Guest guest Posted April 14, 2005 Report Share Posted April 14, 2005 Hari om, Sorry to say but if you don't find the article in your treasure box regarding the siddhis which comes by following Yama and Niyama then you can see PATANJALA YOGA DARSHANA (SADHANA PAADA) There you will definetely find the things which you need. If you need my help then you can write freely to my email. Thank You, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 14, 2005 Report Share Posted April 14, 2005 , Param <ayamtuparam> wrote: > > Hari om, > Sorry to say but if you don't find the article in your treasure box regarding the siddhis which comes by following Yama and Niyama then you can see PATANJALA YOGA DARSHANA (SADHANA PAADA) There you will definetely find the things which you need. > > If you need my help then you can write freely to my email. > > Thank You, Thank you, and why not share them in the group? Are we not good enough? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 14, 2005 Report Share Posted April 14, 2005 Plus they're not properly called sidhis but are merely the karmic results of the yamas and niyamas. The sidhis are in the Vibhuti Pada. - Param nmadasamy Cc: Wednesday, April 13, 2005 11:09 PM Hari Om! Hari om, Sorry to say but if you don't find the article in your treasure box regarding the siddhis which comes by following Yama and Niyama then you can see PATANJALA YOGA DARSHANA (SADHANA PAADA) There you will definetely find the things which you need. If you need my help then you can write freely to my email. Thank You, Sponsor Children International Would you give Hope to a Child in need? · Click Here to meet a Girl And Give Her Hope · Click Here to meet a Boy And Change His Life Learn More Links / b.. c.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 14, 2005 Report Share Posted April 14, 2005 Are we not good enough? ---This group totally rocks. I'll get them for you. >From http://www.rainbowbody.net/HeartMind/Yogasutra2.htm II 41. sattvasuddhi-saumanasyaikagryendriya-jayatma-darsana-yogyatvani ca Through the practice of physical purity, attachments to toxins and corruptive forces disappear naturally. Also through internal and external purity (saucha) both of the body, psychic environment, and of removing the occlusions of consciousness, there is achieved balance, cheerfulness, one- pointedness, harmony of the senses, and yogic vision. HERE one is no longer attracted by corruptive influences because one has established (and is happily rooted within) a intelligent self empowering and self regulating innate energetic freedom. Commentary: Purity (saucha) is one of the niyams. It can be interpreted many ways. Some yogis take it to mean keeping the inside of the body clean (annamaya kosha) and healthy, the nadis open (pranamaya kosha) and energy unobstructed, while the body is affected by being less burdened, open, and light. Another inner application of saucha is keeping the mental thoughts (manamaya kosha) free from kleshas, samskaras, and vrttis. Yet another application of saucha may be applied to our belief systems whether or not they may be tainted, and thus be a source of taint, impurity, and affliction to our consciousness (until purified). In this sense transformation and rebirth is an action of purification. Yet another manifestation of saucha is in our motivations and actions. But since actions follow thought and consciousness (or lack thereof) it seems that the purification of consciousness is more causal to this process. So on a physical level, not poisoning the body or burdening it with afflictions that it can not digest, assimilate, or eliminate easily will unburden not only the digestive system, but the elimination and immune systems thus creating more available energy for the process of evolutionary circuitry and higher consciousness to unfold. In one sense poor food habits (and inability to digest, assimilate, and eliminate food) is an energy drain and sedation of the kundalini, taking energy away from the "other" super-psychic activities or spiritual projects unless we were already very open in this direction and were not negatively affected by dietary choices. The key however is the development of our innate wisdom, instinct, or intuition to know which of the food options are best for our own unique constellation of body/mind at the moment achieving synergistic balance, well being, and synchronicity. This is where the rest of the yoga practice acts synergistically with diet -- and in turn, diet with the overall integrity which is the yogic process. Here also is where the hatha yoga kriyas or sat karmas (external cleansing activities) can also help as well as reduce irritation, thus creating more peacefulness (santosha) and being adjunctive to the allied processes of aparigraha, tapas, pranayama, pratyhara. concentration, meditation, and isvara pranidhana. On an energy level we are purifying the energy body -- free some psychic signatures due to past samskaras and karma. On a mental