Stages of Yoga Sádhaná

Published in:

Yoga Sádhaná [a compilation]

Notes:

official source: Yoga Sádhaná

this version: is the printed Yoga Sádhaná, 1st edition, version (obvious spelling, punctuation and typographical mistakes only may have been corrected). I.e., this is the most up-to-date version as of the present Electronic Edition.

from "Questions and Answers on Meditation"

Yoga Psychology

Trát́aka

Trát́aka yoga is “controlling the ocular vision”. It may lead to some supernatural vision.

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Ásanas

Sthirasukham ásanam.

–Patanjali

Ásanas are calm, quiet and easy postures which are held with proper inhalation and exhalation. They exercise the nerves, tissues, glands and organs of the human body. While practising ásanas one enjoys physical comfort and mental composure.

The regular practice of ásanas keeps the body healthy and cures many diseases. Ásanas control the glands, the glands control the secretion of hormones, and the secretion of hormones controls the propensities. So ásanas help a sádhaka [spiritual aspirant] to balance the body and concentrate the mind.

We perform ásanas for the following reasons:

1. To increase the flexibility of the body.

2. To rectify glandular defects and balance hormonal secretions in order to control the vrttis [propensities].

3. To balance the body and mind.

4. To withdraw the mind from undesirable thinking.

5. To prepare the mind for subtler and higher sádhaná [spiritual practices].

We name ásanas as follows:

(1) Some ásanas are similar to animal movements, so they are named after those animals; for example, matsyamudrá [fish posture], garud́ásana [bird posture], etc.

(2) Some ásanas have the characteristics of animal structures, so they are also named after those animals; for example, kúrmakásana [tortoise posture], etc.

(3) Some ásanas are named by the qualities of the ásana; for example, sarváuṋgásana [shoulderstand – literally “all-limbs posture”]. The entire body is benefited by this ásana.

There are mainly two types of ásanas: svásthyásanas and dhyánásanas. Svásthyásanas are practised primarily for physical health and secondarily for spiritual elevation. Dhyánásanas are practised primarily for concentration of mind and meditation. Dhyánásanas include padmásana [lotus posture], baddha padmásana [bound-lotus posture], siddhásana [siddha posture, the posture of a perfected one] and viirásana [hero posture].

The difference between sarváuṋgásana and vipariitakarańii mudrá: While practising sarváuṋgásana the mind is fixed at the point between the tip of the two big toes, whereas in vipariitakarańii mudrá the mind is fixed at the tip of the nose or at the navel.

Mudrás, Bandhas and Vedhas

Mudrás are postures which exercise the nerves and muscles. Mudrá literally means “externalization of internal bháva [ideation]”. There are only a few spiritual mudrás where the internal ideation is not externalized.

The practitioner of a mudrá may or may not enjoy physical comfort and mental composure. During the practice of mudrás one has to continue oneʼs conscious endeavour to remain in that posture, but in the case of ásanas one need not.

Bandhas are also postures of a special type which exercise the nerves only. The practitioner may or may not derive physical comfort and mental composure. In practising a bandha one also has to continue oneʼs conscious endeavour to remain in the particular posture. Bandhas also influence the váyus [vital-energy currents] of the body.

Vedhas are almost the same as bandhas. Vedhas exert some influence on both the nerves and the vital airs [vital-energy currents].

Pratyáhára

Pratyáhára is derived from prati – á – hr + ghaiṋ. The word áhára literally means “assimilating” or “taking something within”. As a yogic practice, pratyáhára means “withdrawal of the mind from the external objectivity and goading that withdrawn mind toward Parama Puruśa”.

Práńáyáma

Práńáyáma is defined as: Tasmin sati shvása prashvásayoh gativicchedah práńáyáma. That is, “Práńáyáma is the process of breath control along with the imposition of the ideation of Supreme Consciousness”. It helps the mind in concentration and meditation.

The spirit of práńáyáma is Pránán yamayati eśah práńáyámah. That is, the word práńáyáma literally means “controlling the práńáh [vital energy]”. The psycho-philosophy behind the practice of práńáyáma is that the spiritual aspirant tries to let the práńendriya [ten vital-energy currents] remain in a state of pause so that the paused unit mind will merge into the ocean of consciousness.

