencedtheunityofallthesedifferentiationsinmeditation.Thisaloneisthewayofwisdom,notphilosophicalbreeding. (5)Theyogishouldcarefullypracticethevariousmudras,inordertoarousethegreatgoddess,kundalini,whoinhersteepclosesthemouthofthesushumn Mudra:thedecisivethemeofthischapter.Amudraawakenskundalini;itissetinmotionthroughthepracticeswehavelearnedinthefirsttwopartsofth Thisarrangementtestifiestogreatwisdom.Whatgoodwoulditdotoactivatethisforcewithoutfirsthavinglearnedhowtoutilizeit?Hewhowantstowak (6-9)Mahamudra,mahabandha,mahavedha,khecari:uddiyanabandha,mulabandha,andjalandharabandha:viparitakaranivajroli,andshakticalana;theseare (10-14)Presstheanuswiththeleftheelandextendtherightleg;graspthetoeswithyourhand.Thenpracticejalandharabandhaanddrawthebreaththrou Eventhefirstpracticeinthisnewstagebiingswithitpowerfulexperiencesaboutwhichthetextsaysnothing.Soletuslookatthispracticealittlemo Oncemorewecomeuponjalandharabandha.Wehaveencounteredittwicebefore(seePartII,45and68).Butwemustnotmakecomparisons,becausethesamep Herewemustalsomentiontheprerequisitesfortheabovepractice. Itisquiteclearthattheasanasofthefirsttrainingperiodaretakenforgranted.Pranayamatooistakenforgranted,andisnolongermentioned.Butfor Thedailynadipurificationmustprecedeeverything,inordertogivethenadisthefinalpolish,andthenbeginspranayamaasdescribedinPartTwo.Whent Nowsomethingimportanthappens,asthetextreveals:"Thetwonadisdieoff."Inotherwords,thehigherthepranarisesinthesushumna,thelessremains Canhereallydothat,exhalewhilephysicallyinthestateofdeath?Werecallthesecondexercisewithjalandharabandha(PartTwo,68)wherethisstateo (15)Firstheshouldpracticewiththeleft[footdrawnup],thenwiththeright,untilbothsidesareequallyexercised. (16)Nowthereisnothingthatheshould[preferto]eatoravoideating.Allthingsregardlessoftheirtasteorevenwithouttastearedigested.Evenpois (17)Hewhopracticesmahamudraovercomesconsumption,leprosy,hemorrhoids,diseasesofthespleen,digestivedisturbances,etc. Thisslokaisfortheignorantandcurious. (18)Thisitthedescriptionofmahamudrawhichconferssiddhis.itshouldbekeptsecretandnotgiventojustanyone. Andthisslokaisfortheinitiatedwhoknows. Butthereisstillagreatdealmoretoobserveandtodoinordertoreachtheidealstatedescribed,wherethekundalini,carriedbytheprana (19-24)Presstheleftankleagainsttheanusandplacetherightfootupontheleftthigh.Afterinhalation,whenthechinispressedfirmlyagainstthech Thispractice,asarule,precedesthepreviousone.Itis,sotospeak,theoverturetothewhole.However,athirdfactorstillhastobementioned: (25-30)fustasbeautyandlovelinessareofnoavailtoawomanwithoutahusband,soalsomahamudraandmahabandhaareuselesswithoutthethird,mahavedh Therealpurposeofthislastpracticeisofapurelytechnicalnature.Forthereisnonaturalconnectionbetweenthethreemainnadiswhichrunparalleli

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Nowtheprecedingpractice[mahabandha]canbecarriedoutsuccessfully,followedbythefirstonementionedabove[mahamudra].Thusthethreepracticescon (31)Theseareperformedineightdifferentways.Daily,everythreehours.Thiscreatesgoodandeliminatesevil.Hewhomastersithastopracticethisun Bothtextandcommentaryaresilentabouttheeightdifferentwaysofpractice,forthereinliesasecretteaching.Thekundalini,asweknow,risesfrommu 1.Muladharachakra:theelementofearth 2.Svadhishthanachakra:theelementofwater 3.Manipurachakra:theelementoffire 4.Anahatachakra:theelementofair 5.Vishuddhachakra:theclementofether 6.Ajnachakra:theelementofconsciousness 7.Sahasrarachakra;thedivineelement. Theseelementshavenothingtodowithwhatisknowntousasthedensityofmatter.Rathertheyareplanesofvibrationsasrequiredforthecreationofthe Nowpranais,asweknow,alifecurrent,andacurrentconsistsofvibrations.Thekundaliniwasarousedbythepranacurrent,assoonasthisreachedthe

3.Whyareeightvarietiesofpracticementionedherewhenthereareonlyseven?Withthislogicalquestionwetouchuponanareathatwillcauseagreatdea Tobemorespecific:thesearenotmethodsofpracticeinthesenseofthehathayogapracticesdiscussedsofar.Theyareyantrameditationsandmantrarecit Toeachchakraareattributedavisualandverbalsymbol,whicharetransmittedorallytothestudentbyhisguruonlyafteraninitiationceremony.Bothare Thebeginnernaturallyneedsmoretimeforeachindividualpracticethanthemasterdocs.Soifhegoesthroughtheseeightpracticesonebyoneeverythree Thisclosesthedescriptionofthefirstdecisivestagesofrajayoga:thesuccessfulattempttoactivatethekundalini.Asstated,itisastagethatprove CHAPTER8 THENECTAR (32-37)Whenthetongueisbentbackintothegulletandtheeyesarefasteneduponthepointbetweentheeyebrows,thisiskhecarimudra.Whenthemembrane Hereagainsomefundamentalquestionsarise.Theindignantobjectionofthereader,althoughatthispointitrepresentsasuspectprejudice,isquiteunder materiallypurposefulmanner,islackinginthekeypointsofyoga.Itisnon-senseforthescientificexploreranddeep-sensefortheexperiencer. The"threepaths"areclosed:thenasalpassage,thepharynx,andthetrachea.Thisisthevasbeneclausumofthealchemists. Therearethreewaystoclosethegates:withthenaturalmusclesoftheorgansconcerned;withthefingers;andfromtheinside,astaughthere.Tothelog (38)Theyogiwhoremainsbuthalfaminuteinthisposition[withupturnedtongueandimperturbablecalm]isfreefromillness,oldageanddeath. Trytoimaginethefeelingsofapersoninthissituation.Thetongueisfarbackinthethroat;thereisnobreath.Thereis,however,agrowingfearasto (39)Forhimwhomastersthiskhecarimudratherewillbenomore[physicalhelplessnessinbodilyconditionedsituationssuchas]illness,death,mentalsl Heisnolongersubjecttotheoverpoweringlawofnature,whosemostpainfulaspectisthefactthatallspiritualprocessesaresacrificedtothislaw.He (40)Heisfreefrom[thelawsof]karmaandtimehasnopoweroverhim. Fearinthestateofhelplessnessischieflythepanic-strickenthought:"Whatisgoingtohappen?"Itisuncertaintyaboutthefuture,andthusinvolvement 112 conditionedeffect.Astate--asituationunconditionedbytime(whichwecannotcomprehend,becausethinkingisaprocess,notastate)--iscauseandeffect (41)Themudraiscalledkhecaribythesiddhasbecausethemindaswellasthetongueremainsin"ether"forthedurationofthepractice.4

Ether,avibrationplaneintheuniverse,isfinerthanallthatiscomposedofatomsandmolecules,andthusisanintermediarybetweentheworldofatoms (42^43)Oncehehasclosedthethroatinkhecarimudrahecannotbearousedbythemostpassionateembrace,andevenifhewereinthestateofanecstatic

