“The topic for today is Raja Yogam.”

The topic for today is Raja Yogam. Continuously for the last four days meditation satsangs were conducted at different places about four important yogams. First day, Karma Yogam. Second day Bhakthi Yogam. Yesterday Gnana Yogam. Today Raja Yogam.

The father of Yogam is Patanjali. First, one or two words about Patanjali. Then we will enter into Raja Yogam. We can call Patanjali as a scientist of spirituality. Because, before Patanjali was born, until Patanjali wrote Yogasutra about enlightenment, it can be said that there was no clear book on enlightenment or about getting enlightenment. Many may get shocked on hearing this. Because, even before Patanjali yoga itself, Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita had already been written.

Before Patanjali, getting enlightened had only been an accident. Due to some reason, some one would get enlightened, some where, at some time. He would reveal his state of enlightenment to others. It was only so much; but the very first person who gave getting of enlightenment as a science, was Patanjali.

Before Patanjali, the incident of enlightenment was considered only as the cumulative effect of various factors. Before Patanjali, enlightenment was more or less like an accident. It was only considered as a state which occurred suddenly when one was going in a certain path. It used to be considered that enlightenment was a rightful thing only to a particular race, particular religion, or to those following certain traditions and customs.

But it was only after Patanjali, for the first time, the doors of enlightenment were thrown open to whole world at large! It was Patanjali who offered to the world the very great truth that any one could attain enlightenment if a particular specifically prescribed path was followed.

An idea about 'what is science?' We call only that thing as a science, which can be understood logically and very clearly from the point of view of knowledge. Two and two makes four. If we add up thing 'a' and thing 'b', a compound thing 'c' will get created.

In this manner, in a very clear fashion, if what and what is added what will we get, which and which, if they join, what will happen; if we have to create a thing, what specific action we have to do are conclusively stated with facts and figures. This will happen due to this; this is the cause and this is the effect; in this way the method which conclusively states the cause and effect is only called science.

We call it as science, the wisdom and knowledge of knowing that this effect is due to this cause and this cause has made this effect possible. If you say science, it should contain very clear-cut formulae, very clear and unambiguous replies and the results there-for should and must be obtained.

The knowledge which clearly explains as to what will happen by joining which and which materials, and then what will be the consequences if such and such thing is joined with another thing, is only called as science. The knowledge which explains the relationship between the cause and the effect is science.

All things concerning the outer world were clearly explained and clarified. All those things you see in the outer world, whether it is the electric fan, or the bulb, or the air-conditioner, the car, all the things that you use are with the knowledge which has been clearly explained. If operated at a specific place, this light will burn. If you operate it in Bharat, it will burn; if you operate it in another country there also it will burn. If the required causes are created, the effect will happen certainly. What are all the reasons for this fan to run, for this light to burn, if you create them, the effect will surely be there everywhere. Whether you are a Christian, a Hindu or a Muslim, if the cause is created effect will happen certainly. The person who discovered the bulb is Thomas Alva Edison, a Christian. For that reason the light does not say. 'I will burn for Christians only'. If its causes are created, the effect i.e. the work is bound to happen. The knowledge in which the causes and effects are clearly given is only science.

We had created a clear science as far as the outer world was concerned. There was a clear science. But as far as the inner world was concerned, it was only Patanjali who, for the first time ever, created a wonderful science. Prior to Patanjali, the inner world had remained without a proper and scientific explanation. Prior to Patanjali, spiritual world, the inner world had only remained a blind path and was not a knowledge which was clearly explained in a step by step manner. It was only Patanjali, who, for the first time, changed the attaining of enlightenment into a science. He explained it in a clear-cut manner. For the first time, he created the steps for attaining enlightenment. It was Patanjali who created in a lucid manner that whosoever one may be, belonging to any caste, creed or religion, if a man follows these paths, he can surely obtain enlightenment.

Prior to Patanjali, super-human powers such as bringing on hand any material just by thinking, giving darshan (audience) at any place thought of, changing this body to a bigger or smaller size, anima, mahima, lahima, karima, etc, which are known as 'Ashtamaa siddhis', doing a thing as per one's own thoughts, all such things were considered only as energies or powers. Prior to Patanjali we used to think of these as wonders or siddhis. But for the first time, Patanjali changed it into an ordinary science.

