| 45. Through this mastery, minuteness and the other
siddhis (or powers) are attained, likewise bodily perfection and freedom from all
hindrances. Towards the close of each of these three books on Raja Yoga, there comes a
sutra summing up results and giving a vision of that which is possible to the faithful
intelligent aspirant. They are as follows:
"Thus his realization extends from the infinitely small to the infinitely great,
and from annu (the atom or speck) to atma (or spirit) his knowledge is perfected."
(Book I, Sutra 40.)
"As a result of these means there follows the complete subjugation of the sense
organs." (Book II, Sutra 55.)
"Through this mastery minuteness and the other siddhis (or powers) are attained,
likewise bodily perfection and freedom from all hindrances." (Book III, Sutra 45.)
It will be seen from this how, first there is the attaining of the vision and the inner
realization of God; then the complete subjugation of the lower nature and the control of
the senses and their organs so that the realization becomes fact in physical plane
experience, and there comes the manifestation of that control by the display of certain
powers. [346]
The entire fourth book deals with the great consummation growing out of the three above
results, producing:
- Cessation of sorrow and toil. (Sutra 30)
- Attainment of infinite knowledge. (Sutra 31)
- Eternity entered. (Sutra 33)
- Return of consciousness to its center. (Sutra 34)
In connection with the sutra which is our present consideration, the eight siddhis or
psychic powers are frequently called the eight perfections and with the two others make up
the ten of perfection as it concerns the lower man. These powers are:
- Minuteness - anima. This is the power which the yogi possesses to become as small
as an atom, to identify himself with the smallest part of the universe, knowing the self
in that atom to be one with himself. This is due to the fact that the anima mundi, or soul
of the world, is universally spread throughout all aspects of divine life.
- Magnitude - mahima. This is the power to expand one's consciousness and thus
enter into the greater whole as well as into the lesser part.
- Gravity - garima. This concerns weight and mass and deals with the law of gravity
which is an aspect of the Law of Attraction.
- Lightness - Laghima. This is the power underlying the phenomenon of levitation.
It is the capacity of the adept to offset the attractive [347] force of the planet and to
leave the earth. It is the opposite to the third siddhi.
- The attainment of the objective - prapti. This is the capacity of the yogin to
achieve his goal, to extend his realization to any locality, to reach anything or any
place he desires. It will be apparent that this will have an application on all the planes
in the three worlds, as indeed all the siddhis have.
- Irresistible will - prakamya. This is sometimes described as sovereignty, and it
is that driving irresistible force found in every adept which bring about the fruition of
his plans, the attainment of his desires, and the completion of his impulses. It is this
quality which is the distinguishing characteristic of the black and the white magician
alike. It necessarily demonstrates with greatest force on that plane in the three worlds
which reflects the will aspect of divinity, the mental plane. All the elements obey this
force of will as used by the yogin.
- Creative power - isatva. This concerns the power of the adept to deal with the
elements in their five forms and produce with them objective realities, and thus to create
on the physical plane.
- The power to command - vasitva. The magician as he controls the elemental forces
of nature, utilizes this power and it is the basis of mantra yoga, the yoga of sound or of
the creative word. Creative power, the seventh siddhi, concerns the elements and their
vitalizing, so that they become "effective causes;" this siddhi, the [348]
eighth, concerns the power of the Word to drive the building forces of nature into
coherent activity so that forms are produced.
When these eight powers are functioning, then the ninth, bodily perfection, results,
for the adept can construct a vehicle adapted to his need, can do with it as he will and
through its medium attain his objective. Finally, the tenth power will be seen in full
manifestation and no form provides any hindrances or obstacles to the fruition of the
yogin's will. He is liberated from the form and its qualities.
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