Raja Yoga : The Path of Psychological Control

Perfection is within. The distortion of consciousness prevents its manifestation. Complete control over the mind-stuff is necessary in order for perfection to manifest itself.

THIS proposition is the primary concern of raja yoga. According to raja yoga, the obstructions to perfection are fundamentally the agitations within the mind-stuff. These are called chittavritis(chita, mind-stuff, and vrittis, ripples or waves upon it). By controlling the modifications of te mind, the yogi is able to control inner nature. Outer nature is then perceived to be only a manifestation of inner nature. Outer nature is then perceived to be only a manifestation of inner nature. Thus, perfection in raja yoga is the state of cessation of the agitations which obstruct the attainment of complete control over nature, inner and outer, individual and cosmic. Raja yoga teaches absolute control over the psychological and psychic forces within one. The main endeavour is to control the different modifications of consciousness. We must begin by controlling the grosser forms of mental agitation.

The system of raja yoga, the “kingly” or roayal yoga, like all the yogas, has existed in India from ancient times. it may be called the “royal road” to perfection. A king controls his kingdom; we must control ours also. Our kingdom is our consciousness, controlling which we become masters of all nature. The highest authority on raja yoga is the ancient sage, Patanjali, who contributed the famous Yoga Aphorisms. This yoga is based on the Sankhya Philosophy. God, as an all-powerful being t whom supplication may be made, is not recognized in this system. However, Patanjali says that God can be the subject of concentration and meditation. He prescribes meditation on God as one of the methods for the attainment of yoga, or highest union. I mention this to bring out the fact that in order to follow raja yoga one need not believe in or accept God.

A yogi was once asked what his profession was. Without hesitation he replied, “I am a farmer by birth and occupation." “How much land havy you?” he was asked. He looked over hs body with a glance and said, “About three and a half cubits.” (A cubit is the measure of one arm, from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, by which farmers in India measure land. Every person’s height is about three and one-half cubits, measured by his own hand.) Do you realize that the greatest property a man has is this “patch of land” – his mind and body? And that if he knows the art, he can raise a rich crop and gain the greatest assets one can attain in any field
of endeavour? The yogi works his three and a half cubits and gains as his harvest the goal of life, which is perfection. Yoga is that art of husbandry which teaches you how to cultivate this “land” and make the best use of it. It teaches you how to protect your property, clear the land, plough it, and prepare it for sowing so that you may reap the harvest.

To attain success in any endeavour a systematic method is essential. This is true in the case of raja yoga as well. Here there are certain practices and disciplines that help you attain the goal. When you acquire a patch of land, what is the first thing you do? You put a fence around it so that whatever crop you raise will not be damaged or destroyed by outside influences. You want to clear the title and keep out intruders. In the practice of raja yoga as well, the student has to adopt strong defensive measures. I would like to especially draw your attention to one important point. It is for your own benefit and interest that you adopt these defensive measures. There is no external authority that compels you to do so. You, as a free being, of your own accord, choose to put a defensive wall around your “property”. This is a very important point. When you yourself have chosen to put up a defensive wall around yourself, for the definite purpose of achieving success in yoga, you have gained one step towards the goal, for, to some extent, you have already asserted your spiritual strength. You have made a beginning, and to make a beginning is something.  Read Next