One small example. Suppose, suddenly, due to some war or on account of some natural calamity, all the radios in the world were to be destroyed. Only one radio alone is remaining. If such a situation comes, the person who possesses that radio will become a god himself, because nobody else would be knowing about the radio. What that man who is having the radio would do? He would say, 'Look here. This is a small box. It will sing nicely. Voices will come out from this. Do any of you have such a box with you?' Nobody else is having. He alone is having it. Then naturally what he will become? He will become a great man (Mahan) in the world. People will begin worshiping him. People will say, 'there is a wonderful power with him; the small box which he is having sings by itself; it speaks sentences by itself; by itself it broadcasts many things....'

If radio is a common and known thing to every body in the world, he would not be a great man. If there is only one radio and is with a person, naturally, we will begin to worship him as a great man.

In the same manner, in olden days, just only one or two were having these siddhis. Such super-human powers were there for only one or two people. Doing things as per one's thoughts whatever be the thought, appearing in various places simultaneously at the same time, enlarging or shrinking one's own form, bringing articles to hand just by thought... – such siddhis were there with only a few persons. That is why they were thought of as super-human powers. We were thinking like that.

Patanjali tabulated all those things fully and totally, explained the cause and effect of those things and changed it into a science. In the same manner as, when the radio was invented, the bulb was invented, those things came and reached the people of the entire world for them to be used, - The man who invented was only Thomas Alva Edison But as soon as it was invented it reached the entire world. Today all the people in the world are able to use it. There is no necessity for us to do what all experiments that Thomas Alva Edison did. He did a thousand experiments and when he was doing it for the 1001st time only he invented the bulb. There is no necessity for us to do the same 1000 experiments. If we just put on the switch just only once, the light will burn because he had done experiments repeatedly and has already formulated the cause and effect of various things. Thomas Alva Edison has already formulated as to what will happen if a particular thing is done, what will be the reaction for a particular action etc.

Thomas Alva Edison made the outer light (electric bulb) as science and gave it to the world. Patanjali made the inner light as a science and gave it to the world.

The light given by Patanjali only is Raja Yogam. The knowledge and wisdom given by Patanjali only is Raja Yogam.

For the first time, the matter of getting enlightenment, the incident of getting enlightenment was made as an open book.

Enlightenment is only the method of expressing wholly the energies within our body, the energies of the mind and the energies of the soul. Patanjali formulated the methods of bringing it out fully and delivering it to the world as enlightenment, and also the step by step procedures for the same.

A small story. After the Second World War, in a small village in Germany, where tribal people lived, the army men left a small airplane and went away. Those tribal people did not know any thing else other than a bullock cart. So when they saw this, they could not understand any thing at all. They attached some two big bamboos and a bull and began to use it as a bullock cart. For three months those tribal people used the airplane as a bullock cart itself. Three months passed off. A youth, who is somewhat read, came to that place. He saw that and said, 'This doesn't appear like a bullock cart. It looks like a tractor – because he also did not know about an airplane, he knew only a tractor - so saying he tried to drive it as a tractor. He drove it and showed to them and also said 'this is a tractor'.

Immediately the tribals said, 'Aha, we have got a bullock cart which runs even without a bull itself!' so saying they began to use it as a tractor.

After a few days, a retired air pilot came to that village saw that and said, 'This is neither a bullock cart nor a tractor; this is an airplane. This can be operated. With this it is possible to fly' he explained. He not only explained but also flew and showed them.

One and the same vehicle serves and is used as - a bullock cart for the tribals; a tractor for the youth who is somewhat read, and as an airplane for the pilot, the reason being the lack of knowledge of operating it. For those who do not know how to drive it, it remained as a bullock cart. For the person who knew to drive it to some extent, it remained as a tractor. For the pilot who knew how to operate it fully, it served him as an airplane.

Our body also is like that. Our body is the airplane given to us by god. More than 90 per cent of us use it merely as a bullock cart only. Most of us use our body only like a bullock cart. Only a specified few who are in the disciplines of art, science, drawing or philosophy use the body as a tractor. It is only the enlightened persons who use the plane as a plane itself. Patanjali's Yogasutra gives the science of using the plane as a plane, in the name of Raja Yogam. Using our full potential. Only if the plane is used as a plane its full potential energy will be exposed and utilized. If an airplane is used as a bullock cart, its full potential energy will not be released and utilized.

Raja Yogam is only teaching us the method of releasing our full energy. Patanjali gives it to us in the name of Raja Yogam. Patanjali gives us the yoga and meditation for fully expressing the potential energy dormant within us.

