The Secret Natural Abilities Of Man
A spiritual power primarily serves as an indicator of one’s
success in the practice of spiritual, mystical, and esoteric
disciplines. In India, these spiritual powers are called Siddhis. Siddhi
is a Sanskrit word that means accomplishment, attainment, or success in
connection to both the physical and superphysical worlds.
I encountered the word Siddhi for the very first time only a few years
ago while I was sitting in my cubicle enjoying a nice warm cup of mental
agitation. During that period, life was becoming more like a prison for
me each day. Wherever I go, I had this compelling urge to get away from
everything. I just wanted to do something else, something meaningful. I
started thinking again about my childhood fantasies for some reason. I
remembered dreaming about moving objects just by using thought, reading
other people’s minds, going out of my body to travel to different
places, and so on. Ok, so the word “escapism” pops up. I know, right?
Anyway, after realizing that the mental diversion was taking me further
and further away from the tasks at hand, I decided to continue wasting
more precious working hours doing the only thing I considered worth
spending my time on – reading stuff. I searched for every article and
every book that talked about spiritual powers. One thing led to another,
and soon enough, I had my eyes gazing at the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
Honestly, it made me feel like a kid who was opening his very first
present on Christmas day. Suddenly, I had in front of me something which
I really felt could help me find the answer to one question I’ve been
asking myself for a very long time – What am I?
The Yoga Sutras Of Patanjali
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is a very influential classical text from
the yoga school of Hindu philosophy. This is mainly what I use to
appreciate how the minds of the Indian yogis work. A yogi is a male
spiritual practitioner; yogini is the term used for women. Patanjali was
an Indian sage and yogi who lived in the 2nd century BCE. His sutras
(short aphoristic statements) about Yoga were divided into four books or
chapters:
Book 1: Samadhi Pada – contains a description of yoga and the process of Samadhi (a profound consciousness state induced by complete meditation).
Book 2: Sadhana Pada - contains all the sutras that pertain to the practices of yoga. I’ll explain this later.
Book 3: Vibhuti Pada – contains all the sutras that pertain to Siddhis (attainments/spiritual powers) which is what this article series is all about.
Book 4: Kaivalya Pada - contains all the sutras that pertain to the goal of yoga which is moksha or liberation. The articles below will help you arrive at this concept one way or another.
In our world today, man seems to be in an escalating conflict with three
powerful forces. First, there’s man against nature. Second, there’s man
against machine. Finally, there’s man against himself. Other than that,
man is so systematically conditioned to believe that both his mind and
body are only capable of achieving what science tells him it can do.
Consequently, man forgets that he possesses the most powerful thing that
exists in the Universe which conquers all these forces - a thing that
he calls Consciousness.
The Vibhuti Pada is not only a chapter that describes a list of
spiritual powers and the methods for attaining them, but it also serves
as an extraordinary guide for anyone who wants to find out what
Consciousness really means. I think it’s time that more people become
aware of the knowledge contained in these sutras. Some people say that
the only way humanity can save itself from total annihilation is for a
change in consciousness to occur. If that is true, then I guess
communicating this information to others is my contribution for that
change.
My interpretation of the sutras is based primarily on the translations
in these books. They have been really helpful in my study of Patanjali’s
Yoga Sutras.
1. The Science Of Yoga: The Yoga-Sutras Of Patanjali In Sanskrit - I. K. Taimni
2. The Yoga Sutras Of Patanjali: "The Book of the Spiritual Man" - Charles Johnston
3. The Yoga-Sûtra Of Patañjali: Sanskrit-English Translation & Glossary - Chip Hartranft
The first and second books have commentaries, but among the two, The
Science of Yoga by I.K. Taimni has the most comprehensive analysis of
the sutras. For more titles on yoga, Eastern philosophy, and
esotericism, you can also check out my mind power library.
In order for you to fully grasp what this whole spiritual power
enterprise is all about, you must first place yourself from the
standpoint of the student of yoga. Also, there are many terms here based
on Hindu philosophy which may confuse you when you encounter them for
the first time. These articles may serve as your point of reference:
1. Yoga
– This is a general introduction to yoga. Some people out there promote
yoga as some kind of health treatment/training exercise. Although it
can, in fact, make you healthy, you’re only wasting time and money on
these people if that’s the only thing they teach you about yoga.
2. Raja Yoga
– This is the system derived from Patanjali’s sutras which allows
mind-body integration in preparation for the attainment of the spiritual
powers listed at the end of this post.
3. Samyama Meditation
- Raja yoga is composed of eight set of techniques. The last three
(Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi) which forms Samyama are practiced
simultaneously. The rest of the techniques serve as preparatory
exercises for Samyama. Patanjali specifically points to this as the
means to gain full control of these powers.