Theexampleofthemostcompellingtemptationispresentedheretoprovethatthroughkhecarimudrathestateofcompleteand 4.Thecommentarybreaksdownthewordkhecariintotherootkha==theemptysphereofthesky,andtherootcar=tomove.Therealoriginof 5.Thesetwoslokashavebeenratherfreelytranslated.ThereasonisgiveninPartThree,84. absoluteabsorptioninmeditationispossible.Weknowthatoneofthepreparationsoftheyogiswhoallowthemseivestobeburiedfordaysorweeksiskhec Butitisnotonlypranathatisisolated.Whatelse?Isitreallypossiblethattheupturnedtonguecanproducesuchmysteriousresults? (44)HewhowithupcurledtongueandconcentratedminddrinksthenectarconquersdeathinISdays--providedhemastersyoga. Werecallthelegendofthechurningoftheoceanofmilkwherefromthisocean,withtheaidoftheworldmountain,thenectaroflifewastobeproduced. Butwhatistheoceanofmilk,andwhatisthenectar?Thatisthethemeofthischapter.Wehearatthebeginningthatthekaphacurrentofthelifeforce Thecosmologyofthe"Puranas,"theancientIndiangarlandoflegends(andatreasuretroveofthesecretteachings,ifoneknowshowtoreadit)tellsust betweentheIslesofShakaandPushkara(BhagavataPuranaV,20).Shakaisthemythologicalnameforajnachakra,betweentheeyebrows,andPushkarathatof Thisshowsthatkapha,thenectar,isnot)ustanykindofsecretion,fortheprimaryfunctionalandstructuralelementscannotbedelineatedsosimply.Tru Noonecantellwhatthisfluidis,ifindeeditisafluid.Isitaglandularsecretion?Possibly.Mostlikely,yes.Butthisshouldnottemptustomake (45)Theyogiwhodailysaturateshisbodywiththenectarthatflowsfromthe"moon"isnotharmedbypoisonsevenwhenbittenbythesnakeTaskshaka. Youmaythinkasyoulikeaboutkhecarimudra,youmayconsiderthematterofthe"nectar"naiveorridiculous;thefactremainsthattherearecountlessyo (46)Justasfireburnsaslongasthereiswood,asthelampburnsaslongastheoilandthewicklast,soalsothelifegerm[jivan]remainsinthebody

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Thesourceofthenectaristhe"moon"intheareaofthebrainstem.The"coolingbeamsofthemoon,"atermknowninthemythologiesofallcountries,dri (47-49)Dailyhemay"eatthefieshofthecow"and"drinkwine,"stillhewillremainasonofnoblefamily.Theword"cow"[go]meanstongue.Whenonelet "IntheabovetwostanzasisgivenanexcellentinstanceofthewaytheHinduoccultwritersveiltheirrealmeaningunderapparentlyabsurdsymbols.Thep Inordertofanthefireof"burningasceticism"thenectarhastobedivertedfromitsusualcourseintothefireoflife.Butthestreamisnotonlydiver (50-51)Whenitremainspressedinthethroatpassage,thetongueisabletoreceivethenectar"beamsofthemoon,"whichare[simultaneously]salty,hot, Herewehavetheanswertothequestion:"Wheredoesthenectarflowonceitisdeviatedfromitsnaturalcourse,thefireoflife(solarplexus)?"Thetong Invishuddhachakra(sothescripturestellus)thebirthofthewordtakesplace.Cognitionherebecomesword. ThefruitfromtheTreeofKnowledgegetsstuckinAdam'sthroat,andparadiscislost.Thepoisonthatthegodschurnfromtheoceanofmilkisswallowedb Thefruitoftheprocessofevolutionisalwaystwofold:nectarfortheperfectone,poisonfortheall-too-humanone.Thenectarisatthehighestlevel,i (52)InsideoftheupperpartofMountMerit--thatifthesushumna--there,intheopening,nectarissecreted.Hewhohasapuresattvamind,notovershadow (53)Thesushumna,especiallyits[upper]opening,istheplaceofconfluenceofthefiveriversandbestowsdivineknowledge.inthevoidoftheopeningwh Justasbreath(thevataelement)hasfivecurrents(thefivevayus),soalsohasthenectarofthekaphaelement,andsotherearefivefiresthatburnins (54)Thereisonlyonegermofevolution,andthatis0m;thereisonlyonemudra:khecari;onlyoneduty:tobecomeindependentfromeverything;andonlyo CHAPTER9 THEBANDHAS beforegoinganyfurtherletusrecallonesentence:"Maha-mudra,mahabandha)mahavedha,khecari;uddiyanabandha,mulabandha,andjalandharabandha;vipar Mahamudra:Thejoiningofpranaandapana.Mahabandha:Preventingpranaandapanafromrevertingtheircourse. Mahavedha:Connectingthethreenadisbybeatingthebuttocksonthefloor.Khecarimudra:Bendingbackthetongue. Thefollowingthreebandhasarenotunknowntous,buttheyarediscussedbelowfromanewpointofview. (55-62)Uddiyanabandha[literally"toflyup,""toarise"]issocalledbytheyogisbecausetherebythepranafliesupthroughthesushumna.Throughthis death.--Hewhoconstantlypracticesuddiyanabandhaastaughtbyhisguru,andasitoccursinanaturalway,becomesyoungthoughhemaybeold. Wehaveencounteredthisbandhatwicebefore:firstinthepurificationprocessofshatkarma.Thereitprecededthechurningoftheintestines(PartTwo,33 Theinnerprocessofthispracticeisasfollows:Inthetwonadis)pranaandapanahavebeenunitedintoonecontinuousflow,andneitheraseparationoft Therestillremainsoneimportantquestion:towhatendshouldthe"sun"yielditsstrongestfire? Weknowthatthesunsitsintheareaofthefirechakra(manipura)belowtheheartchakra(anahata),withinwhichdwellsjivan,thegermoflife.Thisjiva (61-64)Pressthescrotumwiththeheel,contracttheanus,andforceapanaupward.Thisismulabandha.Throughcontractionofthemuladharathenormallyd Throughthepressureoftheheelandthetautanusmuscletheupwardtendencyisfurtheredandthecurrentkeptflowing.Hereagain,apracticethathadlit (65)Throughtheunionofpranaandapana,secretionsareconsiderablyreduced.Throughmulabandhaayogi,thoughold,becomesyoung. Indeed,forthefirethattempersthelifegermisfannedintonewvigorbythispractice. (66-69)Whenapanarisesupwardandreachesthefireorbit,theflamebecomeslargeandbright,fannedbyapana.Whenapanaandthefirejoinwithpranawhi Shouldanynectarnowflowintothefire,alleffortswouldhavebeeninvain,fortheorganismwouldatoncerevertto"normal."Thereforewehavetotake (70-73)Contractthethroatandpressthechinagainstthebreast.Thisisjalandharabandhaanddestroysoldageanddeath.Itiscalledjalandharabandha Wehavealsoencounteredbefore,thisjalandharabandhaatatimewhenitdidnothavemuchsignificance;wearemeetingitnowforthefourthtime.Itwill Thenadishavediedoff,soitsays.Indeed,theprana-apanacurrentnowflowsthroughthesushumna.Thebodyappearstobedead,whiledeepinsideaninfin (74-76)Practiceuddiyanabandhabycontractingtheanusmuscle;tightenthenadisidaandpingla[throughjalandharabandha]andcausethepranatoflow[t Theyoginowhasthemuch-debatedabilitytoputhimselfintoadeathlikestate,andtoremainburiedfordaysorweeks(toprovethatheisnotcheating). (77-79)Everyparticleofnectarthatflowsfromtheambrosial"moon"is[normally]swallowedupbythe"sun."Thusthebodygrowsold.