The fourteen elementary lessons on Raja Yoga are meant for the seeker who said, ‘-Yoga is my ideal, but I know not whether it is a kind of mystic esoterism of the psyche, or a process of acquiring supernatural feats coveted by early mortals.’ Here is, consequently, a comprehensive, clear and succinct exposition of the wonderful, psycho-analytical and highly rational system of Raja Yoga, which goes a long way to dispel wrong notions of its true nature, and emphasise its extraordinary value in the emolument of true happiness and an integral development of the personality of man.
Here is found an enumeration of Patanjali’s octagonal system which begins with ethical discipline and ends with the final dissolution of individual perception in the cosmic consciousness-whole. Auxiliary notes have been added to this to specie’ the qualifications required of a Yogic student, the diet to be chosen, the process of harmonising the mental modifications, etc. Added to these is an exposition of the Philosophy of Om which provides a basis for the practice of concentration and meditation.
To refresh your memory and to help summaries each lesson, questions have been given at the end of every lesson.
No impossible methods are advocated herein. No one need forsake his or her avocation to pursue the path of Yoga. No sectarian doctrine hovers round its objectives. No allegiance is demanded to a particular cult. The science of Raja Yoga is universal, it is applicable to all. Here indeed is shown the way to live a full and happy life to one’s own personal advantage and usefulness to others.
Life today is full of stress and strain, of tension and nervous irritability, of passion and hurry. If man puts into practice a few of the elementary principles of Yoga, he would be far better equipped to cope with his complex existence. Yoga is complete life. It is a method which overhauls all aspects of human personality. Yoga is a system of integral education. The science of Raja Yoga is universal, it is applicable to all.
The fourteen elementary lessons on Raja Yoga are an enumeration of Patanjali’s octagonal system which begins with ethical discipline and ends with the final dissolution of the individual perception in the cosmic consciousness. No impossible methods are advocated herein. No allegiance is demanded to a particular cult. Here indeed is shown the way to live full and happy life to one’s own personal advantage and usefulness to others.
Preface | 6 |
Introduction to Yoga | 8 |
What is Yoga |
25 |
Fruits of Yoga. | |
the Three Gunas. | 25 |
The Universal Substratum. | 26 |
Preliminary Sadhana . | 27 |
Qualifications of a Yogic Student |
|
Selflessness and Cosmic Love. | 29 |
Purity and Self-restraint. | 30 |
Virtues for Rapid Progress. | 30 |
Eradicate Evil Qualities . | 31 |
Yogic Diet |
|
Influence of Food. | 33 |
Qualities of Food . | 33 |
Selection of Diet . | 34 |
Knowledge of Dietetics. | 35 |
Be Judicious. | 35 |
Nature of Foodstuffs. | 36 |
Eat To Live. | 37 |
Meat-eating Is Ruinous . | 38 |
General Hints. | 38 |
Mind And Its Control |
|
What Is Mind. | 40 |
Modifications of Mind. | 40 |
As You Think, So You Become. | 41 |
Mind and Prana . | 41 |
The Dividing Wall. | 42 |
Control of Mind. | 43 |
The Cause for Bondage. | 43 |
The Three Gunas |
|
Influence of Sattva. | 47 |
Power of Rajas. | 48 |
Sway of Tamas. | 48 |
The Contrasts. | 49 |
without Gunas There Is No World. | 50 |
Philosophy Of Om |
|
What Is 0m. | 52 |
The Goal is Om. | 53 |
Meditation On Om. | 53 |
All Indeed Is Om . | 54 |
the Common Symbol . | 55 |
Realise Through Om . | 56 |
Yama Niyama |
|
The Eightfold Yoga . | 58 |
What Is Yama. | 58 |
Ahimsa. | 58 |
Power of Ahimsa. | 59 |
Who Can Practice Ahimsa. | 60 |
Satya (Truthfulness) . | 61 |
Asteya (Non-stealing) . | 61 |
Brahmachaiya (Continence) . | 62 |
Aparigraha (Non-covetousness). | 63 |
Niyama (Observance) . | 63 |
Asana |
|
What is Asana. | 65 |
Poses for Meditation . | 65 |
Important Asanas: Their Benefits . | 66 |
Anyone Can Practise Asanas. | 67 |
General Hints. | 68 |
Prana |
|
What Is Prana. | 70 |
the Connecting Link. | 71 |
the Power Behind. | 72 |
