Yoga and Total Health — June 2017

Laya Yoga

Shri Yogendraji

loses itself into the consciousness of

that object. But, this is not all about

the word; there is still a vast meaning

in it. The Sanskrit authorities define it

as “forgetfulness of all sensual objects

either in form or formless”. Hence, this

part of science which treats of the

various practices to attain that desired

state of union through the absorption

of one’s self into higher consciousness,

especially by following the inner sounds,

colour and light, is called Laya Yoga.

The higher part of mysticism can also

be called Laya Yoga. The process begins

with a sort of concentration, without

any primary effect of Pratyahara. Even

the regulation of breath is not very

essential in this particular case. So to

say, it becomes secondary. The reason

is that, in the higher stages, it follows

by itself. The Laya Yogi simply tries to

hear his inner voices and then closely

follows them. According to him, there

are ten different sounds which follow

one after the other as the stages become

more and more acute. Do we not feel a

kind of humming noise within us, when

we are trying to relax in a chair? But we

simply pass it over and do not go into

details to examine what it really means.

However, it is only the first voice that

we hear, under a certain condition of

the mind. But when we absorb ourselves

into the sound, we feel as if we are

walking down the steps of a ladder

leading to some silent cave. We feel that

sensation only when the energies, both

external and internal, are centered. Try

to hear, as it were the beating of your

heart, and what do you think will be the

consequence? You will forget all the

As soon as
the aspirant
finishes his
course in
Raja Yoga,
he is allowed
to follow the
next yoga
immediately after. And even then, in
his process of contemplation, he finds,
after a certain stage of development,
a sensation of merging in the object
without his knowing anything about
this system. Here he enters the
sedative portion of Laya Yoga. It is
a less scientific system of conscious
unfoldment, the progress being
dependent upon the capacity of the
practitioner, nor can the teacher help
him physically anymore because of the
inexpressible changes that takes place
within one’s own consciousness. But
then he is guided by instinct, and nature
takes her own course. So, Laya Yoga is
more of free and natural unfoldment,
yet, there are primary methods which
are very useful. In Sanskrit, there are
various meanings of this word “Laya”,
and it always depends upon the aspect
from which you translate it. However,
the underlying essence of all of them
is the same, as far as the act of merging
is concerned. Generally, “the sound of
a musical instrument that lingers after
it has ceased to play” is termed “Laya”.
Again, “extinction of all the energies
when deeply engrossed in a thing”
is also what “Laya” literally means.
“Absorption” is most rational; and,
when enlarged in the spiritual sense, the
word “Laya” means “absorption in the
supreme soul”. Hence, it is something
like “intentness” where the individuality