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The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book 3 - Union achieved and its Results
48. As a result of this perfection, there comes rapidity of action like that of mind, perception independent of the organs, and mastery over root substance. We have been considering the many results of [353] the meditation process when carried forward to perfection and we are now reaching a climax. The seer has achieved the consummation of the alignment process. His triple personal self has been purified, adjusted and controlled. Each of the three bodies is vibrating in tune with the note of the ego or higher self, which in turn is in process of synchronizing with the Monad or divine self, the spirit on its own plane. The great "Son of Mind," the thinker on the higher levels of the mental plane, is the dominating factor now, and the result of this domination is triple, each effect manifesting on all planes yet primarily on one or another. These results are: 1. Rapidity of action like that of the mind. The term "swift as a thought" is frequently used when an expression of the intensest rapidity is required. In the yogin his acts on the physical plane are so synchronized with his thought processes, his decisions are so instantaneous and his ends so swiftly achieved that his physical plane life is characterized by a most startling activity and most amazing results. Of him it can be said in degree as is said of the Creator: "God meditated, visualized, spoke, and the worlds were made." 2. Perception independent of organs. The adept is not dependent upon the organs of sense for the acquiring of knowledge, nor is he dependent upon the sixth sense, the mind. With him, the intuition has been developed into a usable instrument, and direct apprehension of all knowledge, independently of the reasoning [354] faculty or rationalizing mind is his privilege and right. The mind need no longer be used to apprehend reality, the senses need no longer be employed as mediums of contact. He will employ all six but in a different manner. The mind will be utilized as a transmitter to the brain of the wishes, and plans and purposes of the one Master, the Christ within; the five senses will be transmitters of different types of energy to the chosen objectives, and herein opens up a vast field of study for the interested investigator. The eye is one of the most potent transmitters of energy, and it was the knowledge of this in the olden days which gave rise to the belief anent the evil eye. There is much to be discovered concerning sight for this study will include not only physical vision, but the development of the third eye, clairvoyance, perfect spiritual vision and on up to that inconceivable mystery covered by the terms the "All-seeing Eye" and the "Eye of Shiva." The hands are potent factors in all magical work of healing and utilization of the sense of touch is an esoteric science. The sublimation of the sense of hearing and its utilization to hear the Voice of the Silence, or the music of the spheres, is a department of occult teaching of the most profound kind and those adepts who have specialized in the science of sight, and the science of sound are some of the most erudite and advanced in the hierarchy. The other senses are capable too of profound unfoldments, but they are peculiarly hidden in [355] the mysteries of initiation, and more anent them is not possible here. The three senses of hearing, touch and sight are the three characteristics of the three human races and the three planes in our three worlds.
1. Hearing | Lemurian | Physical plane | Ear | Response to sound.
2. Touch | Atlantean | Astral plane | Skin | Response to touch or vibration.
3. Sight | Aryan | Mental plane | Eye | Response to vision.
This third sense primarily affects our race and hence the word of the prophet "Where there is no vision the people perish." The development of sight and the achievement of spiritual insight is the great objective of our race, and the objective of all Raja Yoga work. This may be called "illumination" by the mystic or "pure vision" by the occultist but it is one and the same thing. The two other senses are as yet veiled; their true significance will be unfolded in the sixth or seventh races which are to succeed ours, and their true relation is to the buddhic or intuitional and the atmic or spiritual planes. 3. Mastery over root substance. This root substance is the pradhana and is sometimes called the root of all, primordial substance, and root matter. Rama Prasad in his translation and commentary has these words: "Mastery over the Pradhana means the power of control over all [356] the modifications of the Prakriti. These three attainments... are obtained by conquering the substantive appearance of the five instruments of sensation." It is interesting to note that these three attainments demonstrate: The inability of matter and form to hold the yogi confined, The powerlessness of substance to prevent the yogi cognizing any aspect of manifestation he desires, The helplessness of matter to withstand the will of the yogi. These three factors explain how it is that the adept can create at will and his freedom from the limitations of matter forms the basis of all white magic. It might be noted in conclusion that this capacity is in itself relative, for the adept is freed from limitation in the three worlds of human endeavor. The Master has perfect freedom of action in the three worlds plus the buddhic realm, whilst the Christ and those of similar initiation have this freedom in the five worlds of human evolution.
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