Control the Prana. | 72 |
A Curative Force. | 73 |
Pranayama |
|
What Is Pranayama. | 75 |
Exercise No. 1. | 75 |
Exercise No. 2. | 76 |
Exercise No. 3. | 76 |
Exercise No. 4. | 76 |
Ex. No. 5: Savasana Pranayama. 4. | 77 |
Ex. No. 6: Bhastrika. 4. | 77 |
Lx. No. 7: Kapalabhati. | 78 |
Ex. No. 8: Ujjayi. | 78 |
Ex. No. 9: Sitkari. | 778 |
Ex. No. 10: Sitali . | 79 |
Ex. No. 11: SuryaBheda. | 79 |
Ex. No. 12: Bandhatraya Pranayama. | 79 |
Ex. No. 13: Kevala Kumbhaka. | 80 |
EX. NO. 14: Deep breathing. | 80 |
Pranic Healing. | 80 |
Distant Healing. | 81 |
General flints. | 81 |
General Benefits. | 82 |
Pratyahara |
|
What Is Pratyahara. | 84 |
How to Practice Pratyahara . | 85 |
Aids to Pratyahara. | 86 |
Obstacles to Pratyahara. | 88 |
A Raja Yogic Sadhana. | 88 |
Dharana (Concentration) |
|
What is dharana. | 90 |
Aids to Coneentration. | 90 |
How to concentrate. | 91 |
i. On Ishta Devata. | 92 |
ii. For Christians. | 92 |
iii. For Christians. | 92 |
iv. Subtble Methods. | 93 |
v. on sounds. | 93 |
vi. The Sufi Method. | 94 |
vii. On Trikuti. | 94 |
General hints. | 94 |
Obstaacles. | 94 |
Dhyan (Meditation) |
|
What Is Dhyana?. | 97 |
Benefits of Meditation. | 97 |
How to Meditate. | 98 |
Saguna Meditation. | 99 |
Meditation on Lord Hari. | 99 |
Meditation on Lord Hari. | 100 |
Meditation on Om. | 100 |
Abstract Meditation. | 101 |
Experiences in Meditation. | 102 |
Obstacles in Meditation. | 104 |
Samadhi |
|
What Is Samadhi. | 106 |
Aids to Samadhi. | 107 |
Obstacles to Samadhi. | 107 |
Jada and Catania Samadhi . | 108 |
Savikalpa Samadhi . | 108 |
Nirvikalpa Samadhi. | 109 |
Apenedix |
|
Experiences in Raja Yoga . | 115 |
Twenty Hints on Meditation. | 123 |
The fourteen elementary lessons on Raja Yoga are meant for the seeker who said, ‘-Yoga is my ideal, but I know not whether it is a kind of mystic esoterism of the psyche, or a process of acquiring supernatural feats coveted by early mortals.’ Here is, consequently, a comprehensive, clear and succinct exposition of the wonderful, psycho-analytical and highly rational system of Raja Yoga, which goes a long way to dispel wrong notions of its true nature, and emphasise its extraordinary value in the emolument of true happiness and an integral development of the personality of man.
Here is found an enumeration of Patanjali’s octagonal system which begins with ethical discipline and ends with the final dissolution of individual perception in the cosmic consciousness-whole. Auxiliary notes have been added to this to specie’ the qualifications required of a Yogic student, the diet to be chosen, the process of harmonising the mental modifications, etc. Added to these is an exposition of the Philosophy of Om which provides a basis for the practice of concentration and meditation.
To refresh your memory and to help summaries each lesson, questions have been given at the end of every lesson.
No impossible methods are advocated herein. No one need forsake his or her avocation to pursue the path of Yoga. No sectarian doctrine hovers round its objectives. No allegiance is demanded to a particular cult. The science of Raja Yoga is universal, it is applicable to all. Here indeed is shown the way to live a full and happy life to one’s own personal advantage and usefulness to others.
Life today is full of stress and strain, of tension and nervous irritability, of passion and hurry. If man puts into practice a few of the elementary principles of Yoga, he would be far better equipped to cope with his complex existence. Yoga is complete life. It is a method which overhauls all aspects of human personality. Yoga is a system of integral education. The science of Raja Yoga is universal, it is applicable to all.
The fourteen elementary lessons on Raja Yoga are an enumeration of Patanjali’s octagonal system which begins with ethical discipline and ends with the final dissolution of the individual perception in the cosmic consciousness. No impossible methods are advocated herein. No allegiance is demanded to a particular cult. Here indeed is shown the way to live full and happy life to one’s own personal advantage and usefulness to others.
