7 Days course-lesson-3-RAJA YOGA
LESSON-3
WHAT IS RAJA YOGA
3.1. ORIGIN
Om Shanti.
Om Shanti is an awareness of my own true
state-that of total peace. This is the essence of the teachings of Raja Yoga.
Raja Yoga is now being taught by the Supreme Father through the human instrument
of Prajapita Brahma.
Although the term Raja Yoga has been in
existence for many centuries, the original teachings of the ancient Raja Yoga,
taught by the sermonizer of the Geeta, the God of the Geeta, have been lost to
mankind, which is why we have been unable to experience that highest state of
union, or True Yoga. Now, in accordance with the promise given to us by God in
the Geeta,” Whenever there is unrighteousness, I incarnate, to establish
righteousness and destroy irreligiousness; I come to teach Raja Yoga,” the
teachings are once again being given, to fulfil this promise.
3.2. AIM
Raja Yoga is known as the highest of all
teachings because the aim of Raja Yoga is perfection; not merely bringing about
a little change or making someone a better person, but the definition and the
aim of Raja Yoga are perfections. There is the recognition that the soul was divine,
has now lost its divinity, but that it is possible to regain that divinity once
again. So Raja Yoga works on the soul. This Yoga (union) is the method by which
there is the transformation in the very personality, the very nature, of the soul
itself, that is, within the Sanskars. The significance of this is that the
devilish qualities that have been acquired over the past few thousand years are
all shed, and the original divinity sparkles once more.
3.3. METHOD
The aim of Raja Yoga is perfection; the
method is the connection with the Supreme. Whilst I only have a connection with
human beings or even with prophets and messengers, I cannot reach my own most defects,
and the strength to absorb all virtues and achieve perfection.
3.4. THE COMPLETE STAGE
THE STAGE OF PERFECTION could be described as
BEING COMPLETELY VICELESS, COMPLETELY VIRTUOUS, FILLED WITH ALL DIVINE TALENTS
AND ATTRIBUTES AND COMPLETELY NON-VIOLENT-the soul who follows the highest code
of conduct. Through the knowledge that is taught by the Supreme and the method
of meditation that is taught by the Supreme, this becomes possible. Yoga means
Union; Raja Yoga means union with the Supreme. It also means the highest of all
unions: that Yoga through which the soul regains its supremacy. I become the
master over myself, my own mind, my sense, my personality so that I can
develop in the direction of my choice. Instead of being manipulated by outside
events and circumstances, or even by other people, the soul can see its target
and will move forward with constancy and with determination, thus achieving its
target, its final aim and object.
Sometimes we have felt that as Raja Yoga is
the highest, perhaps it is also the most difficult. Nothing could be further
from the truth, because Raja Yoga is the very natural awareness of one’s own
true identity. How could that possibly be difficult? Raja Yoga is also the
natural, loving communication with the Supreme Father. Can communication with a
beloved Father be called difficult?
Whilst there is a lack of understanding, or
whilst there is no clearly defined knowledge, there is confusion about my own
identity, and that of my Father. Yes-then there is the difficulty. But when there
is a clear introduction, I can begin to establish a relationship on the basis
of that introduction. And as I experience the benefits of that relationship, it
deepens until it becomes one of perfect union, perfect harmony, in which the
soul becomes the image of the Supreme. It is recreated with the qualities of
the Supreme Father.
3.5 A CHOICE OF YOGAS?
Sometimes we have been told that, because there is a variety of Yoga, different Yoga is suited to different personalities and that we must choose the path of Yoga we would like to follow. Let us see how far this idea is valid.
Yoga through
love and devotion—Raja Yoga means the total
development of the soul; if I am told that I must follow the path of bhakti-yoga
(the yoga through love and devotion) because this is the way in which my
personality is inclined, what will be the final result? Through bhakti yoga
there is an expression of love for the Supreme, there is the experience of love
from the Supreme, and there is also great humility. But the soul does not just
need love; it needs a great deal more.
If there is only the development of the
emotional aspect, of love within the soul, my personality will develop in a
dangerous pattern, for not only do I need to love God, but i also need to know Him,
in order to follow His instructions, and obey the directions He gives for my
life. So while I remain only a Yogi of bhakti, love will be developed but there
will be no wisdom, no understanding and no strength within my soul.
Yoga through
learning knowledge—I also need that which has been
described as Gyan Yoga(Gyan meaning knowledge) because only when I have a Yoga
which is based on knowledge will I be able to protect myself from any
temptation.
