Raja Yoga (the Yoga Sūtras with commentary) — trans. Swami Vivekananda (1896)

external causes of sensations by themselves it will acquire the power of perceiving all fine material existences, all fine bodies and forms. When it can succeed in perceiving the motions inside, by themselves, it will gain the control of all mental waves, in itself or in others, even before they have translated themselves into physical forces ; and when he will be able to perceive the mental reaction by itself the Yogi will acquire the knowledge of everything, as every sensible object, and every thought, is the result of this reaction. Then will he have seen, as it were, the very foundations of his mind, and it will be under his perfect control. Different powers will come to the Yogi, and if he yields to the temptations of any one of these the road to his further progress will be barred. Such is the evil of running after enjoyments. But, if he is strong enough to reject even these miraculous powers, he will attain to the goal of Yoga, the complete suppression of the waves in the ocean of the mind ; then the glory of the soul, untrammelled by the distractions of the mind, or the motions of his body, will shine in its full efi'ulgence. And the Yogi will find himself as he is and as he always was, the essence of knowledge, the immortal, the all-pervading.

Samadhi is the property of every human being — nay, every animal. From the lowest animal to the highest angelic being, some time or other each one will have to come to that state, and then, and then alone, will religion begin for him. And all this time, what are we doing ? We are only struggling towards that stage ;

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there is now no difference between us and those who have no reHgion, because we have had no experience. What is concentration good for, save to bring us to this experience ? Each one of the steps to attain this Samadhi has been reasoned out, properly adjusted, scientifically organised, and, when faithfully practised, will surely lead us to the desired end. Then will all sorrows cease, all miseries vanish ; the seeds of actions will be burned, and the soul will be free for ever.

CHAPTER VIII.

RAJA YOGA IN BRIEF.

This is a summary of Raja Yoga freely translated from the Kurma Purana.

The tire of Yoga burns the cage of sin that is around a man. Knowledge becomes purified, and Nirvana is directly obtained. From Yoga comes knowledge ; knowledge again helps the Yogi. He who is a compound of both Yoga and knowledge, with him the Lord is pleased. Those that practise Mahayoga, either once a day, or twice a day, or thrice, or always, know them to be gods. Yoga is divided into two parts. One is called the Abhava, and the other " Mahayoga." Where one's self is meditated upon as zero, and bereft of quality, that is called Abhava; the Yogi, by each one, realises his Self. That in which one sees the self as full of bliss and bereft of all impurities, and one with God, is called Mahayoga. The other Yogas that we read and hear of, do not deserve one particle of this great Brahmayoga, in which the Yogi finds himself and the whole universe as God Himself. This is the highest of all Yogas.

These are the steps in Raja Yoga. Yama, Niyama,
Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and