Swami Swatmarama

“ The mind, captivated in the snare of nada, gives up all its activity; and, like a bird with clipped wings, becomes calm at once. Those desirous of the kingdom of Yoga, should take up the practice of hearing the anahata nada, with mind collected and free from all cares. Nada is the snare for catching the mind; and, when it is caught like a deer, it can be killed also like it. Nada is the bolt of the stable door for the horse (the minds of the Yogis and Yoginis) . A Yogi or Yoginis should determine to practice constantly in the hearing of the nada sounds. ”

“ Leaving the loudest, taking up the subtle one, and leaving the subtle one, taking up the loudest, thus practicing, the distracted mind does not wander elsewhere. Wherever the mind attaches itself first, it becomes steady there; and when it becomes absorbed in it. Just as a bee, drinking sweet juice, does not care for the smell of the flower; so the mind, absorbed in the nada, does not desire the objects of enjoyment. The mind, like an elephant habituated to wander in the garden of enjoyments, is capable of being controlled by the sharp goad of anahata nada. ”

“ One should become void in and void out, and void like a pot in the space. Full in and full outside, like a jar in the ocean. He or she should be neither of his or her inside nor of his or her outside world; and, leaving all thoughts, he or she should think of nothing. The whole of this world and all the schemes of the mind are but the creations of thought. Discarding these thoughts and taking leave of all conjectures, O Rama! obtain peace. As camphor disappears in fire, and rock salt in water, so the mind united with the atma loses its identity. ”

“ He of she feels neither heat, cold, pain, pleasure, respect nor disrespect. Such a Yogi or Yogini is absorbed in Samadhi. He or she who, though awake, appears like one sleeping, and is without inspiration and expiration, is certainly free. ”

“ By contemplating on oneself, by eating sparingly, and by practicing Siddhâsana for 12 years, the Yogi or Yogini obtains success. Other postures are of no use, when success has been achieved in Siddhâsana, and Prâna Vâyu becomes calm and restrained by Kevala Kumbhaka. Success in one Siddhâsana alone becoming firmly established, one gets Unmani at once, and the three bonds (Bandhas) are accomplished of themselves. There is no âsana like the Siddhâsana and no Kumbhaka like the Kevala. ”

“ All the practices relating to air should be performed with concentrated mind. A wise man or woman should not allow his or her mind to wander away. These are the Mudras, as explained by Adinatha (Siva) . Every one of them is the giver of great accomplishments to the practiser. He or she is really the guru and not to be considered as Isvara in human form who teaches the Mudras as handed down from guru to guru. Engaging in practice, by putting faith in his or her words, one gets the Siddhis of Anima, etc., as also evades death. ”

“ Thus there will be nothing to fear whatsoever. We are inhaling and exhaling the air throughout our lives without any sort of danger, and Pranayama being only a regular form of it, there should be no cause to fear. ”

“ He or she who practices it daily, even for two hours, conquers death. The Vajroli Even if one who lives a wayward life, without observing any rules of Yoga, but performs Vajroli, deserves success and is a Yogi or Yogini. Two things are necessary for this, and these are difficult to get for the ordinary people -- (1) milk and (2) a woman behaving, as desired. By practicing to draw in the bindu, discharged during cohabitation, whether one be a man or a woman, one obtains success in the practice of Vajroli. By means of a pipe, one should blow air slowly into the passage in the male organ. ”

“ In the practice of Kevala Pranayama when it can be performed successfully without Rechaka and Puraka, then it is called Kevala Kumbhaka. There is nothing in the three worlds which may be difficult to obtain for him or her who is able to keep the air confined according to pleasure, by means of Kevala Kumbhaka. He or she obtains the position of Raja Yoga undoubtedly. Kundalini awakens by Kumbhaka, and by its awakening, Susumna becomes free from impurities. No success in Raja Yoga without Hatha Yoga, and no success in Hatha Yoga without Raja Yoga. ”