Yoga of the
intellect through the depth of perfection of knowledge—
While there may be only loved for God, there
is also the possibility that any temptation coming in front of me will prove to
be greater than the emotion I experience at that moment, and I will be
distracted from my path of Yoga or union. But if there is knowledge, with the
depth of perception that knowledge brings, the soul is able to recognise the
difficulties, obstacles and temptations and will make sure that it is not
trapped by any of these, and that it remains a firm yogi. Gyan yoga is linked
with buddhi yoga (buddhi meaning intellect)
The balance of Yoga- While Gyan and buddhi
yoga is isolated, there is the danger that simply with knowledge, simply with
Yoga of the intellect, I may develop arrogance, and there would not be a
complete development of personality. Complete development implies a tempering
of qualities of love and law with each other: love channelled by law, and law
tempered by the sweetness of love. I need both, surely, if I am to be a
completely balanced personality.
I need the bhakti to develop the sweetness
within my nature, and equally, I need the knowledge, in order to develop the
strength within my being. So I cannot separate my Yoga into compartments and
say that I must choose the one or the other. I must find a Yoga which combines
both. And if we look at Raja Yoga, we can see the perfect combination of all
yogas within one system.
Three other kinds of yoga will also be
referred to later on. Let us examine raja Yoga and see how it is carrying
attributes of each of the yogas
The yogas
within Raja Yogas- First and foremost, perhaps, it
could be described as buddhi yoga because it is yoga-based very much on the
intellect. The intellect is the faculty which takes knowledge, so Raja Yoga is
also Gyan yoga. The intellect uses knowledge as the basis for communication
with the Supreme. But Raja Yoga is also the true Bhakti Yoga, for when my
intellect recognises the Supreme, there is the spontaneous expression of pure love and devotion for the Supreme being,
not only as my Father and Mother but my friend, my beloved and my companion.
So it contains the purest love of bhakti. Without this, the perfect
relationship of the soul with the Supreme could not exist.
Yoga through
renunciation- With this love For the Supreme, very
naturally, turns away from all others and comes to One- the Seed. Thus Raja
Yoga is sanyas yoga (sanyas meaning renunciation). It is not a physical
renunciation. If I have physically renounced something, and yet my thoughts are
pulled to that being or thing, it is only artificial renunciation. However, if
my thoughts are pulled by the Supreme as a result of there being a recognition
of the sweetness to the Supreme, and my thoughts and intellect have renounced,
or left behind, the pulls or attractions of the physical, gross world, then
this is the highest, the natural, unlimited renunciation.
Yoga through
discipline and determination- Raja Yoga is also hatha yoga
(Hatha implying a system of force). Within Raja Yoga, there is the natural
discipline, the natural force and power that comes from a deep understanding
of the soul. No physical postures are performed, but the sol is completely
disciplined so that it remains in the mental posture necessary for each
particular situation.
Hatha is also determination. Yoga is not
achieved without determination in the soul. However, again the determination is
an internal one. Rather than simply holding the body in a lotus posture, the
Raja yogi is intent on keeping the mind in a lotus posture; that is, while
living in the old, impure world of kali yuga (the Iron age), to make sure the
soul itself is quite unaffected and always above the influence of the impurity
all around. In Raja Yoga, there is not the Shava asana (the death posture) for
the body, which is used to bring relaxation. However, because the soul
experiences total detachment from its physical senses and its physical costume,
there is perfect relaxation, even more so than the Shava asana.
Thus Raja Yoga, everything is translated to
apply to the internal state of development and the complete stability achieved
through that development.
Yoga through
action- Raja Yoga is also karma yoga (karma means
action). Karma Yoga can be defined in three ways:
FIRSTLY- YOGA WHICH CAN BE PRACTISED EVEN
WHILST PERFORMING ACTION. Since Raja Yoga is simply turning the loving thoughts
to the Supreme Father, and does not involve any physical posture or physical
aid, my thoughts can be with my Supreme Father even while I work with my hands,
and be in perfect yoga with Him. As I walk, as I talk, as I sit, as I eat, and whatever
action I am engaged in, my thoughts are engaged with my Supreme Beloved.
Therefore it is the one and only yoga that one can maintain whilst engaged in
action.
SECONDLY-KARMA YOGA IS ALSO TRANSLATED AS THE
YOGA THAT IS REFLECTED IN MY KARMA(MYACTION}.My communication with the Supreme
fills me with purity, love and peace; my actions then reflect this state of
being- my yogic state, Actions are transformed to ones of total purity, ones
that spread both peace and love.
