- (There should be) avoidance of pleasure or pride on being invited by the
super-physical entities in charge of various planes because there is the possibility of
the revival of evil.
It was pointed out in the previous Sutra that attachment to Omniscience and
Omnipotence contains the seeds of bondage which must be destroyed by Vairagya be-
fore Kaivalya can be attained. This Sutra points out that attachment to these is not only
a source of bondage but also a source of danger. The Yogi occupying such an exalted
position is always tested by the Powers in charge of the various departments or planes
of Nature and if he yields to their seductions owing to lack of complete non-atlach-
ment he is sure to bring about his downfall. Being subjected to such temptations is the
lot of all highly advanced Yogis and references of this nature are found in the life of all
great spiritual teachers such as the Christ or the Buddha. The actual mode of tempting
may not be as depicted in the colourful stories of their lives but that they had to pass
through trials of this nature appears to be certain.
It should not, however, be imagined that such temptations come only to those
who are very highly advanced spiritually. The moment a Yogi attains to any measure of
real power he becomes an object of attack and has to be on his guard all the time. The
nature of the temptations will naturally depend upon his particular weaknesses and the
stage of his development. While the beginner trying to break into the next super-
physical plane may be tempted merely by elementals, those who have attained to high
states of knowledge and power become the object of attack by great Devas in charge of
the various departments of Nature. The higher the stage the subtler is the temptation
and the greater is the degree of Vairagya needed to counteract the temptation.