Patanjali explains it as eight steps. Through eight wonderful words, very clearly, he says, step by step, through which steps we can get what results, through which steps we can get enlightenment.

Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Prathyahara, Dharana, Dhyanam and Samadhi. With these eight words he explains. Just as you listen don't be afraid as to what these words are - not able to understand them! I will try to explain these words. Through these eight words, as eight steps, Patanjali explains to us.

It is a big problem! Even though yoga and enlightenment have been explained to us to this extent, why many in this world do not adopt this path? The reason is nothing else. There is no sufficient patience to the extent of entering into it and doing it.

A small story about patience. There were three monkeys in a forest. They got a mango fruit. We know what will happen if one monkey gets a mango. If three monkeys get a mango, what will happen? All the three monkeys began to quarrel for the sake of that mango fruit. One of the monkeys said, 'There is a master nearby; we can go and tell him and ask him to divide it for us.' All the three monkeys agreed and went to the master. That master says, 'Look one mango cannot be divided into three. Dig the soil and bury it. It will grow into a tree. There will be a lot of fruits in the tree. All of you can eat them then.'

All the three monkeys agreed and decided accordingly. They dig the earth and bury it. One monkey is watering it daily. The other monkey puts manure to it. Third monkey stands guarding it. Six months passed but there was no plant coming up. Each monkey got suspicious about the other. They once again went to the same master. 'Master, we don't know what happened. The tree has not come up.'

The master called all the three monkeys and enquired. First monkey said, 'Sir, I don't know what happened. But daily I am watering it without fail. I have even stopped going for a walk in the morning for the sake of watering.'

The second monkey said, 'Sir, daily in the evening, I am putting the manure. I have even stopped going to the gym.'

The third monkey said, 'Sir, daily I am digging up and checking whether the mango is there or not'

There is nothing else. If a seed has to sprout and grow into a tree, water and manure alone are not enough. A little bit of patience also is necessary.

All the places I go I see that a vast number of people assemble for the programmes. After attending the programme, for five days continuously, you do meditation. Until 5 days there is no problem. But from the sixth day only, the problem starts. The inspiration given by me will run up to five days. After that if you see, there will not be that patience. What do we do immediately?; We begin to dig and see! Whether the fruit (seed) has sprouted or not?

One lady came and asked me, 'Master, you said if we do meditation we can see god. Yesterday I meditated but god did not come?'

I asked, "How long did you do?"

'I did for twenty minutes, master'.

That is, the mental set up which has been created for so many years, will not break. But, what our impatient mind will do? It will think that some thing should happen in the twenty minute meditation itself. Can we get instant meditation just like instant coffee? Our natural mind, if we think that some thing should happen instantly, what will we do? The very speed and haste that some thing should happen instantly – if the monkey had not dug up and seen perhaps the mango plant would have come up. For the amount of manure and water fed, if the incident of not digging up the soil had been there, the tree would have come up. In the same way of spoiling the growing of tree just by digging up the soil, due to our lack of patience and looking inside again and again, we do stop our progress. For four days we will do meditation with inspiration. After that what will we do? We would think, 'These things are not suitable for me. Just like that we went there. That is all right. Leave it'. We will leave it relaxedly.

If we take in our hands the one and only matter of 'sincerity', the enlightenment which Patanjali changed into a science will become a matter of truth in our life also. If you listen with the sincerity and conviction to change it into a matter of truth, all the eight steps which I am going to say, you will think 'O, This can happen in my life, I can do it in my life also'; but, even before beginning it, you may think, 'O these words are so big, somehow we have come and sit inside here; cannot go out; will sit silently until it is over; If we sit with such thoughts, even while listening itself, it won't go inside. While listening itself, you will think, 'He is telling nicely; let some punya (blessings) come to me; you will go only with those thoughts.

Two things. Buddha beautifully says, 'The mind which creates the problems has also the capacity to resolve it also.' For the mind which thinks 'this is hard' has also got the energy to think 'this is easy'.

Nandanar sings. 'Aiyeh, methak kadinam; umakkadimai, aiyeh methak kadinam'. Ramana Maharishi sings, 'Aiyeh, athi sulabham, aathma viddhai, aiyeh athi sulabham.'

Somebody asks Ramana Maharishi, 'Master, you say it is easy, Nandanar says it is hard, what is it?'