There are two main types of práńáyáma: hat́ha yaogika práńáyáma and Yudhiśt́hira práńáyáma. When práńáyáma is done without fixing the mind on a particular point of concentration, and without imbibing Cosmic ideation, it is called hat́ha yaogika práńáyáma, but when práńáyáma is performed with the mind fixed at a particular point, along with Cosmic ideation, it is called Yudhiśt́hira práńáyáma. [The eldest Pandava, Yudhisthira, was the first person to popularize práńáyáma according to this method.](1)

Recaka means “emptying”. When one exhales completely and keeps the breath out during the process of breathing, it is called recaka; when one inhales completely, it is púraka, and when one retains air inside the body, it is kumbhaka.

Dhárańá

Dhárańá is defined as: Deshabandhashcittasya dhárańá. Dhárańá literally means “locating the mind firmly in an area or region of the body”. This involves concentrating upon the respective controlling points of the fundamental factors located within the human body. That is, the mind is to be fixed on specific cakras [plexi] and engaged in Cosmic ideation.

Cakrashodhana

The word shodhana literally means “refinement” or “purification”. In spiritual meditation, shodhana is “concentration on the cakras”. It is a part of Ananda Marga sádhaná which is not included in aśt́áunga yoga [the eight-fold path of yoga]. [In cakrashodhana all the glands, nerves of the entire body and mind get vibrated]

Dhyána

Patanjali defined dhyána as: Tatra pratyatyaekatánatá dhyánam – “Dhyána means `the unbroken flow of mind towards the supreme goalʼ.” So, dhyána is “meditation on the Supreme Entity so that there is an incessant upward movement of the mind towards Parama Puruśa”.

The Macro-Pineal Plexus

The inner side of the pineal plexus is called the “macro-pineal plexus”. In spiritual practices it has immense importance because it is at this plexus, the Guru cakra, that dhyána is practised. The outer side of the macro-pineal plexus is outside the corporal structure; that is, it is outside the body.

Samádhi

Samádhi is the merger of the unit consciousness in Cosmic Consciousness. It is not a particular lesson; it is the result of all the above spiritual practices.

The Attributional and Non-Attributional Stances

Bhúmávyápte mahati ahaḿcittayorprańáshe saguńásthitih savikalpasamádhih vá.

[When the aham and the citta merge into the Macrocosmic Mahat, the merger is called saguńásthiti or savikalpa samádhi.]

Átmani mahadprańáshe nirguńásthitih nirvikalpasamádhi vá.

[When the mahat merges into the átman, it is called nirguńásthiti (state of objectlessness) or nirvikalpa samádhi (the trance of indeterminate absorption, or total suspension, of the mind).]

Diikśá

Diikśá is defined as:

Diipa jiṋánaḿ yato dadyát kuryát pápakśayaḿ tatah;

Tasmátdiikśeti sá proktá sarvatantrasya sammatá.

“Diikśá is the process of initiation. It brings about spiritual illumination and burns accumulated saḿskáras [mental reactive momenta]”. When someone is initiated with only a prayer mantra [words or sounds repeated orally] without the shuddhis [visualizations for the systematic withdrawal of the mind], it is called Vaedikii diikśá. Vaedikii diikśá is not a spiritual cult or practical process. Its primary goal is to request Parama Puruśa to show one the path of spiritual progress.

When someone is initiated into the Tantric cult elaborately with all shuddhis, it is called Tántrikii diikśá. Tántrikii diikśá is a practical spiritual cult. An Iśt́a mantra [a personal mantra repeated in meditation] and Iśt́a cakra [the cakra of meditation] are prescribed. The role of the guru is very important because the guru gives blessings to the spiritual aspirant. The goal is to become one with Parama Puruśa.

Oṋḿkára

The oṋḿkára is the combined acoustic sound of the entire process of creation, preservation and destruction. The divine sound oṋḿkára arises from the starting-point of creation (Shambhúliuṋga).

Should a monk or hermit take intoxicating liquor?

No, because it increases the production of semen from lymph, and consequently the brain will not get sufficient lymph as nourishment to practise sádhaná properly. Intoxicating liquor will affect the semen and lymph, which in turn will affect all the other glands. The entire nervous system will get agitated, and as a result mental concentration will be lost and sádhaná will be impaired.(2)

date not known

from "Questions and Answers on Meditation"

Yoga Psychology

Footnotes

[1] In Ananda Marga sádhaná, there is practical and extensive use of Yudhiśt́hira práńáyáma. –Editors.

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From: Stages of Yoga Sadhana

Published in: Yoga Sádhaná [a compilation]

Source: Electronic edition version 9.0.13