The Fourfold Yoga

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Non-Fiction

The Fourfold Yoga - Part III
Non-fiction by G Kumar

Union via Psychic Control ( Raja Yoga )

Union via Psychic Control is known as Raja Yoga. Raja means King and
this Yoga is defined as the Regal Yoga or the king of all the yogas.

Raja Yoga has eight limbs called Ashtanga Yoga.

The Eightfold Raja Yoga

Yama - Observance of Right Conduct ( Non-violence, Truth, Non-
covetousness, continence, not receiving donations )

Niyama - Meditation, Self-Study, contentment, purity internal &
external, & reverence for the Lord

Asanas - Physical exercises that relax and tone up our muscles
Pranayama - Breath control exercises that slows our breathing and
regulates the flow of Prana
Pratyahara - Withdrawal from the outer world or disconnecting
the mind from the sensory world.
Dharana Concentration
Dhyana - Meditation
Samadhi - Achievement of Cosmic Consciousness.

Without control of the mind, nothing spiritual can be achieved. Mind binds,
mind liberates. Mind is the cause of all bondage.

Controlling mind is the most difficult thing in the world. You may be able
to control everything but never the mind.

Mind is subtle matter, according to Indian Philosophy. ( Indian Philosophy
is a humiliating term given to the twelve positive sciences in the Vedas ).

There are many definitions of mind. One definition is that Mind is finer
matter in vibration. Another definition is that Mind is a steady stream of
thoughts. We can say that, like a river flowing, continuous thought flow
is Mind.

Mind has been compared to a monkey. It jumps from one thing to another.
Controlling this monkey is very difficult due to its jumping nature.

Once upon a time, there was a monkey ( Mind ). Someone gave it alcohol
and it became intoxicated. Later a scorpion called Avarice bit him. Later, it
was bitten by the sting of Jealousy. Then all of a sudden an evil spirit by
the name of Pride possessed him. Just imagine how difficult it is to control
such a mind!

The Unified Vital Energy , the Cosmic Prana

"The Unified Field is the only Reality " said Einstein. "This Unified Field
is the Brahman of the Vedists and the Tao of the Chinese " avers
Dr Fritjof Capra in his book " The Tao of Physics ".

All the four basic forces in the Universe - weak nuclear force, strong
nuclear force, electricity & magnetism - are but different manifestations
of that Unified Power which the Vedists call Prana.

As per Raja Yoga, there are only two powerful forces in the Universe-
Akasha ( Ether-principle ) and the Cosmic Energy, Prana.

All that we see around us, taste, touch and feel is simply one of the
many manifestation of this Akasha. This all pervasive energy manifests
as the sun, the moon, the stars, the earth etc. The other elements -
Vayu ( air ), Agni ( Fire ), Apa ( water ) & Prithvi ( earth ) are only its
grosser manifestations.

Our bodies belong to the Ocean of gross matter & our minds belong to the
Ocean of subtle matter ( mind ). So long as Prana is active, there is life;
when Prana goes to sleep, as it were, life ceases to be.

Self- purification, the process of Raja Yoga.

If we can find a method of returning gross matter to its origin, we will
be amazed to observe that it vanishes leaving only subtle matter behind.
and if we can still return this subtle matter to its Cause, we shall observe
that it disappears, leaving only the Self behind.

This method of Self-purification is what is called the "returning process".
My body will vanish when it becomes pure. Vanish ? Not literally but
figuratively which means I will live as if my body were not there. My body
wont assert its demands and I wont feel its weight.

This "returning process", if applied to the mind ( The word Religion is
derived from the Latin Relegaire - " to go back" ) can make it invisible:
it wont boss me, drag me hither and thither and I wont feel trapped in
it. This process of self- purification will reveal to us " finer and finer
dimensions of our being ", until we reach the finest " The Self or the
Divine ", or the Ocean of Consciousness.

I am the Silence which is more than sound!
If therewithin Thou lose thee, Thou art found!
The Nameless shoreless Ocean which is "I"
Thou cannot breathe, but in its bosom drowned! ( Tennyson )

More information about Transcendental Philosophy & Yoga can be
had from http://www.eastrovedica.com/html/yoga.htm

Look at the Oceans of Matter, Mind & Consciousness

As waves what we should do is to look at the Ocean of the Triune Being-
Matter, Mind and Consciousness. We, as waves, belong to the Ocean.

The Absolute is like an infinite Ocean. In order to merge in the Absolute we
can meditate like this

Above, it is full of me; below, it is full of me; in the middle it is full
of me. I am in all beings, and all beings are in me. Om Tat Sat, I am It.
I am existence above mind. I am the One Spirit of the Universe. I am
neither pleasure nor pain.

The body eats, drinks and so on. I am not the body. I am not the mind.... I
am Consciousness, Knowledge. Bliss.

I am the essence and the nectar of Knowledge. Through Eternity, I change
not. I am calm, resplendent and unchanging.

I am That, whereof Being is the likeness
Mine, the Amrit is;
And immortality is Mine
And Mine perfect felicity ! ( The Song Celestial )

The Invisible Channels ( Nadis )

Raja Yoga postulates that the human body has invisible channels called
Nadis. The major left Nadi is called the Ida and the major right Nadi, the
Pingala. The Serpentine coiled Energy called Kundalini, lies coiled in the
base Root Chakra ( Muladhara ). Through another invisible channel called
the Sushumna, the Kundalini, the Serpent Power, rises in its ascent towards
the Crown Chakra ( Sahasrara ). By Pranayama, this mighty corresponding
microcosmic power of the Cosmic Shakthi, which is latent in all beings, can
be evoked.