Ramana Maharishi says, 'The mental set-up that 'this is hard' is only hard.'

If we think about a thing as difficult or hard, we will change it as hard itself. If we think about a thing as easy, we will change it as easy itself.'

The flow of thoughts in the mind that 'this is hard' is only hard.

Before explaining these eight steps, a small request I place before you, that I do not say this for you to think that you will follow all the eight steps and you will get enlightenment tomorrow itself. But to the extent possible we will adopt and follow. In the same way as we add salt in our food; in our life, do it with sincerity saying that we will at least add the essence or juice of these eight steps. Then they will change as means to lead you to success. Do not think that these eight steps are only for mystics, ascetics and sanyasis. These are also for those who live lives wholesomely.

Yesterday during a radio interview, a gentleman asked me, 'Master, we are under the constraints and compulsions of lack of availability of time and you are asking us to do meditation and all that; we don't have time even to earn our livelihood.'

As a matter of fact, meditation is not a matter which is against the life. With a small example you can understand. A person who puts in hard physical labour for ten hours per day may earn a maximum of three thousand rupees. A teacher who works hard through words for the same ten hours may earn twenty thousand rupees. A manager or an administrator who works hard through his brain for the same ten hours may earn thirty thousand rupees.

Working hard is not important; to what extent it expresses out the capacity to create, that is, creativity only is important.

Meditation will create creativity within you. Meditation will create a clear sharpness of intelligence within you; will create the fineness of intellect in you. Meditation will create an in-depth clarity within you.

Meditation and spirituality are not opposing studies for the life. We all have the thought that meditation and spirituality are opposed to the normal run of life. It is not at all so. Spirituality is only that method of life which expresses fully your energy, body-wise, mind-wise and soul-wise. Raja Yogam is only the science which expresses and brings out your total energy.

An incident which actually happened. I was staying in a place called Potala in Tibet. It is the place where Dalai Lamas live. It is in the border between Nepal and Tibet. The place actually begins there. Even now Lamas are living there. When I had been there – it is an ashram where Buddhist monks live – a Lama told me, 'Master, there are many aged Lamas in this Ashram; in this ashram lamas live very long; if you want to see any of them, you can see that person who is working in the field out there. He is an aged monk.' I could not believe because he was working in the field. As a very healthy and strong man, he was working in the field. But still due to curiosity I went and asked him, "Master, they say that you are very aged; can you share any of your experiences with us?"

He said laughingly, 'Did they tell you that I am an aged person? I am only middle-aged. I am merely 136 years old. There are many here who are 180 and 200. You can go and see and speak with them.'

It was surprising to me. But factually, from the medical aspect, there is certificate to prove that his age is 136. The date of birth certificate; as per their own method, have dated and kept it. There is the certificate from the medical aspect. But it was surprising to see! I asked him, "Master, how is this possible?" He says, 'Right from childhood we believe that man's life is for 300 years. This only was given to us as a lesson from our childhood itself'. From the childhood itself they all know these yogam and all that. 'As per Yoga Shastra, man's longevity is a minimum of 300 years. We are habituated to Yoga Shastra from our childhood itself. In the same way as we cook, drink coffee as soon as we get up and go to office, practising Yoga shastra, practising pranayama, meditation etc. have become our daily routine activity'. Since it has become a daily activity, in the same way as you consume food for the body, they give prana energy to body and the soul.

Among the various parts available with us we give food only to one part – body. Many things enter into our body. Do not think only the food is going inside. Food is one portion. Then air goes inside. Water goes inside. Many things go inside. The thing that we give is food only. The air goes inside by itself. We don't do especially any thing for that.

Like this, we give only those things that are required for the body; we don't give what is necessary for the consciousness, prana sareera and the soul (Atman). The Lama says, 'Because we keep all the three – body, mind and soul – properly, life of three hundred years is our natural state of mind'. He says it is their natural state of mind.

I will try to give as a small acquaintance, the eight steps of Yogasutra as stated by Patanjali.

There are seven chakras in our body. Seven energy centers. Those who have studied Yoga would have heard of these. Mooladhara, Swadhishtana, Manipuraka, Anahata, Vishuddhi, Agna, and Sahasrara.

So far these Chakras have remained only as a belief. But, recently, in Russia, a medical method called 'Kirlian photography' has spread. In the same way as we find the fracture in the bones through X-rays, if we take a Kirlian photograph, we can find out the diseases which are going to come in our body!