4. 7 Major Chakras
– Each siddhi (spiritual power) requires meditation on one or several
subtle energy centers called chakras. Some of the sutras do not exactly
give reference to them that’s why I had to find the corresponding chakra
for each siddhi.
The siddhis are the result of birth, drugs, mantras, austerities, or
Samadhi. Our attention should be on Samadhi, but let me try to explain
all of them briefly.
1. Birth – Reincarnation
is a major concept in Eastern philosophy. The Hindus believe that
although we are born in this world with a tabula rasa (blank slate) we
carry in us a set of potentialities called Samskaras (the seeds of our
actions in previous lives). These tendencies, they say, remain inactive
and only manifest when the right conditions are present. Some people may
be born with certain talents, abilities, or even spiritual powers, but
unless the conditions are favorable to their development, these gifts
cannot be ripened to their fullest expression. Additionally, I.K. Taimni
mentions in his commentary of the sutras that some people whose moral
and intellectual development are not very highly advanced are sometimes
born with certain spurious occult powers. The reason could be that they
experimented with Yogic practices in their previous lives.
2. Austerities – Austerities are called Tapas in Sanskrit. If you
are a glutton for punishment, you may enjoy this kind of thing and
somehow develop siddhis. Nevertheless, even if it’s part of Niyama (2nd limb of yoga), performing austerities is not the primary objective of the meditative path.
3. Psychedelics Drugs & Entheogens
– Siddhis can be developed by using drugs, but they cannot be compared
to the higher class of spiritual powers only attained through Samyama
meditation. If you’re really into this, I suggest that you read John C.
Lilly (inventor of the isolation tank). He’s one of the few well-known
psychonauts who mastered the technique of sensory deprivation and the
use of psychedelics to explore the realms of higher consciousness.
4. Mantras
– A mantra is an effective tool for attaining steadiness of the mind.
They are also efficient in invoking certain energies in the realm of the
unconscious. But, of course, Patanjali only recommends meditation
because that’s his mojo.
5. Samadhi
– This is the final stage of Samyama Meditation and the siddhis
attained through it are the most powerful types because you have
complete control over them.
1. Precognition & Retrocognition: Knowledge Of The Past And Future
2. Clairaudience: Knowledge of the Sounds-Language of All Beings
3. Knowledge Of Past Lives Or Previous Births
4. Telepathy: Knowledge Of The Minds Of Other Beings
5. The Ability To Make The Body Invisible (Invisibility)
6. Foreknowledge Of The Time Of Death
7. Strength Of Any Attitude (Such As Friendliness)
8. Super Strength (Such As That Of An Elephant)
9. Clairvoyance: Knowledge of Subtle, Hidden, & Remote Things
10. Knowledge Of Other Worlds, Realms, And Universes
11. Knowledge Of The Arrangement Of Stars And Planets
12. Knowledge Of The Movement Of Stars And Planets
13. Full Knowledge Of The Systems Of The Body
14. Freedom From Hunger And Thirst
15. The Power Of Steadiness Or Immobility
16. Visions of Siddhas (Perfected Beings)
17. Intuitive Knowledge or Spontaneous Illumination
18. Knowledge Of The Nature Of The Mind
19. Knowledge Of Pure Consciousness (Spirit/Purusha)
20. Extra Sensory Perception: Activating Your Psychic Abilities
21. Entering And Controlling The Bodies Of Others
22. The Power Of Levitation (Laghima)
23. Radiating Light Around The Body (The Luminosity of Auras)
24. Super Hearing (Hearing At Vast Distances)
25. Ability To Travel Through Space (Teleportation)
26. Vision Of The Light Of The Universal Mind
27. Mastery Of The Elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether)
28. Making The Body Atomically Small, Indestructible, Perfect
29. Perfection Of The Body In Beauty, Strength, And Brilliance
30. Mastery Over The Five Senses Of The Body
31. Quickness Of The Mind (Instantaneous Cognition)
32. Omnipotence & Omniscience: Mastery Of All States Of Existence
33. Knowledge Born Of The Awareness Of Ultimate Reality
34. Intuitive Discernment: Ability To Distinguish or Differentiate All Things
35. Higher Knowledge And Wisdom
36. Absolute Freedom: The Perfect Spiritual Life
I’m a kind of person who believes that everything happens for a reason.
Every significant event marks a turning point which leads to a new
chapter being read (not written) from the book of one’s life here on
Earth. Today, here you are reading this information which I tried to
simplify the best way I can. If you find it helpful, someone else you
know may benefit from it too, so please share. May the spiritual power
of all the saints and buddhas be with you.