“ One who is devoted to him or her, obtains the highest bliss. Now I will describe a regular method of attaining to Samadhi, which destroys death, is the means for obtaining happiness, and gives the Brahmananda. Raja Yoga, Samadhi, Unmani, Manonmani, Amaratwa, Laya, Tatwa, Sunya, Asunya, Parama Pada, Amanasska, Adwaitama, Niralamba, Niranjana, Jiwana Mukti, Sahaja, Turya, are all synonymous. Raja Yoga, Samadhi, Unmani, Manonmani, Amaratwa, Laya, Tatwa, Sunya, Asunya, Parama Pada, Amanasska, Adwaitama, Niralamba, Niranjana, Jiwana Mukti, Sahaja, Turya, are all synonymous. ”

“ When the nadis become free from impurities, and there appear the outward signs of success, such as lean body and glowing color, then one should feel certain of success. By removing the impurities, the air can be restrained, according to one's wish and the appetite is increased, the divine sound is awakened, and the body becomes healthy. ”

“ The Yogi or Yogini should practice Hatha Yoga in a small room, situated in a solitary place, being 4 cubits square, and free from stones, fire, water, disturbances of all kinds, and in a country where justice is properly administered, where good people live, and food can be obtained easily and plentifully. ”

“ On Mudras As the chief of the snakes is the support of the earth with all the mountains and forests on it, so all the Tantras (Yoga practices) rest on the Kundalini. (The Vertebral column.) When the sleeping Kundalini awakens by favor of a guru, then all the lotuses (in the six chakras or centers) and all the knots are pierced through. Susumna (Sunya Padavi) becomes a main road for the passage of Prana, and the mind then becomes free from all connections (with its objects of enjoyments) and Death is then evaded. ”

“ Place the feet on the thighs, with the soles upward, and place the hands on the thighs, with the palms upwards. Gaze on the tip of the nose, keeping the tongue pressed against the root of the teeth of the upper jaw, and the chin against the chest, and raise the air up slowly, i.e., pull the apâna-vâyu gently upwards. This is called the Padmâsana, the destroyer of all diseases. It is difficult of attainment by everybody, but can be learnt by intelligent people in this world. ”

“ The perspiration exuding from exertion of practice should be rubbed into the body (and not wiped) , as by so doing the body becomes strong. During the first stage of practice the food consisting of milk and ghee is wholesome. When the practice becomes established, no such restriction is necessary. Just as lions, elephants and tigers are controlled by and by, so the breath is controlled by slow degrees, otherwise (i.e., by being hasty or using too much force) it kills the practitioner himself or herself. ”

“ The Neti is the cleaner of the brain and giver of divine sight. It soon destroys all the diseases of the cervical and scapular regions. The Tratika Being calm, one should gaze steadily at a small mark, till eyes are filled with tears. ”

“ Success comes to him or her who is engaged in the practice. How can one get success without practice; for by merely reading books on Yoga, one can never get success. Success cannot be attained by adopting a particular dress (Vesa) . It cannot be gained by telling tales. Practice alone is the means to success. This is true, there is no doubt. âsanas, various Kumbhakas, and other divine means, all should be practiced in the practice of Hatha Yoga, till the fruitóRâja Yoga is obtained. ”

“ Time, in the form of night and day, is made by the sun and the moon. That the Susumna devours this time (death) even, is a great secret. In this body there are 72,000 openings of Nadis; of these, the Susumna, which has the Sambhavi Sakti in it, is the only important one, the rest are useless. The Vayu should be made to enter the Susumna without restraint by him or her who has practices the control of breathing and has awakened the Kundali by the (gastric) fire. The Prana, flowing through the Susumna, brings about the condition of manonmani ”

“ Asanas Being the first accessory of Hatha Yoga, āsana is described first. It should be practiced for gaining steady posture, health and lightness of body. I am going to describe certain âsanas which have been adopted by Munis like Vasistha, etc., and Yogis and Yoginis like Matsyendra, etc. Swastika-āsana Having kept both the hands under both the thighs, with the body straight, when one sits calmly in this posture, it is called Swastika. Gomukha-āsana Placing the right ankle on the left side and the left ankle on the right side, makes Gomukha-āsana, having the appearance of a cow. ”