They say that the skin of our body is continuously emitting a fine light. By means of taking a Kirlian photograph of our body, we can find out the disease which is going to set in, in our body. This is a great achievement in the field of medicine. By this method, even before six months ahead, likely onset of diseases like TB, cancer etc. can be assessed. In Russian medical field, this Kirlian photography method has done a great revolution. Even now, in countries like Russia and Germany, Kirlian photography is very popular. Psoriasis is going to come can be found out six months before its actual onset. This Kirlian photography has got the power to find out the likely onset of diseases six months beforehand. It is similar to the X-ray. It is an invention still deeper and more effective than X-ray.

Through this Kirlian photography, the scientists have proved the existence of these seven chakras.

Scientists have proved that when a person is in a blissful state of mind, this chakra enlarging to the size of a car-wheel and when a person is in a sorrowful state of mind this chakra shrinking to the size of a small button.

Our scientists are proving that when we are immersed in meditation and hence are in a blissful state, the chakra expanding to the size of a car-wheel, and the same chakra shrinking to the size of a small button when we are in a sorrowful state of mind.

The science of making these seven chakras function is only Raja Yogam.

First step is Yama. Yama means a disciplined living. There are five things in Yama. They are Ahimsa, Brahmacharya, Sathya, Aparigraha and Astheya. That is living a life of purity. Generally all of us have an idea that pure living, discipline and such things are all olden day things. Nowadays who is ready to listen to all these things, Master? If you see, all of us think that discipline, dharma and purity are all out-dated matters. But today, scientists of psychology say, 'By means of prayers and by living a pure life, we do not know whether god will save you or not, but your prayers and purity do save you and this can be proved by us', they say. There is a beautiful book, 'How to stop worrying and start living' written by Dale Carnegie, a very great psychology scientist. He says, 'I do not know whether Jesus will save you or not by prayers, but by way of prayers you can save yourself.' The pure living brings out the energy latent within us. It enables the prana energy within us to function fully. It helps to keep our body and mind pleasant and stable. That is why our ancestors have formulated and prescribed to us the basic purity and basic good conducts.

The second one is Niyama. Niyama also is in the same way, purity. What we have to follow in our daily life; taking bath daily, wearing neat and tidy dresses etc. We may think, 'How can things like taking bath daily and wearing neat dresses etc. can become steps for spirituality'. If our body is not kept clean, it is not possible for us to keep our mind clean. Body and the mind are not two separate things as we think. One small example. Can you be angry while lying relaxed? It is not possible. If you have to be angry, you have to bite your teeth, get up and sit; you must make your body stiff; then only it would be possible. If you are very relaxed, you cannot become angry. There is a very close relationship between the state in which the body is and the state of mind. Because the body and mind are not two separate independent matters. If you remain for two days without taking bath, you yourself will have a conscious feeling of restlessness. During some travel, if you have not taken bath for two days, your mind also will be uneasy. You yourself can feel that. Because the body and mind have a close relationship. Sowcha means keeping ourselves and the things around us neat and tidy. All these will come under the second step, Niyama.

Third step is Asana. Asana means keeping the body at ease, sturdy and strong and well protected. Do not think that Asana means only those things done by bending and twisting the body from morning to evening. As far as I am concerned, if some thing is to be said about Asana, I would say that if you remain without watching television unduly, then that itself is an asana. You may ask, 'How?' Observe keenly. After watching television up to 2 in the night, even after that you watch cricket. Your eyes are begging, 'O Sir, It is not possible for me. Please give me some rest.' The eyes just close by themselves. They ask for sleep. But what do you do? You continue to see and are determined to see and watch accordingly. Not only that. With the tongue burning, eating food stuff which are pungent and hot. The thing opposed to Asana is only doing things which result in being harmful for the body. Asana means not doing yogam by bending the body alone. Keeping the body in the proper fitness is also Asana only; remaining without unduly harming the body, without torturing the body. All of us will be saying again and again outwardly, 'I love my body' and will be thinking so; but really we do not love our body; we deceive our body.

We use our body beyond limits. In other words we exploit our body. Just because we have got the body, we exploit it as per our thoughts and suiting our comfort and happiness. It is wrong to exploit the body beyond limits for the sake of our pleasures and comforts. Remaining without so exploiting is only Asana. That is, remaining always pleasant and comfortable is Asana. Keeping the body pleasant and comfortable always. For the sake of our own desires, our own comforts beyond limits, we should not destroy our body. We should not torture our body. This only is Asana.