level, meditation is the best practice of saucha i.e., purification of the mind and the removal of the obscurations of consciousness. As we study the yam/niyams we will see the mutually synergistic inter-relationships between ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya, aparigraha, saucha, santosha, tapas, swadhyaya, and isvara pranidhana disclosing the underlying all inclusive integrative wholistic principle. II 42. santosad anuttamah sukha-labhah By establishing a connection with the energetics of fulfillment while being at peace with one self in the present moment (santosha), then communion with a boundless joy (sukha) manifests and deepens. Commentary: Santosha simply means contentment and abiding in great peace. It is a natural expression of the deepest samadhi (a profound state of integration and completeness). This completeness and great satisfaction is unconditional (not depending upon a separate object of gratification or attainment. It is beyond the disturbances of raga (attraction) and dvesa (repulsion) and thus it transcends craving (dukha). As a practice it points to this samadhi. Santosha becomes a new non-conflicting and stress free way of wellness and thriving which becomes natural, When it is disrupted, absent, or made discontinuous, we become aware of it, and then we naturally apply the balancing and centering remedy of santosha. We cultivate the completeness in All Our Relations. Santosha is contentment, fulfillment, completion, and peace. As such denotes abundance (not scarcity), happiness (not discontent), and in a deeper sense especially deep gratitude, for if we are deeply grateful how can we be can be unfulfilled? By gratitude, one does not need to be grateful to anyone person or event, but rather it is the deep heart felt sense of unconditional gratitude in All Our Relations which when catalyzed, heals. There is so much to be grateful to if we truly "re-member" -- the Great Binding (maha-vratam) -- the Great Integrity and Completion -- the Great Natural Perfection -- that direct connection with all mothers and fathers, the earth, stars and sun -- the rain and winds, the trees and birds, the DNA and the eternal Source -- all our elders and All Our Relations. As such gratitude is a bridge from separation to Integration -- to All Our Relations. It is the completion of ahimsa, aparigraha and asteya. It is the end to disconsolateness. If dukha (which is incompleteness or suffering) is really a state of craving or unsatisfactoriness, then santosha would appear to be the natural result or symptom of having removed the suffering of the kleshas whose root is ignorance (avidya). Hence santosha becomes spontaneous and natural when we feel deeply connected with our natural uncontrived true and unconditioned beginningless true nature. Likewise, by practicing santosha we are affirming and moving toward that profound and sacred direction. Santosha is practiced as peace and happiness -- as love. We commune with peace and abundance and give it forth -- manifest it. When greed, lust, conflict, war, trickery, competition, himsa (violence), pain, thievery, deceit, corruption, falsity, and ignorance are defeated -- when invincible Durga is victorious - then Santosha reigns supreme! In the meanwhile we must attempt to assess our allegiance with grief, war, conflict, anger, hatred, jealousy, hurt, and fear -- be willing to surrender them unto the altar of peace and lasting happiness. The Great Perfection awaits us. II 43. kayendriya-siddhir asuddhi-ksayat tapasah The functioning of the sense organs, the bodily functions, as well as the evolutionary circuitries (sixth sense) is engendered by repeated applications of tapas (the generation of spiritual fire or passion) which will also burn up and destroy all residue impurities. Tapas is thus the heat that purifies and fires the vehicle so that it capable of being a loving/living evolutionary container, manifestation, and emanation for pure Spirit and consciousness. Commentary: Now the question is what is this tapas and how is it applied. Where Brahmacharya is the most widely mistranslated yama, tapas is the most widely mistranslated niyama -- mistranslated habitually by the same academic authoritarian anti-nature, and antibody (read alien) institutionalized tradition (and thus for the same reasons). Although the roots of the Sanskrit word, tapas, has nothing to do with austerity, self abnegation, penance, or sacrifice, that mistranslation has stuck because of this institutionalized bias set in precedence has become dominant in the vast morass of unthinking parroting that one finds rampant in traditional translations. As an unfortunate result there exists some cults who pride themselves on how much harm they can inflict upon the body, how much pain they can withstand, how much suffering they can endure mistakenly hoping to "overcome" samsara this way -- mistaking this to be control over maya and freedom from suffering which will lead them to samadhi. But simply