[But]thereisanex Onthesurface,thepracticeitselfseemscomparativelysimple,aswewillsee.Thedifficultieslieonceagainwithinus.Butletthetextleadusalittle (80-82)Inhimwhopracticesdailythegastricfireincreases.Thereforetheyogishouldalwayshaveanamplesupplyoffoodonhand.Ifherestrictshisfo Throughaheadstand,valuesarereversed.Andwhatissodifficultaboutlearningthis? Firstofall,wemustknowonething:Amongtheasanas,thephysicalexercisestreatedinthefirstbook,thereisonethatourtextdoesnotmention,altho Asmentionedabove,thereisnogreatdifficultyinthispractice.Anditisnottheheadstandthatisreferredtointhetextasnotbeingteachablethroug Butitdoeshappenassoonasonehasbecomeaccustomedtothisposition,assoonastheorganismfunctionsexactlyasinthenormalposition.Weknowthat Thispractice,bytheway,isnowadaysseldomencountered.Isitperhapsduetothefactthattherearenotanymoregumswhohavethesesuggestivepowers? (83)Whensomeone,thoughleadingaworldlylifewithoutobservingthelawsofyamaandniyama,practicesvajrolimudrahewillbecomeavesselforsiddhip Thefollowingslokas,84-103,describethevajroli,sahajoliandamarolimudras.Thesearepracticesthataimatreversingtheflowofthesemenvirileinc Inleavingoutthesepassages,wemerelybypassthedescriptionofafewobscureandrepugnantpracticesthatarefollowedbyonlythoseyogiswholackthew Anytechniquethatenablesayogitosublimatehisvirilitywithinhisorganismmeritsapproval.Whateverhedoesoutsidehisorganismcannotbecalledyoga CHAPTER10 THESHAKTI

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everythingsofarhasreallybeenonlypreparation.Everythingessentialhasbeenaccomplished,exceptthemostessential:theraisingofkundalini.Tobes Butwhatofit?Heisstillonlyaninsignificantapprenticeofrajayoga.Wehavealreadyseenthatitisnotthebodilyfunctionsandtheircontrolthatc Thisfinalchapterofthethirdstageoftrainingisconcernedwiththelast,thoughthemostmagnificentofallphysicalphenomena:theguidingofthekund (104)Inowdescribeshakticalanakriya[literally:theactionthatloosenstheinnerpowerofnature].Kutitangi,kundalini,bhujangi,shkti,ishvari,kun Shaktiisthenameforalldynamicforcesofnature.Thereleaseoftheshaktiinmancorrespondsinitseffectdirectlytothereleaseofthelatentshakti Whereelsecanwefindtheneededforcesforthehighestgoal,ifnotfromwithinourownselves?Sincethereisapathtoliberation,therealsomustexist (105-110)Asoneopensthedoorwithakey,sotheyogishouldopenthegatetoliberation[moksha]withthekundalini.Thegreatgoddess[kundalini]steeps (111)Youshouldawakenthesleepingserpentbygraspingitstad.Theshakti,whenaroused,movesupward. Oncemorerememberthechurningoftheoceanofmilk.Thedemonsseizedtheheadofthesnake,thegodstookholdofthetail,andthustheworkwasaccompl Herewehavethesameprocess.Thephysicallymanifestedpowers,pranaandapana,pullonthehead;thatiswherethecurrentflowsintothesushumna,which (112)Afterinhalingthroughtherightnostrilperformkum-bhakaaccordingtotherules.Thenmanipulatetheshakfiforanhourandahalf,bothatsunrise Butdidn'twelearnbeforethatweshouldpracticeeighthoursaday?Andnowsuddenlyonlyatdawnanddusk!Herewehaveanexampleofboweasilythewor Wehavetounderstandthatlastsentencesymbolically.Theshaktishouldbemanipulatedforanhourandahalffromtwosides(headandtail),fromtheside sphereofvibrations,fromsupersonicsounddowntothelowestplaneofvibrations.Thesearethemeansbywhichthekunda-linishouldbemanipulated"from (113)Thekanda[uponwhichthekundatinirestswithitstail]liesabovetheanusandextendsfourinches.Itisdescribedasofroundshape,andasthough Inordertoawakenthekundalini,theyogihastoknowtheplaneoflight(orcolor)vibrationsaswellastheplaneofsoundvibrationsthatcorrespondto Threecomponents,whenunited,leadtosuccessinguidingthekundaliniupward:thespiritual,mental,andphysicalpowers,asrepresentedinthepracticeo (114-116)Seatedinthevajrasanaposture[see

Figure12),firmlyholdthefeetneartheanglesandbeatagainstthekanda.Inthepostureofvajrasanatheyogishouldinducethekundalinitomove.Then TheearlierreferencetolightandsoundactuallybelongsinPartFour,whichiswhythetextreferredtoitonlyindirectly.Hereinthelastfewslokasof (117-122)Whenonemovesthekundalinifearlesslyforaboutanhourandahalf,sheisdrawnupwardalittlethroughthesushumna.Inthiswayshenaturally Thealertreaderwillhavenoticedthatintheseandthepreviousslokasonlythemotionofthekundaliniismentioned,andthatshe"risesslightlyinthe Wealsonoteinthelastsentencethatwhenthekundaliniisputintomotionweshoulddobhastrikakumbhaka.Howisthispossiblewheneverythingstopsdur (123-125)Whatotherwaysaretheretopreventthepollutionofthe72,000nadis?--Thesushumnaisstraightenedthroughasanas,pranayamaandthemudras. Thefirstsentencecouldbetranslatedintomodernlanguageasfollows;aboveall,donotallowthenadistobecomeimpure,becausethenallelseisinvain (126-129)Withoutrajayogathereisno"earth":withoutrajayogano"night";uselessareallmudraswithoutrajayoga.Allpranayamasshouldbeconducted The"earth"istheactivatedmuladharachakra,"night"isthestateinwhichthe"light"shinesbright,thatlightwhichwewillpresentlydiscuss.From"ea fruitwhichshetenderstotheseeker,thefruitfromtheTreeofKnowledge.ThustheyogibecomesIshvara(God)inhumanform:Eritissicutdeus,scientes Overandoveragaintheconcentratedmindismentioned,themindthatmustremainwithinitself.Wehayelearnedtheartofthemudra.Nowlet'strytotrac (130)Hewhocarefullyfollowsthewordsoftheguru,andattentivelypracticesthemudraswillobtainthesiddhis,aswellastheartofdeceivingdeath. Andwiththisletusclimbtothelastandhigheststepofyoga. PARTFOURPASSIVEYOGA CHAPTERII SAMADHI imaginethatonthefirstmorningafterEastervacation,aprofessorentershisclassroomandannounces:"Ladiesandgentlemen,forgeteverythingthatyouh Everyonefreezes.Allthoseyearsofworrying,thewakefulnights,theexpensivebooks,thepainofmemorizing--everythinguseless,senseless?Thetopstude Theprofessorsmiles."Youarenowgoingfromtheseminarroomoutintoreallife.Thereyouwon'tbeaskedwhetheryouhavecarefullyanalyzedPlato,butw (1)VenerationtoSiva,theguruwhoisintheformofnada,binduandkala.Hewhoisthusdevotedreache'sthemaya-freestate. Wehavetopaycarefulattentionhere,forthisdevotionalsentenceharborssomevitalinformation:Shivawhoisintheformofnada,binduandkala. Itisnotdifficulttounderstandthis,providedoneiswillingtostudytheintricatesymbolismofIndiantantra.However,thatisnotthepurposeofthis Letusimaginethestrangecaseofamanwhowantstorecreatetheuniverse.Firsthemustdecidewhatherequires.Hisanswertothisis"quitesimply"vib Letusclassify.Thehighestrangeofvibrationisthatofcosmicrays,whichweterm"light"forshort;themiddlerangeis"heat,"andthelowestrange"s andtheybotharesubjecttothesamegreatlaw,thisSivaiscreatedoutofthelowerrangeofvibrations,"sound"(nada)andthehighest,"light"(kala).