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Written by Swami Vivekananda |
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REFERENCES TO YOGA |
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Svetacvatara Upanisad
Chapter II.
6. When the fire is churned, where the air is controlled,
where the flow of Soma becomes plentiful there a (perfect)
mind is created.
8. Placing the body in which the chest, the throat, and the
head are held erect, in a straight posture, making the organs
enter the mind, the sage crosses all the fearful currents by
means of the raft of Brahman.
9. The man of well regulated endeavours controls the
Prana, and when it has become quieted breathes out through
the nostrils. The persevering sage holds his mind as a
charioteer holds the restive horses.
10. In (lonely) places, as mountain caves, where the floor
is even, free of pebbles or sand, where there are no
disturbing noises from men or waterfalls, in places helpful to
the mind and pleasing to the eyes, Yoga is to be practiced
(mind is to be joined).
11. Like snowfall, smoke, sun, wind, fire, firefly,
lightning, crystal, moon, these forms, coming before,
gradually manifest the Brahman in Yoga.
12. When the perceptions of Yoga, arising from earth,
water, light, fire, ether, have taken place, then Yoga has
begun. Unto him does not come disease, nor old age, nor
death, who has got a body made up of the fire of Yoga.
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13. The first signs of entering Yoga are lightness, health,
the skin becomes smooth, the complexion clear, the voice
beautiful, and there is an agreeable odour in the body.
14. As gold or silver, first covered with earth, etc., and
then burned and washed, shines full of light, so the
embodied man seeing the truth of the Atman as one, attains
the goal and becomes sorrowless.
Yajnavalkya, quoted by Cankara.
“After practising the postures as desired, according to rules,
then, O Gargi, the man who has conquered the posture will
practice Pranayama.
“On the seat of earth, spreading the Kuca grass, and over
it a skin, worshipping Ganapati with fruits and sweetmeats,
seated on that seat, placing the opposite hands on the knees,
holding the throat and head in the same line, the lips closed
and firm, facing the east of the norht, the eyes fixed on the
tip of the nose, avoiding too much food or fasting, the Nadis
should be purified according to the above-mentioned rule,
without which the practice will be fruitless, thinking of the
(seed-word) Hum, at the junction of the Pingala and Ida (the
right and the left nostrils), the Ida should be filled with
external air in twelve Matras (seconds), then the Yogi
meditates fire in the same place and the word ‘Rang,’ and
while meditating thus, slowly rejects the air through the
Pingala (right nostril). Again filling in through the Pingala
the air should be slowly rejected through the Ida, in the same
way. This should be practices for three or four years, or
three or four months, according to the directions of a Guru,
in secret (alone in a room) in the early morning, at midday,
in the evening, and at midnight (until) the nerves become
purified, and these are the signs; lightness of body, clear
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191
complexion, good appetite, hearing of the Nada. Then
should be practiced Pranayama, composed of Rechaka
(exhalation), Kumbhaka (retention), and Puraka (inhalation).
Joining the Prana with the Apana is Pranayama.
“In sixteen Matras filling the body from the head to the
feet in thirty-two Matras to be thrown out, with sixty-four
the Kumbhaka should be made.
“There is another sort of Pranayama in which, with
sixteen Matras, the body is to be filled, then the Kumbhaka
is to be made with sixty-four, and with thirty-two is should
be rejected.
“By Pranayama impurities of the body are thrown out; by
Dharana the impurities of the mind; by Pratyahara
impurities of attachment, and by Samadhi is taken off
everything that hides the lordship of the Soul.
Sankhya
Book III.
29. By the achievement of meditation, there are to the
pure one (the Purusa) all powers like nature.
30. Meditation is the removal of attachment.
31. It is perfected by the suppression of the modifications.
32. By meditation, posture and performance of one’s
duties, it is perfected.
33. Restraint of the Prana is by means of expulsion and
retention.
34. Posture is that which is steady and easy.
36. Also by non-attachment and practice, meditation is
perfected.
74. By reflection on the principles of nature, and by
giving them up as “not It, not It,” discrimination is perfected.
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Book IV.
3. Repetition, instruction is to be repeated.
5. As the hawk becomes unhappy if the food is taken
away from him, and happy if he gives if up himself (so he
who gives up everything voluntarily is happy).
6. As the snake is happy in giving up his old skin.
8. That which is not a means of liberation is not to be
thought of; it becomes a cause of bondage, as in the case of
Bharata.
9. From the association of many things there is
obstruction to meditation, through passion, etc., like the shell
bracelet on virgin’s hand.
10. It is the same, even in the case of two.
11. The hopeless are happy, like the girl Pingala.
13. Although devotion is not to be given to many
institutes and teachers, the essence is to be taken from them
all, as the bee takes the essence from many flowers.
14. One whose mind has become concentrated like the
arrowmakers’, does not get his meditation disturbed.
15. Through transgression of the original rules there is
non-attainment of the goal, as in other worldly things.
19. By continence, reverence, and devotion to Guru,
success comes after a long time (as in the case of Indra.)
20. There is no law as to time, as in the case of
Vamadeva.
24. Or through association with one who has attained
perfection.
27. Not by enjoyments is desire appeased even with the
sages (who have practiced Yoga for long).
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Book V.
128. The Siddhis attained by Yoga are not to be denied,
like recovery through medicines etc.
Book VI.
24. Any posture which is easy and steady is an Asana;
there is no other rule.
Vyasa Sutra
Chapter IV., Section 1.
7. Worship is possible in a sitting posture.
8. Because of meditation.
9. Because the meditating (person) is compared to the
immovable earth.
10. Also because the Smrttis say so.
11. There is no law of place: whereever the mind is
concentrated, there worship should be performed.
These several extracts give an idea what other systems of
Indian Philosophy have to say upon Yoga. |
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