inflicting wounds upon the body, does not win wisdom, liberation, nor the fruits of yoga. Authentic spiritual realization can not shine through being lost in dvesa (aversion). Indeed there exists an element of renunciation in the activity of tapas, but it is not simply a renunciation as an goal in itself, but rather as an acknowledgement, recognition, and affirmation of our spiritual evolutionary process -- an effort to turn up the heat in a stagnant practice -- engaging more deeply into the sacred dance and prayer. The authentic practice of tapas is generated by ceasing any activity that is neurotic, habitual, material, ingrained, superficial, or ties up our energy, freeing up that previously committed energy that is normally committed/bound to a previously specific endeavor, habit, or energy pattern. That particular energy that is thus liberated can then be recycled and applied into evolutionary activity (feeding the fires of divine passion and providing tremendous strength). Thus tapas has two parts, only the first part contains the energy of renunciation (giving up a distraction, old habit, neurotic tendency, or corruptive activity) while the second part is an affirmation which fires up, speeds up, and accelerates the integrative spiritual function. At first this previously trapped energy when first liberated may just "sit there" and we can just be and breathe with it, then as it builds up, it can be directed and used as fuel on the sacred fire (and is thus associated with agni or the fire ceremony). As such, the kundalini yogis say that tapas feeds lady kundalini. Like the other yam/niyams they can be of the body, speech, and mind -- coarse and refined (subtle) -- outer and inner (antar). The physical practice of tapas is often associated with fasting from neurotic eating or fasting from superfluous talk (mouna) as both activities can consume an unnecessary and wasteful amount of time and energy as well as contain many habitual patterns and propensities (Samskaras and vasanas). However it is meditation that is considered to be the highest form of tapas. Tapas is also strongly associated with the other limbs, especially pratyhara. Tapas can also be associated with various tantric practices as well as approaches to life in everyday life -- in All Our Relations. On a physical level (annamaya kosha), tapas is associated with the hatha yoga bandhas. On an energetic level (pranamaya kosha) tapas is associated with pratyhara, and on the mental levels (manamaya kosha) it is associated with meditation. For more on tapas see the discussion above in Pada II - Sutra I and in "Tapas as a Spiritual Practice". Notice that tapas, swadhyaya (the next niyam), and isvara pranidhana (the second following niyam) were discussed in the beginning of Sadhana Pada as the three synergistic activities that constitute Kriya Yoga. II 44. swadhyaya ista-devata-samprayogah Through self study (swadhyaya) knowledge of our true self is disclosed completing the yoga that reveals our true sacred nature (innate divinity or ishta devata which resides inside all beings). Commentary: Here all activities have the potential of connecting us up with Source, such as our asana practice as well as daily life experiences if we learn how to observe ourselves in witness consciousness. Swadhyaya can be a profound yogic process carried out all the time. It too has an inner aspect such as the realization of the purity and unity of "self'" in meditation (undifferentiated aspect of consciousness) as well as the co-evolutionary aspect of all created objects (the divine creatix or differentiated aspect of beingness) which is completed in functional meditation practice. Swadhyaya means self study. In the larger sense it means study of the Self or Brahman. As such it is wedded to brahmacharya, just as brahmacharya is wedded to aparigraha, tapas, and ahimsa. Swadhyaya does not mean the study of books, scriptures, or holy texts, although that has become the most common interpretation. Although external books and teachers may be of some value, this value exists only to the extent that one finds the indwelling spirit -- revealing one's own true nature within. If these external teachings/teachers lead to an inner alignment with the collective universal core/heart -- the hridayam -- resonating simultaneously in our hearts, only then can the external teaching be considered non-dual, non-distracting, and not corruptive. In modern ashrams daily time is set aside to the study of inspired or revealed teachings -- discourses of sages and realized yogis. Because in these modern times, where the average student has already suffered from over objectification it is valuable to keep all such practices in synergistic balance. The common man is not interested in how his mind works, how it colors his life, who he is, and how to seek the truth. Rather the common man doesn't know who he is and doesn't care. He seeks out compensatory self gratification and meaning in externals -- in objects which