( Butjustastheuniverseisnotadynamo,neitherismanamachine,forheunderstands"sound"asaconcept,asaname,and"light"asimage,asform.Inth Hecomprehends.Inotherwords,henotonlyexistsbutheknowshimself.Everythinginhimisaprocesssustainedbyaforce,aprocessthatisinfactitse Thus,asstated,mancomprehendshimself.Andwhathecomprehendsisnotonlythetechnicalprocessofvibrations,butalsothefineraspectofbindu,thep Themiddlerangeofvibrations(heat)is,aswealreadyknow,themetabolism.Butthis"fire"isnotsheerlybiological;ittoohasitsfineraspect,itsbi Nowwhentheyogiwishestoproducehishighestandlowestvibrationfieldstogivenewcharactertohispersonality(whichconsistsofthesetworangesof Instead,hehastolearntoworkonthe"centers"ofenergy,thechakras.Andhiswholeeducationispointedinthisdirection.Whatpartdothesechakrasp

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Takeyourownnameandpronounceitslowly,clearly,andaudibly.Amultiplereactiontakesplace: 1.Thepronouncedwordevokedbythethroatchakraringsout,Butifyouhavecarefullyregisteredthissoundwiththephysicalcar,youhaveheardthe 2.Nowpayattentionnottothesound,buttothesense.Notthesuccessionoflettersbutthenameisourchiefinterest.Thisinvolvestheheartchak 3.Nowdon'tpayattentionatall;trytooccupyyourmindelsewhere,andletyourselfbespokentobyyourownname.Expectnothing,justbeaddressed Thecorrespondingmanifestationsofthesethreelevelsofreceptionarealsothreefold:physicalperceptionthroughconcentration(dharana),mentalpercepti Beforediscussingthesethreemethodsofperceptionextensivelyintheirrelationtorajayoga,letuscomparethemwiththeaboveexampleofthename. 1.Notingwiththesenses(tonewithearsorimagewitheyes). 2.Receptionthroughfeeling(Whatisthemeaningofthisorthatsymbol?) 3.Nothing;thereception"speaksforitself"becauseeverythingconceptualiseliminated. NothingmuchcanbesaidaboutNo.1.Itmeansperceptionandnothingmore,inthewayananimalperceives:puresensoryperception.Thisistheareaofmec Processesonthesecondplaneareconsideredmorecomplicated,forherewehavetopresumeanimmanentspiritualprimordialentity,whichresemblesatuning Beforethestudentbeginshismeditationonthesymbolssuggestedbyhisguruhehastorootthemandtheirinnermeaningwithinhimself,foritisnotenou Beforebeginningtoworkwiththesesymbolsmeditativelyhemusttakehismain(rosary)andpronounceeverysyllableofthegivensoundsymbol Mantrabecomesthekeyword,yantratheguideposttotheinnerworldswhosesourcehemustfind.Theseinnerspheresarefundamentally,primordiallyadark, (2-7)Inowwillspeakofsamadhi,whichconquersdeathandwhichleadstoblissandunionwithBrahman.--Rajayoga,samadhi,unmani,manomani,immortality fromtheunionofthejivatmanandtheparamatman.Whenmindthusiscalmweareinsamadhi. Thelasttwoslokascontainthreepairsofjuxtaposedterms:mindandatman;mindandprana(breath);jivatmanandparamatman.Tounderstandthemeaningof Mindandatman:"A.thought[mind]hasjustcometome[atman],"saysthestudent."Towhom?"askstheguru."Towhomcamewhat,andwherediditcomefrom Mindandbreath'."Hereisaprocess,"thestudentthinksduringpranayama,"andIamdetached,watchingtheprocess."Thisreflectionisthecontraryofsa Jivatmanandparamatman:Jivatmanistheindividualself,paramatmantheabsolute,thedivineSelf.Theuniverseconsistsofenergyandmatter,nothingmore (8-9)Hewhorecognizesthetruemeaningofrajayogacanbythegraceoftheguruachieverealization,liberation,innersteadfastnessandthesiddhis.Wit The"graceoftheguru"ishisreadinesstohandthestudentthekeytosuccess:theyantras,themantras,andtheirapplication. Moreimportantatthisstageisthe"indifferencetoworldlythings."Theprofessionaltheatercriticisnotsupposedtobedetachedfromtheworld,hemust Yetitwouldbeanerrortounderstandthisuncriticalattitudeasblindacceptanceofeverydeception.Thecriticalintellectcanabsorbonlytheunessenti Butwiththisheimmediatelyclosesthedoortoarealunderstandingofspiritualprinciplesorreligion. Lackofthoughtisnotadvocatedasaprinciple;thecapacitytobreakthefettersoftheintellectatthecrucialmomentiswhatreallycounts.Similarly, (10)Whenthekundalinihasbeenraisedthroughthepracticeofosanas,kumbhakasandmudras,thenemptiness[sunya]absorbsprana. Emptiness(fromanydiscriminatingintellect)andtheprocessofthepranacurrentbecomeone;thusallinnerforcesareconcentratedontheoneprocess,the (11)Theyogiwhohasraisedthekundaliniandhasfreedhimselffromallclingingkarmawillreachsamadhinaturally. (12)Whenpranaflowsthroughthesushumnaandthemindisdissolvedinemptiness[sunya]thentheperfectyogidestroysallkarma. ThusSamadhiisthekarma-freestate.Onecouldalsosay:thestateofconsciousnessestablishedinonenessneutralizestheeffectsoffate. Indianreligionassumesthatthefateofmanisthenaturalresultofhisdeeds."Asyouthinkandact,soyoucreateyourfate,"isthesaying.Thelesswe Thiskarma(resultofaction)existsonlyaslongasmanisdependentontherelativevaluesofthisworld.IfhisconsciousnessisestablishedintheAbsol (13)SalutationtoThee,ohImmortalOne.Eventime,intowhosejawsfallsthemovableandimmovableuniverse,hasbeenconqueredbyThee. Samadhiisthemostprodigious,themostfar-reachingachievementofayogi.For,beingfreefromtime,asheisinthisstate,heisalsobeyondthebonds Ofcourseheisnotliberatedwithhisfirstsuccessfulpractice,forinthissamadhithekarmicseedsthatliedormantwithinhimarenotdestroyed.Eachc tionship;inmanipurachakrathekarmaresultingfromambitionsforpower. Samadhi,ofcourse,isnottheonlywaytoliberation,butitisthemostradicalandwithintheframeworkofthisparticularyogathemostessential. CHAPTER12 MINDANDBREATH mindandprana,soitissaid,areone,andthusmindandbreathareinterdependent.Wherethereisbreaththereisthought;withoutbreaththeactivitieso Theseratherunusualassertionsmustbeinvestigatedfurther,fortheyarethecoreofrajayoga.ItisnotbyaccidentthattheGermanword Weareawareofsomeofourthoughtprocesses,amongothersthosethatbringtheselfintoreality:thisis"self-consciousness."EverythingthatIperceive ofexperience,andthatIthereforealreadyhavethatkarma-producingelement(thepreviously-experiencedobject)"within"me.Andmyrelationtotheobject TotheIndianminditmeansthatweareunderanillusionsolongasweconsidertheselfasaconstantunitthatwhichexistsinitselfanddoesnotresult Theillusionabouthumanpersonalityisfundamental.Wheredowegetourconceptofhumanpersonality?Aslongaswedonotgettotherootofthisquestion Wewatchourconversationpartner,recognizing"inhim"hispersonality.Weconsciouslylookaboveallattheeyes,presumingthattheseorgans,designedfo Thehumanpersonalityisnot"in-itsdf,"itonlybecomes,withinus.Ifwelookmechanicallyatthesurfaceweseenothingbutthesurface.Ourinnerbeing

