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Chapter VI - Three
Classes of Aspirants
Raja Yoga is the royal road to freedom from misery. It treats
of the four great principles: misery, its cause, freedom from
misery and the means. The practice of the methods prescribed
in Raja Yoga leads to the cessation of all miseries and
attainment of eternal bliss. Practice from today. Never miss a
day. Remember each day brings you nearer to the end of earthly
existence as human being. You have wasted many days, many
months and many years. You do not realize it because you have
drunk the liquor of Moha. Therefore, you do not understand the
real cause of the miseries of this earthly life.
The cause of this misery is Avidya. When the sun of
discrimination arises within, the Purusha realizes that He is
distinct from Prakriti, that He is independent and unaffected.
Raja Yoga gives you a most practical method of bringing about
this exalted state.
According to Raja Yoga, there are three types of aspirants -
Uttama, Madhyama and Adhama Adhikaris. To three classes of
aspirants Raja Yoga prescribes three kinds of Sadhana. To the
Uttama Adhikari (first-class aspirant) Raja Yoga prescribes
Abhyasa and Vairagya. He practices meditation on the Self; he
practices Chitta-Vritti-Nirodha (restraining the modification
of the mind-stuff) and soon enters into Samadhi. This is
practice (Abhyasa) sustained by Vairagya. To the Madhyama
Adhikari (middling aspirant) Raja Yoga prescribes the Kriya
Yoga - Tapas, Svadhyaya and Ishvarapranidhana. Tapas is
austerity. Egolessness and selfless service are the greatest
forms of Tapas. Humility and desirelessness are the greatest
forms of austerity. Practice these through ceaseless,
untiring, selfless service. Practice the three kinds of Tapas
mentioned in the Gita. Disciplinary practices like fasting,
etc., also come under Tapas. Svadhyaya is study of spiritual
literature and also Japa of your Ishta Mantra.
Ishvarapranidhana is self-surrender to the Lord and doing all
actions as Ishvararpana, as offering unto the Lord. These
three form the Sadhanas of the Madhyama Adhikari who enters
into deep meditation very soon and attains Kaivalya Moksha. To
the Adhama Adhikari, lowest kind of aspirant, Raja Yoga
prescribes Ashtanga Yoga or the eightfold Sadhana - Yama,
Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and
Samadhi.
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