A Power to call Eternity into Time
And make the body's joy as vivid as the soul's ( Aurobindo )

It is this Power-aspect of the Consciousness which India has represented
as the Divine Mother - Prakriti in Sankhya, Maya in Vedanta & Shakti in
Tantra.

Pranayama

Many think Pranayama is the control of breath. This is far from true.
Pranayama means to know & control the Vital energy or Prana.

Control of this mighty energy gives us infinite power. If a man can know
& control Prana, where power is there not in him ?

He can control everything from microcosm to macrocosm, the whole
universe comes under his control.

The ancient Seers sought Truth within themselves and asked the perennial
question " What is it, when known, everything is known ? "

Since it is impossible to study all sciences in a lifetime ( each science
being an infinite ocean) , the ancient Seers were after the mighty Secret,
some special knowledge of Substance, which when known, everything is
known!

All principles have a Unitary principle as the base. If that is
comprehended, then everything is comprehended. All powers are but
manifestations of that Cosmic Energy, Prana. He who has controlled
Prana has controlled all the minds in the universe; all the bodies of the
Universe: for Prana is the base of all Manifestation !

How to control Prana is the aim of Pranayama.

The sum total energy in the Universe is an absolute constant: Universal
Energy can neither be created nor destroyed; hence it is indestructible.
It has two aspects, unmanifest and manifest. This power is Prana & its
control is Pranayama.

The main aim or Pranayama is to arouse the Kundalini. In ordinary
mortals the base of the Sushumna will not be open. To open it is the
function of Pranayama.

In Sanskrit, Kundalini means the coiled Energy. The base of all mental
impulses is the Root Chakra and the Consciousness - Force power
is this coiled energy. When we concentrate deeply or meditate intensely,
we find that this place of the Root Chakra is heated up. When we do
Raja Yoga, we experience a subtle warmth. This coiled Serpentine
energy rises via the Sushumna and when it hits the different Chakras,
it creates tremendous reactions.

Practice of Pranayama - The Three techniques

First technique

We have to breathe in deeply ( as deeply as possible ) through both the
nostrils and then breathe out slowly. We have to do this initially to
prepare ourselves for the practice of Pranayama. Here the time taken
for exhalation and inhalation should be equal. Normally instead of counting
one, two, three, in the Orient, mantras are chanted. Om is the usual mantra
chanted.

Second Technique

Inhalation is known as Pooraka
Retention is known as Kumbhaka
Exhalation is known as Rechaka

First inhale, then retain breath & then exhale.

If inhalation is 4 seconds, retention of breath should be 16 seconds
and exhalation 8 seconds. During this process, one should meditate
upon the triangular Root Chakra ( Muladhara ). Mind should concentrate
on this Chakra.

Third Technique

In this technique, first do Pooraka ( inhalation ). Then immediately do
Rechaka ( exhalation ). Then do Retention ( Kumbhaka )

If you do the first technique, your voice will become beautiful. Your face
will appear peaceful. The more you practice this technique, the more
peace you will get.

Once the Golden Serpent rises, your thinking will change. Your perceptions
will change. Then you need not rely on books. Then your mind will become
your book. This wonderful phenomenon called the mind is a repository
of endless knowledge. Once the Kundalini via the Sushumna rises, we
reach a transcendental plane. The main aim of the Yogi is to open the
Sushumna. On the path of the Sushmna are the Chakras, dynamos of
cosmic energy in man.

She sports as Universal Power in the Macrocosm; and in the microcosm
as the coiled Serpent Power!

Infinite Power of the Absolute art Thou!
The Cause of the Universe as Maya
The entire Creation is Thy Play
Thy blessing is Bliss Absolute !

The essence of all sciences art Thou
All women Thy manifestations !
The visible Universe Thou art
And the dormant Serpentine Power !

The Scientific basis for observing continence

Semen and the mind are interrelated. That is why Continence has been
prescribed for controlling the mind. Dhanwantri, the Father of Ayurveda
told his disciples that the panacea for all ills is Brahmacharya
( Continence).

The basic principle of Raja Yoga is that seminal energy has properties
of Vidyut ( electricity ) Ojas ( light ) & Tapas ( heat ). This energy when
preserved is converted to spiritual energy and stored in the brain. This
process is called sublimation. Havelock Ellis, in his Psychology of Sex,
opines that the sublimation of the seminal energy can give skills, artistic
and scientific. He only proved what Raja Yoga proclaimed thousand of
years ago.

This seminal energy ( Urdhwa Retas ) is stored by the Raja Yogi in the
body by observing Brahmacharya. Raja Yoga advocates the preservation
of the seminal energy for 12 years for the yogic faculties to blossom. Once
sublimated, this energy goes by the name of Ojas ( Effulgence ) and is
stored in the brain !

Article by G Kumar, Astrologer & Epistemologist of www.eastrovedica.com.
Recently he was awarded a Certificate by the Planetary Gemologists
Association ( www.p-g-a.org ) as a Planetary Gem Advisor. He has 25 years
psychic research experience in the esoteric arts. To subscribe to his Free
ezine, the Z Files, click here. mailto:zodiac20@vsnl.com?subject=subscribe.
He is contactable at zodiac20@vsnl.com. Address of his physical shop is
Zodiac Computers, 3/528 Tkss Bldgs, East Nada, Guruvayur Kerala, India
680101. Office Phone +91 0487-552851. Home Phone +91 0487-422060. He
has compiled Free Ebooks on AstroNumerology, Vedic Astrology & Pranic
Therapy.

Posted 05/04/2003