Siddhis from Many Methods YS IV - 1 (continued)

Yoga Sutra IV - 1 - is translated by "How to Know God - The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali" translated and commented on by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood as:


Translation:
The psychic powers may be obtained either by birth, or by means of drugs, or by the power of words, or by the practice of austerities, or by concentration.

Commentary:

Some are born with psychic as a result of their struggles in previous lives. And not psychic powers merely, but real spiritual genius. Such are those most mysterious of all human beings, the "natural" saints, who are filled with the knowledge and love of God even in early childhood and grow up seemingly untouched by the temptations of worldliness.

The Bhagava Gita is referenced where Arjuna asks the question of what happens to a man who has faith and does not struggle hard enough, thus his mind wanders away from practicing yoga and fails to reach perfection? "Sri Krishna answers: 'Even if a man falls away from the practice of yoga, he will still win the heaven of the doers of goo deed, and dwell there many long years. After that, he will be reborn into the home of pure and prosperous parents....He will the regain that spiritual discernment which he acquired in his former body; and so he will strive harder than ever for perfection. Because of his practices in the previous life, he will be driven on toward union with Brahman, even in spite of himself.' "

We are informed that certain drugs may produce visions, however, these are psychic and not spiritual. Also the drug use can lead to prolonged spiritual dryness and may even damage the brain permanently. Mantram or repetition of spiritual words, are an invaluable aid to spiritual progress; special mantrams can produce psychic powers. Practicing austerities, enormously strengthens the aspirant's will power and psychic powers might be gained.

The commentary is concluded with "concentration is the surest of all means of obtaining the psychic powers."

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