Next one is Pranayama. Controlling the prana. When we say controlling the prana, one important thing you must understand. All of us do not breathe fully and completely. Look at your flow of breathing. It will happen only to half the extent. Breathing will not happen fully. The reason is that your mind does not remain within your body. If you will see, the mind will always be roaming about somewhere. If you are in the house in the morning, you will be thinking about the office. If you are in the office, you will be thinking about going to the temple when evening comes. In the evening when you go to the temple you will be thinking about when to go home. If you are here, then it means that your mind is not here. We can say that one at least clearly.

When your body is there in a particular place, your mind does not remain at that place. The reason is that we have become habituated this way only. Going on imagining things one after the other continuously. If your mind is not in your body, breathing will not be a long one. Because the mind and the breath are very closely inter-connected ones. If you are very angry, you can see that your breathing will be quick and fast. You can see in your life itself that if the feelings become intense and fast, the breathing also will be quick and fast, whatever be the type of feelings. There is very close relationship between breath and the mind.

If you look at the teeth of the elephant, it will be the same bone; if it is outside it will be the tusk and that which is inside is its tooth. What tooth is protruding outside is tusk and what tusk is inside is its tooth. In our body also it is similar in that the breath which is flowing inside is the mind; the mind which runs outside is the breath. Mind and the breath are very closely connected.

If your mind remains in your body itself, under your control itself, an elongated breathing will happen. A long breath will pave way for a long life. But, generally, if you see, because the mind is not within the body, it will be somewhere, thinking about some thing or the other. When there is shallow thinking, shallow breathing will begin to happen. If the breathing is shallow, the thinking will be shallow. If the thinking is shallow, the breathing will be shallow. When the flow of thoughts is just superficial, the breathing will also be superficial. If we keep our mind under our control, the breathing will be deep and clear.

Next one is Prathyahara (Contemplation). It is a wonderful step. Keeping our mind concentrated and focused at one place without going on running and scattering it in many places. Prathyahara is focusing the mind on only one reason. When that focusing the mind on only one reason happens, a boundless mental energy will get released. If god has given you 100 per cent of energy, all those 100 per cent energy is spent on unnecessary flow of thoughts only. It is not spent on any particular thought being put in the form of action.

There are two things. One is Icchaa Shakthi (Power to desire), the other is Kriya Shakthi (Power to create). Our entire energy is spent on creating the desires only and not at all being spent on satisfying or completing the desires. Because during all the time that is available to you, in your entire day time, the mind is continuously wandering – this or that or that.....since it is running behind various things one after the other, there is no patience to the extent of thinking about any one particular thought and expressing it as an energy to create and give a stable form to that thought. Our mind simply goes on jumping from place to place. When we are sitting here, we will be thinking as to what would have happened in the house, and when we have finished going home, we would think, 'Oh! We could have remained sitting there itself and listened. After arriving at the house what thought will come? I could have remained and listened to the discourse; what am I doing here, only going on fighting, that is all.' The mind will be going on wandering here and there continuously. Because it is always wandering, nothing is used or done stably and firmly. There are two things - Power to desire and power to create – Icchaa Shakthi and Kriya Shakthi. In our 100 parts of energy, more than 80 parts are being spent on mere creation of desires and nothing is spent at all on Kriya Shakthi, the power to create. This only is our main and very big problem.

When we do the Prathyahara, when we decrease the desires, the required energy comes to us to complete and satisfy the desires. When the flow of thoughts gets reduced, the energy to make the desires into realities will come to us. What happens to our energy is that it will be utilized to satisfy and complete the desires that come. Suppose ten thoughts come to you, viz. have to build a house, to buy a car, to buy a bungalow, to put money in the bank, to have an air-conditioner, like this if ten thoughts come, to which thought you will utilize the mere hundred rupees available with you? You cannot use it for any thing at all. But on the other hand, if the thought is just one or two, we will utilize all the available energy to fulfill that thought. When Icchaa Shakthi reduces then Kriya Shakthi increases. Prathyahara will help us to live our life blissfully. Because as the desires reduce, the actions will increase. When the flow of thoughts reduces, the energy to do work will increase. Prathyahara is a method to make the mind become steady and focused. The next step is Dharana (Concentration). Dharana and Prathyahara are deep matters. Prathyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi can be explained in English by four words. They are respectively, contemplation, concentration, meditation and enlightenment. Generally how our run or flow of thoughts is running is that there will be no relationship or connections between one thought and the other. Sigmund Freud, a psychoanalyst, says very beautifully that our flows of thoughts will not have any logical relationships. For example, you will see a dog on the street. As soon as you see the dog, you will remember the dog you saw when you were young. You will recollect the various dogs about which you had felt afraid.

