Raja Yoga

"The mind is only thoughts. It is a form of energy. It manifests itself as the world. When the mind sinks into the Self then the Self is realised; when the mind issues forth the world appears and the Self is not realised."

Ramana Maharshi

The study of Raja Yoga (Royal or Kings Path) is a study of the mind. Most people assume that yoga is a physical exercise. However, this is only a part of what the word encompasses. Yoga is "union" and union is life, so anything to do with life - be it driving to work or walking your dog can be a form of yoga.

Raja Yoga has been studied and taught by many great spiritual teachers throughout the ages. The most popular and indeed possibly the clearest explanation of Raja Yoga comes from an Indian mystic by the name of Patanjali. He wrote a series of aphorisms (or comments) on this study.

Vivekananda, an Indian mystic and teacher of Raja Yoga, studied Patanjali's commentary and wrote "each man is only a conduit for the infinite ocean of knowledge and power that lies behind mankind. It (Raja Yoga), teaches that desires and wants are in man, that the power of supply is also in man; and that wherever and whenever a desire, a want, a prayer has been fulfilled, it was out of this infinite magazine that the supply came, and not from any supernatural being."

The science of Raja Yoga gives us a tool to work with to facilitate an ability to look within. It gives us the tools to study the mind itself. When we focus our attention and are properly guided towards our internal world, this attention will analyse the mind and illumine it's make up: "The powers of the mind are like rays of light dissipated; when they are concentrated, they illumine. This is our only means of knowledge."

Through a process of commentaries, Patanjali speaks of the different gunas that make up nature. These gunas are called Tamas (darkness, ignorance), Rajas (fire, activity) and Sattva (tendency to purity). Everything in nature (including humanity) is made up of varying degrees of these gunas. Thus every individual will at differing times exhibit more or less of each of them. It is the task of all people to eventually go beyond these gunas. That is to say, as we progress on the spiritual path, we will become less orientated towards Tamas and more towards Sattva. As we move away from anger and ignorance and slothfulness, we naturally move towards a spiritual lightness of being. This is the goal of all people even if we are not aware of it at this point in this or next life. When we have successfully learnt to control nature through the control and stilling of our minds, then we will go "beyond" these gunas and will have true understanding of ourselves ("enlightenment").

Patanjali also speaks of the principles of life. He speaks of the yama's (self control, the first rung in the ladder of the eight-fold yoga; abstention from lying, killing, theft, lust, covetousness) and the niyama's (discipline; religious duties as ordained for the second of the eight stages of yoga). He goes on to explain the further stages of yoga which progress up to the point of union with the divine, oneness, enlightenment of Self.

The aphorisms of Patanjali have been split into 4 sections. These are "Concentration 1", "Concentration 2", "Powers", and "Independence".

It is vitally necessary that Raja Yoga be learnt from a qualified teacher. To read the book of aphorisms is not enough. A teacher, who has fully acquainted his/herself by a study of no less than 4 years and who has passed through the barriers of the lower self, would be an ideal person to show you through their own example. To learn one aphorism per week, by giving a written commentary on that aphorism and for quiet contemplation on it's meaning, is the only true way of studying this yoga. Thus it is not for everyone. Some aspirants will seek Union through the study of Bhakti (devotion) or Jnana (knowledge) or Kriya Yoga.

Most importantly, for the true aspirant, when the need is there, the teacher will appear!!!

I wish you well....

Extracts from "Raja Yoga" by Swami Vivekananda ISBN 81 85301 16 6

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