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Soletuslookwithnonmechanicaleyesbehindthesurface,thenweseetheimageoftheobjectwithinourselvesinwardly."Seeing"isonlyasmallfraction This,ourpersonality-shapinginnerworldinitssumtotal,isatman.Yetthethousandlittlestonesthatmakeupamosaicare,intheirmultitude,farfrom Thesecountlesselementsofconsciousnessareunitedintothelivingtotalpersonalitythroughprana,whichhasitssourceinbreath.Thusthespirit,theh (14)Whentheminditstill,unitedwiththeatman,andpranaflowsthroughthesushumnathen[eventheextraordinary]amaroli.vayoliandsahojolicanber Inotherwords,thereisnolimittotheextentofaccomplishments. (15)Howcanonereachperfectionofknowledge[jnana]whenthebreathisstillliving[inconsciousness'andthemind[asamanifestingforceseparatefrom (16)Onceheknowsthesecret,howtofindthewaytothesushumnaandhowtoinducetheairtoenterit,heshouldsettledowninasuitableplace[andnot Wealreadyknowwhythisisnecessary.Thechakras,theseactivitycentersofkarma,havebeenpenetrated,andsincetheyogi'skarmahasthusbeeneliminat (17)Sunandmooncausedayandnight.Thesushumna[however]swallowstime.Thisisasecret. Hereisanoddfact:ifyouobservetheflowofbreathforawholedayyouwillobservethatyoubreathemoreintenselyattimesthroughtherightnostrila Onecan(andfrequentlydoes)evenouttheimbalancebyintensifiedone-sidedpranayama.Buttheyogihasanothermethodwhich,thoughappliedexternally,h Normallythepranaflowautomaticallychangesinaregularrhythm,usuallyeverytwohours. Thereferenceheretothesunandthemoonisnot,aspreviouslyimplied,tothesourceofnectaranditsoppositepoleintheareaofthediaphragm,butto Ifpranaistoentersushumnathentheremustbeneither"day"nor"night";breathmustflowpreciselyevenlythroughbothnostrils.Thisinturnpresuppose (18-23)Thereare72,000nadisinthiscage[body].Sushumnaisthecentralnadiwhichcontainstheshabhavishakti.Thishasthepropertyofbestowingblis Thedeepestsenseofthisyogawillbeunderstoodonlybyonewhoisconvincedthatfromphysicalprocesstopsychologicalexperienceandreligiousphenomen topicaloneaslongasthehumanraceexists.Thelastwordonitcanneverbeexpected,foreachculture,eveneachphaseofindividuallifepresentsnewp (24)Mindandpranaarerelatedtoeachotherlikemilkandwater.Iftheonedriesuptheotheronealsodriesup.Inwhateverchakrathepranaisconcentr Thefactthatmen'sculturallevelsdiffersogreatlyisnotsimplyaproblemofsociety;nordoesitdependonambition,orevenonintelligence.Itisrea Geniusistheproductofthehighestdevelopmentpotentialofthatchakrabywhichitlives.Aslongasourmindisnotnourishedbythatsamechakraweonl Thechakradetermineswhateverlevelofdevelopmentweareon,andthisleveldeterminesthemeasureofourconsciousness. (25-27)Theoneisdependentontheother.They[mindandprana]actinunison.Suspensionofonecausessuspensionoftheother.Withoutinterventionthes Alchemyandmagic--oronlykindredsymbols?Mercuryisthesymbolicsquareoftheearth,themulandharachakra.Thealchemicalprocessrepresentstherising (28)Whenmindisheldfast,pranaisalsoheldfast,asisthebinduinwhichthesattvaelementofthebodyisestablished. InthefirstslokaofPartFourwetranslatedthewordbinduas"sense,"(thatis,theprincipleofintelligence).However,thewordissoambiguousthatth Period(dot).ItdoesnotstandlikeatombstoneattheendofaSanskritsentence,butisthesignforvocalvivification.Thedotabovetheconsonant(whi Thezero.Justasthedotisbotha"nothing"andthesymbolforsense,soiszero.Byitselfitisasymbolofno-thing.Addedtoafigureitincreasesits Theseed.Onlywhenitfallsuponfertilegroundcanitsprout.Likethedot,likethezero.Andherethelatentvalueisespeciallyclear. Thevoid.Hereagainitisthemeaningthatmakesemptinesspurposeful. Thirtyspokesunitearoundthenave.Thevoidbetweenthemmakesthemusefulasawheel.Weshapeapotfromday. Itsusefulnessdependsuponthevoidthatclaysurrounds.Thehouseismadeofwalls,windowsanddoors.Thevoidbetweenthewallsmakesitahabitation.W Nowitshouldbeclearwhybindumeans"sense."Thesattvaprincipleinwhichthe"sense"isfoundedisfulfilledpurityinthesaint,whoisallsattva. (29-30)Dissolution[laya]dependsonnada.Layaproducesprana.Pranaisthelordofthemind[mano];mindisthelordofthesenses[indriyas]. Weenterachurchandfeelthesattvaelementthatgovernstheloftysacredroom.Somethinglikeashiverofenchantmentpene- tratesus.Itisbinduthat(foramoment)transfiguresus.Weknowthatithastodowiththedivine,towhichthisplaceisdedicated.Weknowit,butthe Somuchforoureverydayexperience.Fortheyogiapproachingsamadhi,theprocessisreversed:hehasrecognizedthemeaningfulgerm,bindu,withinhimself Therefore,liketheancientmastermystics,heturnsinwardandfindsliberationindetachmentfromthereleasingelement.Forliberationmeans"nothingbut CHAPTER13 THEDISSOLUTION onacoldwinternightawanderingmonksoughtshelterinadesolatemountaintemple.Acoldwindwaswhistlingthroughthepaperwallsandthefrozenstran "YouareburningthesacredimageofourLord!Can'tyousee?ItistheBuddhayouareburning!" Themonksmiled."DoyoubelievewecanburnourLord?Don'tyouknowthatthespiritofenlightenmentisindestructible?Waituntilthismortalwoodisbur Theguardianshookhisfists."Itwillbetoolate.Youwillfindnothingintheashes.""Nothing?"exclaimedthestranger."Tellme,didyouholdsacredso ThestrangemonkwasNanzen,oneofthegreatpatriarchsofZen. Everyonecantesthisrelationshiptotheessenceofaconcept.Isitthethingitselfthatrepresentsthevalue,orisitsomething subtler,somethingintangible?Whatissaintlyinthesaint?Whatisbeautifulinthebeautiful?Itisoursubjectivethinkingthatcreatesvalues,andatt Theactivityofthemindalwaysprojectsbeyondourmomentarysituation,overlookstheessential,theBeing,andfocusesonBecoming.ButitisonlyinBein Will,however,isthegreatprotagonistofpassivecontemplation.Themoreactiveelementstheyogicandiscard--breathing,thinking,desiring,acting Not-doingindoing.PracticethisAndknowtheunknowable. Lao-tzu,TaoTeChing63