“ The room should have a small door, be free from holes, hollows, neither too high nor too low, well plastered with cow-dung and free from dirt, filth and insects. On its outside there should be bowers, raised platform (chabootrā) , a well, and a compound. These characteristics of a room for Hatha Yogis and Hatha Yoginis have been described by adepts in the practice of Hatha. Having seated in such a room and free from all anxieties, one should practice Yoga, as instructed by his or her gurû . ”

“ Kundali Sakti sleeps on the bulb, for the purpose of giving moksa to Yogis and Yoginis and bondage to the ignorant. He or she who knows it, knows Yoga. Kundali is of a bent shape, and has been described to be like a serpent. He or she who has moved that Sakti is no doubt Mukta (released from bondage) . Youngster Tapaswini (a she-ascetic) , laying between the Ganges and the Yamuni, (Ida and Pingala) should be caught hold of by force, to get the highest position. Ida is called the goddess Ganges, Pingala goddess Yamuna. In the middle of the Ida and the Pingala is the infant widow, Kundali. ”

“ The exercise, called the Viparita Karani, is learnt from the guru's instructions. This exercise increases the appetite; and, therefore, one who practices it, should obtain a good supply of food. If the food be scanty, it will burn him or her at once. Place the head on the ground and the feet up into the sky, for a second only the first day, and increase this time daily. ”

“ By nature, Mercury and mind are unsteady: there is nothing in the world which cannot be accomplished when these are made steady. O Parvati! Mercury and breathing, when made steady, destroy diseases and the dead himself or herself comes to life (by their means) . By their (proper) control, moving in the air is attained. The breathing is calmed when the mind becomes steady and calm ”

“ When the thoughts and activities are destroyed, then the Laya Stage is produced, to describe which is beyond the power of speech, being known by self-experience alone. They often speak of Laya; but what is meant by it? Laya is simply the forgetting of the objects of senses when the Vâsanas (desires) do not rise into existence again. The Sambhavi Mudra The Vedas and the Sastras are like ordinary public women. ”

“ When Pranayama, etc., are performed properly, they eradicate all diseases; but an improper practice generates diseases. Hiccough, asthma, cough, pain in the head, the ears, and the eyes; these and other various kinds of diseases are generated by the disturbance of the breath. The air should be expelled with proper tact and should be filled in skillfully; and when it has been kept confined properly it brings success. ”

“ The Sahajoli Sahajoli and Amaroli are only the different kinds of Vajroli. Ashes from burnt up cow dung should be mixed with water. Being free from the exercise of Vajroli, man and woman should both rub it on their bodies. This is called Sahajoli, and should be relied on by Yogis and Yoginis. It does good and gives moksa. This Yoga is achieved by courageous wise men, who are free from sloth, and cannot be accomplished by the slothful. ”

“ Yoga is destroyed by the following six causes:-- Over-eating, exertion, talkativeness, adhering to rules, i.e., cold bath in the morning, eating at night, or eating fruits only, company of men, and unsteadiness. The following six bring speedy success:-- Courage, daring, perseverance, discriminative knowledge, faith, aloofness from company. ”

“ Sitkari Sitkari is performed by drawing in the air through the mouth, keeping the tongue between the lips. The air thus drawn in should not be expelled through the mouth. By practicing in this way, one becomes next to the God of love and beauty. ”

“ This is the âsana, as explained by Sri Matsyânatha. It increases appetite and is an instrument for destroying the group of the most deadly diseases. Its practice awakens the Kundalini, stops the nectar shedding from the moon in people. Paschima Tāna Having stretched the feet on the ground, like a stick, and having grasped the toes of both feet with both hands, when one sits with his or her forehead resting on the thighs, it is called Paschima Tâna. ”

“ In the same way, the air of the body should be moved intelligently, filling it through Suyra when fatigue is experienced. The air should be drawn in through the right nostril by pressing the thumb against the left side of the nose, so as to close the left nostril ”

“ They increase collection of good actions and lesson the evil ones. People, instructed well, should begin their practice, little by little, first. Kechari Mudra The Kechari Mudra is accomplished by thrusting the tongue into the gullet, by turning it over itself, and keeping the eyesight in the middle To accomplish this, the tongue is lengthened by cutting the fraenum linguae, moving, and pulling it. ”