Preface | 6 |
Introduction to Yoga | 8 |
What is Yoga |
25 |
Fruits of Yoga. | |
the Three Gunas. | 25 |
The Universal Substratum. | 26 |
Preliminary Sadhana . | 27 |
Qualifications of a Yogic Student |
|
Selflessness and Cosmic Love. | 29 |
Purity and Self-restraint. | 30 |
Virtues for Rapid Progress. | 30 |
Eradicate Evil Qualities . | 31 |
Yogic Diet |
|
Influence of Food. | 33 |
Qualities of Food . | 33 |
Selection of Diet . | 34 |
Knowledge of Dietetics. | 35 |
Be Judicious. | 35 |
Nature of Foodstuffs. | 36 |
Eat To Live. | 37 |
Meat-eating Is Ruinous . | 38 |
General Hints. | 38 |
Mind And Its Control |
|
What Is Mind. | 40 |
Modifications of Mind. | 40 |
As You Think, So You Become. | 41 |
Mind and Prana . | 41 |
The Dividing Wall. | 42 |
Control of Mind. | 43 |
The Cause for Bondage. | 43 |
The Three Gunas |
|
Influence of Sattva. | 47 |
Power of Rajas. | 48 |
Sway of Tamas. | 48 |
The Contrasts. | 49 |
without Gunas There Is No World. | 50 |
Philosophy Of Om |
|
What Is 0m. | 52 |
The Goal is Om. | 53 |
Meditation On Om. | 53 |
All Indeed Is Om . | 54 |
the Common Symbol . | 55 |
Realise Through Om . | 56 |
Yama Niyama |
|
The Eightfold Yoga . | 58 |
What Is Yama. | 58 |
Ahimsa. | 58 |
Power of Ahimsa. | 59 |
Who Can Practice Ahimsa. | 60 |
Satya (Truthfulness) . | 61 |
Asteya (Non-stealing) . | 61 |
Brahmachaiya (Continence) . | 62 |
Aparigraha (Non-covetousness). | 63 |
Niyama (Observance) . | 63 |
Asana |
|
What is Asana. | 65 |
Poses for Meditation . | 65 |
Important Asanas: Their Benefits . | 66 |
Anyone Can Practise Asanas. | 67 |
General Hints. | 68 |
Prana |
|
What Is Prana. | 70 |
the Connecting Link. | 71 |
the Power Behind. | 72 |
Control the Prana. | 72 |
A Curative Force. | 73 |
Pranayama |
|
What Is Pranayama. | 75 |
Exercise No. 1. | 75 |
Exercise No. 2. | 76 |
Exercise No. 3. | 76 |
Exercise No. 4. | 76 |
Ex. No. 5: Savasana Pranayama. 4. | 77 |
Ex. No. 6: Bhastrika. 4. | 77 |
Lx. No. 7: Kapalabhati. | 78 |
Ex. No. 8: Ujjayi. | 78 |
Ex. No. 9: Sitkari. | 778 |
Ex. No. 10: Sitali . | 79 |
Ex. No. 11: SuryaBheda. | 79 |
Ex. No. 12: Bandhatraya Pranayama. | 79 |
Ex. No. 13: Kevala Kumbhaka. | 80 |
EX. NO. 14: Deep breathing. | 80 |
Pranic Healing. | 80 |
Distant Healing. | 81 |
General flints. | 81 |
General Benefits. | 82 |
Pratyahara |
|
What Is Pratyahara. | 84 |
How to Practice Pratyahara . | 85 |
Aids to Pratyahara. | 86 |
Obstacles to Pratyahara. | 88 |
A Raja Yogic Sadhana. | 88 |
Dharana (Concentration) |
|
What is dharana. | 90 |
Aids to Coneentration. | 90 |
How to concentrate. | 91 |
i. On Ishta Devata. | 92 |
ii. For Christians. | 92 |
iii. For Christians. | 92 |
iv. Subtble Methods. | 93 |
v. on sounds. | 93 |
vi. The Sufi Method. | 94 |
vii. On Trikuti. | 94 |
General hints. | 94 |
Obstaacles. | 94 |
Dhyan (Meditation) |
|
What Is Dhyana?. | 97 |
Benefits of Meditation. | 97 |
How to Meditate. | 98 |
Saguna Meditation. | 99 |
Meditation on Lord Hari. | 99 |
Meditation on Lord Hari. | 100 |
Meditation on Om. | 100 |
Abstract Meditation. | 101 |
Experiences in Meditation. | 102 |
Obstacles in Meditation. | 104 |
Samadhi |
|
What Is Samadhi. | 106 |
Aids to Samadhi. | 107 |
Obstacles to Samadhi. | 107 |
Jada and Catania Samadhi . | 108 |
Savikalpa Samadhi . | 108 |
Nirvikalpa Samadhi. | 109 |
Apenedix |
|
Experiences in Raja Yoga . | 115 |
Twenty Hints on Meditation. | 123 |