he attempts to possess and identify with on one hand, or escape, avoid, and flee from on the other. The inner world of the mind and body is often left as an unsolved riddle. Some men become interested in the hands and feet in order to work better -- to obtain these objects. Some people become interested in their genitals so as to feel more pleasure. Such are approaches to the body/mind in order to touch the external world. better. Care of the eyes, ears, and health in general is thus relegated to such external functionality, but knowledge of Self rarely becomes the issue outside of this superficial extrinsic fascination (as a neurotic compensation for spiritual self alienation) with the objective world. Thus the ordinary man's interest in the inner workings of the instrument of perception, cognition, consciousness and self rarely goes deeper. In yoga for example taking up asana practice is seen as the first step in getting in touch with the vital life force (prana) and the subtle inner body/mind mechanisms which are more causal toward affecting stress or wellness, tension or release, disease or health., etc. Going deeper the mind/body relationship is uncovered, the nature of the life energy is revealed, the meaning and true nature of the mind, creation, and existence is disclosed. This all requires attention, direction, concentration of effort, dedication, devotion -- in short the self discipline called swadhyaya. This will allow divine intention (bhava) and grace to actualize. This is what authentic yoga is about -- how to ramp the practice up so that these deeper relationship with All Our Relations is revealed and as such the neurotic self gratifications, over indulgences, consumerism, and symbolic fascinations of man cease. Here meditation becomes the daily opportunity for man to look inside and to see how his mind works, rather than to chronically and neurotically avoid, escape, and run away from it in his many masks of arrogance, aloofness, delusions, lies, and other insecurities and false self limiting identifications which is summed up by the word, ego. The fear of looking inside to see how we work and who we truly are is created by the denial of the ego -- the desire of the ego to maintain its own delusion and rule -- its own life so to speak. After one has become conditioned and accustomed to the many masks of the ego, the ego reasoning goes if the ego dies, then "I" die. Thus any truth that discloses this delusion (which lies at the heart of neuroses) is seen as a threat to ego identification and dominance -- as a threat to "self". This threat is usually perceived unconsciously and dealt with by the ego mechanisms of pride, arrogance, aloofness, hatred, scorn, condemnation of the messenger, demonization, marginalization, and even violence desiring the destruction of the threat. It doesn't take a genius to see the socioeconomic and other behavior consequences once man gets in touch with who they are -- reestablishes a healthy relationship with All Our Relations. Here truth (satya) is the threat to falsehood and delusion (avidya), so the solution is easy -- man must wake up to his true authentic self (swarupa). This is done through swadhyaya of which meditation is the best purveyor. One essential step is to throw away the mask. But the catch is that man must first has to establish some meaningful security with true self -- with All Our Relations in order to make this leap. This is what yoga practice can provide when presented in this light. So functional yoga practice in this regard gets man to trust the innate intelligence inside -- in his body and as a an intimate part of the earth, the universe and creation. One here relearns to trust their instinct and intuition -- the inner wisdom and innate teacher starts to shine forth eventually revealing itself in All Our Relations. Meditation lets one step into the workings of one's own mind and then eventually to set ourselves free from ego's neurotic mechanisms of externalization and false identification. Thus meditation reverses the extrinsic spin toward self gratification in extrinsic things and objects. One eventually sees that as an escape -- a neurotic substitute for being presence with sacred presence -- for being HERE. In this increasing clarity of mind and lucidity the meditator eventually learns to trust his own ability to know by himself without external authorities or validation. This attunement with creation/creator creates great self confidence and sparks the creative impulse. Only here can true freedom (kaivalya) be spoken about. The inner, more causal and refined meaning of swadhyaya is realized through meditation where the true nature of the universal timeless Self is realized -- it not being found in any book, words, concepts, belief, nor human language. See commentary for tapas in Pada II. Sutra I. II 45. samadhi-siddhir isvara-pranidhanat Samadhi is perfected (siddhir) through letting go the limited matrix of a separate self while surrendering to