The next thought may be that you remember the teacher under whom you had studied. Then you will remember the house where that teacher lived; which part of the town he lived; there will not be any co-relation. Is there any direct relationship between the dog you saw and the teacher under whom you studied when you were young? It is a different matter that both have shouted at you!

There is no direct connection at all. But our mind will be going on doing some co-relations! There will not be any logical connection at all. If you write the flow of thoughts as it is in a paper, you will know that there is a market of lunatics going on inside! There will not be any relationship at all. This is the way in which our mind functions normally. As you see a dog, remembering the dog you saw in your younger days, then remembering the childhood teacher, then remembering the house in which the teacher lived, it will be going on like this. There will not be any logical connection. This is the first thing.

The next one is, that if we focus up our mind and think in a particular specific path, our mind will begin to come to some order in the same way as changing a wild forest river into a small rivulet with well-defined banks on either side. . We call that as contemplation. Thinking about a single project only. If a wild forest river is converted into a small river with well-defined berms, it will give multifarious benefits. First thing the bad effects resulting from the forest wild river will disappear. Destruction being caused to the towns due to the floods will not be there.

Second thing is that we can generate electricity. We can use it for irrigation purposes. It will give many benefits. Our mind also is like the wild forest river without bounds. If it is brought to an order, if it comes within contemplation, some specific project can be executed successfully. Any job taken on hand can be completed fully and successfully.

The next one is concentration, Dhyanam. Concentration is just thinking about only one object. If we think of contemplation as controlled traffic, concentration is all about just only one vehicle. Thinking about only one thing. Focusing the entire mind on one thing. This only is concentration.

The next one is Samadhi. This is not thinking about one object. This is becoming that object itself. Sama \+ Adhi \= Samadhi. About whichever object we are concentrating, becoming that object itself is Samadhi. Tasting sugar is Dhyanam; becoming sugar itself is Samadhi.

Let us see about these eight steps briefly:

The first two steps are: Yama and Niyama - Maintaining the body in a clean manner.

The second two steps are: Asana and Pranayama - Keeping our body in a pleasant and sweet manner and doing our breathing in a deep and clear manner for all the twenty four hours.

Next, Prathyahara and Dharana. – Living in the present moment. Keeping the mind at one place as it is without allowing it to wander here and there.

The last two, Dhyana and Samadhi - Focusing our mental energy on a given specific object.

1. Keeping the body neat and clean; 2. Keeping the mind sweet and pleasant.

3. Enabling the breathing process to go on in the proper manner.

4. Focusing our mind on a single specific object.

It is enough if these four rules are fully understood. The essence of Raja Yogam will be useful for us in our life.

By means of Raja Yogam, what all we can get, their essences we can get in our life.

If the essence of the entire thing has to be given, only one thing.

Wherever you are, at all times and at all places, live in the present moment. Normally what all of us do? Worrying about the past or craving about the future. Most of our time is spent only on these two things. Our mental energy is being spent both in the past and in the future.

A very nice quotation: Past is over. You cannot do any thing about it. But you can spoil your beautiful present by worrying about the future.

If you see our life itself, it is just being spent by worrying about the past and craving about the future only.

The basic key of Raja Yogam is:

Forget the past.

Do not worry about the future.

Begin to live in the present.

Immediately we all will ask, 'Master, if we don't plan about the future how do we carry on our lives?'

Two phrases we have to understand. Chronological planning and Psychological worrying. Chronological planning is calculating and keeping with us what is to be done tomorrow. There is nothing wrong in it. For example, calculating now after this discourse is over, to get into the car and go home. It is not wrong. But, worrying whether I will meet with an accident, whether I will reach home safely, what will happen to me – all these are unnecessary.

There is nothing wrong at all in chronological planning. Psychological worrying is wrong. If you see, compared to our chronological planning, psychological worrying only is more.