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(31-33)Theyogiwhodoesnotinhaleorexhaleandwhosesenseshavebecomepassive,whoseminddoesnotregisteranything[nolongerexperiencessubjective Avidya(ignorance)controlsthesenses.Inotherwords,theattractionofthesatisfying,purposeful,agreeable-seeming,influ-encesthesensesandinthis Tohearthisfactandreadaboutitwillnotcauseanyinnerchange;onlywhenyouyourselfrecognizeitcanyoumasterthesenses.Intellectualconviction, Thisistheprincipleofthepowerofcognition:nottodevelopanewopinion,buttodissolvealldynamicactiveelementsinBrahman.Tocontemplateandto Amanrisingbeforesunrisesearchesforalanternandcannotbepersuadedbyhisfriendthathedoesnotneedit.Whenhestepsoutofthehousethesunri Allopinionsthatdonotresultfromdirectexperienceareformedundertheinfluenceofrelativeexperience.Experienceisfate,experienceiskarma."Iha (34)Laya,laya,peoplesay.Butwhatiflaya?--Layaifthestateofforgetting[thesubjectivelycoloredimagesof]theobjectsofthesenses,whenthesa Butthiscannotbeaccomplishedbyanactofwill,foritistheactsofwillthemselvesthatblockthewaytoevolution.Thereisonlyoneway:tocognize Onlythesuddenlyrisingsunwhichilluminesthewholepathaheadofuscanshowusnotonlythewindingsoftheroadthatwereadonthemap,butallthat CHAPTER14 THESHAMBHAVIMUDRAANDTHEINNERLIGHT (35)TheVedas,theShastrasandthePuranasarelikeprostitutes[attainabletoall].Theshambhavimudra,however,islikeachastewoman,carefullyguard WisdomwasneversecretintheOrientSecretareonlythepathstowisdom. Theintellectuallycreatedworldofconceptshasbeendissolved.Nowlet'sreturntothemanwhocreatedanewworldbythetwolevelsofvibration(lighta (36)Shambhavimudraconsistsinfixingthemindinwardly[onanyoneofthechakras],andfixingtheeyeswithoutblinkingonanexternalobject.Thismudr Whatdoestheyogidoatthisstageoftraining?Howdoeshepractice? Herisesat4:00a.m.,thehourofBrahma,cleanshisbreathingorgansandsitsdownonbistigerskin.6Aftertheintroductorypractices(suchasthenadi Wewillnotanalyzethesoundintheearhere(secChapter15),butwillconcernourselvesmerelywiththequestionofwhathappenstothissound.Theyogi Themantraconsistsofvarioussoundelements,eachofwhichhasadifferentfunctiontofulfill.Theintroductionusuallyconsistsofthepranava Atthesametime,iftheyogiisnotfullyinpossessionoftheyantrainwardly,hefastenshisgazeupontheformsymbol,theyantra,andimaginesthatthi 6.Onlyyogiswholeadastrictlycelibatelifeusetigerskin.Theothersuseantelopeskin.Thereasonforthisisthedifferenceinthepoweroftheresp scatofthedeity.Thedeityreposesinthechakra,theyantraistheexpressionofthedivinityandofthechacra,themantrasynchronizeswiththevibrati Addtothistheproscribedcolorscaleoftheemanationofdivinelightandthereislittleroomleftfordistractingthoughts.ManyIndianandTibetantext (37)Itifrightfullycalledthambhavimudra,whenmindandpranaareabsorbedbytheobject,whentheeyesbecomerigidinthecontemplationoftheobject. EverythingisSiva:everythingiskala(ligfit-waves,form,yantra,manifestationofthedivineimageinallitsforms),nada(soundwaves,sound)mantra,d Beforegettingtothecentralpointofthischapterwehavetoansweraquestion.TheculminatingpointofPartThreewaskhecarimudra(theupcurledtongue (38)Shambhavimudraandkhecarimudra,althoughtheydifferinthepositionoftheeyesandthepointofconcentration,areoneinthattheybringaboutth Thepositionoftheeyescorrespondstothedirectionofconcentration.Inkhecariroudrathepointliesbetweentheeyebrowsfromwherethenectarflows;i Intheregionofheatanimallifemanifests,whilethereislittleinfluenceofthelogos(bindu).However,intheregionofkala(theupperzoneofvibrati Letusconsidertheformsymbolinallitsvariedaspects:ThecrossinChristianity,thehalf-mooninIslam,thestarinJudaism.Theyantrahasa Thislight,althoughithasitssubtleraspect,shouldnotbeconsideredmystical.Itisfirstofallsomethingthatappearsquitenaturally.Thelightthat anceinthemselves.Radianceonlyunfoldsintheheartofthedevoteethroughhisdevotion,andevendiffers-accordingtotheintensityofthedevotion. The"innerlight"doesnotimplyanimmanentmeaningfortheimagesymbol,buthasapurelyemotionalvalue.Itisnotthemeaningthatisessential,butth (39-40)Directyour[inner]gazeupon"light"byslightlyraisingtheeyebrows.Thenperformshambhavimudraasyouhavelearnedit.Thisinducessamadhi. Onehazardwhichismoreorlessinherentinallreligionsisthattheypromisemoretothedevoteethanhewillbeabletoexperience,unlesshepursueshi Mantraasdivinenameandyantraasdivineformleavenoroomforfantasy.Andthustheseactiveforcesofrealization,towhicheventhephysicalsometimes (41)Withhalf-closedeyesfocusedonthetipofthenose,themindsteadilyfastened[onitsobject],andtheactivepranacurrentoftheidaandpingalan "Intheformofradiatinglight."doesthismeanthatthedivineimageherebecomesthephysicallyperceptible"radiatinglight"?Yes,indeed.Experiencedm Itisnottheobjectperceivedthroughthesensesthatradiates,norisitradiancefromtheheavenlyspheres.Aneworganofperception,sotospeak,opens 7.Philofudaeus:"...andthedivinelightprecipitateditselflikeaflooduponthesoul,anditisblindcdbyitsradiance."Plotinui:"Thevisionfloo recognizingitspsycho-physicalnatureinevitablyfallsintotheerroroftakingtheluminousimageassomethingself-existing.HebelievesthatGodhasrev Atpresenteverythingconnectedwiththissubtleorganandthe"light"is,asfarasscienceisconcerned,amatteroffaith,justasthetheoryoftheatom (42)Donotworshipthelingam,neitherbydaynorbynight.Onlywhendayandnighthavebeentranscendedshouldthelingambeworshipped--unceasingly. ThisimportantslokathrowsasignificantlightuponthewholeofHindureligiosity. Thelingam,themuchdisputedphallicsymboloftheSivaites,standsforthissubtleraspectofallthings,forthedivinelight;theprimevallingamconsis "Neitherbydaynorbynight."Werememberthatidaandpingalastandforsunandmoon,thusfordayandnight.Dayandnightareovercomeassoonasthetw Dayandnightarealsothesignsoftime,whichisconqueredinsamadhi.Everythingthatoccursintimebelongstoworldlyconsciousness,totheimage Aworshipthatveneratesthelingamasaconceptisnotthekindofdevotionthatisrequiredfordeepresults,deepexperience.TheIndiandoesnotmakean (43-50)Whenpranaflowsnaturallythroughthetwonadisthenthereisnoobstacletokhecarimudra.Thisisbeyonddoubt.--Whenthepranacurrententerst

