In the previous article, Hatha Yoga Pradipika – Practicing Yoga According to Ancient Wisdom, we started to present the ancient text of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika of Svatmarama. We represented the necessity of yoga practice not just for the sake of physical and psychological health, but also for the elimination of suffering and the presence of constant peace in our daily lives.
In continuation, we will speak about the essential elements and steps of hatha yoga, as well as understand the deeper value and necessity of the practice of hatha yoga for the attainment of perfection and well-being.
Solar and Lunar
The word hatha comes from two Sanskrit roots, ha and tha. “Ha” means “sun” and “Tha” means “moon”. This symbolizes the perfect balance of yin and yang energies, or lunar and solar energies in our inner universe. It is explained that the sun energy represents our overall prana and vitality which is active and dynamic, while the moon energy represents mental energy or Chitta, which is a subtle force in connection with the mental layers of our being.
The systematic practice of hatha yoga enables the harmonious interaction and balance between these two energies in our being which are connected to our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Even though there is a connection between our energetic channels and the nervous system, they are not the same.
Yogi Svatmarama
Swatmarama explains that hatha yoga prepares us for raja yoga, which is the supreme form of yoga. His guidance helps us to understand why it is so important to have one who is accomplished in yoga as a role model. We will touch more on this notion of guidance in the following text.
“(2) Having thus solemnly saluted his master. Yogi Svatmarama now presents hatha vidya [vidya = wisdom] solely and exclusively for the attainment of raja yoga.”
In this verse, we can understand the purpose of yoga, because “solely and exclusively” indicates that hatha yoga is not taught for our achievement of worldly power and physical fitness, but is a method of preparation for raja yoga. The goal of a yogi is to become a Siddha – a master who has attained many siddhis or supernatural spiritual powers.
In the text, it is mentioned that there are 8 powers or siddhis, of which the highest is nirvana, the great liberation. More often than not these siddhis are concealed once they are attained, since their revelation might put one into the category of a black magician and a Siddha does not reveal them merely for worldly purposes.
The Attainment of Siddhis
Siddhis are not the purpose of yoga itself, they are just like markers on the way to perfection. Therefore, yoga is not for egocentrics, nor for those who just want to add an extra layer to their physical training. Yoga serves the deeper layers of our being, making outer layers look more beautiful too, but it is an inward process, from the inside out. Systematic practice of yoga removes all blockages, bad habits and thoughts, and helps us to feel the entirety of our being with all its layers.
(3) To those who wander in the darkness of the conflicting sects, unable to obtain Raja Yoga, the merciful Swatmarama Yogi offers the Light of Hatha Vidya.
In this quote, the words “raja yoga” point to the control of the currents of thought. Those who are unable to control their own thoughts when they meditate are lost in the darkness of conflicting sects. The aim of raja yoga is to stop the thought waves, and if that is not possible; we control prana, and if that is not possible; we control the breath. Thought is the subtlest of these three and they are all related, so by controlling one of them (breath, prana, or thoughts) we gain control over the others.
The Stages of Yoga
In the text, there are step-by-step descriptions towards the attainment of the last stage of yoga. The meaning of the author’s name; Swatmarama Yogi, is very revealing. It means the one who delights in communion with his higher Self. This represents the final and ultimate stage of the 7 stages of yoga, described in the Yoga Vasishta, one of the most authoritative yogic texts.
In the following, we will briefly describe these 7 stages. One who distinguishes or knows the difference between what is permanent and impermanent; one who cultivates the feeling of dislike towards worldly pleasures; one who has achieved full mastery over his organs, both physical and mental; and one who feels an insatiable thirst to free himself from the cycle of existence – he has achieved the first stage; Subechcha or Longing for the truth.
One who has pondered over what he has read and heard and has realized it truly in his life has attained the second stage; Vicharana or Right Inquiry. One whose mind remains steadily fixed in the One has attained the third stage; Tanumasa or Fading out of the mind.
Until that point, according to scripture, one is a sadhaka or practitioner. Only when having reduced his mind by the three previous stages to the state of pure sattva, when the practitioner realizes Truth directly within himself, which is “I am Brahman” – he is on the fourth stage; Sattvapatti or Attainment of the State of Sattva.
After this point, there is the triad consciousness, namely: the knower, the known, and the knowledge. Until then he was practicing Samprajnata Samadhi, or contemplation where duality still lingers.
Further on there is Asamprajnata Samadhi, and he is no longer affected by the siddhis that manifest themselves. At this stage, he is called Asamsakti (being unaffected by anything).
He sees nothing, but God everywhere. This stage is called Pararthabhavani, where external things do not seem to exist. Here he performs his functions prompted by another.
In the last stage he neither performs daily duties himself nor when prompted by others, but remains in a state of perpetual Samadhi. This is the stage that the author of this work, as his name Swatmarama suggests, attained.
The Hatha Vidya
“( 4) Matsyendra, Goraksha and others knew well the Hatha Vidya. The Yogi Swatmarama learnt it by their favor. “
In this verse, we see the account of the lineage of those who received this knowledge. Vidya means knowledge. According to tradition, through the grace of Lord Shiva, Yogi Matsyendra was a fish who was changed into a human being and received the Hatha Vidya from Lord Shiva himself.
There is an analogy with milk. Milk only comes from a cow, you cannot milk the ear. The same is true with knowledge; we can not collect true knowledge just anywhere. It is thought that through his lineage, and through the grace of the guru, the author of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika learned hatha yoga vidya which is in Sanskrit called “guruparampara”.
The Spiritual Path
We need to see where we are, to have spiritual aspiration, and to continue the journey towards and with the Truth. And then to make steps on the path of yoga. In that moment the journey becomes like a river flowing to the sea, which flows with perfection to its final destination. The river just flows. With this understanding, we can make the first steps towards a true, authentic hatha yoga practice and our advancement on the spiritual path.
This article was written by Zita.
To be continued…