isvara (the all inclusive aspectless and unconditioned great universal integrity or the underlying motive power behind the principle of Infinite Mind). Commentary: This is an affirmation that we must let go of the limited matrixes of prejudice, preconceived, predilections, and attachments to present beliefs in order to move into the fertile/organic territory of Reality (which knows no such artificial bounds or impositions). Here we surrender to the highest self which is found as our highest innate potential -- Buddha nature. Isvara pranidhana means the surrender to the highest Self - our highest potential which simultaneously exists in the inherent unity of the three worlds (beginningless source, never ending future, and the eternal present). In pada I we see that Patanjali identifies Purusa, Isvara, and swarupa. As a practice isvara pranidhana is closely related to Brahmacharya (see above), but specifically invokes the energy of self surrender to Self (purusa). In the Western context, it affirms the stance of: "Thy will be done, HERE as in heaven".It must be noted that the word, isvara is a generic term for "that which is beyond form, attribute, or symbolic representation, i.e., the highest Self where words such as Brahman can not penetrate. Isvara pranidhana when practiced invokes and affirms sacred presence. Thus all the yam/niyams will eventually be seen as being interconnected (especially by the principles of ahimsa and vairagya). As self realization gradually dawns (their practice being self disclosing) the practice will become very natural and spontaneous as the inner love and wisdom is awakened and manifests from the inside out. Through the practices of the yam/niyams a mutual synergy will gradually be established leading the practitioner naturally to the underlying principle and motive power of yoga which lies behind these practices and supports the Heart. Moving toward isvara is also the bhava of divine intention -- it is the "good mind" seeking out the highest good in All Our Relations. As such it involves the generation of the mind of lasting happiness and enlightenment for all beings, the bodhi-citta. The incorporation of these yam/niyams into our daily lives will serve as guideposts to show us where we go astray and where we can better connect up more completely and continuously with Source. These guidelines of ahimsa, truthfulness, integrity, non-possessiveness, continuity, purity, peacefulness, divine passion, self study, and surrender can also be expediently applied to our daily asana practice to accelerate its highest accomplishment as well. Vairagya (non-attachment or letting go) which was introduced in Pada I and the practice of isvara pranidhana form two sides of one coin. They are mutually synergistic and incorporate the fruition of sankalpa shakti which facilitates success in the path of yoga. The physical or speech practices of isvara pranidhana such as ceremonial or devotional practices devoid of realization (as found in ritual, chanting. prayers, ceremony) remain superficial and can not succeed without realizing the HeartMind practice -- surrender to Universal Eternal Self in All Our Relations. All the niyams have the inherent power of accomplishing yoga, while isvara pranidhana is perhaps the most powerful. In a second it can destroy willfulness, asmita, all the other kleshas -- all ignorance as well. It has the power of divine grace and guidance. It contains the most ancient teaching: "Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven". It must be made clear that one cannot nor should not surrender to some one or thing that they cannot trust. Without fundamental trust in something, then isvara pranidhana cannot work. here we are not addressing obedience as trust, but rather at the minimum something reliable wherein we can rest, abide, and go toward. That can be simply be our affirmation and invocation of our innate higher potential -- that which is around the corner. Even if we have difficult issues of trust, we can surrender at least to this. Constant strife, chronic self defense, hyper vigilance, and stress creates while fighting for separate "self" is tiring sapping our strength. It requires putting out too much energy, while surrender to isvara bathes us in regeneration renewing the Self. In THAT the war is over. The common man does not know how to rest in trust or surrender. so they often need a segue like surrender to a good teacher, priest, church, religion, ceremony, ritual, and so forth. That can be a trap however, but isvara pranidhana as All Our Relations is implicate, innate, omnipresent, eternal, and universally available. Also see the discussion of isvara in Pada II Sutra 1 (above) and Pada I. Sutras 23-27, and the closely related practice of brahmacharya (Pada II. Sutra 38) Here ends the discussion of yama and niyama, while the discussion of asana and pranayama begins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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