05 APRIL 2011 - SIDDHIS AND BEYOND
Patanjali Yoga Sutras #144, Chapter 3, Verse 38
My notes:
Here Patanjali gives us the Science of Siddhis.
Body has basic infrastructure - bones, flesh, blood etc. With nutrition, exercise, yoga we can build the body and achieve extraordinary things eg heavy weight lifting, getting into the record books. Same way, Mind has basic infrastructure and can be prepared with samyamas to reach enlightenment.
Siddhis are extraordinary happenings that happen during samyama, when going from Mind to No Mind state.
Extraordinary happenings of the Presence happen when one is in the No Mind state.
There are 3 ways to get extraordinary powers - mani (technique), mantra (sound) and oushada (herbs and chemicals).
Patanjali Yoga Sutras #144, Chapter 3, Verse 38
My notes:
Here Patanjali gives us the Science of Siddhis.
Body has basic infrastructure - bones, flesh, blood etc. With nutrition, exercise, yoga we can build the body and achieve extraordinary things eg heavy weight lifting, getting into the record books. Same way, Mind has basic infrastructure and can be prepared with samyamas to reach enlightenment.
Siddhis are extraordinary happenings that happen during samyama, when going from Mind to No Mind state.
Extraordinary happenings of the Presence happen when one is in the No Mind state.
There are 3 ways to get extraordinary powers - mani (technique), mantra (sound) and oushada (herbs and chemicals).
- If you use only oushada and sleight of hand, it is ordinary magic. No mind is involved. This is entertainment, nothing wrong, no one is hurt.
- If you use mostly oushada and some mantra, it is uchadana. The effect varies. If it is done rightly for wrong purpose or if it is done wrongly, without knowing side effects, for right purpose, it is black magic and there will be problems, you will destroy yourself and hurt others. Black magic is the result of abused mind. Siddhis are a result of used mind.
- If you use just mani, techniques, you will get siddhis and this is white magic. You will not destroy anything, but you will get stuck, you will not reach enlightenment.
The sacred secret is that Patanjali is issuing a warning. Sit and analyse - do you really want only enlightenment or are you interested in worldly achievement also. How much of your mind is interested only in samadhi and enlightenment and how much in outer world accomplishments. If you are interested in outer world accomplishments, nothing wrong. All the samyamas given until now and all the powers are great achievements in the outer world, but obstacles in the samadhi state.
Understand the science and your purpose. Neither have fear nor greed towards siddhis - have clarity.
| state | extraordinary powers expressed | extraordinary happenings due to | effects |
| leela | happenings of the presence in no mind state eg vibhooti. No mani, mantra or oushada is used. | no side effects, does good to the person expressing powers and all who experience them | |
| NO MIND | |||
| ↑ | siddhis (white magic) | happenings when going from mind to no-mind state using mani (techniques eg samyama) | does not destroy, but danger of getting stuck, obstacle to enlightenment. Neither have fear nor greed for siddhis. Have clarity. Have intelligence to know when to do or not do. |
| MIND | |||
| uchadana (black magic) | some mantra (sounds), mostly oushada (herbs or chemicals) | effect varies based on purpose. Destroys yourself and others when done in right way for wrong reasons or done in wrong way for right reasons. | |
| (ordinary magic) | oushada or sleight of hand, not using mind | entertainment, nothing wrong |
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