For any matter, for chronologically planning, lot of energy will not be required. But when we worry psychologically, the whole mind becomes very tired. If we plan chronologically and proceed as per that plan there will not be any problem at all. We don't stop with chronological planning alone; we also worry psychologically and create a problem and then only we get satisfied! The beauty in worrying is that of creating such problems which are not actually there and beginning to fight with that problem thinking it to be there.

One man it seems said, 'Sir, I am going to buy a buffalo'. Another man said 'I am going to buy land'. The first man said, 'Is it so? Then I am going to tie my buffalo in your land only'. The second fellow retorted, 'How can you tie your buffalo in my land? How daring you are?' The other man said, 'Do what you want. Let us see.' Both of them began fighting.

Neither buffalo nor land has been bought; no buffalo has come nor has land come. But the quarrel has come. Creating a matter which is non-existing and starting to find out solutions for that! If you see in our life, most of the time, we create a thing which is not actually there and we spend time in finding the solution for that.

An incident which actually happened. A lady, about 30, 35 years old, had come to Ashram to see me. The moment she came she started crying out loud. I told her, "Don't worry, tell us what the problem is, after that you may cry. First tell."

She said, 'Master, whatever I say, my son does not listen. He does not at all obey me. If it goes on like this, it appears that he will marry of his own accord. I don't know what will happen to me.'

In Bharat, a son is similar to a good amount fetching cow. Can be sold at a good price in the market. There will not be any dowry at all, is it not? If he himself marries, what will happen? There will not be any dowry. That lady had only that anxiety. She was crying and crying.

I said, "All right madam, let us examine what the problem is; bring your son; after that let me tell you the solution."

That lady said, 'No master, he need not be brought; I have carried him with me', so saying she put down the boy she was carrying and he was a boy of four!

This really happened. The boy's age is four only; what is that lady's anxiety? 'If he himself marries of his own accord, what will I do, master?' That lady was crying really serious. But what is the age of her son? A mere four year old.

We are laughing to hear this. We all too have done in a similar fashion in various times. Know it well; we too act like-wise at different, different places! We may not do in the matter of son but we still are doing it only for different matters.

When the anxiety comes beyond limits, thoughts about the life become un-clear. When we think about the future beyond limits, we forget the present.

In case that boy gets married too, this lady may get worries only after that. But, because she has started thinking right now, there is worry even before her son's marriage which is still far away!. She has lost her peace of mind even well before her son's marriage.

Later I asked that lady, "What madam, can't you think a little bit? The boy's age is just four only. Even so early, you say that he will marry of his own accord and all that. Why like this madam?"

'No master, you do not know. 'Vilaiyum payir mulaiyileye theriyum' (The quality of the crop will be known when it sprouts itself,) Is it not master? From what he is now only we can find out his mind, is it not master?'

She has kept with her, her own logic to justify herself.

If you look at our lives, we support our worries and sufferings by some reason or the other. We do not at all worry as to whether it is true or not.

That is why, it is enough if you understand these two things viz. chronological planning and psychological worrying.

There is nothing wrong in planning about the future in our life. But worrying will ruin your life.

When you are worrying, it is not possible for you to do the planning. When you are planning, you cannot worry.

We only have to decide whether we have to plan or we have to worry.

The essence of this entire Yogam can be given in these three lines:

1. Keep the body clean.

2. Always perform the breathing lengthily.

3. Keep your mind in the present.

Cleanliness of the body, purity of the breath and keeping the mind in the present time all these put together is the royal path to change your life blissful. As compared to other Yogams, this Yogam has a special significance. It is named Raja Yogam. The reason is that this is capable of giving the benefit instantly. This is a thing which has been proved similar to science. In the same way as in science, it is truth that if you open out the shop there will be benefit, for this science also, it has as its base the truth that if you open up the shop there will be benefit.

Other Yogams have belief as their basis. But Raja Yogam has science as its basis. It has proof as its basis.

Therefore, by following and adopting Raja Yogam in your life, the basic rules of Raja Yogam, - I have not as yet told any thing difficult. Raja Yogam, as a matter of fact, is a deep one, a difficult one. I have given only some of the principles, which are its essence – by adopting at least the essence of this Raja Yogam in our life, we can take our life to an elevated state, a blissful state.

Let the essence of RajaYogam create joy and bliss in your life and take you to eternal bliss. To attain the state of eternal bliss and to become eternal bliss itself we bless you all and I conclude here.

Be blissful.

In Nithyananda.

Paramahamsa Shri Nithyananda.

NITHYANANDAM.

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