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Butwhathashappenedtoyantraaridmantra?WhyarewegoingbacktoPartThree? Oncetheyogihasreachedthefourthstage,heisalltooapttoforgetthetechnicalrequirements,whichcanleadhimintothegreatestdifficulties.Again Ifnomentionismadehereoftheshambhavimudra,ofmantrasandyantras,wemustnotforgetthattheseareinnerevents,whilekhecarimudraisatechnica (51)Whentheouterbreathceases,theinnerbreath[pranaproduction]alsoceases.Pranacurrentandmindcurrentbecomepassivewhentheyreachtheircent Humanspiritisimpelledonlyaslongasithasagoalbeforeitseyes.Oncethegoalisreached,thespiritremainsthereforacertaintime.Thisperiodo WhenthemindoftheyogireturnstoitsownSelfafteritseverydaysense-relatedactivitiesitisrelaxed,forwiththesubsidingbreathduringpracticet Thepranaheneedsisinthesushumnaandiskeptactivetherebytheblazingflameoflife.Alllifeisconcentratedthere. (52)Whenonethuspracticescontrolofbreathdayandnight,thepranabecomesmorepassiveinthecourseoftimeandmindisnaturallycompelledtofollow Forassoonasthepranabecomespassiveitunfoldsitshighesteffectivenessinthesushumna;andassoonasmindispassivetherealnatureoftheworldo (53)Whenthebodyisthusbathedinthenectarstreamofthemoonitbecomesstrongandhardy. Inotherwords,whenthefireisburningfiercelyenoughthereisnodangertolifeandlimb. (54)Placethemindintheshakti,[themanifestingpowerofnature,kundalini]andtheshakti[as"lighf'']inthemindthroughmeditation;thenmindands Tolisten"withearinheart"isthemostcrucialfactorinthewholeprocessofmeditation.Thisisthetrueinsight,theprerequisiteofallEasternmetho (55-56)TheI[atman]altin[empty]space,andemptytheI(ofconceptualbeing).Whenthuseverythingisempty[withoutlimeandspace]thenthe[dynamic] Apertinentsimile!Anemptypotatthebottomoftheocean.Waterinsideandout.Isthepotemptyorfull?Emptyyetfull;fullyetempty.Hewhohasinwa (57-58)Heshouldnotthinkofexternalthings;allpersonalthoughtsheshouldgiveupalso:abandonallsubjectiveandobjectivethoughts. (59)Mindconcentratedontheatmanbecomesonewithitlikecamphorwiththeflame,likesaltwiththewateroftheocean. ThenthereisnoIofwhichthoughtisaware,forIandthoughthavebeenabsorbedintoeachother,becausethinkingisnolongerattachedtotheobjector (60)Mindandobjectofcontemplationhavebeenabsorbedineachothersothatthereisnolongeranyduality. Thegreatsymbolofthisunionistheunioninloveofmanandwoman.ThereforetheUpanisbadssay:"Theatmanisasgreatasmanandwomanincloseembrace (61-64)Theanimateandtheinanimateuniverseisacreationofthemind.insamadhithereisonlyoneness.Whenallsenseperceptionsaresuspendedtherer CHAPTER15 NADA,THEINNERSOUND theconceptofprayeriswellknown.Here,however,wearenotconcernedwithprayerbutwithmantra,thoughacertainrelationshipdoesexistbetweenthet Forexample:everyChristianprayercloseswithan"Amen.""Amen"isinitselfcompletelyneutraluntilitisprecededbyaprayer.Inthatcase,"Amen"is hasadisturbinginfluenceandisimmediatelyconspicuous.Thuswegotochurchfestivelydressedsoastoattractthefullmeasureofsattvicvibrations. Justastheinwardlightiskindledbytheimagesymbol,soalsothroughthesoundsymboltheinnersoundisawakened,thenada,themostsubtleaspectoft (65)Inowshalldescribethepracticeofnada,ashasbeenproclaimedbyGorakshanath,andasitisacceptedevenbythosewhoareunabletorealizeTruth Itis"thedissolutionofimageandconcept"(laya)inaspontaneousexperiencewhichhasfromtimeimmemorialbeenconsideredthehighestspiritualprocess (66)LordSivahasshowninnumerablepathstolaya,butitseemstomethatthepracticeofnadaisthebestofthemall. Thereasonforthisisperhapsthefactthatitseemseasiertodealwiththesoundsymbolthanwiththeimage,andthattheinnersoundiseasiertoproduc (67)Heseatshimselfinsiddhasanaandassumesshambhavimudra,listeningtotheinnersoundthatringsinhisrightear, Andwhynotintheleftcar?Dakshinameans"right"butalso"good,propitious,capable."Soitreallysayshere"inthetrueear,"andthisisthe"carof (68)Closeears,nose,mouth,andeyes,thenyouwilldistinctlyhearaclearsoundinthesushumna,whichhasbeenpurifiedbypranayama. Thereaderwillperhapsfeelimpelledtomakeanexperimentandtolisteninwardly.Futileeffort!Hewillhearnothinglikethis"sound."Why? Wouldtheyogibecompelledtogothroughthreestagesofhardpracticeifheonlyneedstocloseuphisearsinordertoperceivetheinnersound?Areour (69)Allyogapracticescontainfourstages:introduction[aram-bha].transition[ghata],attainment[paricaya],andperfection[nishpatti]. Thisisvalidforyogaingeneral,fortheindividualsystemsasshownbythedivisionofourtext,aswellasforeachspecificpractice;infactforallt (70-71)Inthefirststage[arambhavastha],whentheheartchakra[brahmagranthi]ispierced,weheartingingsoundsti^ejewelsinthespaceoftheheart Thesoundwhichintheregionofthethroatwasstillsound,hasnowpenetratedtotheheartandtheremeetsprana.Afeelingriseslikeadeephappybreath (72)Inthesecondstagepranaandnadabecomeone,and[thisone]enter[s]themiddle[heart]chakra.Theasanasbecomeeffectivenowanddivinewisdomari Unionisaccomplishedandthechalicewithitsgoldenpearl--thatpearlwhichwilllaterexpandintoawholenewworld--extendsupwardtowardhigherspher Werememberthattheinnersoundofthemantraistoemanatefromoneofthechakras.Thesoundthentakesonthevibrationfrequencyoftherespectivechak Inordernottounderestimatethevalueofthispractice,wemustrememberanearlierpracticethatrelatedtothephysicalaspectofsound,theaudiblesou Atthattimeweknewnomorethanwhatweheard.Now,thisimpressivesound,createdwiththeaidofthepersonalmantra,isnotprojectedintospace,butd (73)Whenthevishnugranthiinthethroatispierced[bythevibrations]itisasignthatdivinebliss[brahmaananda]willfollow.Inthesoundboxofth Thisisthesubtleraspectoftherumblingandroaringthatwecametoknowinthebhramarikumbhaka,theeffectofwhichishereevenmoreimpressive. (74)Onthethirdstageasoundlikethatofamardala[adifferentkindofdrum]isperceived,inthespacebetweentheeyebrows.Withthisthevibrations Thistoowehaveencounteredinitsgrossphysicalforminthebhramarikumbhaka,butsincenowthesoundisnotproducedbythevocalcordsitispurelyme