THIRDLY- KARMA YOGA IS THE ACTION BY WHICH MY
YOGA IS STRENGTHENED; that is, through which I come closer to the Supreme
Being, or, through which my union with Him is strengthened. When there is a karmic exchange (giving and taking) between human beings, a relationship
develops. Precisely the same thing occurs with Supreme Father; as I perform an action out of love for the Supreme, in the love of the Supreme, that action
brings me closer to Him and strengthens my Yoga. So Raja Yoga is also true
karma Yoga.
Yoga through
equanimity: - Raja Yoga is the samatwa yoga(samatwa meaning
equanimity). As I have a union with my Supreme Father, I am pulled away from the
fluctuating influences of the external world. The only influence able to reach
me is that of the qualities of my Supreme Father. The influences of the impure
world of the Iron Age(The present age of the degraded state of the
world-see lesson 6, in due course), with their negativity, have been left
behind. My thoughts, my intellect and my Sanskars are now influenced only by
the qualities of my Supreme Father, and so my complete state of mind, through
my whole being, reflects this equanimity. There may be many other yogas but
each one of them is found within Raja Yoga. It is the Supreme of Yogas, for it
leads to the full development of myself, the soul.
3.6 THE
STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT
FIRST STAGE—Meditation
It is interesting that the very foundation of
Raja Yoga is different from most other forms of meditation. One of the very
first stages of Raja Yoga could be described as meditation. But in this
meditation we are not using a “mantra”(a holy word, phrase or sound), nor are
we using any physical images. We are using knowledge.
SECOND
STAGE—Concentration-
With meditation, straying thoughts cease, and
there is concentration. Far from concentration on a mere physical object, the
Raja Yogi seeks union with the Supreme, who is incorporeal, without a physical
form of any description.
THIRD STAGE-
Realisation-
So the aim of my meditation is to have total
concentration on or connection with the Supreme Being. This total concentration
can be called realisation.
3.7. WHY NOT
A MANTRA OR AN OBJECT?
Whilst a mantra, or an object, is used, the
best I can hope to achieve is the concentration on that word or object. Most
certainly, I am very far away from experiencing communication with the Supreme.
The most I will achieve is a certain peace of mind because my thoughts have
moved away from a pattern of thinking linked to my physical existence or the events
that were causing me grief and sorrow. My
Thoughts have been diverted to the mantra or object
The meditation of Raja Yoga is with the aim
of achieving communication with the Supreme. It is not merely a concentration
exercise.
3.8. HOW DOES ONE ACHIEVE
COMMUNICATION?
Thought- Even when two people are
communicating by means of physical energies, such as the sound of speech, aided
by visual communication through the eyes, the basis of that communication is
thought. Their thoughts, in harmony, are the communication that is actually
taking place. In the same way, I must use my thoughts if I am to communicate with
the Supreme Father.
This is why in the Geeta we are given the
instructions” Manmanabhav”-“Focus your mind on me”.
On one hand, this is surely the simplest
thing I can do and very easy to achieve. There is no difficulty in my physical
body. There is no penance or
ritual-nothing for me to perform. All I must do is think, turn my mind towards
God. And yet this most simple of tasks proves to be the most difficult, because
I do not know where to focus my thoughts.
I do not know how to discipline my thoughts.
A focus- Therefore, knowledge is needed: (i)
Knowledge of the self, so that I know how the soul is creating thoughts (ii)
Knowledge of the Supreme Soul, so that I can focus my thoughts on the Supreme
Being. Once there is knowledge, and then love, my thoughts will automatically
move away from all other directions and focus on the Supreme.
The first stage of Raja Yoga, the mind is
used very actively. This is surely the best system, being the easiest and most
natural. To try and stop the mind functioning is the most laborious business. It is
not even necessary.
My mind is accustomed to working constantly.
If a car is running at full speed and I slam on the brakes, I will come to
halt, but I will possibly create damage in the process. In the same way, my
mind is accustomed to racing and if I try to prevent it from doing so, I will
either have great difficulty or I will only be successful for a very short
while. The mind will again leap into the direction and I will lose control
altogether.
3.9 THE
EXPERIENCE
Baba teaches us a very beautiful system: let
the mind race, but simply control the direction in which it is going. When the
intellect has the knowledge, thoughts will be elevated from the level of physical
mundane activity to thoughts of the self;” Who am I? What are my original
qualities? Where is my Home? Who is my Father? What is my relationship with
Him? What are His qualities? What is His address? What does He do?”
