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The Fifth Lesson: Patanjali’s Yoga System.1207
(8) Transcendental Contemplation or Ecstasy (samadhi). These eight steps
are described as follows:
(1) Self-control (yama) consists of right relations and justice toward
living beings; mercy; kindness; love; non-injury; non-stealing; truthfulness;
chastity; non-covetousness; and non-acceptance of gifts.
(2) Religious Duty (niyama) consists of inward and outward purity—that
is, purity of thought as well as of action; contentment; avoidance of luxury,
sensuousness and worldly vanity; performance of the religious duties of the
individual sect; and earnest and constant love of the Lord.
(3) Postures (asana) consisted of the control of the body, and the
assuming of certain bodily postures, which were thought to be valuable in
the following Steps.
(4) Control of Prana or Vital Forces (pranayama) consists chiefly of certain
methods of Psychic Breathing, principally Rhythmic Breathing, have three
forms, namely, inhalation, exhalation, and retention of the breath.
(5) Control of the Senses (pratyahara)consists of the absolute mastery of
the senses, under the control of the Will, whereby they may be withdrawn
from their respective and customary objects of sense, and either held in
abeyance or else transmuted to certain psychic functions. This step is
regarded as preparatory to the following ones.
(6) Control of the Mind (dharana) consists of divesting the Mind of the
influence of the senses, desires, emotions, etc., so that it may be held firmly
and under perfect control. Patanjali gives many methods whereby this
control may be acquired, but such are not apt to appeal to the Western mind,
being more or less in the nature of auto-hypnotization, which is not desirable
or helpful. The more rational methods of the occultists by which the mind is
naturally controlled, instead of “hypnotized-by-self,” are far preferable. (We
have given these latter methods in our work on “Raja Yoga,” in preference to
those of Patanjali, which we consider undesirable and partaking too much
of certain reprehensible psychic methods and practices.)