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The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book 3 - Union achieved and its Results
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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