The answers to these questions are given in
Raja Yoga and the soul ponders on these questions. As it discovers and churns
the answers, the soul finds it has moved away from the gross, corporeal World
into subtle areas-the Subtle Region. There is then “Meditation” taking place on
the most natural level.
Then there is the full concentration on the
Supreme Being. I go deeper into the Ocean, discovering His qualities,
experiencing the different relationships that I have with Him. Conscious thoughts
are still operating, but now all thoughts are focussed on One-on Baba-not even
on other areas of spiritual knowledge.
During the meditation, perhaps many areas of
spiritual Knowledge were being taken up. During the concentration, I speak to my
Supreme Father-my thoughts become quieter, calmer, no longer racing. And as the
mind becomes still, I even begin to hear what my Supreme Father is saying to
me. I reach the stage where there is “concentration”- the experience of my
Supreme Father as He truly is.
I am flooded with the experience of His
qualities. I absorb them. I am transformed. I even begin to radiate them into
the universe.
I have reached a stage where there are no
longer any conscious thoughts at work. Pure experience has taken over. And as I
come away from that stage of experience, I can classify it, and conscious
thought comes. But whilst in that stage of experience, there is not even
conscious thought.
3.10. THE
NATURAL WAY
In a very natural way, my mind has moved from
conscious, gross thinking to conscious, subtle thinking(first stage), and then
to concentration(second stage), and then even to a stage beyond conscious
thinking(third stage). Because there has been a natural process at work, it has
been a very simple procedure. The difficulty with meditation has been that
people have considered it necessary to stop all thought, and, in order to
achieve this, have had to use artificial means. But the active mechanism comes
to a halt naturally when the system of Raja Yoga is understood and practised.
It is not even a matter of having to spend
many months on one stage before going onto the next. As I practise, and observe
the disciplines of a yogi way life, and understand more knowledge, the soul
moves away from ordinary consciousness to soul-consciousness to
God-consciousness in another easy step, and then experience perfect union.
change in the World, in two different ways. Firstly, on one level, as I
3.11 THE
EFFECT ON THE WORLD
So Raja Yoga has an effect on one’s whole
life. But a Raja Yogi is also influencing change, I trigger off a reaction in
all others around me-my family, my relatives, my friends, my colleagues, in
society and in the world. Secondly, as one sits in the highest stage of Yoga,
one is an instrument for spreading the qualities of God, the qualities of
purity and peace, into the universe, so that not only am I transferred but the world is also transformed.
The ultimate aim of Raja Yoga is not even
just the transformation of the self, not just perfect for the self, but the
creation of a new world order in which there is perfection. The aim of Raja
Yoga is the establishment of the “World of Truth”, the Golden Age, the World of
Love, the world of Happiness.
The system of Raja Yoga is simply turning the
thoughts towards the Supreme, with love, as has been spoken of in the Gita.
3.12.
MEDITATION-COMPLETE CONSCIOUSNESS
Sitting comfortable, let the thoughts
centralise in the forehead.
SUGGESTED
THOUGHTS FOR MEDITATION
I become aware of my true identity...I the
soul...I move away from the pull of the body and the physical world...
The pull of the Supreme Father is stronger
than these others. I come in front of my Supreme Father .....In the presence of
Baba, the Incorporeal pinpoint of light...I experience the blessings of my
Father, my Teacher and my Supreme Guru...the blessings of purity..of
divinity...
I am filled with peace from the Ocean...
with the light and might that is within the Supreme...Naturally, easily I am
filled with all that I desire..for I have met the Supreme Father of all souls
and taken from this store...
And as I go about linked with my Father, I
spread those vibrations of light and might into the physical world.
3.13. HELPFUL
METHODS FOR THE DAY
Aim- When
aspirations are pure, success is guaranteed. Raja Yoga, Union with the Supreme
Father, is the experience of pure thoughts; the experience of peace, love,
bliss and power. So the aim of experiencing Raja Yoga is a pure one. During the
day, whilst doing manual work, mental work, communicating with others, or in
whatever activity you find yourself, have this pure aim; to experience Raja
Yoga.
3.14. STUDY
Whilst studying, we realise that we are
spiritual students because to realise oneself is to be spiritual.
Normally study is for the benefit of 40 or 50
years of one’s life, perhaps. In contrast, spiritual study benefits one’s whole
future existence.
RAJA YOGA- THE SUPREME, SOVEREIGN YOGA
QUESTIONS
3A. Why is Raja Yoga considered to be the
supreme yoga?
3B. In what ways do we achieve a link with the
Supreme?
3c. In your own words, explain how through
meditation one can bring about a change in others and also in the world?
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