Practical Lessons in Yoga

PREFACE

This book entitled "Practical Lessons in Yoga" consists of twelve easy and interesting
Lessons. The First Lesson deals with Yoga and Its Objects. The Second Lesson treats of Yoga
Sadhana or the practice of Yoga and contains a clear and lucid description of the four important
paths viz., Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga. One can easily choose for
himself a path according to his particular taste, temperament and capacity by a close study of this
Lesson. I firmly hold that no one wishing to become a perfect Yogi can realise his wish, if he does
not begin his Yogic practices with Karma Yoga or doing actions for actions&rsquo sake, without the idea
of agency and without expectation of the fruits of his actions. I have also made passing references to
the various other forms of Yoga such as Hatha Yoga, Mantra Yoga and Kundalini Yoga.

In the Third Lesson on Yogic Discipline I have clearly and expressly stated that the practice
of Yoga is rooted in the cultivation of virtues and the eradication of negative qualities, and have also
stated in detail what virtues should of necessity be cultivated and what vices are to be eradicated,
and through what means.

Yogic Diet forms the subject-matter of the Fourth Lesson. It should be distinctly borne in
mind that mind is made up of the fine particles of food that we take, and we are what we eat. If the
student of Yoga who is a neophyte desires to lay a firm, sure and sound foundation in his practices,
he should take care to eat only such foods that are conducive to his spiritual advancement and
progress, and avoid all others. A list of the various articles of diet, prescribed and prohibited, is also
given.

In the Fifth Lesson I have taken all care to collect the various stumbling blocks in the way of
the aspirant and the various means of overcoming them. I strongly advise the student to read and
re-read this Lesson a number of times in order that he may be cautious in moments of temptation.
Then in the Sixth Lesson I have dealt with Yogasanas or Yogic postures. It is very necessary
for the would-be Yogi to maintain a sound and vigorous body and mind to achieve success in his
undertaking, and in order that he might achieve this end, a number of simple and easy exercises,
physical and consequently mental, have been prescribed. These exercises were practiced by Yogins
and Rishis of yore and are still being practiced in India and other countries with astonishing results.

The Seventh Lesson treats of Pranayama or regulation of breath. Simple and practical
exercises have been prescribed for the regulation and control of breath. which will ultimately result
in the control of the mind. These exercises in breath-control are not merely for enhancing the
soundness and control of the mind, but they also play a vital part in ensuring a sound body. The
student of Pranayama who attains perfection in it will have various psychic powers. Regulation of
breath and control of mind lead to concentration. So concentration is the topic of the next lesson.
I have dealt at length with the nature of the mind and the methods through which it can he controlled.
Some practical exercises are given to attain success in concentration.

The Ninth Lesson deals with Meditation because the fruit of concentration is meditation. A
number of easy and interesting exercises have been described. The fruit of meditation is Samadhi
and this forms the subject-matter of the next lesson. Samadhi is superconscious state, wherein the
Yogi gets superintuitional or supersensual knowledge and supersensual bliss. In Samadhi the Yogi
communes with the Lord and enjoys Absolute Independence. He has reached the Goal now.

In the Eleventh Lesson I have dealt with the Serpentine Power or the mighty pristine Force
underlying all organic and inorganic matter. This Force is in a dormant state and is sleeping a
sleep-trance in almost all persons in the basal Muladhara Chakra. When this sleeping Force is
roused to action, it pierces through the various centres of spiritual energy in the human body and
reaches the crown of the head or the Sahasrara Chakra where She is united with Her Consort, Lord
Siva. That Yogi who has taken the sleeping Kundalini to the Sahasrara Chakra and united Her with
Lord Siva alone has attained the Goal, not others. The process by which this sleeping Power can be
roused to action and taken to the top of the head has also been described with beautiful illustrations.
The Yogi who has succeeded in achieving this union becomes the Lord of all powers and
knowledge.

In the last Lesson on Spiritual Vibrations and Aura I have stated what vibration and aura
mean and various means of producing vibrations of love, joy, peace, mercy sympathy and purity,
and developing the spiritual aura. I have also stated in brief that the human aura has various colours
according to the growth and development of a person physically, mentally, morally and spiritually,
and that each colour has got its own significance and meaning. The would-be Yogi should dispel all
other colours and develop the particular spiritual aura, the colour of which is yellow.

At the end of the book an Appendix has been added and a Glossary of Sanskrit terms given.
In Appendix I a daily routine for aspirants has been chalked out, one for the beginner, another for
the intermediate student and a third for the advanced Yogi. I believe that if a similar routine chalked
out according to one&rsquos own necessity and convenience is followed regularly and systematically,
nothing would stand in the way of the aspiring Yogi to achieve success in Yoga. Moreover, he
should also maintain a Spiritual Diary similar to the one given in the Appendix realising the
importance and benefits of such a discipline. In Appendix II an interesting article on Yoga and
Science has also been added in the belief that it would be read with considerable interest.

I appeal to the students of Yoga in the East and the West to start doing some spiritual and
Yogic practice in right earnest after digesting and assimilating the truths and ideals inculcated
herein and I hope they would be immensely benefited by this book.

Sivananda

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