Sec.3.1/Part 2/ Miracles

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavatas,

Presented below is Section 3.1 of Part II Miracles from my book " Myths,

Miracles and Mysticism"

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

============================================================Section 3.1 :

Siddhi and Non- Siddhi Miracles

There are two kinds of miracles viz those inspired by special powers acquired

by certain individuals called ' Siddhis' and those revealed by divinity

itself. The former are performed by practitioners of 'Yoga' while the latter

are revealed for the benefit of humanity by the supernatural force, we call

God.

 

The word 'Siddhi' means 'miraculous powers' and 'achievement of perfect

abilities'. Siddhis can be achieved by meditation. Meditation is a discipline

enabling one to achieve higher states of consciousness. Scientific research

has shown that regular practice of meditation can result in health benefits.

Meditation starts with contemplation but what is actually effective is

concentration or mental control that can transform consciousness to go beyond

thinking to a state of non-thinking.

 

Combined with breath control, mantra and yantra (geometrical shapes), it sets

in a sense of detachment and a queer sense of ecstasy. The Upanishads

recommend such a meditation to free one from the bondage of the material

world. As one progresses in such transcendental meditation, one might

experience happiness, lucidity, luminosity and rapture and the body mechanism

might work at a minimal level just enough to exist physically.

 

Prayer is an inherent part of Meditation. Prayer consists in directing psychic

energy for achieving objectives by communication with divine or supernatural

forces. The basis of prayer is love. Prayers by unbelievers would be

ineffective. Prayer can not only eliminate an existing disability but can also

create a desired condition of happiness. The ultimate object of prayer,

however, is union with the divine. When this stage is reached, words, symbols

and images which propped up prayer automatically fall away.

 

Though group prayers create an upbeat mood because of the synergy buoyed up by

the synchronization of the brain waves of the participants, it is the personal

prayer in meditation that invests spiritual enlightenment and supernatural

powers in the individual.

 

Yoga is also an important instrument in meditation. The word "yoga' derives

from "Yuj" which means 'yoking'. The object of yoga is to seek union with the

divine reality. Hinduism recognizes several yogas like Raja Yoga ( Kingly

Union), Hata Yoga ( Forceful Union), Gnana Yoga (Union through Knowledge),

Karma Yoga ( Union through Action), Bhakti Yoga ( Union through Devotion) and

the most important and easiest means of Prapatti Yoga ( Union through

surrender to the will of God). Of these, only Bhakti Yoga and Prapatti are

the direct means to God realization, the others being the steps leading to

either of these.

 

In the process, the Yogi attains miraculous powers and psychic abilities. But,

these are only by products since the ultimate objective of Yoga is to attain

the ultimate. Yoga of the Hata Yoga variety practiced by some Tantrics is

extremely dangerous as it can lead to extreme introversion, spiritual

hedonism, regression and emotional fixation on something other than the real

objective.

 

Those who practice Hata Yoga specializing in Kundalini seem to develop a

'holier than thou' attitude quite unjustifiably not knowing that it is a

double edged weapon with some advantages if followed within prescribed limits

under proper guidance and positively harmful when practiced indiscriminately.

Kundalini is a dangerous exercise for one who is not adequately initiated or

supervised by an adept.

 

If one meddles with it, it will be a short cut to a mental hospital but what

is worse is the kind of damage they can cause to themselves and to others

before landing up there. Also, in the hands of the unscrupulous, these Tantra

techniques can turn out to be ' black magic' (Aabhichara).

 

Some tantric practitioners have pushed the Hatayoga to ridiculous extents so

that they lead to the use of drugs, dopes, speed, crack, angel dust,

tranquilizers, trips, psychedelic inhibitions, hallucinogens, marijuana,

hashish, peyote, mescaline, cocaine, LSD, and other chemical designer potions

in order to gain what they had missed due to improper yoga practices like

twisting themselves in the shape of human knots or other odd shapes with

disastrous results of bodily degeneration and mental alteration bordering on

insanity.

 

As a matter of fact, one could be quite hale and hearty indeed without all

these contortions that serve as no more than exhibitionist stunts. The only

thing that happens is that these Tantrics develop a bloated idea of self

importance which in reality they do not possess.

 

This only shows how unevolved they are in spiritual terms which, however,

calls for an opposite kind of quality viz., humility. Really evolved persons

do not indulge in these stupid acrobatics since they divert attention from

what is most important spiritually.

 

Such strenuous physical exercises are claimed to be `Rajayoga'. But Rajayoga

actually belongs to another category of a benignant kind whereas Hata yoga

especially the Tantra part of it bristles with those of a malignant kind. In

any case, these practices are neither necessary nor desirable nor are they

authorized by Sastras which describe in detail how Jeeva escapes through

about 72,000 Nadis of which 100 move upwards including 'Ida' and 'Pingala'

and how the Jeeva of a Prapanna ( surrendered soul) avoids all these and

rising through the spinal column escapes through a special 101st Nadi known as

Sushumna, Murdhanya or Brahma Nadi on the top of the crown of the head at the

time of death with minimum effort ensuring maximum effect. All these Nadis

are invisible nerve fibers of energy channels of the subtle inner bodies

(Sukshma Sareera) of Jeevas.

 

But, one thing is certain. Practicing Yoga properly as prescribed in Yoga

Sastras bestows on the practitioner certain extraordinary powers called

`SIDDHIS'

(Section 3.2 will continue)