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"Arise!"theangelcallsouttoMohammedinthedesert,andthesoundsymbolofthewarningangel'svoiceisthesoundofbells,andthusprayer,or,onah (75)Havingovercometheblissfulslateofthemindheexperiencesthehappinessthatarisesfromcognitionoftheatman.Thenheisdeliveredofallfaults Greaterthanhappinessisequanimity.Happinessisthegoalofman,equanimityisthedivinegoal.Immutablearethegods alone.Humanityswingslikeapendulumbetweendesireforhappinessandenjoymentofhappiness.Hewhovoluntarilyrenounceshishappinessandnevertheless (76)Afterthevibrationhaspiercedthelastk(not[theagnachakra],theforehead'scenter[ofconsciousness],itrisestothedivineplace.Withthisthe Letusstopanalyzing.OurexperiencedoesnotsufficetounderstandthemeaningofthesoundofthefluteofKrishna,orthevinaofthedivinemessenger, (77-83)Whenthemindbecomesunified,thisisrajayoga.Theyogi,nowmasterofcreationanddestruction,becomesonewithGod.--Whetherornotyoucall Thestateofdissolution[laya]arisingfromthe[innersound]nadacreatesthisspontaneousexperience.--[All]yogiswhohavereachedthestateofsamadhi Thepoweroftheinternalsound,itsmeaningasanaudibledesignationofourpersonality,isathousandtimesstrongerthanthelogicalcombinationofthe Nowthemantraisthatnamewhichisthecommonpropertyofboththejivatmanandtheparamatman(theselfandtheSelf). Atfirstitisseparatenessthatimpingesuponourears.ThereisstillanIandaThou,theonewhoperceivesandtheonewhoisperceived:thedynamicmin Atthebeginningofanacquaintanceanameonlytellsuswhothepersonis.Lateronitstandsforthesumtotalofwhatthepersonis,whatwehaveexperie (84-85)Duringtheinitialstageofpracticevariousstrongsoundsareaudible,butasprogressismadetheybecomemoreandmorerefined.- InBhramarikumbhakatheyogi'searsmayring.Inshambhavimudrahisphysicalearsaredeaf,buttheearinthehearthearsthefortissimoofinnerprayer. ThemultiplecolorsblindtheeyesThemultiplesoundsdeafentheear ThereforethesagecultivateshispersonAnddoesnotcravetosee. TooTeChing.12 (87-89)Evenastheloudsounds[still]ringout,oneshouldconcentrateonthesubtlesound[intheheart].--Onemaywelllettheattentionswingbetween Donotbecomeimpatient!Ifyouareagainandagaincaptivatedbytheroaringsoundinthephysicalcarthenthewatchwordispracticeandwait.Maturation (90)Justasthebeewhodrinkstheflower'shoneyisnotconcernedwithitsscent,soalsothemind,whenabsorbedinsound,doesnotcareaboutthepleasu Thescentattractsthebeewhoforgetsitwhilesuckingthehoney.Thesensesattractconsciousnesswhich,innada,theexperiencebeyondthesenses,forget (91-92)Thesharpironprongofnadacaneffectivelycurbthe[elephant]mindwhenitwantstogambolinthepleasuregardenofthesense-objects. (93)Hewhowishestoreachthemasteryofyogashouldrenounceallhis[restless]thoughtsandpracticewithcarefullyconcentratedmindthedissolution[o Inaconcert,inthecathedralorinthepoet'sword,the"sound"isalwaystherewhereanimmortalspirithasdippedintothedeepestsourcesoflife. (94)Theinnersound[thebindu]islikeatraptocapturethegazelle[themind];likeahunter,itkillstheanimal[conceptualthought]. Everywordofeverylanguagehasthisinnersound.Wehearitreadilyinthewordsofourownlanguagewhicharetousmorethansheerletterformations.Bu untilonefinedaytheinnersoundofthenewwordsmanifestsitself.Conceptualthoughtthenbecomessuperfluous.Aslongasonehastothinkaboutaforei (9!-96)Theinnersoundislikeaboltonthestabledoorthatkeepsthehorse[conceptualthinking]fromroamingabout,Thereforetheyogishoulddailypra Brahmanis0m(Aurn),andthisiskala,nada,andbindu;SivaistheaspectofBrahmanasdestroyer.HewhodestroysconceptsandliberatestheAbsolute.Si (97)Whenthemind[freeofconcepts]comestoknow,itdoesnotruntowardtheringingsound[inthephysicalear]likea[curious]serpent. Thisisthefamouscharacteristicofthewiseman:lackofcuriosity,becauseheexperiencesgreaterthingswithinhimself.Onlyhewhoisnotself (98-99)Thefirethatburnsapieceofwooddiesoutwhenthewoodhasbeenconsumed.Soalsothemindwhenitremainsconcentratedonnadam(anddoesnots TheUpanishadsays:"Pranaisthebow,atmanthearrow,Brahmanthetarget.Hewhocarefullyaimsatthetargetbecomesonewithit."AtmanandBrahmanbeco (100-102)Theabsoluteconsciousness[caitanya]cognizesthenada-soundintheheartwhiletheantakharana[mind]becomesonewithcaitanya.Whenthishash Aswehavenowascertained,thereisnorealdifferencebetweenthe"innerlight"(kala)asdescribedinthepreviouschapterandtheinnersound(nada)bec *ThisistheonlycasewhereRicker'stranslationdeviatesfromtheliteraltranslationofthetext,whichreads:"Themindislikeaserpent;forget*ting bindu,thesense.Allthreepowers(kala,nadaandbindu)inabsoluteformareSiva;intheiractivepowertheyareshakti.SivaandShaktiareoneasthei Ourimaginaryhumancreatornowhaseverythingthatheneeds:energyandmatterinalltheiraspects.Thegrossmaterialaspectassoundandlight;thesubt (103)Allhathayogapracticesserveonlyfortheattainmentofrajayoga.Hewhoisaccomplishedinrajayogaovercomesdeath. To"overcomedeath"doesnotmeantobecomeimmortal,forwhatisthebody?Itmeanspoweroverallthatwhichescapesconsciousnessatthetimeofdeath.S (104-114)Mindistheseed,pranayamathesoil,dispassion[vairagya]thewater.Outofthesethreegrowsthetreethatfulfillsallwishes. EPILOGUE whenIreviewwhatIcouldgatherfromthefewhiddensaintsImetinIndiamyimpressionistwofold.Thestateofenlightenment,thestatethatprecedessa Thereaderwhonowconcludes(quiteunderstandably)thatdespitehisdesireforthepowerofasiddha,thepractiseofyogaisnotforWesternman,islike TherearetodayinIndiathousandsofyogisandhundredsofmasters.Thereareperhapsafewdozenwhohaverealizedthehighestlevelofrajayoga,andapp Shouldwenotatleastmakeabeginningandtakeafewstepstowardmastery?Forthedangerofdevelopingtoolittleyogaandbecomingavictimofourinade RECOMMENDEDFORFURTHERREADING General

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eliadE,miRcEa.Yoga:ImmortalityandFreedom. London,1958. mishRa,rammuRti&FundamentalsofYoga.NewYork,1971.shastRi,haRipRasad.Yoga.London,1970. hathayoga Iyengar,B.K.LightonYoga.London,secondedition,1970.vithalDas,yogi.TheYogaSystemofHealth.NewYork(paperedition),1957. raJayoga mishRa,rammuRtiS.Textbook,ofYogaPsychology.NewYork,1971.woods,jamEShauGhton.TheYogaSystemofPatanjali.Delhi,1966. hathayogaandraJayoga IyaNGaR,nivasa.TheHathaYogaPradipikaofYogaSwamiSvatmarama. Adyar,1949. kuvayalananda,swamI.Pranayama.Bombay,1966.sinh,pancham.HathaYogaProdipika.Allahabad,1915.yogashakti,PARIVAJIKAma.TheScienceofYoga:Commenta
:62,Last-modified:Wed,08Jul199820:59:56GMT

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